Page:Illustrations of China and Its People vol. II.pdf/47



FOOCHOW, the capital of the province of Fukien, is situate about half-way between Hong Kong and Shanghai, thirty-four miles inland on the river Min. The foreign settlement is built on the south bank of the stream, about sixteen miles above the outer anchorage. The residences of the foreigners are picturesquely situated on eminences which command extensive views of the country around. The site of the settlement was formerly an old Chinese burial-ground, and abundant disputes arose in consequence, when steps were taken to purchase it for building purposes, the natives being loth to see the dwellings of living "foreign devils" erected over the resting-places of their dead. So whenever it became necessary to disturb a grave, these objections had to be overcome by liberal payments to the proprietors. These homes of the dead are built of granite and native concrete, and are of the omega shape. One of the foreign merchants showed me a fine example of their tombs, which, much to the disgust of his servants, he had transformed into a highly ornamental and cool piggery.

The settlement boasts an excellent club, library, and racket court, while the climate for six or eight months of the year is favourable to outdoor amusements. Many varieties of European flowers and vegetables are grown here to great perfection by the Chinese gardeners. It is altogether a sort of place where foreigners may well be content to reside. Here, as also in Amoy, there are a number of Protestant and Roman Catholic missions in active operation. There is also a prettily built English church, opposite which the Chinese have erected a small shrine, where incense is burnt by devout Buddhists to counteract the influences of the Christian place of worship. Close to the church there is an English mortuary chapel and cemetery shaded with a group of tall, dark pines.

It is only since the year 1853 that Foochow has risen to importance. The chief business carried on there at present is the collection and exportation of the produce of the Bohea tea-fields and of other districts. In 1863 over fifty million pounds of tea were exported from Foochow.

In the foreground of the illustration No. 43, the roofs of a number of Chinese houses are shown surmounted by platforms of wood, on which the families enjoy the cool breezes of summer. There are also rows of water jars filled ready for use in case of fire. This is common in Canton and in many other Chinese cities, but it affords very little protection against conflagration. It will further be observed that the blocks of native houses are divided by substantially built brick walls, which are raised with the object of confining a fire within the limits of a single section of the town. During my visit to Foochow this portion of the native suburb was burned down, but the fire-wall saved the extensive premises of Messrs. Olyphant and Co.

The highest point shown in the hills of the background is " Kushan," or " Drum Mountain," beneath which, in a finely wooded vale, there is one of the most celebrated Buddhist monasteries in China.