A colony of Great Britain, formerly a part of China. It consists of the
Island of Hong Kong, ceded to Great Britain in 1841, and the opposite
peninsula of Kow-loon, ceded to Great Britain, 1861. The government is
administered by a Governor, aided by an Executive Council. There is also a
Legislative Council. The chief city is Victoria. In 1883 the government
sustained 87 schools, with 5,597 pupils. The total population of Hong Kong
is 160,420, of whom but 7,990 are white persons.
Hong Kong forms the centre of trade for many different kinds of goods. Its
commerce is virtually a part of that of China, and is chiefly carried on
with Great Britain, the United States and Germany. Of the exports and
imports only mercantile estimates are known; these place the former at
about $10,000,000, and the latter at $20,000,000. The tea and silk trade of
China is largely in the hands of Hong Kong firms. In 1882, 28,668 vessels,
of 4,976,233 tons, entered the ports of Hong Kong.
ARABIA. A-ra'be-a.
A peninsula of Asia. Area, 1,000,000 square miles; length, 1,200 miles;
breadth, 900 miles. Sandy desert comprises most of the country; fertile
regions are shores of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. Seacoast, 1,200 miles
in length. Heat intense: rainfall light.
Population variously estimated from 8,500,000 to 15,000,000. Claims descent
from Ishmael; nomadic habits; Mohammedans in belief.
The pearl fisheries, which are of great commercial importance, begin at the
Bahrein Islands, and extend southeast along the Persian Gulf, a distance of
nearly 200 miles. The yearly produce is estimated to be worth, over
$1,250,000.
Coffee, probably indigenous, chief article of export. Wheat, barley, beans,
millet, dates and lentils form food of the natives. Rivers unimportant.
Arabia was never subject to one sovereign. Inhabitants broken up into petty
tribes, each ruled by its own chief. {42}
INDIA. In'de-a.
An empire of Asia, divided into British territory and feudatory states,
acknowledging sovereignty of Great Britain. Richest and most populous
dependency of the English Crown. Area, 1,383,504 square miles. Population,
253,906,449.
Government is entrusted to Secretary of State for India; he is aided by a
Council of 15 members. Executive authority vested in Governor General,
appointed by the British Crown, and a Council of 7 members. Salary of
Governor General, $125,000 per year.
Population dense. The density varies from 441 per square mile to 43; the
average for all India being 184. Agriculture backward. Means of
transportation poor but improving. Eight famines have visited India, and
decimated the population of various Provinces. Soil is productive; rice,
corn, millet, barley and wheat are grown; cotton, indigo, opium and sugar
cane are largely exported.
Large quantities of bullion are imported for the manufacture of ornaments.
In 1884, imports of gold, $27,347,280; silver, $37,042,530. Leading
imports, 1883-84: cotton manufactures, $125,584,245; metals, $25,909,250;
machinery, $8,955,740. Chief exports: raw cotton, $71,806,605; opium,
$56,472,300; seeds, $50,450,990; wheat, $44,399,155; rice, $41,816,400.
Total imports, 1884, $318,007,480; exports, $445,006,975.
Capital, Calcutta; population, 871,504; 60 towns of over 50,000
inhabitants. Over 19 dialects and languages spoken in the empire.
Number vessels entered Indian ports, 1884, 5,812; cleared, 5,850; number
steamships entered by Suez Canal, 1,091; number vessels engaged in
interportal trade, 103,503. Miles of railway, 1854, 21; in 1885 there were
10,832; unfinished, 1,823. Miles of telegraph, 21,740; messages, 1,799,179.
Education progressing. Schools, 109,212; scholars, 2,790,783; universities,
3; governmental schools, 15,845; commission of investigation appointed in
1883.
European and native army, 190,476 men. Native states have an army of
349,835 men; 4,237 guns.
CEYLON. See-lon'.
An island situated in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India. Area, 25,364
square miles; length, 260 miles; average breadth, 100 miles. Climate much
pleasanter than that of Southern India. Ceylon was first settled in 1505;
formed into a separate colony in 1798; fell under British rule in 1815.
By the constitution of 1831 and 1833, government is administered by a
Governor, with an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. Minerals
abound; precious stones are often found; pearl fisheries of western coast
are famous. Bread-fruit, cinnamon, pepper, rice, cotton and tobacco are
among the chief products of the soil.
Principal exports in 1883: coffee (the least since 1853), valued at
$6,338,155; tea, $430,000; cinchona bark, $2,105,000; cocoanut oil,
$2,030,000. Total exports in 1883, $16,654,500; imports, $22,643,335.
There were 164 miles of railway open for traffic in 1884; 16 miles in
course of construction. Miles of telegraph were 989.
Estimated population, 1884, 2,822,009; 1,698,070 Buddhists, 493,630
Hindoos, 197,775 Mohammedans, and 147,977 Christians. The Europeans
numbered about 5,000, of whom 4,000 were English. There were 1,703 schools,
with nominal attendance of 102,109 pupils.