The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-20
TIE OPEN HARDORS or CHINA.
Geographical and Commercial Summary
Of the Chinese Treaty Ports.
Their Connection With the Trade and ProdUc.
ITEMS Of the Interior.
Historical "Reminiscences or For.
eign Settlements.

Tne people OF the United States have increasing tn
teresls In China. The establishment Of direct steam
ship lines connecting our Western coasts With China
and lately the completion OF the Pacific Railroad
have contributed largely to extend all the ramifica
tons Of trade with Eastern Asia, to confirm which
the provisions Of the Burlingame treaty. If honestly
and scrupuously observed by all parties viii greatly
contribute. Under these circumstances everything
witch tends to increase our knowledge OF China
should be welcome. The political, social, geographic
ca or rather typographical and ethnographlcal con-
dition Of that vast empire are still, and notwith-
standing the many disqusitions essays and reports
published by political commercial, scientific and
even missionary travellers, SO enshr0uded In mys-
terry 80 hid from clear view by fable and tradition
tnat 1t is but seldom one meets with person
wen Instructed In the affairs OF China
In order to aid in the dissemination Of true
knowledge on this subject and to furnish
as it WERE guide and help to American commercial
and Industrial enterprise In its relations with the
Chinese growing, as they do, daily more intimate
and assuming greater proportions almost hourly,
the following geographical and statistical summary
OF the treaty ports OF China open to foreignthat s
to American and European-trade win he found
not only interesting but userul:-
I.-FooCHow
Foo Chow is the capital Of the province OF Fo-
Kien and situated the left bank OF the river Min,
quito distance inland from its mouth. The popula-
ton OF the province OF Fo-Kien IL estimated at
&C. 100000. 1t s one Of the mos. important sections
Of CHINA, and is politically united with the province
OF Tse-Kiang under governor whose Official rest.
dence is at FOo-Chow. FO-Ken has an extent OF
coast line Of 1870 geographical miles, and includes,
besides the principal port named the following
other treaty rorts:--Amoy, Nngpo, Tamsin ana
Tai-wan-Foo. The two last are on the island
~
vince Of F0-Kien, ana extends along the coast,
from which IL 1s separated by the Formosa Channel.
The Inhabitants Of Fo-Kien and Formosa are very
industrious and much more energetic than those Of
any other Chinese province. excepting, perhaps,
Tartary. The country is mountainous, but fertile,
and the chief products are sugar and tea Tho river
Min. with Its many navjgable tributaries, furnishes
an easy and cheap means Of transportation to and
from the Interior. Foreign vessels anchor In the
river distance Of over ten miles below the city Of
Foo-Chow. opposite Pagoda Island, and goods are
exchanged on lighters between the vessels and the
city. Like all Chinese Cities the principal part OF
the town is surrounded by wall, and, including the
suburbs and The literally floating population liv.
ing in boats the river. 1t numbers about 800, 600
Inhabitants. Foreigners occupy the right bank OF
the Min, and nave extended over the adjoining hills
and into the principal suburb. large bridge, built
Of solid masonry, connects the two river banks and
the foreign with the native population This foreign
colony though spread over q proporti0natey vast
OF ground Is but small consisting Of but about
zoo persons half Of whom are English, the rest com
posed Of Americans, Germans, Portuguese and Par
gees. The climate is considered healthy. but all
foreigners need careful protection from the intense
heat Of summer, which ranges from rs to los de-
grees Fahrenheit and il never below ten degrees
above zero in winter. The most animated CONNER
cial intercourse anywhere In China is constantly
kept up between this port, FooChow, and Shanghai.
H.-HAN.Kow.
This city Is in the centre of the province HuPeh,
on the Yang Tse Kiang, or Blue river the most iul-
Iortant river Of the empire, originating far OF the
west amid the mountain ranges of Tibet Its
course is first In sOutheasterly direction to the
province OF Jun-Nan and from the twenty-slxtn de-
gree northern latitude changes to the northeast to
the centre OF Hu-Peh, where 1t divides Han-Kow
from Won.Chang- Foo. and passing again to the
Tsar, Kang and others and finally reaches the yell
low sea between the thirty-irst and thrty-second
degree Of north latitude being in length over 5000
miles.
The city Of Han.Kow is situated about 600 miles
nom the mouth OF the Yang Kiang, and splendid
coast though it is said that the river navigable
Tor them a. high up as the city Of Chan, $50
three open ports on the Yang Use Kiang is as fol.
lows:-Tsin, kiang l6oh miles; Kin iang, 446 miles
nrst Class make the trp rom sauehse to Han kow
generally In three days. and remain for about six
hours at each Of the ports between TsinK iang and
kn-kiang. Slower boats take five days for the
trip. The downward trips are generally made in
ioIty-e'ght hours The fares for passage are as fol-
Kiang nifty taes; to AanKow. 90 taels for the trip
to HanKow ana return, 100 taels-a tael being about
S s. a. ga q money These
100000 inhabitants compose, 80 to say, centre
Of population, very large number OF Chinese
Kiang and on the HaD, and keep up con-
slant communication with the various points.
together population Of over three millions; but,
In consequence Of the Tapping war; 10 has been dec
by Inc Yang Tse- Rang. But both cities have quietly
recovered and are IN 1ourishlng condition. The
very favorable location OF Han-kow, almost IN the
centre OF China proper, It's facilities Of communca-
ton with the surrounding populous and very pro-
ductive districts, by means Of On extended net OF
great activity and Importance
HI.-CANToN
THIS port lies on the left bank OF Pearl river about
sixty miles from the coast In tae province Of Kwang
Tong, OF which 1t is the capita. The mouths Of tue
Pearl river at the eastern end Of which is situated
grandest, On account OF their extent and Of the
numerous islands, The steamers from Hong.
innumerabie Chinese junks by me Pearl river, its
tributaries and over the many canals with which this
WIKI sas mas
Six districts. and with other fertile provinces near
Kwang-Iong, such as Kwang-si HUMAN and Kiang-
Canton, including the people living on the boats,
has population OF about 100000 souls. the
governor Of the two provinces, kwang- Tong and
kwang-Si has his residence here. since Sut-Chow-
Foo, once the great city Of fashion and luxury IN
China has been brought to the verge OF ruin Canton
has been considered the handsomest city of the en-
pire, and since Marking has been destroyed by
Inc TaepIngs and Pekin has entered a downward
course Canton is even assuming the proportions OF
the first city Of the empire. 1t has fully recovered
IRON the devastations caused by the hostile incur
SONS OF ''outside barbarlans" Though the first
port opened TO foreign trade It has preserved Its
Chinese character.
The foreign merchants own nearly the entire river
shore at Ho-Nam but they also have acquired land
on the right baRk, where they have erected large
and splendid stone quays. The permanent foreign
colony of Canton numbers about 100 persons, and
among the mercantile firms are Ave American,
nine English and four German. The eli.
mate 10 healthy but the summers heat very
Rrent, reaching often the maximum 35H degrees
Oh Cesius' centigrade thermometer, and fall
ing below lve and a half degrees in winter steam