SHAMAKA

SHAMAKA, or SHEMACHA, the capital of a government of Asiatic Russia, Transcaucasia, on the Pir Saghat, 69 miles W.N.W. of Baku, and 207 E.S.E. of Tiflis. It was at one time a very flourishing and important place, being the chief seat of commerce between Persia and the north; but having been taken and sacked by Nadir Shah in 1734, it lay for a long time in ruins. Recently it has recovered a great deal of its ancient prosperity, since it was made the capital of the province of Shirvan in 1841; and since 1847, when that province was divided into the governments of Shamaka and Derbent, it has been the capital of the former. It is fortified; and contains a bazaar, with 500

stalls. Here are the most important manufactories of silk in Transcaucasia, producing goods esteemed equal to those of French manufacture. Cotton and woollen cloth is also woven here; and vines and pomegranates are grown in the vicinity. The wine of this district is considered the best in Shirvan; it is chiefly made by the Armenians who inhabit the adjacent villages. The trade of the place is very extensive. Pop. 20,433. The town is called properly Old Shamaka, to distinguish it from Aksu, or New Shamaka, on the Aksu, 20 miles S.W. Here is a castle, once the residence of the khan of Shirvan. The town has a population of 7000; and is also a flourishing place.

Shanghae. SHANGHAE, or SHANGHAI, a city and river-port of China, in the province of Kiang-su, on the left bank of the Woosung, which conveys the water of Lake Tahoo into the estuary of the Yang-tse-keang, 40 miles by water from the sea, and 169 E.S.E. of Nankin. N. Lat. 31. 12.; E. Long. 120. 53. It stands in a rich and well-cultivated plain, planted with wheat, rice, and cotton; and is surrounded by walls about 5 miles in circuit; but there are several extensive suburbs without the walls. Shanghae is the most northerly; and, next to Canton, the most important of the five ports that were opened to foreign trade by the treaty of 1843. Since that time the importance of the place has been very much increased, and its aspect entirely changed, by the introduction of European commerce; and a new and flourishing settlement has risen alongside of the Chinese city. What formerly was an unhealthy swamp, dotted with the wretched huts of the Chinese, is now covered with the handsome mansions of European and American merchants, and gardens, which vie with those of the Chinese, for which Shanghae has long been famous. The river, which is here half-a-mile broad and from six to eight fathoms deep, is lined with commodious quays and warehouses. Numerous large steamers and sailing-vessels are continually anchored in the river; and further up a forest of masts rises from the native craft from all parts of China, while outside the harbour many opium clippers are generally moored. The Chinese part of the city has a very different appearance from that occupied by foreigners. The streets are narrow, and not over clean, paved in general with small tiles, instead of the granite common in other Chinese towns. In the outer portions of the town business is actively carried on, and shops abound; but towards the interior these disappear, and a great deal of ground is occupied by gardens. The shops are generally small, but well stocked with all sorts of Chinese and foreign goods, especially silk, cotton, clothes, &c. Most of the houses are ill-built; and the public buildings are no way remarkable, consisting of many temples or joss-houses, several hospitals, government offices, and a mint. The tea-gardens of Shanghae, occupying a large square, planted with trees, and the large ice-houses, are worthy of observation. Some manufactures are carried on; the chief articles produced being flowered silk, paper, ivory-ware, and glass. It is for its commerce, however, both with other parts of China and with foreign countries, that the city is chiefly important. For both of these purposes its situation is very well adapted. Along the coast of China, from the Bay of Ning-po northwards, to the peninsula of Shantung, a region extending over 5 degrees of latitude, there is no port but this accessible even to moderately-sized vessels, on account of the vast amount of deposit which is brought down by the great rivers Yang-tse-keang and Hoang-ho. At the same time, the land, enriched by these gigantic streams, is the most populous and best cultivated part of China, the province of Kiang-su producing great quantities of silk. Shanghae also stands in connection with many of the distant and inland provinces, by means of the Imperial Canal, which crosses the Woosung above the town, and by the great rivers. Recently, however, the rebellion in the valley of the Yang-tse-keang, the occupation of Ching-kiang-fu, on the canal, and a change in the course of the Hoang-ho, have interrupted these means of communication; but their place has been supplied by a coasting trade between the northern and the southern ports of China. This interruption of communication has materially reduced the quantity of tea exported from Shanghae; but it has not affected the trade in silk, which has greatly increased since 1855. These two are the only goods exported in any great quantities. On the whole, the trade has considerably increased since the opening of the port. The value of the imports and exports in 1858 is exhibited in the following table:—

As the opium is a prohibited article, and presumed to be unknown to the Chinese officials, its value can only be estimated. The above estimate includes 25,122 chests of Malwa opium, valued at L.3,617,568, and 7238 chests of Patna opium, valued at L.1,129,128. Among the imports are also included 414,505 pieces of American gray twills, and 36,400 pieces of American sheetings. The quantities of silk and tea exported in the same year were as follows:—

Besides this, there were exported 391 bales of coarse silk, 138 of refuse, and 921 of cocoons, all to Great Britain.

The navigation of the port for the same year is shown in the following table:—

Shanghae was taken by the British in June 1842, but restored to the Chinese by the treaty ratified in the following year. In September 1853 it was captured by the insurgent forces, but regained by the Imperialists soon afterwards. The population is variously estimated; it is probably between 115,000 and 135,000, though some accounts make it as much as 300,000.