Directory_and_Chronicle_1909 — Page 1122

SWATOW-CANTON

LADIES' DIRECTORY

Ashmore, Mrs. W., Jr.

Asverus, Mrs.

Balmer, Miss

Beath, Dr. Black, Miss

Feer, Madame H. Focke, Mrs. J. Focken, Mrs. F. W.

Forbes, Mrs. J. McG.

Gibson, Mrs.

Borch, Mrs. E. von

Butcher, Mrs. Campkin, Mrs. Cruz, Mrs. F. da

Cruz, The Misses d. Currie, Mrs.

Dalziel, Mrs.

Groesbeck, Mrs. Haesloop, Mrs. L. Haesloop, Miss

Harkness, Miss (absent)

Hausser, Mrs. P. F.

Holz. Mrs. A.

Lyall, Mrs.

MacGowan, Mrs

McIver, Mrs. (absent) Mackenzie, Mrs. M. Miller, Mrs.

Mutton, Mrs.

Pearne, Mrs.

Riddel, Mrs.

Roese, Mrs. H. Ruffin, Baroness von Spiecher, Mrs. (absent) Steele, Mrs. Steele, Miss Thompson, Mrs.

929

CANTON

州廣 Kháng-chau

Canton is situated on the Chu-kiang or Pearl River, in latitude 23 deg. 7 min. 10 sec. N., and longitude 113 deg. 14 min. 30 sec. E., and is the capital of the province of Kwangtung. It is sometimes called the City of Rams and the City of Genii, both of which names are derived from ancient legends. Canton is a foreign perversion of Kwangtung, its real name. One of the first cities in the Chinese Empire, it is also the seat of government for the province, and is the residence of the Viceroy of "The Two Kwang" (Kwangtung and Kwangsi). The Tartar General is likewise resident here besides a number of other government officials of more or less distinction, including the Haikwan, or Superintendent of Customs, a post always held by a Manchu.

Owing to its favoured situation, Canton became at an early date the Chinese port to which the traffic of European countries was first attracted. The Portuguese found their way thither in 1516, and Årab navigators had been making regular voyages between Can- ton and the ports of Western Asia as early as the tenth century. The Dutch appeared on the scene about a hundred years later than the Portuguese, and these in their turn were supplanted by the English. The latter, towards the close of the seventeenth century, founded the very profitable trade which was conducted for nearly one hundred and fifty years by the Agents of the East India Company, who established a Factory there in 1684, which was afterwards celebrated throughout the world. From 1684 the export of tea to England increased rapidly. The Company's monopoly terminated in 1834. In 1839 Great Britain was led to a declaration of war with China in consequence of the oppression to which foreigners were subjected by the native authorities, and Canton was menaced with capture in 1841. A pecuniary ransom was, however, received in lieu of the occupation of the city, and hostilities were for the time being suspended. The lesson, unfortunately, was without effect, and the arrogance of the Chinese authorities continued unabated. The British campaign in Central China ensued, and the result was the signature of the Treaty of Nanking (August 29th, 1842), by which what was called the Co-Hong monopoly at Canton was abolished and four additional ports thrown open to foreign trade. Nevertheless, the provisions of the Treaty continued to be ignored in the City of Rams, and foreigners were still denied admittance within its walls. The result of protracted annoyances and insults was that in October, 1856, Sir Michael Seymour, with the fleet, again opened hostilities, and some two months later a mob in rataliation pillaged and burned all the foreign residences. In December, 1857,