Directory_and_Chronicle_1938 — Page 882

ΡΑΚΗΟΙ

海北 Pak-hoi

2

Pakhoi was opened to foreign trade in 1877 by the Chefoo Convention. It is situated on the Gulf of Tongking in long. E. 109 deg. 7 min. and lat, N. 21 deg. 29 min.

The Chinese town is situated on a peninsula, at the western extremity of which are a few low hills (Kuantao Head A E). It faces nearly due north, and in winter is much exposed to the force of the N.E. monsoon winds. These blow so hard.

at times as to interfere materially with the shipment and discharge of cargo from steamers in the harbour, the anchorage for which is situated opposite the western end of the town and a mile and a half from the Custom House near the eastern end of the town.

Extending to the south and east is a plain which is level for many miles, although the country gradually rises towards the north. Attempts at cultivation have been made upon this plain immediately to the south of the town, but with varying success. Various roads intersect the country in the vicinity of the port and are utilized for bringing in some of the produce from the surrounding district. The carts in use: for this purpose are heavy, unwieldy vehicles of an almost pre-historic type. They are drawn largely by oxen and have huge solid wooden wheels of the most primitive pattern, by which, needless to say, the roads are badly cut up in wet weather. During the past two years an extensive road building programme has been carried out and there is now a motor service between Pakhoi and Limchów (M), Limchow and Shekhong(), and Limehow and Paksba (#). Another service connects Pakhoi with the large trade mart of Namhong (). A bridge has finally been erected across the Paksha River which connects Pakhoi by motor road with Kwangchowwan, a distance of 130 miles. Sportsmen will find the following game in the vicinity of Pakhoi: quails, snipe, partridges, wild pigeons, wild ducks, and some woodcocks and pheasants. Tigers can still be found in the hills, some 25 miles to the N.E. of Limchow. The Pakhoi-Limehow motor-road is being kept in fair repair, and the pleasure of cycling and motor cycling is afforded. The climate of the port during at least six months of the year is a trying one for Europeans, though the nights are, for the tropics, comprartively cool. Accurate figures for the population of the town, as elsewhere in China, are difficult to obtain; but the number of inhabitants may perhaps be put at some 40,000. Fishing is one of the most important of the local in dustries, and a large number of vessels are employed in it. The manganese ore mines in the district of Ch'inchow (Yamchow ) developed a great deal in recent years.

TRADE IN 1936.

Commercially, the last half of 1936 was much better than the earlier part of the year, in spite of the fact that in August and September the district was upset by an invasion from Kwangsi of remnants of the 19th Route Army. Pakhoi fortunately experienced no typhoons in 1936, but comparative scarcity of rain impaired the rice crop and caused prices to rise. The import of kerosene from Hongkong more than doubled during 1936. 1937, however, was a much better year, all round, up to the time when trade wss dislocated by Sino-Japanese hostilities being extended to South China,