1917

SAMSHUI
997
which presents more beautiful scenery than is to be found on any steamer route in
China—the Yangtze gorges, perhaps, excepted. The number of steamers entered and
cleared at the Custom House during 1915 totalled 4,967, aggregating 1,558,289 tons, as.
compared with 4,537, aggregating 1,422,378 tons, in i 914. Since 1st May, 1905, Samshui has,
been made a port of entry for foreign steamers going up the West River. Numerous
steam launches carrying passengers or towing passenger boats ply between Samshui
and neighbouring cities on the West and North Rivers and on the creek leading to-
Fatshan and Canton. A railway line from Canton to Samshui via Fatshan was.
inaugurated on the 26th September, 1904, and five trains run daily each way between
Canton and Samshui. The passengers carried during 1915 numbered 4,008,819. The
climate of the port is as healthy as any in the delta. In the summer, frequent squalls,
cool the air, and it is seldom that there is not a breeze of some kind ; in winter, the
air is keen, bracing and clear. The waterways and surrounding country are pictur¬
esque, and the adjacent heights offer pleasant walks. Excursions of one or two days
enable one to climb Mt. Me. Cleverty, (2,000 ft.) at the mouth of the West River ; or
Ting Hu Shan (4,000 ft.), behind the celebrated temple known to foreigners as
“Ho\Hik,” near which is to be found the popular bathing pool and fall; or the hills,
forming the first gorge, from which used to be quarried the famous ink-stone known
throughout China as Tuan Yen. Perhaps the most interesting of the sights in the
neighbourhood are the Seven Star Hills, which are situated close to the pleasant town
of Shin King, some 30 miles from the port. These hills, formed of pure white mable
rising to a height of about 400 feet from the plain, hold many temples—some apparently
clinging to the sides of the cliffs—and caves and grottoes. The fine bronze figures of
more than life-size in one of these temples are well worthy of attention. Fair snipe
shooting is to be obtained in the winter, and an occasional pheasant, partridge, quail or
duck may be added to the bag. The attractions of good sport and pleasing surround¬
ings have made Samshui a week-end resort for some of the Canton community confined
to the small and uninteresting island of Shameen.
The telegraph and postal services have agencies at the port, but there are no-
Consulates established; the consuls within whose districts Samshui lies reside either in.
Canton or Hongkong.
DIRECTORY
CONSULATES
Tai-peh-hvok Ling-sz-kun
Belgium
Consul-General—Residing in H’kong.
Cheat Britain
Consul-General—
(residing in Canton)
Pliif'J Tail.tai.liLingsz.lcun
Italy
Consul-General — Commendatore Z.
Volpicelli (residing in Canton)
l£ &
Asiatic Petroleum Co.
Banker h Co.
Yat Kee, agent
Banker Steam Ship Co.
Yat Kee, agent
m % m
Chai Wo S. S. Co.
1 7j< H
Customs, Maritime
Comm’ner.—J. H. M. Moorhead
Assistant—B. Arata
Tidesurveyor and Harbour
Master— M. Hellstrand
Examiner—A. Miller
Asst. Examiner—E. P. Pretzsch
Tide waiters—A. Borges,
H. H. P. Kaye, P. M. Thiele
mm m
Hongkong. Canton and Macao Steam
Boat Co., West River British S. S. Co..
^ m yTC
Kwong Shiu & Co.
St i^j
Kwong Wing & Co.