The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-10-05
.SWATOW EXPOSED
TO The TYPH00N
City That Was Nearly Wiped Out
Is Least Protected of
Chinese Ports.
SQUATS ON ALLUVIAL PLAIN
Coolies and Embroidery Have Helped
Make IL an Important Towm--one
Of tho Best Eastern Markets
for Foreign Goods.

Of tho Best Eastern Markets
for Foreign Goods.
Washington.-Swatow all but swept
on the map by a typhoon, was put
there by coolies and embroidery, says
q bulletin from the National Geo
graphic society. The coolies 60 soush
to the Straits Settlements, whence
they send home much money and come
themselves when their toll In the trop-
les has won them a competence.
Just as the Canton Chinese have i'm
pressed themselves on America, the
NingpO merchants made their way In
most Of the trade marts Of China, and
the Shantung coolie on the battlefields
or France, 80 the Swatow coolie has
mad his share in the development Of
the Straits Settlements and more than
one has risen to affluence thereby.
Relief Measure Creates an Industry.
Swatow also produces a peculiar
grass cloth or native linen, made, not
from max, but from a form of hemp.
Table sets Of this material embroid-
cred In white or contrasting colors,
with storks and dragons and other
fanciful designs, are admired and
priced throughout the world. This In
dustry was started by a missionary as
q means of relief during one Of the
many disasters from which Swatow
has suffered, and 1t has attained huge
proportions. SwatOw embroidery.
drawn work and grass cloth today are
best sellers" in native shops from
Hongkong to Shanghai.
II In China you overhear a reference
to "Swatow Blues" do not conclude
that the city is going in for jazz. An
important SwatOw product Is indigo,
and the city has a full share in making
China "the land of the blue gown"
Leading Market for Foreign Goods.
The influx Of money from the
Straits and the Philippines is so great
that Swatow can always import more
than 1t exports, and it has been one OF
the best markets for foreign goods to
be found on the whole wrinkled coast
Of China.
Sugar Is also one Of Swallows chief
products and the British and Ameri-
can consulates are situated near the
main refinery on Kakchioh. Hong
kong, however, Is winning away the
sugar trade from Swatow, which was
once the center Of sugar production.
The fields inland from Swatow pro-
duce huge crops Of sugar cane, and
the Mandarin oranges of the region
are famed throughout the East.
Swallows Location Invites Disater.
One Of the important ports that hide
here and there along the very irregu-
lar coast line Of China, Swallows mis-
fortune Is that Of being less protected
from the sea than her neighbors to the
north and south. Shanghai is several
miles up the Woosung Hangchow, the
city Of the famous tidal wave or bore,
which resembles the one In the Bay
Of Fundy, Is far enough from the sea
to escape the force of the storm.
! One ascends for miles between low
lying banks, dotted with icehouses for
preserving fish before coming to Ming
no. Foochow is several hours run
up the Min. Annoy is situated very
much like Swatow, but lies oA much
higher ground. Hongkong Is on the
landward side of the island Of Vic.
toria and the safety Of its harbor is as
famous as its beauty.
Swatow owes it's existence to the
Han Kiang, whose muddy waters built
up the low plain on which small fish,
Ing village grew to a treaty port of
considerable Importance. And 1t Is
upon the low-lying alluvial plain on
both banks Of the Han that the port
depends for its Importance.
From August to October, the ty-
phoons sweep up the Chinese coast,
and opposite Swatow the hills Of south
ern Formosa form a funnel whose
force Is most felt along the low-lying
coast in which Swatow squats. So po-
tent are the winds that many Of the
missionary buildings are hid among
the low hills Of Kakchioh, across the
tempestuous readstead from Swatow
proper.
To the tourist Swatow Is an unin.
teresting city. 1t has only one good
road, that the newly macadamized
Malo or great road. which more or less
parallels the wharves from the large
piers Of the ocean-going vessels to the
tiny havens to which the fishing boats
and up-riyer junks repair.