Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1098

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LAPPA-SAMSHUI

DIRECTORY

W⇓⇓⇓ Kung-pak-san-kwan OFFICES OF THE CHINESE MARITIME CUS- TOMS, LAPPA-No. 2, Rua dos Prazeres, Macao

Commissioner-F. J. Smith

Assistants-C. A. R. Cabral, A. M.

de Souza

Chinese Assistant-Cheung Yuk-tong Tidesurveyor--J. H. Barton Boat Officer-S. G. Pedersen Examiner-J. H. Thatcher

Asst. Examiners C. W. Landers, E. A.

Young, F. Kittel, C. S. Goddard Tidewaiters S. B. de Brito, F. Byrnes,

O. Hall, G. Borras, W. Battley, S. H. Goodwin, J. D. Spencer, M. O. Grönroos, H. Gaylard, F. R. Mac- Kendrick, W. O'Reilly, G. E. Cam- miade, H. J. Carey, G. H. Reece, H. L. Jett, J. P. Thompson, F. W.

Murphy, A. Emiliano, E. A. dos Santos, A. A. dos Remedios, R. E.. Sheetz, A. A. Simões, A. M. Fernan-- des, P. J. Ryan

Watchers A. de Espirito Santos, R..

Ferreira

Revenue Launches

Cheongkeng

Officer-in-charge-O. Hall Launch Officer-H. L. Jett

Paktou

Officer-in-charge-M. O. Grönroos Launch Officer-H. Gaylard

Lungtsing

Officer-in-charge-J. D. Spencer Launch Officer J. P. Thompson

Luipin

Officer-in-charge-G. Borras

SAMSHUI1

z = Sàm-shari

The Treaty port of Samshui, opened in 1897 under the Burmah Convention-nearly forty years after Consul Harry Parkes' East River Expedition-is situated near the junction of the West and North Rivers, in lat. 23 deg. 6 min. 30 sec. N., and long. 112 deg. 53 min. and 48 sec. E. The anchorage known as Hokow, at which foreigners reside, was formerly an ordinary Chinese fishing village, with boat-building as its leading industry, and a flooded state in summer as its characteristic peculiarity, but it is fast becoming a busy mart. According to the Convention, the town of Samshui and. Kongkên (a dirty little village situated among the hills opposite Hokow) together constitute the port area. The formal opening took place on 4th June, 1897, since which date the trade of the port has increased steadily if allowance be made for the practical. cessation of the import of opium and for special causes, e.g., the effect of the European war and the high floods of 1914 and 1915. The net value of the trade coming under the cognisance of the Customs during 1915 was Hk. Tls. 6,767,000. The junk traffic is large, and the lekin station is said to be one of the most important 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, but whatever prosperity it may once have attained has departed, and, within, the walls, where dwell the magistrate and the commander of the few local troops, the space is but half occupied by poor dwelling-houses and one small street containing provision shops. 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-rebuilt during the Chia Ching reign, some 100 years ago.

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, where is established an electric plant which supplies Sainam and Samshui with light.

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,.