Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 906

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HOKOW-TENGYUEH

The climate is very unhealthy and new residents soon feel its undermining effects. In summer, when it does not rain, it is hot and trying, whereas rain is accompanied by a damp, mildewy, uncomfortable atmosphere which becomes even more disagreeable as soon as the sun re-appears. The main climatic feature, by no means a pleasant one, is what is generally known by the French as "Le Crachin." This is a thin, fever-carrying drizzle, which falls continuously for weeks in winter and spring. The thick, tropical vegetation is kept moist and a light and extremely dangerous mist overhangs every- thing. The dreaded Hokow Fever is rampant and claims numerous victims amongst the natives. Foreigners manage to recover by swallowing large quantities of quinine, which has a detrimental and sometimes lasting effect on the system.

DIRECTORY

關分口河 Hok ow-fên-kwan

CUSTOMS, CHINESE MARITIME (Branch

Office of Mengtsz Customs)

Assistant in Charge-H. W. Hosking

Chief Examiner-D. Duchamp

Asst. do. --A. W. Jappe

Tidewaiters-E. F. A. Barbe, L. V.

Coates

Surgeon-Dr. Petit

TENGYUEH (MOMEIN)

Teng-yuch

The trade mart Tengyueh-situated near the south-western frontier of Yunnan, in lat. 24 deg. 45 min. N., and long. 98 deg. 30 min. E.-was opened to foreign trade under the Burmah Agreement of 1897 modifying the Convention of 1894 relative to Burmah and Thibet, and the Chinese Customs-house was opened on the 8th May, 1902. It is a walled town built in a rice valley and watered by the Tieh Shui river, a small tributary of the Tai Ping which flows into the Irrawaddy a few miles above Bhamo which has been the principal emporium of Chinese trade in Upper Burmah for anany years past. The distance from Tengyueh to Bhamo by road is some 140 miles, and little more than half that distance as the crow flies. There are two recognised trade routes known as the "old" and "new" roads-the former via Nampoung and Man- wyne (where Margary was murdered), and the latter via Kulikha and Man-hsien. The "new" road ends some three miles above Man-hsien, and thence the journey to Tengyueh is made over the "old" tracks. Pack animals and porters constitute the only form of transport, and the time occupied on the trip is usually about eight days. Pack animals seldom travel during the rains (June to September) when through traffic is practically at a standstill, which means that, contrary to expectations, the construction of the "new" road, which is passable all the year round, has not resulted in any increase of summer trade, the cessation of business during this period being due more to un- favourable climatic conditions than to the inferior communications. From Tengyueh to Yunnanfu the road is divided into 24 stages for caravans and nine for postal couriers. It crosses a succession of mountain ranges varying from 4,000 to 10,000 feet in height, besides being intersected by numerous rivers, including the Sweili, the Salween and the Mekong, which would appear to render any railway project too speculative and too costly to be commercially practicable. Referring to the question of railway construc- tion, the Commissioner of Customs in the course of an interesting report for 1906 remarks:-"Should the visionary project of connecting Yunnan and Burma with a