CHINA. 



103 



in a short time Kin-Kiang had 500,000 in- 

 habitants and was considered very wealthy. 

 But its occupation by the rebels and the war 

 between them and the imperialists have almost 

 ruined the city. Since its opening to foreign 

 trade, in 1861, numbers of the former inhabit- 

 ants have returned, and the part which extends 

 from the foreign establishments on the western 

 bank of the river to the old city has been re- 

 built. The present Chinese population is esti- 

 mated at 50,000, and is rapidly on the increase. 

 There are not over fifty foreigners permanently 

 located here, including the customs officers 

 and the British consulate. The customs returns 

 for last year give: 



Taels. 



Foreign goods imported 2,636,381 



Chinese " *' 865,468 



Exports, 4,358,760 



Total T,860,609 



5. Amoy. This city is located on the island 

 of Hia-Mun, near the southeastern coast of the 

 province Fo-Kien, and opposite the mouth of 

 the Lung-Kiang, or Dragon River. The popu- 

 lation of Amoy is estimated at 300,000, and 

 that of the whole island Hia-Mun, with a 'cir- 

 cumference of thirty-six miles, at 400,000 

 souls. It is separated from the main-land by a 

 channel about two miles in width. The harbor 

 of Amoy is one of easiest access in all China, 

 and has been preferred by foreigners for 

 centuries. The security of the harbor has con- 

 tributed much to the development of its trade. 

 The environs of the city are thickly settled, 

 and the people are industrious, active, and 

 enterprising. The population increases rapidly, 

 and Chinese emigration draws from here its 

 heaviest percentage. The cities of Amoy and 

 Chin-Chow the latter the seat of the depart- 

 mental government are celebrated for cen- 

 turies for sending out mercantile expeditions 

 to the Indian archipelago, to Hindostan, and 

 even to Persia. Tea and sugar are the staple 

 products of these districts. The dressing of 

 cotton goods has reached to a high perfection, 

 and this branch of industry has kept pace with 

 the imports from Manchester. The foreign 

 establishments are partly in the Chinese city, 

 partly on the small islet of Kon-Lang-Foo, 

 southeast of Hia-Mun, and separated from the 

 latter by a channel only 675 yards wide. 



6. Ning-Po. This is one of the five ports 

 opened to foreigners by the treaty of Nanking 

 in 1842. It lies in the province Che-Kiang, at 

 the confluence of two streams, which form the 

 river Jong. It has now a population of 500,000, 

 and is rated as one of 'the best-built cities in 

 China. The European establishment, where all 

 foreign vessels cast anchor, is on the left bank 

 of the Jong, opposite Ning-Po, and connected 

 with it by a wooden bridge. This foreign settle- 

 ment has greatly increased since A861, when 

 Taepings took possession of Ning-Po, and many 

 Chinese moved among the foreigners for better 

 security, and who have since remained there. 

 In the year 18 05 there were fifty-one foreign 



mercantile firms at Ning-Po, of whom two 

 were American, forty-three English, five Ger- 

 man, and one French. The climate is con- 

 sidered much more healthy than that of 

 Shanghai. 



7. Swatow. This port is situated at the 

 mouth of the river Han, in the northeastern 

 part of the province of Kwang-Tong, and it 

 is the harbor of two large inland cities Cho- 

 Chow-Foo, thirty-five miles up the river, and 

 San-Ho-Pa, forty miles farther. 



Foreigners first formed a settlement near 

 Swatow in 1851, and, though tolerated by the 

 mandarins, were not recognized. This settle- 

 ment was on Double Island, four miles from 

 Swatow. The port was formerly opened in 

 1858 by the treaty of Tien-Tsin, but advantage 

 was taken of this by the establishment of a 

 permanent colony only in 1862. Commerce is 

 rapidly developing and increasing. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, this portion of China is 

 possessed with a thorough hatred of Europe- 

 ans, which was stimulated by the tricks and 

 practices of those engaged in the coolie trade. 

 Lately a better disposition has been manifested 

 by the natives, particularly toward Americans, 

 and the opening of a steamboat line from 

 Swatow to Cho-Chow-Foo and other interior 

 cities along the Han, under the auspices of 

 American enterprise and capital, will be of 

 great benefit for the further development of 

 this port and its commerce. 



8. Tien-Tsin. This city and harbor were 

 opened to foreign commercial enterprise and 

 navigation by the October treaties in 1860. 

 Tien-Tsin is situated in the province of Pe-chi- 

 li, at the junction of the Grand Canal with 

 the river Pei-ho, twenty-eight miles, in a di- 

 rect line from Ta-Ku, the mouth of the river, 

 and sixty miles from Peking. 



The products of the provinces of Pe-chi-li 

 and Chan-Si, which pass through Tien-Tsin for 

 exchange, are cotton, beans, dates, horns, dried 

 lily-leaves, hides, furs, soap, gensing, wax, 

 wool, camel-hair, etc. Mineral ore is abun- 

 dant, and coal beds of great richness and extent. 

 Since the opening of this port to foreign trade 

 it has rapidly developed and increased. The 

 foreign establishments are located mostly on 

 the left bank of the Pei-ho. The settlement 

 of foreigners or of foreign firms was not as ex- 

 tensive as might have been, since the major 

 part of the trade of Tien-Tsin is carried on 

 through the old-established houses at Shanghai. 

 At the close of 1866 only sixteen foreign firms 

 had established themselves one American, 

 nine English, four Russian, one German, and 

 one Italian. 



9. Che-Foo. This harbor is easily accessible 

 and very safe. It lies north of Cape Chan- 

 tung, and in the entrance to the Gulf of Pe- 

 chee-le. In the treaty of 1860, Fung-Chow, the 

 capital of the department, was designated as 

 an open port, but, as it had no harbor and only 

 an open road, Che-Foo, thirty miles to the east, 

 was substituted, though the proper name of 



