Directory_and_Chronicle_1908 — Page 690

FORMOSA

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Formosa is about 260 miles in length, and from 60 to 70 miles broad in the widest part. It is intersected from north to south by a range of mountains, which forms a kind of backbone to the island, the loftiest peak of which, Mount Morrison (Niitakayama), is 13,880 feet high. On the western side of this range the slope is more gradual than on the eastern side, and broken by fertile valleys which lose themselves in the large undulating plain on which the Chinese are settled. The whole of the territory east of the dividing chain is peopled by an aboriginal race who acknowledged no allegiance to the Chinese Government and made frequent raids on the outlying Chinese settlements, and they have proved troublesome to the Japanese. They are a savage and warlike people, allied to the Malays and Polynesians, and live The total population of Formosa is given as 3,133,000, principally by the chase. The Chinese population is about 2,915,984; whilst 560 tribes of aborigines, described in the returns as savages, aggregate 102,979 persons. The latest census returns give The revenue down to 1904 the number of Japanese in the island as 53,365.

averaged about 20,000,000 yen a year, but in 1905-6 it amounted to yen 25,414,146, in 1906-7, yen 26,127,608, and in the current year it is estemated at yen 29,257,171. The value of the exports to foreign countries in 1906 was yen 9,779,084, and imports from foreign countries amounted to yen 12,738,460. The trade with Japan is 1906 was returned as exports, yen 18,259,527, imports yen 15,634,339. The productions of Formosa are numerous, vegetation being everywhere most luxuriant, testifying to the richness of the soil. Tea, and camphor are largely cultivated and exported. The fauna includes bears, monkeys, deer, wild boar, badgers, martens, the scaly ant-eater, and other smaller animals. Birds are not very numerous, and snakes are not so common as might It is believed that the mineral wealth In be expected where vegetation is so abundant. of the island is very considerable. The gold mining industry is advancing rapidly. 1902 no less than 48,400 ozs. were obtained from the mines and alluvial washings, In 1903, 42,770 ounces of a value of £138,964 In the first representing a value of £168,626. were exported to Japan, and in 1904, 58,680 ounces worth £73,968. six months of 1906, the yield of the gold mines in the Kelung district was returned as 36,792 ounces valued at £103,849. At present there are four gold mines. The gold mines and alluvial washings are situated in the Kelung and Zuiho districts, and the industry from all accounts allows of considerable expansion. There are 21 coal mines near Kelung and sulphur springs also exist in the north of the island. The interior of the island is, however, still practically unexplored. One great drawback to the island is its want of good harbours, which is more especially felt on account of the strength of the monsoons in the Formosa Channel. Those on the eastern side are few and neither commodious nor accessible, while on the west coast most of the harbours are little better than open roadsteads. Harbour improvements are now being carried out in Keelung. Taipeh is the capital of Formosa, but Tainan-fu is the chief city in point of population. The open ports are four in number-Takow and Tainan-fu in the south, and Tamsui and Kelung in the north. The latter was held for some months in 1884-5 by the French, under Admiral Courbet, but was evacuated on the 21st June, 1885. The rivers of Formosa are few, shallow, and winding, only navigable to small A railway flat-bottomed boats. The scenery is delightful, and the climate is very pleasant in the winter, but hot in some parts of the island and malarious in the wet season. is now practically completed, traversing the island, from Kelung in the North to Takow in the South. The total mileage of the Trans-Formosa line will be 259 miles 71 chains. The Northern part of the line from Keelung to Sansaho, 95 miles, 48 chains, has been completed," and from Koroton to Takow, 136 miles 15 chains the line is in operation, but some temporary bridges are in use while permanent structures are of the being built. Between Sansaho and Koroton passengers are at present conveyed

railroad. but the whole truck ก line, and temporary n trunk line is expected to be completed by March 1908. The trade of the island shows steady development, but it is entirely in favour of the mother country, Japan. For 1906 the exports to foreign countries amounted to not more than yen 9,779,084, while the exports to Japan were valued at yen 18,259,527. In 1900 the exports to Japan were valued at yen 4,402,110. In the same period the imports from Japan have doubled. Their value in 1906 was yen 15,634,339; while those from foreign countries were valued at yen 12,738,460, which was an improvement on the previous year's returns. These figures do not include gold and silver coins and bullion which were exported to the value of over four million yen, while the imports were just over yen 400,000. Black tea forms the principal export, valued in 1906, at yen 5,029,719; camphor comes next with yen 2,222,729. Rice and sugar a few years ago were largely exported, but the export of hese commodities has now dwindled to insignificant proportions; flax, hemp and jute

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