RAILWAVS, RIVERS, STRATEGIC TOWNS IX MAXcHURIA 327 



igation on the Sangari River, will soon V)e the largest and most tliriving inland 

 city of Manchuria. It is a good example of Russian enterprise and i)ush in the 

 Far East. In February, LS98, not even a lint marked the spot. On the open- 

 ing of navigation in the Sungari River that year the Russian engineers found 

 that tlieir larger steamers could not ascend tlie river to the point first chosen 

 as the junction of the three railway branches, Khulanclien ; so they decided on 

 the site of the present Harbin, which is 30 miles lower d.own the river. In the 

 few months since there has risen a splendid city of substantial houses and otHce 

 buildings, with broad, well-paved streets, all lit by electricity. 



Blagovestchensk, the capture of which was attempted by tlie Chinese re- 

 cently, is on the Anmr River, somewhat more than half-way between Stryetensk 

 and Khabarosvk. It is important strategically, as its possession by Chinese 

 troops would interrupt all communication between these towns, which, until 

 the railroad from Onon to Harbin is finished, is the only route by which Ru.ssia 

 can send to Vladivostok and Port Arthur the supplies and soldiers coming over 

 the Siberian Railway. The town has 3S,000 inliabitants, some of whom pos- 

 sess much wealth and handsome residences. At Aigun, a town of 1.3,000, and 

 also the scene of some fighting, was signed in 18-58 the treaty which opened the 

 Sungari to Russian steamers. Along the northern bank of the Amur at intervals 

 of 20 to 30 miles are numerous thriving villages, which were planted as Cos^aik 

 posts by Mouravieflf previous to 1858. Kirin, ten days by steamer from the 

 mouth of the Amur, is the center of the most fertile country of Manchuria. It 

 has a population of aljout 200,000. A small Russian garrison is locateil here. 

 Tsitsikar has about 30,000 inhabitants and Petuna nearly 00,000 



G. H. G. 



Cci.KiJKA, lying 20 miles east of Porto Rico, is about live miles long ami two 

 and a half miles wide. Viegas, or Crab Island, is half as far away, ami is Inur 

 or five times the size of Culebra. Dr Ullrich, the medical officer attached to 

 the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey party that has been surveying the eastern 

 shore of Porto Rico and connecting it with Viegas, Culebra, and St Thomas, 

 gives some interesting information about Culebra. The climate is somewliat 

 cooler an<l less rainy than thatof Porto Rico. The general health of the people 

 is good, but, strange as it may seem, tlie most prevalent diseases are consump- 

 tion and rheumatism. Malaria al.so exists to a considerable e.xtent wliere the 

 soil favors its ileveiopment. There is no good drinking water on tlie islaid 

 except what the natives catch during the rainy .season in two large cisterns. 

 This water is dealt out daily to the people at the rate of one gallon per hea<l 

 for adults and one-half gallon for children. There are only two streams on 

 the island that flow during the entire year. Water can be found l)y digging 

 wells, but it always develops a pecidiar odor after standing, and ha.M a cloudy 

 appearance and brackish taste. The island has excellent grazing facilities, and 

 at least 2,00 i head of line cattle were seen. The most urgent reconimcndatiou 

 of I)r Cllrich is tiiat all <lrinking water should be either distilK'cl or boiled. 

 If this precaution is taken, he believes the climate of CuU'bra will prove as 

 healthy as that of many favored places in the Uniteil States. 



