Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 1059

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KONGMOON-SAMSHUI

STANDARD OIL CO. OF NEW YORK-Tel. Ad:

Socony

Seung Kai Hong, manager

TEXAS CO. (CHINA), LTD., THE, Petroleum

Products-Tel. Ad: Texaco

K. H. Tam

UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA MISSION

Rev. T. A. Broadfoot, B.A., B.D., secy.

and treasurer

Mrs. T. A. Broadfoot, R.N. (on leave)

Harvey Becking, B.A. Mrs. Harvey Becking Dr. W. B. McClure, M.D., D.P.H. Mrs. McClure

Dr. John A. McDonald, M.D., C.M. Mrs. John A. McDonald (on leave) Miss B. M. Cairns

979

Rev. W. R. McKay, M.A., B.D., and wife Dr. V. Cheung (on leave) Miss M. Carroll

Miss R. N. Isaacs

Rev. D. McRae, B.A., B.D. (Shek Kei) Mrs. McRae (Shek Kei)

SAMSHUI

水三

Sam shui

The Treaty port of Samshui, opened in 1897 under the Burmah Convention nearly 40 years after Consul Harry Parkes' East River Expedition--is situated near the junc- tion 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 Kongkun (a small 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 increased steadily until July, 1925, when the strike and boycott inaugurated against Hongkong shipping caused an unprecedented falling off in imports. The junk traffic is large, and the likin 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 magistracy, but whatever prosperity it may once have acquired 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 Ch'ing of the Ch'ing Dynasty (Circa 1800). Between the town and the river is a fine nine-storied pagoda, rebuilt during the reign of Chia Ch'ing, 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. At Sainam there is established an electric plant which supplies 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 which

presents more beautiful scenery than is to be found on any steamer route in China-the Yangtsze gorges, perhaps, excepted. Since 1st May, 1905, Samshui has been made a port of entry for foreign steamers going up the West River. Numerous steam launches carrying passengers or towing passenger-boats ply between Sam- shui and neighbouring cities on the West and North Rivers and on the creek leading to Fatshan and Canton. A railway line from Canton to Samshui via Fatshan was inaugurated on the 26th September, 1904, and five trains run daily each way between Canton and Samshui. The climate of the port is as healthy as any in the delta. In the summer, frequent squalls cool the air, and it is seldom that there is not a breeze of some kind; in winter, the air is fresh and clear. The waterways and surrounding country are picturesque, and the adjacent heights offer pleasant walks