Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 907

TENGYUEH-SZEMAO

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trunk railway be ever seriously considered, an initial difficulty will be the selection of a suitable route. Two have been suggested-the so-called Bhamo route via Tengyueh; and the valley of the Salween route via Kunlun Ferry. Opinions are divided as to which is the better, but the latter perhaps allows of easier gradients and is, for various reasons, the more preferable. Both, however, are difficult, and it must be admitted that neither is really suitable for railway construction. Considering the almost insur- mountable physical difficulties presented and the colossal expenditure which would be involved, the practicability, viewed commercially, of such a scheme may well be questioned."

Owing to its elevation (5,400 feet) the climate of Tengyueh is temperate and health- ier than any of the valleys in the vicinity, which are rendered excessively unhealthy by malignant forms of malarial fever. Malaria is, however, very prevalent in the town itself during the rains when mosquitoes are plentiful, and when the general health of the place is poor. The average yearly rainfall is about 65 inches, most of which falls from June to September, when the incessant dampness is somewhat trying. The net value of the trade during 1917, as taken cognizance of by the Maritime Customs, was Hk. Tls. 2,996,910, as compared with Hk. Tls. 2,340,046 in 1916, Hk. Tls. 2,939, 434 in 1915, Hk. Tls. 2,572,500 in 1914, Hk. Tls. 3,132,075 in 1913, and Hk. Tls. 2,506,905 in 1912. The principal local industry is the manufacture of jadestone ornaments.

DIRECTORY

CHINESE FIRST CLASS POST OFFICE

First Class Postmaster- Chan

Sik-yan

CHINESE CUSTOMS

Asst.-in-charge-H. G. Fletcher Asst.-A. Black

Asst. Examiner (B)-M. O. Albertsen 1st Class Tidewaiter-G. Grasso Medical Officer-Nihal Chand

Consulate-GREAT BRITAIN-Tel. Ad:

Britain

Acting Consul-J. B. Affleck

SZEMAO

茅思 Sz-máu

Szemao, opened to the Tonkin frontier trade by the Gérard Convention of 1895 and to British trade by the Burmah Convention of 1896, is situated in the south- western part of the Province of Yunnan in latitude 22 deg. 47 min. 29 sec. N. and longi- tude 100 deg. 46 min. E. It is a sub-prefectural walled town built on gently rising ground overlooking a well-cultivated plain. The elevation is 4,700 feet above the sea level, and the population is estimated to be about 15,000. The climate is delightful, the temperature rarely exceeding 80 degrees (Fahr.) during the summer and seldom falling below 50 degrees in the winter months. The plague, such a common visitor throughout Yunnan, is almost unknown in Szemao. The place is distant from both Yunnan-fu (the capital of the province) and Mengtsz 18 days, from the French Laos frontier 6 days, and from British territory about 12 days. It was opened in the early part of 1897, and so far has not fulfilled the expectation of its potential importance as a trading centre. The value of the trade of Szemao in 1917 was Hk. Tls. 265,008 as compared with Hk. Tls. 184,175 in 1916, Hk. Tls. 207,351 in 1915, Hk Tls. 261,635 in 1914 and Hk. Tls. 224,250 in 1913. The smallness of the trade statistics has been attributed partly to