Directory_and_Chronicle_1899 — Page 675

WENCHOW-FOOCHOW

DIRECTORY

231

CHINA INLAND MISSION

Edward and Mrs. Hunt

Bernard W. Upward

Mrs. Stott

Mrs. Menzies

Miss Stayner

Miss Spink

¿

Robert Grierson, Ping Yang

W. Grundy,

do.

E. C. Searle,

do.

關海甌

Ou. Hoi-Kwan

CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL MARITIME

Commissioner-A. Novion

Assistant J. A. Fougerat

Clerk-W. H. Brennan

Medical Officer--A. Hogg

Tidesurveyor and Harbour Master.-

A. W. Kindblad

Examiner A. A. Godwin

Tidewaiter -J. T. Manley

CHINA MERCHANTS' STEAM NAVIGATION CO.

Hsieh Chung-son, agent

CONSULATES

門衙事頜國英大

Da Yang-kwai-ling-ez-nyo-meng

GREAT BRITAIN

also

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, Consulate

Consul-W. S. Ayrton

Constable-John Compton

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Consul-John Goodnow (Shanghai)

METHODIST FREE CHURCH MISSION

Rev. W. E. and Mrs. Soothill

A. Hogg, M.A., M.B., C.M., and Mrs. Hogg Rev. W. K. Stobie

ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION

Rev. C. Louat

FOOCHOW H_Fuh-chau

Foochow (or Fuh-chau-fu) is the capital of the Fokien province. It is situated in lat. 26 deg. 02 min. 24 sec. N., and long. 119 deg. 20 min. E. The city is built on a plain on the northern side of the river Min, and is distant about thirty-four miles from the sea, and nine miles from Pagoda Island, where foreign vessels anchor.

The attention of foreigners was early attracted to Foochow as a likely place where commercial intercourse could be profitably carried on in the shipment of Bohea Tea, which is grown largely in the locality. Before the port was opened, this article used to be carried overland to Canton for shipment, a journey which was both long and difficult. The East India Company, as early as 1830, made representations in favour of the opening of the port, but nothing definite was done till the conclusion of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The early years of intercourse with the natives were anything but what was anticipated. The navigation of the river was difficult, there was no market for imports, and several attacks by the populace rendered the port an undesirable place of residence for some time. It was not until some ten years after the port had been opened that there was much done in the export of Tea trom the interior, but after that the quantity shipped increased largely, and Foochow became one of the principal tea ports in China. Since 1880, when the tea trade of the port reached its highest figure, the export being 737,000 piculs, the prosperity of the place has been on the wane, and in 1997 the shipment of this its staple product was 324,971 piculs only, including 57,063 piculs brick tea. The Foochow Tea Improvement Co., promoted by foreigners and Chinese, and with a capital of $250,000, is now endeavouring by improved methods of cultivation and manufacture to resuscitate the industry. The Company has a factory at Dungliang, about fifteen miles from Foochow.

The city is built around three hills, and the circuit of the walled portion is between six and seven miles in length. The walls are about thirty feet high and twelve feet wide at the top. The streets are narrow and filthy, but the number of trees about the official quarter of the city, and the wooded hills enclosed by the walls, give a picturesque appearance to the general view. Two well preserved pagodas stand within the city walls. Near the east gate of the city are several hot springs, which are used by the natives for the cure of skin diseases and are believed to be very efficacious. The Foochow

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