SANTU-FOOCHOW
303
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. 656,217 against Tls. 25,908 in 1899.
CUSTOMS-IMPERIAL MARITIME
Commissioner- J. F. Oiesen
Assistant J. D. Graham
DIRECTORY
Assistant Examiner- D. Davies
Tidewaiters-J. Geddes, F. E. Jackson
MISSIONS
For Protestant Missions see end of China
Directory
FOOCHOW
Fuh-chau
Foochow (or Ful-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
and nine miles from Pagoda Island, where foreign vessels anchor,
sea,
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 from 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 1900 the shipment of this its staple product was 291,344 piculs only, including 34,829 piculs brick tea, and in 1899 it was 305,555 piculs, including 35,962 piculs brick tea.
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 people excel in the manufacture of miniature monuments, pagodas, dishes, etc., from what is called "soap stone," and in the construction of artificial flowers, curious figures of birds, etc. A few miles above the city the river divides into two branches, which, after pursuing separate courses for fifteen miles, unite a little above Pagoda Anchorage. The foreign settlement stands on the northern side of the island thus formed and which is called Nantai. A bridge across the river, known as the Long Bridge or Bridge of the Ten Thousand Ages, affords access to the city.
The climate of Foochow is mild and delightful for about nine months of the year, but in the summer it is rather trying, the range of the thermometer then being from 74 deg. Fahr, to 98 deg. A refuge from the heat of summer can, however, be gained by a three hours' chair ride to the top of Kuliang, which mountain resort is now much frequented by the foreign residents. The thermometer indicates an average of 10 degrees cooler on the mountain than it is in Foochow; the nights are always cool and
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