Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1111

LUNGCHOW

1009 *

be said to have been but insignificant. It is likely to continue so until the Haiphong- Hanoi-Langson railway, which after twelve years' assiduous labour was completed early in 1902, is extended to Lungchow, or until another contemplated extension of the line enables merchandise to be rail-borne to within easier access of water communication with Kwangsi. For the present both extensions are abandoned, and the line from Hanoi ends abruptly in the hills a few hundred yards from the "Porte de Chine" (Namkuan) on the Tonkin-Kwangsi frontier, from which spot Lungchow is distant some 60 kilometres by road, part of which runs over rough and mountainous country and which is practieally impassable in bad weather. The journey from the Frontier over this road takes two days by chair, or a day and a half on horseback. Native pony-carts may at times be had, but this method of locomotion is not one to be recom- mended except under the best of weather conditions and furthermore is only available for some two-thirds of the journey. Telegraphic communication exists with Canton and other places on the West River, with Mengtsz in Yunnan, vid Po-sê, and with places in Tonkin. The Chinese Post Office sends daily couriers to Langson in Tonkin and couriers every second day to Nanning overland, with eonnections to Canton and Pakhoi. An establishment of the Chinese Maritime Customs is maintained at the port, - where foreign interests are in charge of Consuls resident on the West River and in Hongkong. France alone maintains a Vice-Consul in Lungchow, who is also Consul for Nanning. The net value of the trade coming under the cognisance of the Maritime Customs for 1915 was Tls. 110,991 as compared with Tls. 124,899 for the year previous. During 1915 over 160 motor-boats from Nanning visited the port. The trip up from Nanning usually takes from two to three days, and that down to Nanning about 30 hours according to the water in the river, the level of whieh is liable to very sudden fluctuations during the prevalence of rainy weather. The climate of the port is damp and very hot for some eight months or more in the year, the hottest period being usually from April to July. Motor boats carry most of the incoming cargo from and við the West River ports, whilst imports from over the frontier come by junk or raft. The river scenery between Nanning and Lungchow with its succession of gorges is well worth seeing, but at present accommodation for Europeans on board the distinctly Chinese-style motor boats is non-existent.

DIRECTORY

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(For Protestant Missionaries see separate "Directory")

MISSION DU KOUANG-SI (Lungchow

ASILE DE LA ST. ENFANCE

Lungchow-Sisters Marthe, Suzanne,

Tidewaiter-P. Perino Clerk-Mak Siu-yik

Rosalie

MISSIONS

COMMISSIONER

OF THE FRONTIER OF

KWANG-SI

Tupan-Tan Hao-ming

CONSULATES

署事領國法大

FRANCE

Vice-Consul-P. Crepin

官事領總利大意大 Tai-i-tai-li-chung-ling-sz-kun

ITALY

Consul General-Commendatore Z.

Volpicelli (residing in Canton)

關新州龍

# # Lung-chow-hsin-kuan

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME

Asst. in Charge-H. Logan Russell

district)

Rev. L. Barriere, Lungchow

Rev. Crocq, Taiping

Rev.-Caysac, Haiyuen

局支政郵州龍

Post Office, Chinese

Postal Commissioner-(at Nanning)

Second Class Postmaster-Tong Hong

Ngan

Postal Agencies-Shuikowsi, Siatung, Pingsiangsi, Ningmingchow, Hai- yiian, Shangszè, Kuan-tsien-yai, Siangshui, Ming Kiang-ting, Pao- shu, Sia-lui, Hwa-tung Kweishun, Chin Pin