Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 885

CANTON

州廣

و باشی

Khoang chau

on

sec.

7

EARLY HISTORY

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Canton, which is one of the most interesting cities in China, is situated

the Chu-kiang or Pearl River, in latitude 23

23 deg. 7 min.

min. 10 N., and longitude 113 deg. 14 min. 30 sec. E. It is the capi- tal of the province of Kwangtung. It is sometimes called the City of Rams and the City of Genii, both of which names are derived from ancient legends. Canton is a foreign perversion of Kwangtung, its real name. One of the first cities in China, it is also the seat of government for the province.

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Owing to its favoured situation, Canton became at an early date the Chinese port to which the traffic of European countries was first attracted. The Portuguese found their way thither in 1516, and Arab navigators had been making regular voyages between Canton and the ports of Western Asia as early as the tenth century. The Dutch appeared on the scene about a hundred years later than the Portuguese, and these in their turn were supplanted by the English. The later, towards the close of the seventeenth century, founded the very profitable trade which was conducted for nearly one hundred and fifty years by the Agents of the East India Company, who established a fac- tory there in 1684, which was afterwards celebrated throughout the world. From 1684 the export of tea to England increased rapidly. The Company's monopoly terminated in 1834. In 1839 Great Britain was led into a declaration of war against China as the result of various disputes which arose at Canton. The campaign terminated with the Treaty of Nanking (Aug. 29th, 1842) as a result of which the Co-Hong monopoly system at Canton closed and four additional ports were thrown open to foreign trade. The provision of the Treaty of Nanking, that foreigners were to be permitted to reside within the walls of the city of Canton was persistently resisted and illfeeling generally grew, so strong that a minor incident in connection with the nationality of a small Hongkong-Chinese vessel the "Arrow,,' was magnified into an affair of such importance as to cause a general election at home, and a second China War. Sir Michael Seymour, with his fleet opened hostilities, and some two months later an infuriated mob retaliated by burning all the foreign resi- dences. In December, 1857, Sir Charles Straubenzee, in command of an expe- dition which had been specially despatched from England, attacked the city, and it was taken on the 29th of that month. The French also sent out an expedition, and the city was occupied by the Allied Forces until October, 1861, a period of nearly four years.

The city which is rapidly expanding now extends along the river front for a length of some four miles, having a depth of some two miles. It was formerly enclosed by walls 43, ft. thick at the base and from 25 to 40 ft. in height. This wall has in recent years been demolished in order that its site could be used for a motor road some 80 to 100 ft. in. width. In January 1921 a service of ommibusses was started running from the Canton-Kowloon Railway to various parts of the city. This service has been gradually expand- ing in all directions with the completion of more and more motor roads, the construction of which is still going on apace. Canton has now four small parks, the Central Park in the heart of the city, the Hoi Chu Park on the Bund; the Tung Shan Park in the eastern suburb, and the Yueh Sau Park on Kan Yin Hill, Within the grounds of the last named park stands the newly erected memorial tablet dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat Sen, which is the

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