Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 681

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SHANGHAI

in 1880, 2,197; in 1885, 3,673; in 1890, 3,821, in 1895, 4,684. By the census of 26th May, 1900, there were in the Settlements north of the Yang-king-pang a total of 6,774 foreigners 1,436 in the English division, 4,510 in Hongkew, 828 in Western district, outside roads and Pootung. Of these 3,181 were males, 1,776 females, and 1,817 children, against 1,086 males, 296 females, and 291 children in 1876; 1,775 males, 1,011 females and 887 children in 1885; and 2,068 males, 1,227 females, and 1,389 children in 1895, an increase of 45 per cent. during the latter five years, against 23 per cent. during the previous five. At the beginning of 1903 the foreign population exclusive of the French Settle- ment was estimated at 7,000. The fluctuations in the foreign population have been very remarkable. Between 1870 and 1880 the number of adult males decreased, while in the next five years it increased by over fifty per cent. In the nine years, 1876 to 1885, the whole foreign population more than doubled, but in the next five years it showed an increase of only 148, of whom 144 were children. The increase has been greatest in Hongkew, where the population is twelve times what it was in 1876, whereas that of the British Settlement is only 84 greater than in 1883. The foreign population of the French Concession on 15th June, 1900, was 282 males, 145 females, and 195 children, a total of 622 against_430 in 1895 and 444 in 1890. A curious fact is that of children under fifteen in the French Settlement only 26 were males, while 136 were females in 1895, and 52 were males and 143 females in 1900. The proportion of different nationalities in all the settlements was in 1900, 2,762 British, 1,013 Portuguese, 654 German and Austrian, 575 American, 394 French, 113 Spanish, 77 Danish, 66 Italian, 109 Swedish and Norwegian, 50 Russian, 151 of various other European nationalities, 63 Eurasians (those in the Anglo-American Settlement, 519, are included under various nationalities), 831 Japanese, 323 Indians, and 174 Manilamen and other Asiatics. While the adult foreign male population had increased only 150 per cent. since the census of 1870, the number of women had been multiplied over eight and of children nearly eleven times. These figures do not include the population afloat, which at the date of the last census was 1,253, against 1,306 in 1895, 1,009 in 1890 and 893 in 1885. Although the Chinese have no right of residence within the Foreign Settlement, and indeed were expressly prohibited by the original Land Regulations, some twenty thousand sought refuge within the bound- aries from the rebels in 1854, and when the city was besieged by the Taipings in 1860 there were, it is said, at least five hundred thousand natives within the Settlements. As they found s ›me amenities from “squeezing” when under the protection of foreign- ers, and foreigners themselves being able to obtain a much higher rental for their land, and finding native house property a very profitable investment, no opposition was made to their residence. In 1870 there were in the three Settlements 75,047; in 1880, 107,812; in 1890, 168,129, in 1895, 240, 95. The numbers by the last census (May, 1900) were, in the British Settlement 115,150, in Hongkew 147,566, in Western District 36,992, in Foreign Houses, Mills, etc., in both Settlements 10,384, villages and huts within the limits 23,853, in shipping and boats 11,331, total 345,276, an increase of 43 per cent. in the last against 43 per cent. in the previous five years. The estimated native population in 1902 was 35,000. The native population of the French Concession in 1900 was 80,526 (against 45,758 in 1895 and 34,722 in 1890), the boat population 4,120 and in transit 7,000; say a total for the three Settlements and afloat of 436,922, more than half of whom are adult males. This rapid increase has occurred notwithstanding that rents have risen from thirty to sixty and in some cases even one hundred per cent., and that provisions and cost of living generally both of natives and foreigners has increased. The majority are immigrants from other provinces who followed in the wake of foreigners attracted by the high wages paid to skilled and unskilled labour required for the many industries. The population of the native city is estimated at 183,000 The large congregation of natives in the Settlements and the outlying roads is kept in admirable order by a Police force of 83 Europeans, 168 Indians, and 571 natives for the north of the Yang-king- pang and 42 Europeans and 106 natives for the French Concession, or about one constable for every 425 inhabitants. As the natives have to be tried by their own authorities, and bribery doubtless works its effects in Shanghai as elsewhere in China, the difficulties of organizing and efficiently working such a small force are considerable. In few places are life and property more secure. In August, 1899, the Captain Superintendent stated that twenty-four hours had passed without one defaulter being reported, an unique police experience for any city in the world of its population.

CLIMATE

The climate of Shanghai is generally allowed to be fairly healthy. The death rate amongst foreigners ashore and afloat during the past two decades has ranged