The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-22
ISLAND OF FORM0SA.
Its Vast Strategic Importance
in the North Pacific.
WONDERFUL m ITS FERTILITY.
Sugar Cane, Tea and Camphor Chief
Products-The Chinese and Abor-
fg1nal Inhabitants.
Pail Mall Gazette.


could only be maintained by an occupa-
ton Of the island OF Forrnosa, the Malta
Of the North Pacific. which lies between
the North China sea and the South China
sea It's area is estimated al 1850 square
miles. Ii has healthy climate. tempered
b. the influence OF the sea and its mount
aims. Coal il TO be found In considerable
quantities. although not OF the best quail
fly. Its natural products are plentiful
such as tea. sugar and rice
1T possesses several good harbors. one
OF which. Tamsh. is surrounded by hills
upward of 200 feet high. ard has depth
OF three and q half fafhons, with bar
OF seven and half feet From this ISL
ard. with good navy. any power almost
might be exerted over the Sorfh ana
South China seas and over the Pacific
highways from Hongkong 10 AUSTRALIA,
Panama, Nicaragua. San Francisco, van
eouver, Japan and Shanghai. All these
are IN fairly close proximity 20 Formosa,
and tho Shanghai route 10 Hongkong ac-
tually runs between Fofmosa and The
mainland.
ct IL a fine post for any offensive attack
upon China, and also a stronghold for an
attack upon the British power in the Pa
esfc If fortified and defended by a navy
from any other power. Formosa would
prove a great rival TO Hongkong, which
would lose at least half It's importance.
commercially and strateglcally. and which
has already been somewhat weakened by
the French occupation OF cochin-china in
1ss2 In case Of Asiatic complications Eng
land would naturally expect reinforce
ments from Australia, and from the moth
<r country by the Canadian Pacific rail-
way, but after they arrive al Vancouver
and are on transport they will be at the
mercy of Japan or the oceupier. whoever
Il may be- OF FoFmosa. Even the Bis
MARKHAM policy I'm New Guinea would be
broken down--that is. all commercial and
stratcgieai communication between Hong
kong and Australia would be seriously in
commoded BY the occupancy of Formosa.
II the occupier of the Liu-kiu islands
Uapan) also occupied Formosa on a mill
tary basis she would have nearly absolute
control OF the North Pacific.
England would be supreme II she held
both Hongkong and Formosa; Germany.
IL the holder, would not only complete the
Bismarckian policy In New Guinea uhe
policy of maritime rivalry to Great Brit
ain I'm the North Pacihc) but would start
a new Germanic policy there" In con-
clusion Mr.. Manjero prophesied that Eng
land will. without doubt, occupy Formosa
in order to uphold her power in her fu-
fure fight with Russia. but, he added,
with a significance which even ne never
OWNED when he wrote, that Japan lies
between the two complaints" Japan I'M
doubiedy intends to ''lie between"
Formosa is a wonderful island in It's pro
auctions. The most important. however
Is sugar; canes are grown all over the
plain. and In many parts crushed by the
rude mills OF the country. Another article
is the rattan cane. used for putting round
sugar bags and tea chests. Those of a
light color are imported from the Straits
OF Naiacca, with which a good trade Is
carried on. The chief tea producing dis
frict on the island Is that OF Banka This
81 grown on the slopes OF the hills in small
patches. The cultivation is rapidly on the
increase. and Il a profitable undertaking,
as 80 can be produced from an acre of
suitable ground. and this with but very
little risk 10 the cultivator. Another very
remarkable production OF Formosa Is cam
phor. This is obtained from the trees
growing near Tokoham. II is distilled nd
rent in crude state In tubs to Hongkong
The tree most sought after is the gigantic
Taurus camphora. and this search fire.
quently brings the Chinese into hostile
collision with the ahorigines, within whose
territory alone this tree is 10 be found
hut the commerce OF the island suffers
from The absence OF good harbors along
the populous western coast, and of navi-
gable rivers throughout the island. The
people OF Formosa may he divided into
three classes: the Chinese. the subiugated
sborigines now largely intermingled with
the Chinese. ana the uncivilIzed ahorigines
OF the eastern region. who refuse TO ac-
knowledge Chinese authority. and carry
on raids as opportunity occurs These lat
ter are commonly known as Chiuhoan-
raw savages-and are split up into n large
number OF tribes who are constantly on
the war trail. and. when not engaged In
raids upon the Chinese. fight among Them
selves. They are, indeed. a strange neo-
PIE. The dress OF the men is limited some
times 10 strip Of calico wrapped round
the loins. but the use Of sleeveless Jackets
has become general. and sort OF blouse
reaching DOVE, 20 the ankles. Is worn dur
ing cold weather. The arms consist OF
short sword. stuck In glrdie a smear
and bow or matchbox The ammunI-
ton FOR the latter Is carried in a bag sus-
pended 20 chain or a string OF heads
worn over the shoulder. A steel. flint and
finder complete the equipment The wo
men wear tighi-fttlnS Jackets and a skirt
reaching 20 the knees both OF calico and
The lstteHornamented with a hrfrht bor-
der OF red or yellow. The hair Is bound
up Win req siik and then twisted round
the mead. so as 20 form n double coronet
The custom OF tattooing is universal
After n lad has accompanies n raid against
the Chinese ne = tattooef on the forehead
and when he ADDS the first head Of n Chit
nose "a the trophies cf his native VILLAGE
he IS tattooed on the chin. Girls are tar
tooed OF the forehead. married women
on the cheeks Such are the Inhabitants
OF the northeastern part % the island
Those or the south ara Chimes who have
immiEra'ed from the neighhorhooa OF
. 4 al
friet
Formosa - an island. n successfully.
and 'ufcicusly governed, with a future
which ht9s fsi- 20 ne Bright onsN R,chl,.
endowed by nature. n Is greatly favorn,i
by SIS tnsular position Two or three ~
the present Industries offer eplensis e.,as
for foreign enterprise - reasonable fa,tli-
Ties are but granted. The cultivation ~
"a might he extended Indigo ore~s sD
opening FOR foreign enterprise The r~oc,,b
or sugar canes mi ght he increased -vhUe
o. the southern hlns coffee might ~ a
NsNtag eouSly cultivated or Tho r,toe~ai
wealth nothing Is accurately known he
sides cosl. sulphur and petroleum az ~
abundance OF coal We are assured as A.,
the northern part 81 the island Il ts V-,rk a.
WIKI european mac htuecs, This Is alrea IN
a great advantage u steamships ara >.
she whole Of the Strait trade on that roas.
The coal Is a tertiary Ignite. burns "a.
and gives out much heat II Is exe.lle,,
for household purposes. bat requires rn,x
ing with other kinds for use a. sea a.
vessels which come tor coal lie IN K.y..,,-.
harhor. tho coal being carried 70 TIRE
ter's edge IN baskets and shsn shinoes .,
cargo boats. which convey ~ 70 the vessel
some az the coal has 20 he carried n,ar
the hiI'S. In one valley near Kelunr a
short time since. as many as sixty mice
were opened. and from the siSt~f~, a.