Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 1104

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

1076

SAMSHUI

1897, since which date the net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognizance of the Foreign Customs has grown to nearly 7 million taels in 1909. The net value of the trade for 1912 was Hk. Tls. 6,171,567. The junk trattic is simply enor mous and the lekin station is the first in the province. The district city of Samshui itself is surrounded by an imposing wall built in the 6th year of Chia Ching of the Mings (about A.D. 1560), the year after the place attained to the dignity of a magistrate's cure. Within the wall the houses are poor and the place is wanting in life-a condition in which it has remained throughout the present dynasty and in contrast (say the records) to its affluent state under the Mings. Outside the North Gate stands an imposing temple, temp Chia Ching (circa 1800). Between the town and the river is a fine nine-storied pagoda-probably of the Ming dynasty.

The business focus of the district is Sainam, a large well-built town of no great antiquity, three miles distant, on the creek leading to Fatshan. The inhabitants are not lacking in enterprise and there is a steam silk filature and a steam flour mill. Here an interesting occupation is the tinning of rice-birds, soles and game. The rice birds are caught in reed patches at night in a bag net, into which they are swept by a rope- drawn over the reeds. The season is short, lasting only for six weeks in the Autumn.

Two sets of steamship lines converge here, from Canton and Hongkong, respec- tively, and tourists in China can do many worse things than visit the West River, and should not fail to explore this port and its environs. The number of steamers entered and cleared at the Custom House during 1912 totalled 4,141 aggregating 1,198,322 tons. Since 1st May, 1905, Samshui has been made a port of entry for foreign steamers going up the West River. Numerous steam launches carrying passengers or towing passenger boats ply between Samshui and neighbouring cities on the West and North Rivers and on the creek leading to Fatshan and Canton. A railway line from Canton to Samshui via Fatshan was inaugurated on the 26th September, 1904, and five trains run daily each way between Canton and Samshui. The total number of pas- sengers carried during the 34th year of Kuang Hsu (1908-09) was 3,052,920, of which 890 were foreigners. In the Summer malignant diseases-fever, dengue, cholera, plague, etc.--may occasionally appear, as in every other place in China; but in the Winter the air is keen, bracing, and clear. The waterways and surrounding country are picturesque and the adjacent heights (from 200 to 400 ft.) worthy of ascent. Game, especially snipe, duck and geese, is to be found in fair quantities. The temperature varies from 38 F. to 100° F.-dry in winter, damp in summer-but generally very supportable.

The Chinese Post Office with a branch office at Samshui is connected by rail with Canton and with all important cities in the neighbourhood by steam launches or couriers. Mails for and from Hongkong are sent via Canton

There is no telegraph station at Samshui, but telegrams are forwarded via Sainam by messengers.

There are no Consulates at Samshui. The Consuls within whose jurisdiction Sam- shui is situated reside either in Hongkong on in Canton.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1914 — Page 1104

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