Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 900

Southern

Yangtsze

Ports

Canton

Ports

SZEMAO

茅思 Smar

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 longitude 100 deg. 46 min. E. It is a sub-prefectual 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 10,000. The climate is moderate, the temperature rarely exceeding 80 degrees (Fahr.) during the summer, and seldom falling below 40 degrees in the winter months. 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.

TRADE IN 1933

The Szemao district is thinly populated; its mountainous country-side is un- developed for the most part and not highly productive; its consuming power, accordingly, is proportionately low; and the existing transport lines are but mountain trails. It has few transactions with the rest of the province, therefore, and only a minimum trade is carried on with Burma and Indo-China by mule-trains over the footpaths across the frontier. The value of the foreign trade was only 519,000 dollars. for imports and 192,000 dollars for exports of Chinese produce during the year under review. Even these small figures represent a 72 cent. increase over those for the previous year, but this was due to the institution of Customs preventive patrols on the Burmese frontier and to the establishment of more Customs barriers rather than to an actual growth in commerce. Foreign imports consist of raw cotton, cotton yarn, cotton piece goods, a little artificial indigo paste, and a few small consignments of skins, tusks, and horns. The export include tea, medicines, and a little ironware.

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This frontier district usually so peaceful, was much disturbed by banditry during the year under review. Many of the caravans were held up and robbed, and quite a number of villages were looted.

ITORMAU

DIRECTORY

AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN MISSION

Kiulungkiang

Rev. and Mrs. L. J.-Beebe

Rev. and Mrs. E. C. Goodenberger Dr. and Mrs. C. M. Galt er de

Mrs. Chas. E. Park

CHINESE MARITIME CUSTOMS,

Acting Deputy Commissioner in

Charge-Ma Gee Shien

Clerks Chen Hsiao Feng and Chan

Sheung Yook

Tidewaiter-Kao Fu Ching

CHINESE POST OFFICE

Postmaster-Yang Peng