Directory_and_Chronicle_1906 — Page 811

SHANGHAI

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 some 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 75,017; in 1880, 107,812; in 1890, 168,129, in 1895, 240,995. The numbers by the last census (October, 1905) were, in the Central district 120,289; Northern district, 130,399; Eastern district, 73,609; Western district, 66,100; in Foreign hongs, houses and mills, 12,458; in villages and huts within the limits, 37,503; in shipping and boats, 12,358. This gives a grand total of 452,716, as compared with 315,276 at the last previous census which was taken in May 1900. 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. 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 95 Europeans, 188 Indians, and 723 natives for the north of the Yang-king- pang and 52 Europeans and 125 natives for the French Concession, or about one constable for every 400 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 the resident foreign population during the past two decades has ranged from 21.8 per thousand (in 1891) to 12.9 per thousand (in 1904). The rate including non-residents was considerably higher; it reached 346 per thousand in 1902, which however, was exceptional. The number of deaths of residents was 116 and of non- residents 78 in 1904. Partial outbreaks of cholera have occurred at intervals, but the larger proportion of the cases were among the ships in harbour. The highest recorded number of deaths from this cause among foreigners was 32, in 1890. Of these, 11 were amongst residents, In the years 1892 to 1894 and 1897 to 1901 inclusive there were no deaths from cholera among foreign residents and only one case in 1904. The highest number of deaths of foreigners from small-pox was 19 in 1896. There were no deaths of foreigners from this cause in 1900,

In winter, cases of small-pox and tree in 1902, seven in 1903, and eleven in 1904.

are frequent among the natives. Amongst the shore population the death rate was 12.9 per thousand in 1904 of which 2.9 per thousand were from zymotic causes, against a rate of 2.19 per thousand from these diseases in England. These rates compare favourably with those of large towns in Europe and America. The Health Officer in a late report says that "out of the seventy-five deaths registered there were but nine which can in any sense be termed climatic." There were reported 7,380 deaths amongst the natives in the "Anglo-American Settlement” in 1904, (against 10,801 in 1902), which makes the rate 19.2 per thousand (against 30.9 in 1902). Small-pox, which in 1901 claimed only 31 victims, was the cause of 434 deaths in 1902, 241 in 1903, and 759 in 1904; cholera, responsible for 1,50) deaths in 1902, and 162 in 1903, was entirely absent in 1904; scarlet fever for 1,500 in 1902, only 2 in 1903, and none in 1904; and tuberculosis for 2,000 in 1902, 1,978 in 1903, and 1,872 in 1904. The thermometer ranges from 25 deg. to 103 deg. Fahrenheit, the mean of eight years having been 59.1 deg.; the average being 41.0, 65.1, 77.8 and 52.5 for first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively. Shanghai approaches nearest to Rome in mean temperature, while the winter temperature of London and Shanghai are almost identical. The mean daily range averages 15.6, being from 13.3° during the first to 16.6° during the second quarter. In October and