Canton

The name is an imitation of the local pronunciation of Kuangtung IMG:p93_7.png:Chinese characters. The capital of the Kuangtung Province, in lat. 23°. 7' 10" N., long. IMG:p93_8.png:Chinese characters 14' 30" E., on the Chu Kiang or Pearl River. From ancient legends it derives also the names among Chinese of City of Rams, and City of Genii. It is one of the most important places in the Empire and is the residence of the Viceroy of the Two Kuang (Kuangtung and Kuangsi, q.v.) and of the Governor of Kuangtung. Up to B.C. 110, it was the capital of the kingdom of Nan Yiieh, which included the present Kuangtung, Kuangsi and part of Tonkin. Canton was the first Chinese port to which foreign trade was attracted. The Portuguese were the first Europe ans to arrive (1516), but Arab traders had used the port for centuries before. The Dutch followed about a century later, and the English came in 1637, and by the end of the century nearly all the trade was in their hands. The East India Company established a factory there in 1684 — their monopoly terminating in 1834. Five years later Great Britain was at war with China as a consequence of the insolence and arrogance with which her traders and officers had been treated for years, and especially on account of the manner in which the opium trade was handled; Canton was threatened with capture in 1841, but was ransomed for $6,000,000. The war ended with the Treaty of Nanking, by which Canton and four other ports were opened to British trade and residence. The city still remained closed however till 1857, when in the Second War it was 94 taken and held by British and French troops for nearly 4 years. In September 1883 there was a serious antiforeign riot in Canton, when part of Shameen was burnt; in the French war of 1884, Canton was unmolested. There have been no serious disturbances since then, until the Revolution, but piracy is always rife in the surrounding countryside. The foreign conce ions at Canton (French and British) are situated on the island of Shameen, (q.v-)- The city proper is 6 miles in circumference, and the whole circuit, including the suburbs, is about ten miles. The population is 900,000, including a large permanent boat-population. Of late years many improvements have been made. Electric lighting was introduced (after previous failures) in 1909; waterworks were opened in 1908, and a fine bund was completed in 1914 after many vici itudes. The Samshui railway (30 miles) was opened in 1904; the Kowloon line in 1911; and the Canton-Hankow line has now been carried as far as Shiukuan, 140 miles from Canton. The city is the centre of a net-work of waterways extending through a great part of the province and into Kuangsi: its distributing area has decreased, however, since the opening of the West River ports to steam navigation. The chief exports of Canton are silk and silk piece goods, tea, matting, ca ia, and medicines. Among minor exports are ginger, gla bangles, and fireworks, the last manufactured in and near Fatshan, a large city in the vicinity. Canton is renowned for its purely native manufactures, such as ivory-ware, blackwood furniture, etc., and the jade market is famous. In modern industry Canton has not yet developed to as great an extent as might have been expected. There are 3 brick and cement works, 2 gla and 2 leather factories, 2 paper mills and a cigarette factory. There are, besides, numerous small enterprises, (silk filatures, flour mills, etc.), which in the aggregate make up a considerable volume of industry. There are oil tanks, situated on the western side of the river, near a new and growing quarter of the city. IMG:t94_1.png:Table (image of the original) The following is a list of British Consuls since the post was established at Canton in 1843. 1843, Dec. 30, Francis Coleman Mac greg or, Consul. 1849, Jan. 4, Dr. John Bowring, (later, Sir John), Consul. 1854, Aug. 10, Rutherford Alcock, (later, Sir RuTHERfORD), Consul. 9, Dec. Daniel Brooke Robertson, (later, 1877, 5, Sir Daniel), Consul. 15, 1880, Nov James Mongan, Consul. 1886, 13, Feb. Arthur Rotch Hewlett, Consul. May Chaloner Alabaster, (later. Sir 1891, Apr. Chaloner), Consul. 1893, 21, 1899,,, Consul-General. June Apr. Byron Brenan, Consul. Benjamin Charles George Scott, 1900, 1902, Consul. June 1906,,, Consul-General. James Scott, Consul-General. Apr. Robert William Mans field, Apr. Consul-General. 1909, Jan. 21, James William Jamie son, Consul-General.