Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-05-24
THE PORT OF Annoy.
Why it Is of Especial Interest to
Uncle Sam Just Now.

The Chinese name for Amoy means
the gate of the sea. The city is built
on rising ground at the foot of moun-
tains which rise to 5000 or 1000 feet
in height and overlooks one of the fin
est and most spacious harbors in the
world, which lies in the crescent he
tween the island city and the main.
land opposite. In character and nat
ural location 1t greatly resembles the
British port of Hongkong.
Annoy is the port of the great CITY of
Chang Chou-fu which lies on the main
land short distance up the Lung riv-
or. Its population is about 5000. and
in early years its merchants were not
ed as the most enterprising of China.
but its trade has been so oppressed by
unjust taxation that it has greatly de-
clned. 1t was captured by the British
in 1871 during the opium war and was
made an open port by the terms of
the treaty concluded at Nankin the fol-
lowing year Being one of the first
treaty ports, it became great central
station for the work of Protestant
missions and remains to this day one
Of the most important mission points
in China.
Annoy is famous as the great port of
export for the Oolong teas, and nearly
all Formosan tea and camphor come
into market through it. All Annoy tea
comes to America, and the natives Of
the city are noted for their friendIiness
toward foreigners 1t was the first
city Of China to have a -four mill. but
this, like other innovations, was killed
by official oppression. The likin or
transit taxes are heavier about Annoy
than any other port of China. and as a
result no foreign goods ever get far
Their than 20 miles into the interior.
In addition to its magnificent location
1t is remarkable in having within 40
miles some of the finest deposits of coal
and iron to be found on earth. These
deposits are only 20 miles from tide
water and could easily be reached by a
short line of railroad.
The governing body Of Annoy con-
sists Of an admiral In charge of the
military forces and Notifications; a
general, who resides on Que-Moy
taotai answering to a mayor in the
United States, and a hai-fangting, who
is like a judge, with more power The
tea district of Annoy is about 60 miles
from the port and extends over an area
fully 100 miles in length by about 40 to
30 miles in width. 1t is one vast sue
CeSsion of mountains and small valleys
lying just beyond the principal interior
range. 1t runs parallel with the coast
q 70 hO
shed of the Dragon river and is easily
reached by steaming or sailing up the
Lung river.
The river is navigahe from the sea
by small boats. carrying 10 or ~ tons,
ROr a distance of GO miles. Here navi-
cation is effectually interrupted by
series Of cascades and waterfalls about
six miles long, so that produce and ev-
erythlng else going into the interior
must be carried over mountains $500
feet high by coolies or mules. Owing
to the superstitons of the Chinese the
river cannot be improved or travelling
made easier at this point.
There are many graves which must
not be disturbed, the natives say, for
if they were ghosts would walk about
at night and haunt the people who
live there. Then again those of higher
intelligence who have a leaning toward
the TaOist religion say, and firmly be-
lieve, that these cascades and water.
falls are the homes of the dragon god
and the sea goddesses and should not
be disturbed. In fact, these are sacred
premises, where one may go to wor.
ship, but for nothing else.
The country around Annoy is we'll
supplied With an abundance of the
most excellent water, every available
drop of which is used by the natives as
motive power for their rice mills and
for the purpose of irrigating ricefields
and other crops. Their mills are or
the rudest imaginable pattern, with I'M
dershot wheels. They are sometimes
built on pontoons in the middle of the
body of water, so that the current shall
continually turn the wheels. The Chi
nese miller has strange notions in con-
nection with his business. He has
each mill painted in the successful col
ors of red and yellow, with faces and
figures decorating it on all sides.
The city proper lies in very irregular
streets all along the bowlder strewn
shores of the high, rocky island, with
considerable intermiXture of foliage
and a harbor alive with quaint junks.
After visiting the United States con-
sulate, which Is a handsome and i'm
posing building on the Kulangsu side,
the tourist generally expresses desire
to make a trip to the famous Buddhist
monastery in the vicinity, which Is on
the Annoy side.
The monastery is very rich, gorgeous
and picturesque, and the head priest
will show you everything and every
body for the small price of 10 cents.
He and his assistants will kOtow to
you, give you tea and even cook your
ttfin or luncheon, If you so desire. The
shrines in the Annoy temple are magnif-
icent works of ancient art, though per-
haps not as graceful and fetching to
the eye at first sight as the newer
ones in Hongkong After careful study
one sees that the carving is exquisitely
DONE All the gods and goddesses in
this temple have fat, round faces and
large, plump bodies, and they appear
to be happy and contented with their
lot i'm This mountain home