Evening star., 1925-07-11
Annoy IS FADING
| AS CHINESE PORT
Ideal Harbor Gradually Being
Deserted as Trade Turns
to FOrm0Sa.

Annoy, China. one of the ports at
which the presence of warships has
been requested to protect foreigners,
has a place in the history of the
American Revolution. although few
Americans know it," says a bulletin
from Washington headquarters of the
National Geographic Society. 1T was
from Annoy, then the worlds pre-
mier tea port, that the ship sailed in
1873 which figured some months later
in the famous Boston Tea Party
Annoy was one of the earliest
Chinese cities to have contracts with
the West. The Portuguese established
themselves there in 1914 but We're
expelled before long. The British then
began operations in Annoy and con-
tinued trading through that port eX
clusively until 1890. when they were
ordered to change TO Canton. For a
long time Annoy was the worlds
leading port in tea expectation, but
for a century this trade has been de-
clining.
Loss of FOrmosa Great Blow.
The greatest blow to Annoy trade
came in 1894, when Formosa, just off
the Chinese coast from Annoy, was
| taken from China by Japan For
mosan tea and other products had
| reached the world through Annoy.
its own ports have been developed
and trade worth millions of dollars
annually has been lost to Annoy.
annoy is still a big city, however,
with population of about 100000.
And nothing can take from it the dis
tinCtion of having one of the best har-
| bors on the Pacific. Like Hongkong
| the town is situated on an island -
| Annoy Island which has a circumfer-
/
! sula Of the mainland is miles
away. The arms of the island and the
mainland inclose a large bay whose
mountainous shores and islets make
! this body of water one ofsthe pic
| turesque spots of the Chinese coast.
Outside Annoy Island a string of
| Islands, stretching north and south.
! form ar. excellent natural breakwater
| which adds to the value of Annoy S
| great, deep harbor.
The native city of Annoy has two
parts-the old and new cities-divided
| by low range of hills topped by old
! battlements. The site of both is itself
| the steep slope of a larger hill which
| rises TO barren. boulder-capped sum
| mits behind the town. The streets are
narrow, steep affairs. in which nc
! vehicles but sedan chairs can be used.
| Even the grandiloquently named 'Chu-
anchow Highway is little more than
| a fOotpath over which an occasional
| donkey picks his way.
Has Dubious Worlds Record.
Annoy is popularity accorded a
| worlds record, but it is not one to be
| shouted about by proud citizens. Many
| travellers who have seen the unspeak-
| able filth and smelt the indescribable
odOrs of certain Oriental centers as
1 n ivsfi nd i,1c,a ,,t.
| conditions Annoy is the AbO-I-ben.
| Adhem of cities. Because of this sit
| uation Annoy is frequently visited by
| cholera and plague.
| There is great gulf in the matter
/ Of conditions-and half a mile of salt
| water-betWeen Annoy and it's foreign
| settlement. This is on Kolongsu, a
small island which lies between Annoy
and the mainland. With its consulates
and residences built among shady
! groves, its schools, hospital. churches
| and hotels. and. above all. with its
| sanitation along western lines, this
| little oasis is known as the Paradise
! Of South China
Annoy is a great gateway for coolie
! emigration, especially to Singapor and
| the East Indies. About rs 900 natives
! embark at Annoy each year, and only
| 4 small part of this number returns.
| -NS''ii ~ CNSiN AdiA444S III -AIL4Oy mas one
! or more members abroad, and since
| the decline of the ports trade eco
! nomic disaster is STAYED off largely by
! the remittanceS sent home by these
! eXpatriates. This tribute TO Annoy
! amounts TO more than S12, ,000, 900 an
nually.
! The largest and deepest draft yes
| sells in the world can be accommodated
easily in Amoy's commodious harbor
| Because of its excellent harbor facili-
| ties Annoy was selected by the Chinese
! government in 1908 as the port at
| which to receive and fete a section of
| the United States fleet, then on its
| famous trip around the world"