Page:A wandering student in the Far East vol.1 - Zetland.djvu/148

100 Ssŭch'uan bark when they see the sun. The Ssūch'uan dog is obviously an intelligent and observant creature, for in addition to barking at the sun he also habitually barks at all beggars, tramps, and foreigners.

Such foreign residents, however, as honour Ch'ung-k'ing with their presence are there for business, and not for pleasure. Through Ch'ung-k'ing passes the bulk of the trade of Western China, and those who advocated the opening of the port to trade can point confidently to the returns in justification of their policy. The gross value of the trade of the port coming under cognisance of the Imperial Maritime Customs has trebled since it was opened, having increased from 9,245,737 Hk. Tls. in 1892 to 29,001,410 Hk. Tls., equivalent to £4,773,148, in 1906. It is not surprising, then, that an air of immense activity pervades the town, that the thoroughfares are busy and crowded, and that there are streets of commodious and well-stocked shops. The question of trade, however, will be dealt with as a whole in a subsequent chapter.

It was now my intention to travel to