The Middle Kingdom, Volume 1 (of 2): A Survey of the Geography, Government, Literature, Social Life, Arts, and History of the Chinese Empire and its InhabitantsWilliams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells)
History
The Middle Kingdom, Volume 1 (of 2): A Survey of the Geography, Government, Literature, Social Life, Arts, and History of the Chinese Empire and its Inhabitants
Williams, S. Wells (Samuel Wells)
China
Next in size is the Lung kiang, which flows by Changchau, and
disembogues near Amoy after a course of two hundred miles. A large
number of small islands lie on the coast of Fuhkien, the first of
which, on the west, is Namoh or Nan-au, about thirteen miles long. Amoy
and Quemoy are the largest islands of a group lying off the estuary of
the Lung kiang. Chimmo Bay is north-east of Amoy, and is the entrance
of the passage up to Chinchew, or Tsiuenchau fu, the _Zayton_[64] of
Marco Polo, and still celebrated for the commercial enterprise of its
inhabitants. Before the introduction of steamers into the coasting
trade, the harbors and creeks along the provinces of Fuhkien and
Kwangtung were infested with numerous fleets of pirates, which used to
“sneak about like rats,” and prey upon the peaceful traders.
The grain raised in Fuhkien is hardly enough to support its
population, especially on the sea-board, and large quantities of rice
are brought from Siam, Formosa, and elsewhere. Black tea, camphor and
other woods, sugar, chinaware, and grass-cloth, are the principal
exports.
~APPEARANCE OF FUHCHAU.~
The city of Fuhchau (_i.e._, Happy City), or Hokchiu, as it is called
by the inhabitants, lies in lat. 26° 5′ north, and long. 119° 20′ east,
on the northern side of the Min, thirty-four miles from its mouth, and
nine from Pagoda Island. The city lies in a plain, surrounded by hills,
forming a natural and most magnificent amphitheatre of vast dimensions,
whose fertility emulates and adds to its beauty. Suburbs extend from
the walls three miles to the banks, and stretch along on both sides the
stream. They are connected with each other, and a small islet in the
river, by a stone bridge built in the eleventh century. The scenery is
bold, and such parts of the surrounding hills as are not cultivated or
used for graves, are covered with pines; some of the hills north of
the city are three thousand feet high. Opposite Fuhchau the land is
lower, and the suburb is built upon an island formed by the division of
the main channel, seven miles above the city; the branches reunite at
Pagoda Island. This island, and the plain on each side, forms a large
basin, about twenty miles long by fifteen wide. The river is crowded
with floating habitations, ferry-boats, and trading craft, rendering
its surface an animated and noisy scene. The flowers grown in pots on
the boats, and those usually worn by the boatwomen in their hair, all
assist in imparting a pleasing aspect to the lively sight.
The city walls are about thirty feet high and twelve wide at the top.
The gates, seven in number, are overlooked by high towers; smaller
guard-houses stand upon the walls at short intervals, in which a few
soldiers lodge, and where two or three cannon indicate their object.
The city is divided into wards and neighborhoods, each of which is
under its own police and headmen, who are responsible for the peace of
their respective districts.
~BUILDINGS AND TYPES OF INHABITANTS.~
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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