The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-06
About FCRMOSA.
Features OF the Island Latsly Occupied By
the Japs.

Features OF the Island Lately Occupied By
the Japs
The japanese occupation of Formosa
being now an established fact, il may
be of some interest to review the various
conditions Of this important island,
together with few of those features
which must tell for or against the sea-
borne commerce Of this valuable addi-
ton to the Japanse empire. The an
tique civilization of China has done lit
tie, so far, for Formosa, notwithstand-
ing the well known industry of her
people, and after four centuries Of her
dominion the island is at this day
nearly in as q backward a condition as
many parts OF the Soolo archipelago or
certain Of the Malay states To mako
the latter comparison more perfect,
the country is chiefly inhabited by .
people of Malay race who hate all
forms of labor and absolutely shun
any attempt at bringing them into limo
with modern ideas For four centuries
they have been at war with their Chi
nese masters, and their chief industry
still is to collect the heads Of the latter
In sacks After Japan has broken
these tribes into her own form of liv-
ing or effectually improved them Of
the face Of the land, she will then
only have accomplished q small part of
her conquest, and be at liberty to de-
velop the great natural resources OF
Formosa, where under two or even
three climates, there will grow luxuri-
antly nearly all the most valuable
products of eastern commerce. Tea,
coffee, rice, sugar, indigo, hemp and
jute spring readily into life with little
cultivation, whilo csmphor, sulphur,
coal, petroleum, pith for making
paper, and rattans can be raised or
manufactured more readily than in
any other part Of the east outside the
tropics.
This singular wealth Of vegetation
Is caused by the greater humidity of
the atmosphere. which, though touch
Ing the east coast of Japan also. does
not reach China. and. as is well known,
is due to the heated Black stream OF
the Pacific coming up from equatorial
regions, and sweeping along the
shores of Formosa at the average rate
of thirty-fve miles a day. Lying d.
recsly in the course Of typhoons. also
from the south, Forrnoss necessarily
receives those seeds of a tropical vege-
tation as much by aerial as sea cur
rents, the former catching up such
seeds and duly depositing them on the
land. Probably, borne on ocean cur
rents, came long ago the present Ma
lay race, who are not the primitive
people OF the island, and who bear
characteristics which even indicate an
Admixture OF japanese blood But.
while nature has been singularly
bountiful with one hand, she has been
equally sparing with the other in those
topogra phicsl features existing IN sScs
profusion on the shores % the opposite
continent only sixty miles away, for
Formosa has no nsvi9aole rivers even
for small native crafts. a. q greater
distance than four miles from the sea.
The fifteen or twenty water courses
marked on the char; are. during The
rainy season. simply mountain tor
rents, and ia the dry months Only
shallow rivuiets, often without enough I
water for i.rigating purpose There |
are no deep inIets of the sea suitable |
for the requirements % az ocean com
nerce-excep. KeiCng-and no: even /
ooe safe aud connoaioas hsrbor. sneh |
a. exist il China and japan By he
b7o6red-
As early IS The tenth century CHI
nese seamen had taken possession os 4
the Pesczdores. and !; = sappo->d TIA. l
their settlements were effected IA For 4
noza long previous 70 l4oa Coce- ise 4
Aings the i.lsnd = spoken o: ss Hslsng 4
probably referring 20 the Dorth cad
and when China ~ss rzrsget oy The
Tartar ho-6ss, rrsviors 20 100, IL -
supposed that vAs, numbers o! S1is- !,
grants se6 from Fokisp. e-osse4 the !
straits, and settled on To- southwest
coast IL 1870 tsvo spanish sa.ps trosa
Manila csreuznAvszase1 .ae Island
and then discovered the only ss.:4bis j
haroor Of aelEnS where OF al ssl@ri
At the entrance ;hcg built = for; sn3
then gave the country i,- p-esent nane
-ForsnA2- .-th@ b~=rsifaL~ 70 49,