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“...improved means of transport is the great want of the
Seaweed. province. Seaweed is an important article of import from Russian
Manchuria, and is much appreciated by the poorer classes, who
eat it as a vegetable.
Ginseng, wild raw silk, and young deer-horns are also important
articles of trade, as well as skins and pelts of all kinds, for which
Moukden is the chief centre of trade in Chinese territory.
I purpose to avoid general descriptions of the trade reports,
because the work has so recently been done in the volume under con-
sideration and also elsewhere, viz., in customs and consular reports.
In customs revenue there was an increase under all headings
with the single exception of opium.
In 1887 there was an exceptionally good harvest; in 1888 and
1889 the province suffered from floods.
Opium. A considerable quantity of native opium is grown in
Manchuria, and gives rise to an extensive clandestine trade
throughout the district.
* The First Decennial Keport pf tlie Chinese Imperial...”
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“...available in case of emergency.
There are 23 Roman Catholic missionaries, with more than Missionaries
12,500 converts, and 17 Protestant missionaries with a congrega-
tion of about 2,000 native christians.
The report contains some interesting information concerning
local guilds.
If the railway, now being built, is completed, and run on busi-
ness-like principles, the commerce of this port may increase beyond
all expectations.
Valuable details concerning the military forces and defences of
Manchuria generally, and Port Arthur in particular, are given in
this report. Her Majesty's Minister has already transmitted these
in extenso to the Foreign Office.
CheJ'oo.
The Commissioner of Customs at Chefoo reports that the most Chofoo.
noticeable features of the decade have been an increase of trade in
every direction, except in import of opium ; increase in passenger
traffic ; the establishment of communication with non-treaty ports Communica-
in the north of Shantung by the Chinese steamship...”
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“...habits of the time of Chen
Lung. As a parallel one might imagine England (in the place of
China) remaining in the condition of the period of Alfred the
Great, and Ireland (in the place of Corea) adhering to the tradi-
tions and customs of the first century.
Silk and the fruits of the earth are as much neglected as the Improvidence,
other riches of the country. Milk is not used, but beef is much
eaten and greatly relished.
The fine breed of cattle is diminishing, owing to exportation to
Russian Manchuria, frequent murrain, and the custom of selling
the cows as butcher's meat, and retaining the bullocks as more
valuable beasts of burden. There are pigs and fowls in plenty,
but sheep or goats are never seen.
The sea literally teems with legions of fish; but the toil, hard-
ships, and danger inseparable from a fisherman's life are not to the...”
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