Directory_and_Chronicle_1902 — Page 821

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SANTU-FOOCHOW

SANTU

Santu was voluntarily opened to foreign trade by the Chinese Government on the 8th of May, 1899. It is a port in the Samsah Inlet, some 70 miles north of Foochow. A large part of the tea shipped from Foochow comes from the surrounding districts, and is now shipped to that port. It is probable that the future will see direct shipments to Europe from Santu. The harbour has been described as the best and safest on the China Coast. The new port has, practically, waterways to the Cities of Fu-an, Ning-tè, and Fu-ning; and, when an effort has been made to divert the existing junk trade to steamers and to exploit the hinterland, the place should forge ahead.

The climate is healthy, the heat of Summer being always tempered by sea breezes. Capital shooting in wild-fowl, partridge and pheasant may be found from November un- til April, and tigers are said to be fairly numerous on the mainland. The Osaka Shosen Kaisha are running a regular steamer to Foochow throughout the year, whilst during the sea season (May-October) other companies are to be represented. The Samsah Inlet, on account of its picturesque scenery, has been described as a miniature Inland Sea of Japan. The Basin was surveyed by H. M. S. Waterwitch in 1899, the work covering an area of 400 square miles, and an Admiralty chart has been published. A public board under the joint control of the Chinese authorities and the Foochow Commissioner of Customs controls the making of roads, extension of settlement, etc., wharfage dues of 2 per cent. being levied for this purpose. A jetty over 500 feet in length was erected in 1900. The province is believed to be rich in mineral resources and the port is considered to possess good openings for foreign capital. The net value of foreign imports in 1900 was Tls. 1,360 against Tls. 290 in 1899. The net value of the trade of the port for 1900 was Tls. o56,217 against Tls. 25,908 in 1899.

DIRECTORY

CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL MARITIME

Assistant-C. A. McAllum

Tidewaiters-J. Geddes, F. E. Jackson

MISSIONS

For Protestant Missionaries see end of

China Directory

FOOCHOW

Fuh-chau

Foochow (or Fuh-chau-fu) is the capital of the Fokien province. It is situated in lat. 26 deg. 20 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

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