Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-13


statues of various sizes in honor Of Buddha
and his disciples. Canton Is the most influen-
tial city in southern China, and its reputation
for riches and luxury is established through
out the central and northern provinces, owing
to its formerly engrossing the entire foreign
trade, up to 1S43, for period Of about one
hundred years.
FOREIGN RESIDENTS.
The former residences of foreigners in the
western suburbs are known as Shih-.an Hang,
or Thirteen Hongs "a hong or hang signify
ing row or series, and was applied to ware
houseS, because these consist Of succession
of rooms) and for nearly two centuries furn-
ished to tho Chinese almost the only exhibi.
tion of the yang-jn, or ocean-inen, as the
foreigners were styled. In 1856 there were
thirteen hongs, or series Of dwellings and
factories, and in the fall of that year they
We're all simultaneously burned by the local
authorities to drive out the British forces.
Since the return of trade a new and better
site has been formed at Shameen, west of tho
old spot, by building solid stone wall and
filling in a long, marshy low-tide bank, form
er'y occupied by boats to q height Of eight
or ten feet, on which there Is room for gar
dens as we'll rs for houses. This is surrounded
and mobs, to which the old hongs
were exposed Residences are obtainable
anywhere in the city by foreigners.
LEADING INDUSTRIES.
The trades and manufactures at Canton
are mainly connected with foreign conf
rncrce. Many silk fabrics are woven at
Fatsham, II large town situated abont ten
miles west of the city. Fire-crackers. paper,
mat-sails cotton cloths and other articles are
made there for export. The mattings Of
China early found their way abroad, and be-
came known as Canton mattinss though,
since the opening of the other ports Of China,
they, Us well lis most of the tea and other
articles exported, are derived to a considera-
ble extont through the other ports. The num-
ber of persons engaged in weaving silk and
other kinds Of cloth in Canton is about fifty
thousand, including embroiderers, and there
is still largo export OF silk
fabrics from that city. The wcav-
ing Of silks and othor stuEs
and tho manufacture of porcelain,
arc leading industries. large numbers
are engaged in the manufacture OF fancy
tables screens, umbrellas chil1rans toys,
jewelly in I'll" precious metals. ivory, cranes
beaks, and other materials, ivory fans, etc.
The printing and box trade IL also consider
able But there are no large manufacturing
establishments, the craftsmen working
either singly at home or in small companies.
Each trade or calling is united into guilds for
mutual protection and support. Canton is
still the chief entrepot Of the commerce OF
China with japan, Siam, Cochin China, AMI
the islands of the Malay archipelago The
great Junk fleet at Canton, composed OF YES
sels ranging from five hundred to one thou
sand tons burden, contributes more to the
wealth of the city than the European fleets
which anchor at Whampoa.
SIZE.
Canton is walled city, the part inclosod
by walls being about six miles in circumfer-
ence, and partition wall runs east and west,
dividing the city into two uneqal parts Tho
entire circuit, ilclu ling the suburbs, is
nearly ten miles The population on land
ami water Is variously estimated, but ap-
pears to be, probably, about one million.
The city is constantly growing, the western
suburbs presenting many now streets entirely
built up during the past ten years.