Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 898

A504

HOKOW-TENGYUEH (MOMEIN)

Hokow is picturesquely situated on the left bank of the Red River at its confluence with the Nanhsi River-commonly called the Namti-and lies immediately opposite Laokay, an important garrison town in Tonkin. The native town has a population of about 4,000, mostly living in bamboo houses and thatched huts; some good semi- foreign style buildings have, however, been built during the last few years. An iron railway bridge across the Nanhsi River was completed in 1902, and connects Hokow and Laokay. Hokow is about 420 li by land from Mengtsz, which can be reached after a train journey of about 8 hours through magnificent country.

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, uncomfortable atmosphere which becomes even more disagreeable as soon as the sun reappears. The main climatic feature, by no means a pleasant one, is a thin, fever-carrying drizzle, which falls in winter and spring. The thick, tropical vegetation is kept moist, and a light and extremely dangerous mist overhangs everything. Malaria is rampant and claims numerous victims amongst the natives. Foreigners inanage to recover by taking large quantities of quinine. During the summer, foreigners, go to Chapa, a summer resort in Tonkin (Altitude: about 1,700 metres; distance from Laokay: 37 kilometres). Since the bridge over the Red River has been finished, a regular motor service is working between Chapa and Laokay i 2 companies (Veyrenc et Cie. and Schneider et Cie.) maintain this service.

DIRECTORY

關分口河

Ho kow fên kwan

CHINESE MARITIME CUSTOMS (Sub-Office of Mengtz Customs)

Officer-in-charge-A. T. Powell

TENGYUEH (MOMEIN)

越

Teng yueh

The trade mart Tengyueh-situated near the southwestern frontier of Yunnan, in lat 24 deg. 45 min N., and long. 98 deg. 30 min. E. was opened to foreign trade under the Burma Agreement of 1897 modifying the Convention of 1894 relative to Burma and Thibet, and the Custom House was opened by the Hon. Charles Napier, under instructions from Sir Rober Hart, Bart, G. C. M. G., on the 8th May, 1902. Tengyueh is a walled town situated in a fertile valley at an altitude of 5,356 feet, with mountains fifteen miles to the north of the town reaching a height of 12,000 feet. The valley is watered by the Tieh Shui river, a small tributary of the Tai Ping, which itself flows into the Irrawaddy a few miles above Bhamo, a town which has been the principal emporium of Chinese goods in Upper Burma for inany years. From Bhamo, there is a good motor road for the first seventeen miles, and in fact motor cars have once or twice actually gone about twenty miles further, but caravans usually do the last 120 miles of the journey to Tengyueh in six easy stages. On the Burma side of the frontier are two dâk bungaloes, but once the Sino-Burmese frontier is crossed, at Milestone 56 at the Kulika Bridge, inns, unfortunately none too clean, have to beg relied upon-though camping grounds can be found at most stages. The main route now runs through Manhsien and Hsiaohsinkai. There is a telegraph office at the latter place and although the official in charge cannot read English he can despatch