Directory_and_Chronicle_1930 — Page 1002

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FOOCHOW

The attention of foreigners was early attracted to Foochow as a likely place where commercial intercourse could be profitably carried on in the shipment of Bahea Tea, which is grown largely in the locality. Before the port was opened, this article used to be carried overland to Canton for shipment, a journey which was both long and difficult. The East India Company, as early as 1830, made representations in favour of the opening of the port, but nothing definite was done till the conclusion of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The early years of intercourse with the natives were anything but what was anticipated. The navigation of the river was difficult, there was no market for imports, and several attacks by the populace rendered the port an undesirable place of residence for some time. It was not until some ten years after the port had been opened that there was much done in the export of tea from the interior, but after that the quantity shipped increased largely, and Foochow became one of the principal tea ports in China. Since 1880, however, when the tea trade of the port reached its highest figure, the prosperity of the place has been on the wane. A valuable trade has dwindled to the most meagre dimensions, and thousands of acres must have gone out of cultivation.

The city is built around three hills, and the circuit of the walled portion is between six and seven miles in length. The walls are about thirty feet high and twelve feet wide at the top. The streets were narrow and filthy, but during recent years re- markable improvements have been carried out, shop fronts have been set back, street stalls done away with, the old paving stones have been utilised to make drains and the roads have been macadamised. A fairly wide and well made road has been con- structed from the Long Bridge to the city, trees have been planted on either side; and the Electric Company are responsible for the excellent lighting. This Company have also established a powerful ice-making plant with a view to supplying the large fleet of fishing junks operating in local waters.

The Long Bridge has been repaved, the stone steps on either end have been taken away, and now it is possible to ride in jinrickshas from the Nantai Island into the city. A large number of rickshas and a fair number of carriages are employed; the roads, however, are not sufficiently wide to allow of the introduction of motors.

The climate of Foochow is mild and delightful for about nine months of the year, but in the summer it is rather trying, the range of the thermometer then being from 74 deg. Fahr. to 98 deg.

The scenery surrounding Foochow is very beautiful. In sailing up the Min river from the sea vessels have to leave the wide stream and enter what is called the Kimpai Pass, which is barely half-a-mile across, and, enclosed as it is by bold, rocky walls, it presents a very striking appearance. The Pass of Min-ngan is narrower, and with its towering cliffs, surmounted by fortifications and cultivated terraces, is extremely pic- turesque, and has been compared to some of the scenes on the Rhine. The Yung Fu, a tributary of the Min, also affords some charming scenery, the hills rising very abruptly from the river bank. The Min Monastery, the Moon Temple, and the Kushan Monastery, all occupying most romantic and beautiful sites, are fine specimens of Chinese religious edifices, and are much resorted to by visitors. Game abounds in all the ravines and mountains in the vicinity of Foochow, while tigers and panthers are common in the more remote hills, and some of these beasts have been killed within ten miles of the city.

Foreign vessels are compelled to anchor at Pagoda Island, owing to the shallow- ness of the river. The limits of the port of Foochow extend from the City Bridge to the Kimpai Pass. The Mamoi Arsenal, near Pagoda Anchorage, is an extensive Govern- ment establishment, where several good-sized gunboats have been built, but it now stands practically idle. The Arsenal was bombarded by the French on one 23rd-24th August, 1884, and reduced to partial ruin, but was restored. The establishment was later reorganised, and was for some years administered by French experts. There is a dock in connection with the Arsenal on Losing Island. The dock is over 300 ft. long and has very powerful pumps and a good steel caisson. The Fukien Christian University, the latest addition to the educational establishments of the port, moved into its new quarters, just below Kushan Point, at the end of 1921. The site com- prises some 50 acres of hill and plain. The object of the University is to provide cheaper education for Chinese on Western lines and in more congenial surround- ings than are to be had abroad. In June, 1900, the port was visited by the most disastrous floods known there in living memory; the river, rising through heavy rains, overflowed and deluged the country, sweeping away villages and causing immense havoc and loss of life. The population of Foochow is estimated at 650,000.

The net value of the trade of the port coming under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs was Hk. Tls. 35,204,017 in 1927, as compared with Hk. Tls 34,284,907 in 1926, Hk. Tls. 32,983,033 in 1925, and Hk. Tls. 35,907,840 in 1924.