FOOCHOW.
OOCHOW, or Fuh-chau-fu, the capital of the province of Fokien and seat of the Viceroy, stands on the northern bank of the River Min, about 34 miles from its source, and nine miles from Pagoda Island, the nearest anchorage for foreign coasting steamers.
The trade of the port, according to the latest available returns, reached the net value of Tls. 16,693,583 in 1906; as compared with Tls. 17,447,135 in 1905, Tls. 17,226,968 in 1904 and Tls. 16,738,718 in 1903. The Customs revenue has fallen in less than two decades from about Tls. 2,000,000 to Tls. 912,892 in 1906.
The chief article of export in former days was tea, and a great stimulus was given to the trade by the opening of Foochow under the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, as prior to that date the choice Bohea, for which the neighbourhood was famous, had to be transported by the difficult overland route to Canton for shipment. The output steadily increased until, in 1880, it reached a total of 737,000 piculs; but from that time the stress of competition with the Indian and Ceylon teas began to be felt, and the industry gradually declined. In 1906 the quantity exported had fallen to 233,990 piculs, or, excluding black, brick, and stalks, to only 116,177 piculs. For the finest flowery Pekoes, Lapsings, Souchongs, and Sen Moros, which maintain their old-fashioned good qualities, there is still a fair demand, but the supply is limited. The kinds which have suffered most are the medium grades of Panyongs, as, at a price of, say, 7d. to 11d. per pound the consumer prefers the strong and pungent British-grown teas. Prices have ruled so low of late years on all the consuming markets that tea from Foochow can hardly be shipped to cover cost, bearing as it does heavy incidental expenses and dues from the tea gardens to the port, then a heavy export duty, from which Indian and Ceylon teas are practically free, and finally being subject to higher freight charges than teas shipped from ports nearer home. All these factors have combined to make the trade unprofitable to native and foreign merchants alike, with the result that thousands of acres have gone out of cultivation.
With the decline of tea has come a rise in the camphor industry. Some Japanese settlers in the interior discovered camphor forests, and erected stills, and the natives, seeing that the trees might be made a source of profit, turned their attention to camphor refining. At first only the camphor made direct from the wood was dealt with, but as time went on it was discovered that the camphor oil, the residue from the camphor crystals, which hitherto had been sent to Foochow for sale, could be utilised for refining purposes. As a result there are now in Foochow a number of small distilleries at which this oil is refined, and an excellent quality of pure white camphor is produced. The export of this commodity has risen from 1,144 piculs in 1903 to 1,210 in 1904, 4,037 in 1905, and 11,370 in 1906. There is, however, a strong feeling locally that the industry is not destined to last long.
There are at Foochow a match factory, a tea factory, and one or two saw-mills, but, with the exception of one of the saw-mills, all are now closed owing to the heavy dues and to the general stagnation of trade.
Amongst the native population the manufacture of lacquer-ware still flourishes, chiefly because the finest work of Foochow cannot be produced in any other town, the secrets of the lacquer being in the hands of a few Chinese families, who carefully guard it. Another minor industry is that of carving soap-stone ornaments. The people excel in the cutting of miniature temples, pagodas, cannon, &c., from this substance, and also in the making of artificial flowers and birds.
A large amount of timber, chiefly fir-poles, is cut in the interior of the province, and rafted down the River Min to Foochow, ready for shipment to northern ports. Much of it is transported in junks, but in the early spring about a dozen steamers call for full cargoes for Tientsin.
The city, which has a circumference of about six miles, is enclosed by a wall about 30 feet high and 12 feet thick. It embraces three small hills, whose well-wooded slopes add much to the beauty of the city. The population is estimated at about 750,000. The European Settlement is situated on the island of Nantai, which is formed by a divergence and reuniting of the river, and has a length of about 15 miles. Communication with the city is maintained by what is known as the Long Bridge, or the Bridge of the Ten Thousand Ages. The scenery in the vicinity is striking in its resemblance to that of some parts of Europe, the river running through towering cliffs rising sheer from the water's edge. Several temples of interest are to be seen, among them the Min Monastery, the Moon Temple, and the Kushan Monastery, all of which are beautiful examples of Chinese architecture. Foochow possesses a mild and delightful climate during the greater part of the year, and even in the summer, when the heat is rather trying, the mountain of Kuliang affords a pleasant and cool retreat, to which foreign residents may go to recuperate. At Sharp Peak, also, there is a bathing resort—a great boon in the hot weather. Near the east gate of the city are several hot springs, believed to be efficacious in combating various skin diseases.
The European community do not lack recreation and means of social intercourse. There is a racecourse, in the centre of which tennis, football, hockey, and cricket can be played under the most pleasant conditions; there is a good club, and a Masonic lodge has been established. A small daily paper, the Foochow Echo, is published in the town.
The Viceroy is the supreme authority; under him is the Taoutai, and, in command of the military forces, are two prominent generals. Other officials are the Provincial Treasurer, the Provincial Judge, the Grain Taoutai, and the Board of Foreign Trade Taoutais. Most of the leading foreign Powers are represented by consuls or their deputies. Money for local circulation is coined at the Viceroy's mint, the output of which is limited by the Imperial Government.
The Provincial Fort at Foochow has a small-arms and cartridge factory, where a large quantity of rifles and ammunition are produced. Near the Pagoda anchorage is the Mamoi Arsenal, capable of building and fitting out cruisers of from two to three thousand tons, but the work has been somewhat in abeyance recently, as the authorities have sent away the staff of French engineers who formerly carried on all the working management. The dry dock is about 300 feet in length. The Kimpai Pass, near the
