Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-18
Geographic News
Bulletins by the
National Geographic Society

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1S.-"Swa-
tow. all but swept on the map by a
typhoon,- was put there by cOolles
and embroidery" says a bulletin
from the National Geographic So
ciety headquarters at Washing
ton d. c.
The coolies go south to the
Straits Settlements, whence they
send home much money and cc;ne
themselves when their toll in the
tropics has won them a comTe-
tence,' the bulletin continues.
Just as the Canton Chinese have
impressed themselves on America.
J tho Ningpo merchants made their
way in most of the trade marts or
China, and the Shantung coolie on
the battlefields of France, so the
Swallow coolie has nae his share IN
the development of the Straits Set
Elements 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.
no. from flax, but from q form OF
hemp. Table sets of this material,
embroidered in white or contrasting
colors, with storks and dragons and
other fanciful designs, are admired
and priced throughout the world.
This industry was started by a mis-
sicnary as a means of relief during
n of the many disasters from
which Swallow has suffered and II
has attained huge proportions. Swa-
tow embroidery, drawn work and
grass cloth today form a best seller
in native shops from Hong kon5 to
Shanghai.
IF in China you overhear a ref
erence to 'Swatow Blues do no: aon-
clude that the city is going in for
jazz An important Swatow prod
uct 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 I'M
port more than it 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
American Consulates are situated
chich. Hong Kong, however, is
winning away the sugar trade from
Swallow, which was once the center
of sugar production. The fields in
and from Swallow produce huge
crops of sugar-cane and the Man
DARN rang of the region are
famed throughout the East.
Swallows Location Invites Disaster
One o. the important ports mat
hide here and there along the very |
coast line of China, Swa-
lows misfortune is that of being less
from the sea than DER |
to the north and south. |
is several miles up the
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 ice houses
for preserving fish before coming
Ningpo. Foochow is several
hours run up the Min. Annoy is |
lies on much higher ground. Hong
Kong is on the landward side of the
island of Victoria and the safety of
its harbor is as famous as its beauty.
"Swatow owes it's existence to the
Kiang, whose muddy waters
built up the low plain on which a
fishing village grew to a treaty |
port of considerable importance.
And it is upon the low-lying alluvial
plain on both banks of the Han
that the port depends for its i'm
portance.
From August to October, the ty-
phoons sweep up the Chinese coast
an dopposite Swallow the hills of
couthern Formosa from a funnel
whose force is most felt along the |
low-lying coast on which Swallow
So potent are the winds
that many of the missionary build
are hid among the low hills of
Kakchich, across the tempestuous
roadstead from Swatow proper.
"To tae tourist Swallow is an un-
Interesting city. 1t has only one good
road. which more or less parallels
the wharves from the large piers of
the ocean-going vessels to the tiny
Ravens to which the fishing boats
and up-river junks repair"