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diff --git a/42685-0.txt b/42685-0.txt index 7fca127..d2cff5e 100644 --- a/42685-0.txt +++ b/42685-0.txt @@ -1,39 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days -1825-1844, by William C. Hunter - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844 - -Author: William C. Hunter - -Release Date: May 10, 2013 [EBook #42685] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON *** - - - - -Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844 - -Author: William C. Hunter - -Release Date: May 10, 2013 [EBook #42685] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON *** - - - - -Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: Cover - THE - 'FAN KWAE' - AT CANTON - BEFORE TREATY DAYS - 1825-1844 - BY AN OLD RESIDENT -] - - - - -THE -'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON - - - - -[Illustration: HOUQUA.] - - - - - THE - 'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON - BEFORE TREATY DAYS - 1825-1844 - - _BY_ - _AN OLD RESIDENT_ - - LONDON - KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE - 1882 - - - - - (_The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved_) - - - - -PREFACE. - - -During the days of Old Canton, the Middle Kingdom deigned to suffer the -presence of a small number of 'foreign barbarians' on the banks of the -Choo, or Pearl River. Their residences consisted of Factories built -expressly for them, and originally destined one for each nationality. -They were contiguous, except where separated by three streets of narrow -dimensions which led from the suburbs of the city to the river which ran -in front of them. - -No other port than that of Canton was open, nor had there been one since -1745, and no foreigner was permitted on any pretext to enter the country -or even the city outside of which he lived. The actual relations of the -Chinese Government with Western nations consequent upon the treaties -have caused such an entire change from the old mode of transacting -business, as well as in the life then led by the few foreign residents -at Canton, that a narration of the peculiar conditions of both (as they -were) is now, as a Chinese official would say, placed 'on record.' - - PARIS: _March 31, 1882_. - - - - -OLD CANTON. - - -Even the departure of a vessel from New York for Canton in 1824 was a -rare occurrence. Neither had it yet become fashionable to place the -accent on the _last_ syllable in the name of that distant port. It would -have appeared pedantic. Years after, only, did it become _ton_! As the -ship cast off, the neighbouring wharves were crowded with lookers-on, -national and private flags were run up to the mastheads of sea-going -craft lying near. - -Cheers were heard as she glided into the river, and the ship 'Citizen,' -Captain E. L. Keen, passed Sandy Hook in the evening of October 9 of the -above year, bound to the Central Flowery Land. Friends and relations who -had accompanied us thus far now took leave, and returned to the city in -the pilot boat, steam tugs not having yet come into existence. - -The 'Citizen,' of 498 tons was one of seven ships[1] owned by Mr. Thomas -H. Smith, of New York, who had been for many years engaged in the China -trade. She had already made two voyages to Canton, and before leaving on -her present one, had been newly coppered and 'thoroughly' overhauled, -the better to withstand the westerly gales she was likely to encounter -on her return passage off the Cape of Good Hope in the winter season. -The crew consisted of thirty-two men and boys, with two officers. One -of the latter, the second officer, as well as Captain Keen and ten -or twelve of the men, had served on board privateers in our last war -with Great Britain, while eight sailors had just returned from a three -years' cruise in the Pacific, on board the U.S. 74 'Franklin,' Commodore -Stewart. As usual at this time with vessels bound on Eastern voyages, -the 'Citizen' was well provided with arms and ammunition--not only for -the risk of pirates in the Atlantic, to whom her valuable cargo offered -great temptation, but from possible mishaps while passing through the -Eastern Straits. - -The cargo consisted of 350,000 Spanish dollars in kegs (no letters of -credit on London bankers then existing), furs, lead, bar and scrap -iron, and quicksilver. Passengers were not taken except under peculiar -circumstances. I should have been the only one, in virtue of being -destined for Mr. Smith's Factory at Canton, but just before sailing -a Scotch gentleman presented himself at the office, and sought for a -passage on board. The letters he bore were of a high character, among -them being one from the celebrated Mr. Hume. His name was Fullerton, -and his vocation that of surgeon in the English East India Company's -service. He was allowed to go in the ship, and proved to be a most -intelligent and amiable person. - -He had made several voyages to India and China, was full of anecdote -and pleasant conversation, thereby relieving the weariness of the -journey. The medical advice he most cheerfully gave rendered him a -valuable addition to us, particularly on the occasion of the ship -taking fire just before making Sandalwood Island, when one of the men -was so seriously injured that his life was despaired of for a time; but -although he managed to get back in the ship to New York, he never did -a day's work after the accident. My fellow-passenger was only known -on board as Doctor Smyth. He had come to New York expressly to get to -China in an 'out of season' vessel, which ours was. We had no idea of -the object he had in view, and he volunteered no information. There was, -however, a little mystery in the matter. - -On our arrival at 'Lintin' we had scarcely anchored when my -fellow-passenger took fast[2] boat and went to Macao. Soon after, we -heard that he had there engaged two young Chinese small-footed women -to accompany him to Calcutta, from whence he took passage with them -for England as a 'speculation.' Subsequently we learnt that he was -associated in the enterprise with Captain C----, also of the Honourable -East India Company's service, on board whose vessel he had filled the -office of surgeon. While in England, these 'Golden Lilies'[3] had the -honour of a presentation to H.M. George IV. The enterprise, however, was -not successful. It met with great opposition in certain quarters, and -finally it ended by those young daughters of 'Han'[4] being returned to -their own country. - -Some years after, in the winter of 1832, I last had the pleasure of -shaking hands with my old shipmate at Canton. He was then surgeon of the -Honourable Company's ship 'Lady Melville.' - -We had the misfortune to lose the ship's cook about five o'clock on -the morning of the twenty-fifth day out, when he sprung into the sea. -We had rushed on deck at the cry of the 'cook overboard,' and heard him -shout as he passed the ship's quarter, 'You are all going to--(a most -uncomfortable place of one syllable, beginning with the letter H), I'm -going to Guadaloupe.' The ship was instantly brought to the wind, a man -sent aloft to keep the poor fellow in sight, and a boat lowered in a -trice, but suddenly he disappeared. We resumed our course. The crew had -often been amused while about the galley to find its 'monarch' with an -open Bible in one hand, and reading aloud from it, while prodding the -salt junk in the boiler with a 'tormentor' in the other! They thought -him a 'queer fellow,' particularly as he would caution them as to their -wickedness in blaspheming, and their utter disregard of the future! We -had heard through the officers of those erratic ways and strange conduct -for a 'ship's cook,' but no one imagined that his head was turned. - -The next morning the chief officer discovered on our starboard beam a -three-masted felucca, under small sail, standing as ourselves. It was -nearly calm; presently the 'little stranger' steered for us, manned a -certain number of sweeps, and seemed to have a great number of men on -board. She was about 140 or 150 tons burthen. While examining her with -our glasses, a sail was set on her jigger mast. There seemed to be a -general wish that she would 'come on,' in spite of what was unmistakably -a heavy swivel gun amidships. We showed our colours, to which no reply -was made. At last we seemed to have fallen in with the traditional -'long, low, black schooner,' metamorphosed into a felucca for the -nonce. Suddenly the man at the wheel directed the attention of the mate -to another sail just appearing on our larboard beam; she was steering -to the southward, with a light air and under a crowd of sail. As she -approached, she proved to be a schooner of the size of our revenue -cutters. A barque also hove in sight, bringing up a stiff squall, with -heavy rain. The felucca was next observed standing on the same course as -ourselves. We trimmed sail to the wind, and hauled up to the eastward; -presently, the wind increasing, the schooner crossed our bows, almost -within hailing distance--a beautiful object to look at. She set all -studding sails as she went by us, with a fore skysail, and that other -unusual sail, now, perhaps, never heard of, and then not common, called -a 'ring tail.' - -We crossed the equator on the thirty-first day out, with a good easterly -wind, which hauled to the south-east and blew stiffly. A few days after -we discovered a good-sized barque standing in for the coast of South -America. She hoisted Brazilian colours. Her decks, forward of the -mainmast, were crowded with negroes, while abaft we observed several -dark-brown gentlemen, the captain, officers, and supercargoes, perhaps. -She was evidently a slaver returning from the West Coast of Africa, with -a full cargo of ebony. She crossed our bows within a few hundred yards, -and on gaining our starboard side, our dark-brown friends raised their -panamas, and waving them, wished us 'Bon voyage.' This vessel proved to -be the last 'living thing' we saw for a period of nearly fifty days, -except albatross, whales, and Mother Carey's chickens. - -Passing within a short distance of Tristan d'Acuna to correct our time, -we then began the long tedious running down 'easting.' The weather was -generally fine, with a bright sun; it was in the summer season. Our -course between 43° and 45° south latitude. The sea ran 'mountains high,' -the crest of each wave breaking in masses of sparkling diamonds, then -losing itself in this wilderness of waters, an indescribably magnificent -sight. The ship rolled gunwale under, receiving on board vast quantities -of water, which swashed fore and aft and from side to side, at times two -or three feet deep. Gradually this frightful chaos of warring winds and -furious seas became a matter of course, while Captain Keen gave way to -his delight in exclaiming, 'How splendidly she behaves,' or, 'She rides -the seas like a bird;' and thus we went on, with little change, until we -made the island of Amsterdam. - -We then steered direct for Sandalwood Island, across a pleasant -south-east trade, with nothing material occurring until two days before -sighting it. - -After the cook had left us so abruptly for Guadaloupe, it was arranged -that the chief steward should fill his place for the cabin, while some -of the crew offered their services for the forecastle and steerage; thus -everything went on well in this respect. Before we now made the land, -taking advantage of the fine weather and smooth sea which prevailed, all -hands were occupied in caulking the bends and the deck, while, as had -before happened, the leak decreased. The 'officer of the kitchen' for -the day referred to was a fine young sailor about twenty-five years of -age. Being in the galley in the afternoon, about seven bells, watching -a pot of pitch being boiled, it overflowed, and the contents fell among -the burning coals. Instead of immediately clapping on the lid, he seems -to have lost his head, and in attempting to unship the pot from the -hook it capsized, and in a moment everything was in a blaze, burning -the poor fellow so fearfully that he had to be carried to his bunk. His -lower limbs were almost peeled, and had it not been for the presence of -the 'doctor,' he would inevitably have died. - -We passed close to the harbour and town of 'Dilly,' which displayed the -Portuguese flag. - -Two years before, the ship 'Ontario,' Captain Depeyster, belonging to -the owner of the 'Citizen,' called in at Dilly for supplies on her way -to Canton, and was totally lost in coming out of the harbour. - -The loss of the 'Ontario' gave rise to the longest passage ever made -between Whampoa and New York. Captain Depeyster left Dilly, with the -treasure saved from the wreck of his ship, for Batavia, and there -chartered the American brig 'Pocahontas,' to carry it to Canton. Mr. -Smith's agent there rechartered her to take as much of the proceeds of -the treasure as she could carry in teas and silks to New York, where she -safely arrived in charge of the first officer, Mr. Teel (Captain Snow -having died on the passage), close upon ten months from Whampoa. - -'A good full,' cries out the second mate to the man at the wheel as -a breeze springs up. A first-rate 'old salt,' and as odd a fish, our -second mate, as need be. I have been time and again amused with the -yarns he has spun during his first watches. Of the war of 1812 he is -full of anecdotes. He is always on the dolphin-striker when porpoises -are around us, and usually strikes successfully. Anything not done in -a sailor-like fashion excites him, and we hear him cry out, 'You'll -never be a sailor. You were not shaped for a sailor. You were cut out -to handle a musket, not a marlin-spike.' 'Sailors,' said he to me one -evening, 'have their prejudices like others; they have always a run -upon soldiers, more perhaps in joke than in earnest. A sailor will say, -"Give me a messmate before a watchmate, a watchmate before a shipmate, a -shipmate before a dog, a dog before a marine, a marine before a soldier, -a soldier before--the devil." If you ask why a _marine_ in preference to -a soldier, the answer is, because he knows the difference between the -best bower anchor and--a "chaw of baccy!"' - -We now steered for Dampier Straits. Having left Booro astern, we were -struck with a sudden and violent squall, resembling more a tornado. -The rain poured down like a deluge, the rattling of the thunder and -the vividness of the lightning were frightful. Our maintopsail-yard -was snapped asunder in the slings, the fore and mizen topsails flew -into ribbons; the jib disappeared from the bolt ropes. Each flash of -lightning was succeeded by the darkness of Erebus, while in the midst of -all, the loud voices of the officers and the replies of the men created -a turmoil such as I had never witnessed. - -The squall was luckily of short duration; it came upon us during the -dog watch, but so intelligently did all hands do their duty, that by -midnight another maintopsail-yard was crossed, the sail bent, the other -topsails and the jib replaced, and we were making good way with all sail -set, 'low and aloft,' including royals and flying jib. The stars shone -out with increased brilliancy, all things had returned to a condition -of perfect quiet, so had one watch to their hammocks, and no sound fell -upon the ear save the ripple of the water under the bows. We had noticed -before, and this night particularly after the squall, a strong spicy -odour, the air seemed 'breathing an aromatic redolence.' - -As we neared Pigeon Island, the vast and imposing one of New Guinea -being to our right, numerous canoes came alongside. The appearance of -their inmates was singularly repulsive; the wool on the heads of these -Papuans was of so fertile a growth, that it reached a diameter of over -two feet, while from the application of chunam, it becomes a dirty, -uncertain red, hideous to behold. By means of baskets attached to -ropes, we carried on a trade, giving in exchange for shells, plantains, -papayas, stuffed birds of paradise, and ingeniously made baskets, -everything in the shape of cast-off garments that we could muster. It -was thought a mockery when I offered an old straw hat for a bird of -paradise, but everything seemed fish that came to their net, and to -my surprise the bucket returned with the coveted prize. On the return -of the ship to New York I sent it home, and it proved a rare and most -acceptable gift. We anchored near Pigeon Island during the night, and -the next day entered the Pacific Ocean. - -We hove to close to the Pelew Islands, to allow a crowd of canoes to -come alongside, that we might obtain further supplies of fruit, shells, -and yams, and thereby get rid of the remainder of our old clothes. The -natives were considered as unoffensive, but this was not justified by -an attack made by them, just before we passed, on a schooner from Java -to Lintin. Her deck was crowded with natives, who had been permitted to -come on board, and while bartering, suddenly the crew was fallen upon -and several killed, all who could taking to the rigging. Plundering -then commenced. The 'boarders' were having it their own way, but had -overlooked the cook, who had shut himself in his galley. Bolting one -door, he suddenly commenced a liberal distribution of hot water on the -assailants, who, being entirely naked, plunged overboard with astounding -shrieks and yells. The men aloft quickly descended. Seizing handspikes, -they were in time to cut off the retreat of many who had been inspecting -the cabin lockers, the bodies of these were thrown overboard, a few -musket shots hastened the departure of the canoes, and the schooner -continued on her journey. - -Our course was north-westerly, the crew employed in putting the ship -in order. After passing through the Bashees, one of the men being over -the side, to reeve the lower studding sail tack, he tumbled overboard. -The second officer, to whose watch he belonged, threw him a rope, which -he _just_ caught and was soon hauled up on deck. 'You must have been -asleep,' said Mr. Hughes, who then asked him if the water felt warm or -cold. When the officer came in the cabin later, he exclaimed, 'That -fellow wouldn't have fallen had he not been fast asleep; but it is lucky -for him he "awoke in time" to get hold of the rope, or he would have -gone down.' This is a specimen of what 'Jack' calls 'sojer's comfort.' -They had what they called 'sailor's comfort' every Saturday afternoon in -the middle watch. It consisted in overhauling their chests and bags, or -mending their clothes, on the system, as they said, of putting a patch -next to a patch, as being neighbourly, but never a patch upon a patch, -as that was beggarly. Many of the men remembered, as boys, the wearing -of 'pig tails,' and their being mutually dressed, preceded by the -calling out in the 'foksle' of 'Tie for tie,' or, 'Tie me, I'll tie you, -and damn all favour.' - -No happier crew were ever 'rocked upon the cradle of the deep' than -the one of which the 'Citizen' was composed. This was the result of -uniformly taut but considerate treatment, the best of food, good grog, -and no _needless botheration_, while the utmost harmony prevailed -between Captain Keen and his officers. On the return of the ship to -Canton, on her second voyage after, in 1827, Captain Keen related the -homeward passage of 1825, which was an unusually hard one. The ship was -forty days from point Natal to the Cape, knocked about in the teeth -of westerly gales and frightful seas, and referring to his crew he -remarked, 'No better men ever manned a ship.' - -We made the coast of China at 5 A.M. on February 11, 1825. A pilot came -on board off the Lema Islands, took us through the channel of the same -name, having to starboard the then 'terra incognita,' 'Hong Kong,' and -anchored the ship under the island of 'Lintin,' at 2 o'clock P.M., 125 -days from New York. - - * * * * * - -The island of 'Ling Ting,' or the 'Solitary Nail,' commonly called -'Lin Tin,' was at this time the anchorage of the 'opium store ships,' -and temporarily of vessels whose destination was Whampoa (with some -exceptions). On the arrival of an American ship, she communicated with -her agent at Canton by means of a 'fast boat,' meanwhile despatching -another one to Macao for a pilot to take her inside the river. The -_exceptions_ were the ships of the English East India Company, and -country ships from India having no opium on board (those which had -anchoring at Lintin to deliver it); these then took pilots off Macao and -sailed directly to the 'inner anchorage,' as Whampoa was called. The -Lintin anchorage was not, however, only an opium station. All vessels -bound to Whampoa were loaded with general cargo, or with rice only, and -were subject to what were called Cumsha and Measurement charges. These -were very heavy in the case of the former, but moderate in the latter. -It was therefore an object for a vessel entering the river with only -part of a general cargo to fill up with any freight that might offer, -and thus reduce the heavy charges referred to, or to send up what she -had on board, if of moderate quantity, in another ship, then load with -rice and go on to Whampoa, if she was to load with tea for her return -voyage. It almost always happened that these arrangements could be made, -as arrivals were continually taking place with rice cargoes or general -cargoes. - -After a week's detention at Lintin, the 'Citizen' was directed to -receive any river freight that might offer, and proceed to Whampoa. -In passing the Bogue[5] Forts, the main topsail was backed while the -pilot went on shore to exhibit his pass to the Mandarin, with whom he -returned to the ship, ostensibly to verify description with fact; but -it is unnecessary to say this had become a mere matter of form. After -a glass of wine, and presenting the old gentleman with a few sheets of -writing paper, which, I found out afterwards, were considered a great -treat, I offered him a box of a then recent invention, viz., friction -matches; they astonished him mightily, and he left us with numerous -'Chin-chin's' and best wishes for 'good wind and good water,' equivalent -to a quick passage. We anchored abreast of French Island on the 20th. - - * * * * * - -It was in the year 1745 that Yung Ching, the third Emperor of the -present dynasty, ordered all foreign trade to be confined to the port -of Canton, universally known as Whampoa. Separated by a branch of the -river from French Island stands Dane's Island. These were so named from -the privilege that those nationalities originally enjoyed of occupying -bankshalls or storehouses upon them, wherein to shelter the crews while -smoking ship and overhauling after the desperately long passages they -must have made from Europe. All vestiges of those buildings have long -since disappeared, but numerous decaying tombstones, half buried beneath -earth and weeds, still tell the tale. The regular tea season being over, -we found few vessels at Whampoa, and these, as with the 'Citizen,' were -designated, 'out of season ships.' The northern side of the anchorage -is formed by the important island of Wang-Po; the river is named the -Wang-Po, and the same is applied to the anchorage. The words mean the -'Yellow Anchorage.' On the island is a large town of many thousand -inhabitants, almost all of whom are directly or indirectly connected -with the foreign shipping, as compradores, stevedores, blacksmiths, &c. - -The Choo, or Pearl River, commonly called the Canton River, presented a -vastly different appearance on the 21st February, 1825, from what it did -twenty years later. It was then crowded with native vessels, including -those immense coasting junks which have now almost entirely disappeared. -They then made voyages to the northern and southern ports of China, to -the Celebes, Borneo and Java, and to Singapore, as well as to Manila. -Long tiers of salt junks lined the shore of the island of Honam; these -brought cargoes from Teenpak and places on the coast south-westward of -Macao. They were owned by a corporation of salt merchants, who enjoyed -a monopoly of the trade, and, to prevent smuggling, a special fleet of -cruisers was organised by the local government. The penalties against -a clandestine introduction of salt were as severe and more rigorously -carried out than even against opium. The merchants were an influential -body, as much considered as the Hong merchants, whom they rivalled in -wealth. The number of cargo boats from the interior, of passenger boats, -floating residences and up-country craft, with Government cruisers -and flower boats, was prodigious. To these must be added sampans,[6] -ferry boats plying to and from Honam, and quantities of barbers' boats, -vendors of every description of food, of clothes, of toys, and what -would be called household requirements if in shops on shore; besides -boats of fortune-tellers and of theatrical performers--in short, imagine -a city afloat, and it conveys a very correct idea of the incessant -movement, the subdued noises, the life and gaiety of the river. - -But now, an additional interest was added to this floating scene, from -its being the first days of the Chinese new year. The noise of gongs, -as a compliment to the meeting of mutual acquaintances or when one boat -or junk arrived or set sail, was startling; and finally, the red and -gilt patches of paper, on which words or sentences were written in large -black characters, appropriate to the opening of the new year, formed -another conspicuous feature on every kind of craft. Ships' boats were -usually furnished with paddles, which were always brought into use from -below the Dutch Folly to the landing place in front of the factories. -The oars of our boat being therefore replaced by them, with skill and -patience, after two hours from Whampoa, we landed at 'Jackass Point,' -so memorable in the days of old Canton. Crossing the Square, under -the guidance of Captain Keen, we entered the Suy-Hong, and met with -the kindest reception from Mr. Jacob Covert and Oliver H. Gordon, the -special agents of Mr. Smith, and from the two younger members of the -office, John H. Grosvenor and Thomas Bloodgood. - -Having been sent by Mr. Smith to Canton expressly to study the Chinese -language preparatory to entering his office there, as the difficulties -to be overcome in providing a teacher for me proved insuperable, Mr. -Covert decided to send me at once to Singapore, where a college had -been commenced in which foreign students could be received, and which -might be ready for the purpose. I went, therefore, to the Straits in -the Bombay ship 'Good Success,' Captain Poynton, and arrived at my -destination in the month of April, after seventeen days' passage. -I took letters to the Resident, Mr. Crawford, and others, and was -consigned to Messrs. A. L. Johnston and Co. The college, however, had -not only not been finished, but there was no prospect of its being. My -friends, therefore, after taking information from Malacca, where the -Anglo-Chinese College was in full operation, sent me there in a small -native brig. We arrived after four days' passage from Singapore. During -the two months that I passed at Singapore I was the guest of Mr. and -Mrs. Christopher Read in their bungalow on the ascent of Government -Hill. I shall never forget the parental care of my host and hostess. -They soon caused me to forget that I was the youngest of strangers -in, to me, a most strange land. To this day I recall their quiet and -unaffected efforts to make me at home, and the drives they took me in -their palkee gharrie. The novelty of everything interested me; it was as -if I had landed on another planet. At that time the site occupied by the -present town of Singapore was being cleared of its primitive jungle. - -The Anglo-Chinese College was in every way adapted for instruction, and -I continued in it as a student of Chinese until the end of December -1826. I then left in the ship 'Bengal Merchant' for Canton. She was -loaded with cotton and opium, and not a fast sailer. Captain Brown was a -most pleasant and agreeable gentleman, full of jokes and amusing stories -with which to while away the time. We anchored at Singapore, which gave -me an opportunity to see my old friends the Reads, Mr. A. L. Johnston, -and to run up to Government House to make my salaam to Governor and -Mrs. Crawford and their nieces, being received everywhere with a kindly -welcome and the exclamation, 'How you have grown!' Continuing on our -voyage, we passed through the Caramatta Passage, the Java Sea, Straits -of Salayer, and into the Pacific by Dampier's Straits again. Between the -Pelews and the Bashees we fell in with a typhoon _au grand complet_. At -night the sea was as white as snow and of portentous height, coming -upon us with the full uninterrupted sweep of the Pacific. We anchored at -Lintin after a passage of sixty days. - -Mr. D. W. C. Olyphant had arrived in 1826 as the successor of Mr. -Covert; Mr. Gordon had entered the office of Messrs. Russell and Co., -No. 2 Suy-Hong. The American Factory had been entirely built anew -since 1825, and to it I betook myself. In addition to Mr. Olyphant -were Charles N. Talbot and Charles W. King. Mr. Talbot was filling the -office of U.S. Consul, and the flag was daily hoisted in the Square in -front of the house. No. 1 Suy-Hong was occupied by James P. Sturgis, -No. 3 by John R. Latimer, and No. 4 by John P. Cushing, T. T. Forbes, -and John Hart. With Mr. Olyphant I called on, and made the acquaintance -of, the Rev. Dr. Morrison, who had recently returned from England. Soon -after I underwent a searching examination by him of the progress I had -made in my Chinese studies at the Malacca College, and he pronounced -it to be 'good.' There was no intention, however, that they should be -discontinued, and in a few days I was placed under the tutorship of Le -Seen-Sang. The tea season was over; all but one or two 'out of season' -ships had sailed, but of those remaining was my old home and 'first -cradle of the deep,' the 'Citizen,' and it was not long before Captain -Keen and I again on board at Whampoa 'fought over the battles' of our -voyage out together. - - * * * * * - -The year 1827 was a dull one so far as business was concerned, and I -read Chinese with my teacher 'Le.' At length the tea season commenced -in October. When the ships began to arrive, unpleasant news came -also. My brother, of the office of Thomas H. Smith and Son (as it -had become), wrote me that 'difficulties' existed in the affairs of -the house. Finally it stopped payment and went into liquidation, but -from causes not attributable to its China business. The Canton agency -had therefore to be closed. Consulting with Mr. Olyphant in regard to -myself, he advised me to return to New York, where only my position -could be arranged. As usual at the time of which I write, certain -indentures between employers and _employés_ were usually drawn up. They -existed between Mr. Smith and myself. In them, he engaged to send me to -China for the purpose of acquiring the Chinese language, and then to -be employed in his Factory at Canton, as clerk or Factor, and I was to -render him service until I should have reached the age of twenty-one. -It was a long time for me to look forward to in 1827. Several ships of -the New York house were loading which had arrived in regular course -before insurmountable difficulties had occurred. Amongst them was the -'Mary Lord,' Captain Rosseter. I left in her and arrived in a good -run of 120 days. My fellow-passenger was Mr. Daniel Stansbury, whose -name has become identified with the American trade at Canton from his -having been the inventor of a measuring rod, by which cargoes were ever -after measured. It proved to be an instrument of wonderful accuracy and -rapidity, simple in the extreme, as well as the most convenient that can -be imagined. 'Stansbury's measuring rod,' now proverbial, dates from our -last war with Great Britain, 1812, when the inventor, being at Canton, -and business with the United States suspended for some time, in his days -of forced idleness he conceived the actual mode of measuring cargoes, -which up to that time had been measured with the foot rule! - -My interviews with Mr. George W. Bruen, the partner of Mr. Smith, led -to no other result than the cancelling of the indentures, without -indemnity. Not long after Mr. D. W. C. Olyphant himself returned to -New York, leaving Messrs. Talbot and King at Canton, with the view of -establishing a house there of his own. His first purchase was a very -fine ship named the 'Roman,' Captain Lavender, of about 500 tons. He -offered me a passage out in her, for the _chance_ of being employed -in the new house, which afterwards occupied for a great many years -so distinguished a position in the commercial community in China. I -accepted the _chance_ and sailed in the 'Roman' in October. We were in -all six passengers. The father and brother of Mr. Charles N. Talbot -going out for the trip; Mr. Talbot, senior, had already been to Canton -in 1802 or 1803. Two of the others were the Rev. E. C. Bridgman and -the Rev. David Abeel. They were the first American missionaries to the -Chinese. The former became one of the most accomplished Sinalogues of -the day (which I _do not_ attribute to my having given to both these -gentlemen daily lessons on the passage out!), while Mr. Abeel was the -_first_ United States Consul appointed at _any_ port north of Canton, -being commissioned to Amoy. - - * * * * * - -We sailed in October, and anchored at Lintin in February, _viâ_ -Dampier's Straits, in 134 days. I was received by Mr. Talbot, who, from -the yet uncertain advices from New York as regarded future business, -could hold out no encouragement for me of office work; but, failing -any other house, I was always welcome to a return passage in the -'Roman.' There were very few American houses then in Canton, and they -were Agencies; moreover, they seemed provided with youngsters, and I -accordingly prepared to leave again for New York. Meanwhile, however, -Mr. Talbot busied himself on my behalf, but the stay of the 'Roman' -was short and she was soon to be despatched. There appeared absolutely -nothing to be done. A few days before the ship sailed, while in my room, -occupied with my luggage, one of the Chinese servants came to me, and -said, 'Mr. Talbot chin-chin you come down.' I went accordingly, and was -introduced to Mr. Samuel Russell, the chief of the house of Russell & -Co. He had heard, he said, from Mr. Talbot, of my probable return home -in the 'Roman,' and had come to invite me to his office. I accepted -the offer, and in the evening I was duly installed at No. 2 Suy-Hong. -This was on March 24, 1829, and it became my uninterrupted home until -December 31, 1842. - - * * * * * - -The word 'Factory' was an importation from India, where the commercial -establishments of the 'East India Company' were so designated, and -synonymous with 'agency.' It is well to explain this, as it is now being -confounded with 'manufactory.' - -The space occupied by the foreign community at Canton was about 300 feet -from the banks of the Pearl River, eighty miles from Macao, sixty miles -from Lintin, forty miles from the Bogue Forts, and ten miles from the -Whampoa anchorage. In breadth from east to west it was about 1,000 feet. -On it stood the Factories, which comprised the dwellings and places of -business of each nation originally under one roof. The line of frontage -was uniform, all looking due south. The distinction of _new_ given to -_one_ of the two buildings occupied by the 'Company' applied to that -one which was rebuilt after the great fire of 1822, which destroyed all -the others, with a few exceptions, as well as, according to official -accounts, '12,000 Chinese houses, shops, and temples in the western -suburb.' Each Factory consisted of a succession of buildings, behind -one another, separated by narrow spaces or courts, and running north. -The front ones were numbered 1, those back of them, nearly all of three -stories, No. 2, 3, and so on. The least numerous Factories were then -in the American Hong, the greatest number were in the Danish and Dutch -Hongs, which contained seven and eight respectively. - -The Chinese word 'Hong' was applied to any place of business, but -was more particularly used to designate the Hongs of the 'Security -Merchants' whence Hong Merchants or any foreign Factory in its entirety. -It signifies a row of buildings. By the Chinese, the places of business -of foreigners were known as 'Foreign Hongs;' those of the Security -Merchants as 'Foreign Hong Merchants.' - -Beginning at the west, stood the Danish Factory; adjoining it were -Chinese shops in its whole length, forming New China Street, which here -intervened, separating it from the Spanish. Next the French, and by its -side in its whole length, that of the Hong Merchant Chungqua; Old China -Street here came in, and against it was the American, then the Imperial, -by its side the Paou-shun, next in order the Swedish, the old English, -and then the Chow-Chow.[7] Now came a small narrow lane, the renowned -Hog Lane, most appropriately named. The high walls of the new English -Factory bordered the lane, having as next neighbour eastward the Dutch, -and next to this stood the Creek Factory. The latter took its name from -a small creek, which, running down along the walls of the city, here -emptied into the river. Originally this creek formed the ditch of the -west side of the city. - -The entire number of buildings, therefore, was thirteen. Immediately in -their rear, and running east and west, was a long, narrow, but important -street, named 'Thirteen Factory Street.' - -From the front of the new English a long broad terrace projected towards -the river, its columns supporting an entablature, whose pediment bore -the arms of England with the substitute of 'Pro Regis et Senatus Angliæ' -for 'Honi soit qui mal y pense.' The Dutch company ('Maatschappay') -possessed a similar terrace, with the national arms and motto 'Je -maintiendrai.' These two, the English and Dutch Companies, were the -direct successors of those founded on December 31, 1600, and in 1602 -respectively. The English Jack, the Dutch, the United States, and the -Spanish flags, were daily, in 1825, hoisted before those respective -Factories, and were visible from a great distance. The Spanish flag -represented the Philippine Company. The French flag was hoisted on -December 13, 1832, after an interval of thirty years; it denoted simply -the Canton residence of the Consul, as the trade of that country was -insignificant, while the Swedish, Danish, and Imperial (Austrian) direct -commerce had ceased, and no other Western nation traded directly with -Canton. Portugal was confined in her commercial relations to her own -colony of Macao; Russia to Kiachkta. From the port of Cha-po, on the -east coast of China, two junks sailed annually to Nagasaki. Siamese -vessels would occasionally be seen at Whampoa, when conveying tribute -bearers on their way to Pekin, and not far from the Factories was the -residence of the Ambassadors. - -At the northern extremity of Old China Street, and facing it, stood -an extensive and handsomely built series of buildings, in the Chinese -style, called the 'Consoo' House, or 'Council Hall of the Foreign -Factories.' It contained numerous suites of rooms for receptions and -business, with open courtyards, and was always kept in excellent order -and cleanliness by the Chinese in charge. It was the property of the -Hong merchants collectively, and was maintained by funds appropriated -by them for the purpose. When any event bearing upon the foreign -trade required it, such as new regulations, or confirming old ones, -or a revision of duties, the 'Tai pans' or _Chiefs of Houses_ would -be invited to meet the Hong merchants and discuss the subject. Any -foreigner went if inclined, and would occasionally learn of many -official acts, having a bearing upon business, and even upon his daily -walks or boat-pulling on the river, which may have come under the notice -of the authorities, who would have suggested shorter journeys or the -exercise of care from collisions. It was also in the Consoo House that -the Hong merchants met, or a committee of them, in the rare cases of -bankruptcy or pecuniary difficulties of one of their number, and it -was the depository of books of accounts relative thereto, as well as -of records of meetings. The entrance to it was by a flight of broad -granite steps, through large heavy folding doors of a highly polished -and valuable wood.[8] Being a handsome specimen of this style of Chinese -architecture, foreign visitors to Canton were taken to see it as one of -the sights. - -The Factories were the individual property of the Hong merchants, -and were hired of them. By law, no women were permitted to enter -them, nor were guns, muskets, powder, or military weapons allowed to -be brought within the gates. Entrance to the rear Factories was by -arched passages running through those in front. The lower floors were -occupied by counting-rooms, go-downs, and store-rooms, by the rooms of -the Compradore, his assistants, servants and coolies, as well as by -a massively built treasury of granite, with iron doors, an essential -feature, there being no banks in existence. In front of each treasury -was a well-paved open space, with table for scales and weights, the -indispensable adjuncts of all money transactions, as receipts and -payments were made by weight only, except in some peculiar case. The -second floor was devoted to dining and sitting rooms, the third to -bedrooms. As almost all were provided with broad verandahs and the -buildings put up with care, they were quite comfortable, although -in every respect devoid of ornamental work. In front of the middle -Factories between Old China Street and Hog Lane ran a broad stone -pavement, and this bordered an open space running down to the banks of -the river, a distance of about three hundred feet. On the east side -it was bounded by the wall of the East India Company's landing place -and enclosure, and on the west by the wall in front of the landing and -enclosure of Chungqua's Hong. The Chinese were prohibited from loitering -about this 'Square,' as it was called. On the corner of Old China -Street and the American Hong stood a guard-house with ten or a dozen -Chinese soldiers, acting as police to prevent disturbance or annoyance -to the 'foreign devils.' On the edge of the river, facing the 'Pow -Shun' and the Creek Hongs were 'Chop' houses,[9] or branches of the -Hoppo's department, whose _duty_ it was to prevent smuggling, but whose -_interest_ it was to aid and facilitate the shipping off of silks (or -the landing of cloths) at a considerable reduction from the Imperial -tariff. A few pleasant words, accompanied by a fee, would secure a -permit for the boat of the 'Wandering Eagle' to be allowed to pass all -revenue cruisers 'without molestation' on her way to Whampoa. - -[Illustration: - - Island of Honam. - - _REFERENCE._ - - A. _Pwanting Qua Street._ - B. _New China Street._ - C. _Old China Street._ - _X Guard House._ - D. _Hog Lane._ - E. _The Creek._ - F. _Jack Ass Point._ - L. _Old Clothes Street._ - N. _Old Tom Linguist._ - O. _Carpenters Square._ - P. _Bridge Over Creek._ - G.H.J. _Custom Houses._ - K. _King Qua's Hong._ - M. _Mau Qua's Hong._ - H. _Hou Qua's Hong._ - X. _Honam Joss House._ - Y. _Hou Qua's House._ - Z. _Pwanting Qua's House._ - _CH._ _Consoo House._ -] - -The words Factory and Hong were interchangeable, although not -identical. The former, as will have been seen, consisted of dwellings -and offices combined. The latter not only contained numerous offices -for _employés_, cooks, messengers, weighmasters, &c., but were of vast -extent, and capable of receiving an entire ship's cargo, as well as -quantities of teas and silk. When speaking of their own residences, -foreigners generally used the word 'Factories;' when of a Hong -merchant's place of business, the word Hong. The Swedish Factory, -however, seemed to enjoy the distinction of going by its Chinese -appellation, viz. 'Suy-Hong.'[10] - -I have been thus specific in the description of these world-renowned -Factories, as they were subsequently razed to the ground consequent -upon Sir Michael Seymour's bombardment of the city of Canton. When I -last visited the site, nearly thirty-five years after I first took up -my residence in them, it was literally unrecognisable. It presented -a scene, the desolation of desolation; there remained not one stone -upon another! For more than one hundred years they had formed the sole -residence of foreigners within the limits of the vast Chinese Empire. -The business transacted within their walls was incalculable, and I think -I am safe in saying that from the novelty of the life, the social good -feeling and unbounded hospitality always mutually existing; from the -facility of all dealings with the Chinese who were assigned to transact -business with us, together with their proverbial honesty, combined with -a sense of perfect security to person and property, scarcely a resident -of any lengthened time, in short, any 'Old Canton,' but finally left -them with regret. - -In no part of the world could the authorities have exercised a more -vigilant care over the personal safety of strangers who of their own -free will came to live in the midst of a population whose customs and -prejudices were so opposed to everything foreign, and yet the Chinese -Government was bound by no treaty obligations to _specially_ provide -protection for them. They dwelt at Canton purely on sufferance. Neither -Consul nor any other official representative from abroad was directly -acknowledged as such, and yet the solicitude of the local government -never flagged. In addition to the guards always posted at the corner of -the American Hong and Old China Street, others were stationed in various -directions in the suburbs frequented by foreigners, in order that any -Chinese who might be troublesome could be driven off, or that they -could escort back to the factories those who were uncertain of their -whereabouts. - -During the north-east monsoon fires were quite frequent in the densely -populated suburbs lying north of the factories. When they threatened the -foreign quarter the Hong merchants, acting in consonance with the known -wishes of the Mandarins, would send gangs of armed coolies to assist in -the removal to boats provided by them of books, papers, treasure, and -personal effects. All strange Chinese would be ruthlessly driven from -the Square, and an unobstructed passage to the boats secured. I have -witnessed this repeatedly. Should a foreigner get into a disturbance -in the street, and it was generally safe to say it was through his -own fault, the Chinamen went to the wall. When a mob of many thousand -ruffians invaded the Factory Square, as in November 1838, shortly -preceding the opium surrender, and with stones and missiles of all sorts -drove the foreigners inside their gates, which they were forced to -barricade, a not unnatural anxiety prevailed amongst us as to what might -be the result. Yet this attack was _caused by foreigners, who interfered -with the Mandarins_ while attempting to carry out Government orders. - -All foreigners who came to Canton, from the first arrivals, were -considered as having no other object than that of commerce. The -English and the Dutch made their appearance in the first half of the -seventeenth century; successively arrived, the Danes, Swedes, and -Austrians (Imperialists). The Spaniards invited the Chinese to their new -settlement at Manila for a time, and afterwards they themselves came to -the provincial city. - -Some amongst these different nationalities, tradition said the Dutch, -had _red hair_, which led the Chinese facetiously to apply the term -'Red-headed Devils' ever after to all foreigners alike. They themselves -give to the whole of their own race the name of 'Black Hair'd.' - -The authorities framed eight regulations for the especial government -and control of these divers people from afar. They date from the year -1760, and are curious enough to recall. Never having been abrogated, -they were assumed to be in force always. They were confirmed by an edict -of the Emperor Kea-King in 1819, after a revision in 1810. Some of them -came to be disregarded by the foreign community, particularly those -referring to the Gardens, the Honam Temple, and pulling in their own -boats on the river; but so far as regards women entering the Factories, -an infringement of them in this essential particular took place in -1830, as will be seen hereafter. The chief sufferers in the event of a -disregard of any important item of the regulations would of course be -the Hong merchants. The 'Eight Regulations' were now and then brought to -the Factories by a Linguist, as an intimation that they were not to be -considered a 'dead letter.' Translated into English they read thus---- - - _Regulation 1._--All vessels of war are prohibited from - entering the Bogue. Vessels of war acting as convoy to - merchantmen must anchor outside at Sea till their merchant-ships - are ready to depart, and then sail away with them. - - _Regulation 2._--Neither women, guns, spears, nor arms of - any kind can be brought to the Factories. - - _Regulation 3._--All river-pilots and ships' Compradores - must be registered at the office of the 'Tung-Che'[11] at Macao. - That officer will also furnish each one of them with a licence, - or badge, which must be worn around the waist. He must produce - it whenever called for. All other boatmen and people must not - have communication with foreigners, unless under the immediate - control of the ships' Compradores; and should smuggling take - place, the Compradore[12] of the ship engaged in it will be - punished. - - _Regulation 4._--Each Factory is restricted for its service - to 8 Chinese (irrespective of the number of its occupants), say - 2 porters, 4 water-carriers, 1 person to take care of goods - ('go-down coolie'), and 1 ma-chen (intended for the foreign word - 'merchant'), who originally performed all the duties of the - 'House Compradore,' as he is styled to-day. - - _Regulation 5_ prohibits foreigners from rowing about the - river in their own boats for 'pleasure.' On the 8th, 18th, and - 28th days of the moon 'they may take the air,' as fixed by the - Government in the 21st year of Kea-King (1819). All ships' - boats passing the Custom-houses on the river must be detained - and examined, to guard against guns, swords, or firearms being - furtively carried in them. On the 8th, 18th, and 28th days of - the moon these foreign barbarians may visit the Flower Gardens - and the Honam Joss-house,[13] but not in _droves_ of over ten - at one time. When they have 'refreshed' they must return to the - Factories, not be allowed to pass the night 'out,' or collect - together to carouse. Should they do so, then, when the next - 'holiday' comes, they shall not be permitted to go. If the ten - should presume to enter villages, public places, or bazaars, - punishment will be inflicted upon the _Linguist_ who accompanies - them. - - _Regulation 6._--Foreigners are not allowed to present - petitions. If they have anything to represent, it must be done - through the Hong merchants. - - _Regulation 7._--Hong merchants are not to owe debts to - foreigners. Smuggling goods to and from the city is prohibited. - - _Regulation 8._--Foreign ships arriving with merchandise - must not loiter about outside the river; they must come direct - to Whampoa. They must not rove about the bays at pleasure and - sell to rascally natives goods subject to duty, that these - may smuggle them, and thereby defraud His Celestial Majesty's - revenue. - - * * * * * - -Originally there existed two English East India Companies, the oldest of -which was incorporated in 1579. In the year 1600 they amalgamated, and -received a charter from Queen Elizabeth. At the same time they assumed -the title of the 'United East India Company,' and as a trade-mark, a -heart with two transverse bars, bearing in the four divisions thus -formed the letters V. E. I. C. - -[Illustration: V E I C] - -This trade-mark had acquired such a well-merited reputation at Canton, -that it was considered unnecessary to examine any package of merchandise -that bore it. A simple exhibition of musters was made, when transactions -were concluded, and the original packages forwarded unopened to all -parts of the Empire. The Company's vessels first arrived at Canton -between 1650 and 1660, and tea was first used in England in 1666. - -By the Chinese the Company was known as Kung-Se, the characters -signify 'United Affairs.' By the Canton community its representatives -collectively were universally referred to as 'The Factory.' They were -much more numerous than the members of any other establishment. In 1825, -the 'Factory' consisted of Sir James Urmston, chief; Messrs. W. H. C. -Plowden, Marjoribanks, and J. F. Davis, of whom two, with the chief, -formed a select committee; of writers (as usually called) there were -about twenty; an inspector of teas, Mr. Reeves; chaplain, the Rev. R. H. -Vachell; surgeons, Pierson and Colledge; and an interpreter, the Rev. -Dr. Robert Morrison. - -The 'Factory' entertained with unbounded hospitality and in a princely -style. Their dining-room was of vast dimensions, opening upon the -terrace overlooking the river. On the left was a library, amply stocked, -the librarian of which was Dr. Pierson; on the right a billiard room. -At one extremity of the dining-room was a life-size portrait of George -IV. in royal robes, with crown and sceptre, the same that had been taken -by the Embassy of Lord Amherst to Pekin, offered to and refused by the -Emperor Keen-Lung, and brought to Canton overland. Opposite to it hung a -smaller full-length portrait of Lord Amherst. - -From the ceiling depended a row of huge chandeliers, with wax lights, -the table bore candelabra, reflecting a choice service amidst quantities -of silver plate. - -I was glad to have witnessed this sight, unique in that distant quarter -of the world, to reach which the old adage would apply, 'it was not -every one who could get to Corinth.' Soon after I landed at Canton, I -had the honour of a first invitation to dine with the 'Factory' and must -confess that at my then age I accepted it with fear and trepidation. One -of the _invité_ from the Suy-Hong, Mr. Oliver H. Gordon, accompanied me. -Our way led through the great outer gate, past the 'chapel' whose spire -bore conspicuously a large clock, the only one in Canton, and by which -everyone regulated his watch; then up a broad flight of stone steps to a -verandah, crossing which one entered the library and reception room as -well. When the hosts and the guests had assembled, large folding doors -were opened and we entered the noble dining-room, whose brilliancy and -cheerfulness and gorgeously furnished table I see _now_. At the remote -end of the room were grouped the Chinese servants of the Factory and of -the guests, in caps and long robes, who immediately took up their places -behind their respective masters as soon as seated. - -About thirty gentlemen were present, including Mr. Bletterman, chief -of the 'Maatschappay;'[14] Mr. Hollingworth Magniac, of the 'licensed' -house of Magniac & Co. (predecessors of the present firm of Jardine, -Matheson, & Co.); Mr. Thomas Dent, of another 'licensed' firm, Thomas -Dent & Co.; and several of my own countrymen, including Mr. Benjamin C. -Wilcox and John R. Latimer. - -But the days of the Honourable East India Company were now unconsciously -drawing to an end. It had existed for 250 years! It ceased as a -'commercial' body in 1833. Many members of the 'Factory' were then -removed to India and there took up civil appointments. Messrs. Astell -and Clarke alone remained at Canton to close up outstanding affairs, -and finally left in December 1839. Twenty-five more years were accorded -to the Company after 1833 to transfer to the Crown the splendid empire -those enterprising merchants had founded in India, and in 1858 its sun -set--politically. - -Few now remain who witnessed the final breaking up and departure of -'the Factory' from Canton; personally, there was much regret, as it had -always been a marked feature in the community. The 'Outside' Merchants, -unshackled from licenses, hailed it as an auspicious day, opening up to -them visions of prosperity, which soon assumed the form and substance of -reality. As an event to be placed 'on record' as the Chinese say, the -first 'free ship' with 'free teas' was loaded at Whampoa and despatched -for London on March 22, 1834, by the still existing house of Messrs. -Jardine, Matheson, & Co. The vessel was named the 'Sarah,' Captain -Whiteside. - -The principal teas shipped by the Company were Bohea and Congo. One may -judge of their qualities by their selling in England from 'two shillings -and sixpence up to sixty shillings per pound, while sound common Congo -is selling to-day at sixpence farthing'! (Messrs. J. C. Sillar & Co's -tea circular of February, 1881.) The Company imported English-made -woollens and cottons and raw cotton from India. The most important of -the licensed houses in 1825 were Magniac & Co., Thomas Dent & Co., -Ilberry, Fearon & Co., Whiteman & Co., and Robertson, Cullen, & Co. -(Colonel Fearon, who commanded the detachment of troops on board the -East India Company's ship 'Kent,' burnt in the Bay of Biscay, 1825, on -her way to Calcutta, was a brother of the Mr. Fearon just named.) Their -transactions were with India, and in the aggregate on a very extensive -scale. They received raw cotton from the three Presidencies; opium -from Bombay and Calcutta; rice, pepper, tin, &c., from the Straits of -Malacca. The local name for their business was the 'Country Trade' the -ships were 'Country Ships' and the masters of them 'Country Captains.' -Some of my readers may recall a dish which was often placed before us, -when dining on board these vessels at Whampoa, viz., 'Country Captain.' -The ships were 'Country' built as well, and of teak; they were not fast -sailers, but comfortable and substantial. They made one voyage annually, -rolling up the China Sea before the south-west monsoon and rolling down -again with the north-east. Some of them, as the 'Sulimany,' the 'Fort -William,' the 'Futty Salaam,' were not far from their eightieth birthday. - - * * * * * - -The Hong merchants (collectively, the Co-Hong) as a body corporate date -from 1720. From that year, except for a short interval before 1725, -they were the monopolists of the foreign trade. The principal ones, in -1825, were Houqua, Mouqua, Pwankeiqua, Pwansuylan, Chungqua, Kingqua, -and Gouqua. The affix _qua_, which is usually supposed to be a part of -the name, is simply a term of civility or respect, and is equivalent to -Mister or Sir. The word means literally to 'manage' or 'control.' The -number of the 'Co-Hong' was limited to thirteen. - -Their establishments commenced on the creek already referred to, and -extended eastward on the riverside, whereby the shipping off and landing -of cargo were attended with great facilities. They were the 'warehouses' -in which were received all the teas and silk from the interior, and -in which these articles were repacked, if necessary, weighed, matted, -and marked, before being sent to the ships at Whampoa. The boats in -which they were conveyed were of a peculiar build, with circular decks -and sides, and from their resemblance to a melon they were called -'water-melons' by the Chinese, but by foreigners they were always -referred to as 'chop-boats.' They were of the capacity of 500 chests -of tea, or 500 piculs of weight. The orderly and intelligent despatch -of business at the Hongs was characteristic of the Chinese, as were the -neatness of all packages and the dexterity with which they were handled. - -The Hong merchants were the only ones officially recognised by the -Government, and no goods bought of 'outside' Chinese could be shipped -off except through one or the other of the 'Hongs,' which received -thereon a tax, and in whose name they were reported to the Hoppo. The -'outside' merchants had, however, become of great importance, their -transactions were on an immense scale annually. As manufacturers of -silks, of floor-matting, nankeens, crapes, grass-cloth, and a host of -less important articles, many of them had amassed great wealth; at the -same time, they were always assumed, officially, as confining themselves -strictly to such things as were necessary for the 'personal use' of -foreign residents. In fact, it was 'custom' from time to time for the -authorities to remind them of this, and even to enumerate the things -which they were only allowed to furnish. As a curiosity they may be -recorded--clothing, umbrellas, straw hats, fans, shoes, and so on! - -The Hong merchants were responsible to the Hoppo for the duties on all -exports and imports. They alone transacted business with that officer's -department--viz., the 'Customs'--by which foreigners were spared trouble -and inconvenience. It may be as well to mention here that the 'Hoppo' -(as he was incorrectly styled) filled an office especially created -for the foreign trade at Canton. He received his appointment from the -Emperor himself, and took rank with the first officers of the province. -The Board of Revenue is in Chinese 'Hoo-poo' and the office was locally -misapplied to the officer in question. - -As controllers of the entire foreign commerce of the port of Canton, -which amounted annually to many millions of dollars, if the benefits -derived therefrom were of vast importance, the responsibilities were -also great. For infractions of 'regulations' by a ship or by her agents -they were liable. It was assumed that they could, or should, control -foreigners residing in the Factories as well as the vessels anchored at -Whampoa. In both cases they were required to 'secure' due 'obedience.' -Every resident therefore had his 'sponsor' from the moment of landing, -as every ship had hers, and hence the Hong merchants became 'security -merchants.' My own was Houqua, who of course represented some others -also, and in view of these mutual relationships we would jocularly call -them 'our horse godfathers.' - -The purchases of the East India Company were divided amongst the Hong -merchants proportionately, in shares, of which fourteen fell to the lot -of Houqua. - -The position of Hong merchant was obtained through the payment of large -sums of money at Pekin. I have heard of as much as 200,000 taels, say -55,000_l._ sterling. If the 'license' thus acquired was costly, it -secured to them uninterrupted and extraordinary pecuniary advantages; -but, on the other hand, it subjected them to calls or 'squeezes' for -contributions to public works or buildings, for the relief of districts -suffering from a scarcity of rice, as well as for the often imaginary or -over-estimated damage caused by the overflowing of the 'Yang-tsze-Keang' -or the 'Yellow River.' - -'Well, Houqua,' you would say on some visit, 'hav got news to-day?' 'Hav -got too muchee bad news,' he would reply; 'Hwang Ho hav spilum too -muchee' That sounded ominously. 'Man-ta-le[15] hav come see you?' 'He -no come see my, he sendee come one piece "chop." He come to-mollo. He -wantchee my two-lac[16] dollar.' It was the old complaint, a 'squeeze' -and this time a formidable one. 'You pay he how mutchee?' 'My pay he -fitty, sikky tousand so.' 'But s'pose he no contentee?' 'S'pose he, -N^{o.} 1, no contentee, my pay he one lac.' This actual incident will -show the sort of demands upon the senior Hong merchant (each one being -called upon in his turn) and their pecuniary importance. They knew at -the same time that the object of the 'squeeze' was exaggerated, and, -even if necessary, that only a modest portion would go to the repairs -of the banks of the river, the mandarin thinking that his own personal -wants were far more pressing. They might try to parry the question, -they might succeed in getting the sum asked for diminished, but they -could not escape. Payments would also be made by them to the Hoppo on -the occasion of his return to Pekin, on the appointment of a successor, -as well as to the chiefs of the Revenue Board in that capital; but such -as these had a _raison d'être_, they secured influence and protection, -and besides, the sums paid were voluntary and comparatively moderate in -amount. - -As it added to their dignity and privileges, the Hong merchants -purchased nominal rank, the insignia of which was denoted by a button or -coloured globe attached to the apex of the cap. Of this they might be -deprived for offences against the law or for bankruptcy; then a wearer -of it in local parlance would be 'unbuttoned,' or deprived of this -significant emblem of his social and public status. - -The occupation of a 'merchant' in China is looked down upon by wealthy -landed proprietors, by the _literati_, and by those who have risen to -official rank through their own talents; but bankruptcy is considered -degrading and even criminal. - -Bankrupts are first deprived of any nominal rank they may possess before -being so adjudged by law. Previous to my arrival at Canton one case -of a bankrupt Hong merchant had taken place. The penalty for a member -of the Co-Hong was transportation to E-Lee. Only one other occurred -during the remainder of the period of the existence of the Co-Hong. The -last exiled bankrupt was Man-Ho. He had been a general favourite with -the foreign community, was a person of courteous manners, and in every -respect a well-bred and kindly man. He had borne on his cap the 'blue -button' which denoted the third rank--principal--and it gave him the -privilege of a certain title on his cards, &c. The books and affairs -of his Hong passed into the charge of the Co-Hong for examination, the -result proved most unsatisfactory, and when it was laid before the Hoppo -he was declared bankrupt, and sentenced to transportation for life to -E-Lee (the present Kuldja), on the north-west frontier. It is commonly -spoken of by the Canton Chinese as the 'Colo'[17] country. Few know its -geographical position. Preparations having been made for his departure, -at a moment when some officials were leaving for that remote province, -Man-Ho, with other condemned persons, was placed under their charge. The -boats, having all these on board, anchored off the Factories. Many of -his old Chinese and foreign friends went on board to say goodbye. One -of the latter handed him a letter, in which was expressed sympathy for -his misfortunes. And it added that a sum of money, subscribed by the -Hong merchants and themselves for his personal comfort, had been placed -with reliable servants of his own, who were accompanying him of their -own accord. Neither the Government nor the Hoppo objects to such aid -being rendered by relations and friends to one who by misfortune or bad -management has incurred the penalty of the law, if not excessive. In the -present case the amount was 10,000 dollars. - -In a few hours after, the convoy left on one of the most dreary journeys -that can be imagined. It occupied several months, involving constant -transhipment to other boats, now over execrable roads in the most -comfortless of bamboo chairs, then on pony back, and frequently on foot. - -A very long time after his departure we heard, by the return of one of -his servants, that Man-ho had been at first set to work as 'sweeper' -in a temple, which he was able to compromise into a purely nominal -'office.' Again, that he had managed to get about him sundry comforts, -such as E-Lee possessed, which is saying very little. Years passed, when -we at once heard of his death and of the arrival of the body at Canton -(in charge of the servants who had remained with him) for interment in -his native place. - -After Man-ho left Canton I saw, in the hands of one of the above foreign -contributors, his promissory note for $60,000, bearing interest at 5 -per cent. per month. This was not exorbitant, under the circumstances -in which it was given. The current rate of interest, with the best -security, was 1 per cent. per month on running account, while 2 to 3 per -cent. on temporary loans per month was common. - -As a body of merchants, we found them honourable and reliable in all -their dealings, faithful to their contracts, and large-minded. Their -private residences, of which we visited several, were on a vast scale, -comprising curiously laid-out gardens, with grottoes and lakes, crossed -by carved stone bridges, pathways neatly paved with small stones of -various colours forming designs of birds, or fish, or flowers. - -One of the most beautiful was that of Pwankeiqua, on the banks of the -river, three or four miles west of the Factories. The number of servants -in these private 'palaces,' as they would be called elsewhere, was very -great, comprising, with those ordinarily in attendance, doorkeepers, -messengers, palankin bearers, and choice cooks. We had occasional -opportunities of judging of the skill of the latter by an invitation to -a 'chopstick' dinner, signifying that no foreign element would be found -in it. - -We would be served with such delicacies as birds'-nest soup,[18] with -plover's eggs and Beche-de-Mar, curiously prepared sharks' fins and -roasted snails; these forming but a very small proportion of the number -of courses, which ended with pastry of different sorts. The liquids were -wines prepared from rice, called 'Samshoo,' also from green peas, from -a fruit called Wang-pe, and others whose names we never knew. The wines -were served in tiny silver or porcelain cups, each placed on handsomely -worked silver stands. - -These feasts were very enjoyable, even when their novelty had worn off; -the host, full of _bonhomie_ and politeness, never failing to escort us -to the great outer gate on leaving, and place us under the charge of his -coolies, who would there be waiting with large lanterns bearing his name -to escort us back to the Factories. - -It is not true, as has been supposed, that on these convivial occasions -the guests were served with roast or boiled 'puppy' as a _bonne bouche_, -and I am sure that the author of the following lines gave way to his -imagination after a 'chopstick' dinner with 'green pea' wine when he -wrote them, or to fortify a current joke:-- - - The feast spread out, the splendour round - Allowed the eye no rest; - The wealth of Kwang-Tung, of all Ind, - Appeared to greet each guest. - - All tongues are still; no converse free - The solemn silence broke; - Because, alas! friend Se-Ta-Che - No word of Chinese spoke. - - Now here, now there, he picked a bit - Of what he could not name; - And all he knew was that, in fact, - They made him sick the same! - - Mingqua, his host, pressed on each dish - With polished Chinese grace; - And much, Ming thought, he relished them, - At every ugly face! - - At last he swore he'd eat no more, - 'Twas written in his looks; - For, 'Zounds!' said he, 'the devil here - Sends both the meats and cooks!' - - But, covers changed, he brightened up, - And thought himself in luck - When close before him, what he saw - Looked something like a duck! - - Still cautious grown, but, to be sure, - His brain he set to rack; - At length he turned to one behind, - And, pointing, cried: 'Quack, Quack.' - - The Chinese gravely shook his head, - Next made a reverend bow; - And then expressed what dish it was - By uttering, 'Bow-wow-wow!' - -Numerous instances of munificence and generosity can be recorded on -the part of the Hong merchants. I relate some of the _senior_ one as -illustrations. He would accept the direct consignment of an American -ship, if it was commanded by an old friend. Such a one came to Whampoa, -commanded by Captain C----, having on board a cargo consisting in -a great measure of quicksilver. The price of this article was much -depressed at the time. It was landed at Houqua's Hong and stored, -he offering to take it at its market value. Several months elapsed, -when the close of the south-west monsoon foretold 'business,' and the -Factories began to look out for return cargoes for their ships of new -teas daily arriving. Quicksilver still remained without demand. At the -price it bore, a considerable deficiency would exist in the capacity -of the vessel and the quantity of teas which could be bought with the -proceeds. At the same time news had arrived of an improvement in prices -at New York which exhibited a large profit. Captain C----, therefore, -judging it better to sell his quicksilver and load with all the despatch -he could with as many teas as it would purchase, closed the sale, which -was, in commercial phraseology, 'puttee book' (duly recorded). Tea -purchases were then immediately made, in the course of which Houqua -said to his consignor, 'Olo flen,[19] you shall have a full cargo to -return with; I will furnish it, you can pay my next voyage--you no -trub' (give yourself no anxiety). Everything being thus definitely -arranged, the vessel commenced loading, and was half full, when Houqua -came to Captain C---- and informed him that a sudden demand had arisen -for 'quick'[20] on the part of northern merchants returning to their -provinces, that it had advanced materially in value, and he had been -credited with the parcel he brought out _at the price of the day_; -moreover, that he had cancelled on his books the first purchase. This -generous act on the part of his consignee enabled Captain C---- to leave -with a full cargo, all paid for, and made a difference in the outturn of -his voyage of nearly 30,000 dollars. This information I received some -years after at Canton from Captain C---- himself. - -An American gentleman, who had resided many years at Canton, and had -possessed a considerable fortune, met with serious losses. The hope -of regaining it induced him to continue operations, in which he was -materially assisted by Houqua. They had been, as was usually said, in -the words of the place, 'olo flen.' Time passed, considerable sums were -placed at the disposal of Mr. W----, no reference being made to them by -the Hong merchant, until, at the end of a second or third year, Houqua's -and his accounts were compared, and the balance in favour of Houqua was -72,000 dollars. For this amount he took a promissory note and it was -locked up in his strong box. From knowing Chinese, I was often behind -the scenes on similar occasions, not that the holder had any doubt of -irregularity on the part of the signers, but simply to translate them -into his language for his own satisfaction. It may be stated here that -not a single Chinese then existed at Canton who could read or write -English. I found that these notes bore simply the endorsement of sum and -date with the names of the drawers. Time still went on; Mr. W---- had -frequently expressed a desire to return to the United States, but hoped -that a 'good turn' would take place in his affairs and enable him to -cancel his note. It was cancelled in a most unexpected manner! - -One day, when on a visit to his Chinese friend, the latter said, 'You -have been so long away from your own country, why do you not return?' -To which Mr. W---- replied that it was impossible--he could not cancel -his note, and this alone would prevent him. Houqua enquired if the -bond, only, kept him in Canton, and if he had not some means wherewith -to provide for a residence at home? The answer was that no other debts -existed, and he was not without resources--but the note!! Houqua -summoned his purser, and ordered him to bring the envelope containing -promissory notes from the treasury. Taking out that of Mr. W----, he -said, 'You and I are No. 1, "olo flen;" you belong honest man, only no -got chance.'[21] He then tore the note up, and throwing the fragments -into the waste-paper basket, added, 'Just now hav settee counter, alla -finishee; you go, you please.' That is to say, 'Our accounts are now all -settled, you can leave when you like.' - -When the English troops, under Sir Hugh Gough, on May 21, 1841, had -taken up a position on the heights north of the city walls, and were -prepared to attack, they were prevented doing so by a despatch from -Captain Elliot, the British Superintendent of Trade at Canton, then on -board the cutter 'Louisa,' lying off the Factories. He informed Sir -Hugh Gough that the city had consented to pay a ransom of six millions -of dollars, and directed him to return to the ships in the river with -the forces. This was a judicious and humane arrangement, brought about -by Captain Elliot. Had the city been entered, the loss of life would -have been dreadful, to say nothing of the destruction of houses and -property. There would, moreover, have been but little glory to gain, as -it was in a state of defence utterly inadequate to resist 2,200 English -soldiers and sailors. The authorities of the city, having concluded -the arrangement for the ransom, began at once to look about for money, -and as usual _reminded_ the Hong merchants that something liberal was -expected of them. - -They contributed 2,000,000 dollars, of which Pwankeiqua gave 260,000, -Houqua 1,100,000, and the others 640,000. A belief exists amongst the -Chinese that there is an invisible agency influencing man's career -in life, which they call 'Fung Shuy,' literally 'wind and water.' A -striking illustration of this belief was brought out on this occasion. -Houqua availed himself of the _accident_ of contributing, to express his -gratitude to 'wind and water' for notable incidents in his own life, -and in this way, mentally, he apportioned his donation. For himself, in -recognition of his 'prosperity,' 800,000 dollars; for his eldest son, -200,000 dollars for unswerving filial piety; and 100,000 dollars for his -youngest son, who happened to be born when he himself had just completed -the full term of a 'cycle,' or sixty years. This is considered a very -happy coincidence, or No. 1 'Fung Shuy.' For the total sum, Captain -Elliot was handed three promissory notes, drawn by Messrs. Russell & Co. -at thirty days' date in favour of Houqua, by whom they were endorsed to -his order. Captain Elliot deposited them for collection with Messrs. -Jardine, Matheson, & Co. and Dent & Co. These firms had removed their -offices to Macao, as well as Messrs. Russell & Co. The notes were for -400,000, 400,000, and 300,000 dollars respectively. At this time the -last-named house held about two and a half millions of dollars belonging -to their constituent, the endorser. As an instance of the just pride -Houqua took in his remarkable position and of his commercial sagacity, -a few days before the maturity of the three notes a letter was received -from him in Chinese at Macao, which read thus:-- - -'Benevolent Elder Brother,[22]--The notes endorsed by me to Elut,[23] as -you know, will soon be due. Offer to pay them at once. You will see by -calculating that if the money is now accepted there will be a gain of -over nine hundred dollars by the discount. May all your days be as one.' - -Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, & Co. and Dent & Co. were immediately -communicated with, the notes came in for payment, and were cashed, less -the discount, which amounted to a little short of a thousand dollars! -The next time I saw Houqua in Canton he talked merrily over the close -of the transaction, and said, 'My all same, "Ba-Blo."'[24] The old -gentleman liked to compare himself with that famous house with which, -through Messrs. Russell & Co., he had had for years important business. - -Demands of money on the Co-Hong never ceased. One instance was a -requirement by the Viceroy that they should pay off the indebtedness of -three of their own number to 'outside barbarians.' They were Hingtai, -Mouqua, and Kingqua. Houqua then paid $1,000,000, Pwankeiqua $130,000, -Pwan Hoyqua $70,000, Samqua and Saoqua each $50,000, Footai $90,000. -I mention this circumstance as a feature of 'Old Canton;' it being a -measure taken to prevent complications with Governments beyond the sea. - -In contrast to the style of official language, private letters from the -Hong merchants left nothing to be desired in civility. Here is one of -many. In the year 1837, a few of us younger members of the community -established the 'Canton Regatta Club,' for boat-pulling and sailing on -the river, our chief amusements and mode of taking the air. Nothing like -a club had yet existed. Presently the Hong merchants, in virtue of their -office as 'guardians' of our persons, as well as our 'securities' in -the eyes of the local government, on hearing of the club organisation, -being apprehensive of accidents, they wrote this letter to one of the -members:-- - - 'Ham Tak, venerable old gentleman,--We beg respectfully to - inform you that we have heard of the intention of our respected - elder brother and other chin-te-le-mun[25] to race boats on - the river. We know not if this is true, but heretofore it has - not been custom. Should the authorities hear of this, we your - younger brothers would be reproved, not mildly, for permitting - you to act so indiscreetly. On the river, boats are mysteriously - abundant; everywhere they congregate in vast numbers; like a - stream they advance and retire unceasingly. Thus the chances of - contact are many, so are accidents, even to the breaking of - one another's boats, to the injury of men's bodies, while more - serious consequences might ensue. - - 'We therefore beseech our worthy senior[26] to make known to - the other chin-te-le-mun that they would do well to refrain from - contesting the speed of their boats on the river, so that after - troubles may not accumulate. Then all will be well. Daily may - your prosperity increase, without difference. - - '(Signed) - 'HOUQUA, MOUQUA, PWANKEIQUA' - AND OTHERS. - -The amount of Houqua's fortune was frequently a subject of debate; -but on one occasion, in referring to it in connection with his -various investments in rice-fields, dwellings, shops, and the banking -establishments known as shroffs, and including his American and English -shipments, he estimated it, in 1834, at twenty-six millions of dollars. -Assuming the purchasing power of money at that time as being but twice -greater than at the present day, it would now represent a sum of -$52,000,000. He was a person of remarkably frugal habits (as regards -his style of living) from choice and from being of a feeble frame of -body. His generosity was boundless, and in accounts he was singularly -methodical and precise, never multiplying them beyond what was -absolutely necessary. The two or three rooms which he occupied during -hours of business in his vast, well-regulated Hong were furnished with -simplicity itself. - -He withdrew from general business with the foreign community after -the Honourable East India Company left Canton, and confined himself -exclusively to the house of Messrs. Russell & Co. Through them his -foreign business was entirely managed. His yearly shipments to London -of those celebrated Chops of Congo, grown on his family estates in the -Woo-E country, were well known and appreciated in the English market. -His transactions were on a very important scale, and he entrusted them -to his Canton agents, through whom they were carried out, with the -well-merited confidence which they inspired. They embraced England, -the United States, and India. As another illustration of his generous -nature, I may refer to an affair that took place nearly fifty years ago, -in which his orders were not complied with. We had shipped a cargo, -principally of raw silk belonging to himself, which he had ordered -from the silk country. It was sold at a large profit. His instructions -were that the proceeds should be returned in East India Co. bills on -Calcutta. To our surprise and his disappointment, the result of the -sale was invested in a cargo of British goods. It was as injudicious -an arrangement (free trade then beginning) to ship largely of English -manufactures as his own shipment was sagacious, for but little silk was -exported immediately after the opening of the trade. The result showed a -difference of many thousand dollars to his detriment. On the deviation -of orders becoming known Houqua was at once informed that he should not -suffer for this breach of instructions, and for the loss we would credit -his account. - -The old gentleman replied, 'My consider, my show you to-mollo'--that is -to say, he would think it over and let us know his decision 'to-morrow.' -The following day he was at the office, and this was his decision, -which he emphasised by striking the floor with his cane--Write to Mr. -C----[27] and tell him he must be more careful in future, 'must take -care.' He accepted the woollens, and refused to accept any indemnity. - -This last chief of the world-renowned 'Co-Hong,' which ceased with the -treaties after an existence of 130 years, died at Honam on September 4, -1843, aged seventy-four, having been born in the same year with Napoleon -and Wellington, 1769. - - * * * * * - -Next to the Hong merchants, other Chinese were closely allied to the -foreign community as 'Linguists'--so called, as it used to be remarked, -because they knew nothing of any language but their own. They were -appointed by the Hoppo to act as interpreters, and were duly licensed. -Besides, this was in accordance with the orders of the Pekin Government. -As up to treaty days, neither Consul nor Vice-Consul of a foreign nation -was 'officially' acknowledged, whenever either one of these officers -made a communication to the Hoppo, it had to be done through the Hong -merchants, to whom the despatch was taken by a Linguist. The reply would -be addressed to these merchants, who were directed to make known the -answer to the 'Chief' of the nation, that 'he might reverently inform -himself of it and be duly obedient' (a matter of form). - -The principal Linguists were 'Old Tom,' 'Young Tom,'[28] and 'Alantsae.' -They were at the head of numerous assistants employed in the ordinary -business of foreigners, such as attending upon Mandarins from inside the -city while examining merchandise being landed or shipped off, and making -up reports of the duties for those officers to take to the Hoppo's -office for registration and subsequent collecting. Their duties were by -no means light. They were liable to be summoned at any moment, night or -day, in connection with the multifarious matters in which their services -were required. They were always ready and ever willing, and proved a -wonderful convenience to the community at large. Through them we applied -for permits when going on a trip to Macao, for the shipping off of an -entire cargo of teas or for landing one of foreign goods. All details -of whatever nature were regulated and attended to by them. By law and -'old regulations,' on an excursion on the river, to the 'flower gardens' -a few miles off, or to the Great Buddhist Temple at Honam, opposite -the Factories, a Linguist _should_ personally attend. One was also at -our disposal for a visit to any other place to which the 'regulations' -or 'old custom' permitted us to go. It may be added at the same time -that the 'regulations' which required his personal presence on such -occasions were not strictly enforced, but they were never abolished. -The object of the Mandarins in enjoining upon the Linguists that one of -them should accompany foreigners in their walks or boating excursions -was from the best of motives--that these should not lose their way or -become involved in collisions with the people arising from ignorance -of one another's language. It was the duty of a Linguist to distribute -amongst the Factories any Government proclamations having reference to -their affairs, relating to vessels at Whampoa or the 'receiving ships' -at Lintin. In regard to these last the Linguist would 'translate it,' -and point out that the 'Man-ta-lee' said, 'if they did not immediately -get up their anchors and return to their own countries or come to -Whampoa, cruisers would be sent down to drive them away, and no more -patience manifested.' Then would come the time-honoured question of 'You -savee?' or, 'Do you understand?' with the usual addition of, 'This time -the Mandarin is _really_ in earnest.' The precious document would then -be deposited in the leg of his stocking or in his boot (the customary -receptacles), and with 'My chin-chin you'[29] he would pass on to our -next-door neighbour. - -During the shipping season, from October to March, the Linguist of a -ship in course of loading would be summoned in the evening to a foreign -counting-room (if necessity required), and was frequently detained until -long after midnight while lists of teas to be shipped off in the morning -were being prepared. With these lists he would then be obliged to go to -perhaps several Hongs, to see that the teas were in readiness and 'chop' -boats ordered to convey them to Whampoa. These duties often involved a -whole night's work, but no sign of impatience or inattention was shown. -When a vessel was ready to be measured, the Linguist informed the Hoppo, -who then ordered an officer to Whampoa to attend to this duty, and he -was always attended by a member of the Linguists' establishment called -the 'mandarin' or 'official' Linguist. Should she be under despatch, the -Linguist furnished the agent with a memorandum of the 'Measurement and -Cumsha' charges, and at her final departure he brought to his office -the 'grand chop,' or port clearance, which was only delivered to him -when he had furnished the Hoppo with receipts or certificates of the -import and export duties having been paid, and satisfied him that all -formalities had been fulfilled. When a fire broke out near the Factories -they were immediately in attendance. - -They were, as a body, 'our all in all.' The senior Linguist, popularly -known as 'Old Tom,' was a remarkable man, both physically and mentally, -one whose calmness and self-possession never forsook him. Whether -threatened by the authorities or scolded by foreigners, he never gave -way to ill-humour. He was wonderfully adroit in making everything smooth -with the mandarins and pleasant to the 'outside barbarians,' even in -questions the most irreconcilable. - -Each vessel anchoring at Whampoa incurred a Linguist fee of $250. For -every chop-boat landing her inward cargo, $15.22. Her outward cargo was -taken to her by the sellers of it, at their own risk and expense. - - * * * * * - -The most important Chinese within the Factory was the _Compradore_. -He was secured by a Hong merchant in all that related to good conduct -generally, honesty and capability. All Chinese employed in any factory, -whether as his own 'pursers,' or in the capacity of servants, cooks, -or coolies, were the Compradore's 'own people;' they rendered to him -every 'allegiance,' and he 'secured' them as regards good behaviour and -honesty. This was another feature that contributed to the admirable -order and safety which characterised life at Canton. The Compradore -also exercised a general surveillance over everything that related -to the internal economy of the 'house,' as well as over outside -shopmen, mechanics, or tradespeople employed by it. With the aid of his -assistants, the house and private accounts of the members were kept. He -was the purveyor for the table, and generally of the personal wants of -the 'Tai-pans' and pursers.[30] - -The treasury in which all the cash and valuables were kept was under -his charge, which was no light matter, as with some houses the amount -of cash was extremely large, frequently over a million of dollars and -rarely under $150,000 to $200,000. During the dull season, from April to -October, the principal books of accounts, all important correspondence -and letter books were also deposited in it. For many years after -1824, no such thing as a copying machine was known; all copying was -done by hand, and this exacted greater care of business letters and -papers, while as no Banks existed in the old days, each house was its -own banker. The position of a Compradore was therefore one of great -responsibility, and I never knew of but one betraying the trust reposed -in him. Although his pay was comparatively small, say $250 or $300 per -annum (the pay of our own was raised to $500), his perquisites, from -sources which had long been in existence, and had become 'olo custom,' -were very important. As the balance of the American trade was greatly -in favour of China, large quantities of Spanish and Mexican dollars were -yearly imported to make up the deficiency arising from comparatively -little other import cargo. Teas and silks, and many minor articles -coming under the general head of 'Chow-chow,' were bought for cash. -Thus every ship from the United States brought largely of dollars at -times--as in the case of the 'Citizen,' $350,000, while in 1831 three -vessels alone brought $1,100,000. Added to these supplies, opium was -invariably sold for cash, and so were bills on London when they came -into use; consequently all this money passed primarily through the hands -of the Compradore. He derived a profit from the process of _shroffing_ -which it underwent before being deposited in the treasury; but after -the goodness of a parcel and its exact amount were ascertained, he was -liable for any bad money that might afterwards be found amongst it. He -paid the Shroff one-tenth of a dollar per one thousand for examining -it, while the fixed charge by the Compradore was one-fifth. This formed -an important sum. Another one of his perquisites was five copper cash -(about a halfpenny) per dollar on all payments, no matter to whom or on -what account, of odd sums less than one thousand dollars, which charge -was borne by the payee. He also derived benefit from loans or advances -made to 'Outside' Chinese merchants (and from them) on contracts for -silks and other merchandise entered into with his employers, while on -all Factory supplies he received also a percentage. In the year 1823 -occurred the first and only robbery by a Compradore that came under my -knowledge. He was in the service of one of the two most important of -the American houses, then occupying No. 3 of the Suy Hong. He had made -use of a large sum belonging to the firm for his own speculations, and -it was accidentally discovered. Mr. A----, the then chief of the house, -went directly to Houqua, the Compradore's 'security,' and reported the -loss. The man himself was sent for, and, greatly to the indignation -of his patron, confessed to having used the money for speculation, -intending to replace it, but the unexpected examination by Mr. A---- had -not allowed him time to do so. Houqua sent the deficiency to the firm -the same evening. It was over $50,000. - - * * * * * - -We have seen who and what were the Co-Hong, the Outside Chinese -merchants, the Linguists and Compradores, and what their respective -relations with foreigners were. There now remains the _Shroff_, or money -dealer, whose services were indispensable, particularly in receipts. -They were manifest daily and hourly in the broad arched passages passing -through the Factories, along which, as was constantly said, one could -never move without seeing heaps of silver being examined and hearing its -metallic ring as successive quantities were poured in and out of copper -scales. Scarcely a day or even an hour passed without this glittering -accompaniment of old Canton life. - -Pieces of silver as well as dollars were shroffed and weighed before -being deposited in the treasury. When that was done, dollars had -no longer a distinct existence, for in commerce the Chinese treat -silver and gold as they do lead, iron, or copper. In this they show a -characteristic good sense, and are rewarded by it in the facility with -which all money transactions are carried on. As the result of long -experience, the imported dollar was found to be worth 717/1000 taels -in weight, and this became the standard in all current book accounts. -No coined money exists in the Empire except copper cash, with which -every one is familiar. The use of it is confined to the daily wants of -the people, and it never enters into transactions of importance, except -when money-changers replenish their stocks. The convenience of such a -circulating medium gives facility to every one, no matter how humble his -requirements, and was a wise piece of legislation. The obverse of the -coin bears the name of the Emperor during whose reign it was made, in -Chinese characters, with two others which mean 'circulating value.'[31] -Commerce, on the other hand, stood in need of a larger representative -of value, and this was supplied by gold and silver bars or lumps in -portable sizes. Bar gold bears a small proportion to bar silver in -quantity, and is in oblong pieces usually of ten taels in weight, and -silver[32] in oval lumps called 'shoes' of various sizes and values. -There is no Government interference in the manufacture of these bars and -shoes for purposes of trade, no more than there is of any other metal, -while the guarantee of their purity and value is simply the stamp of the -Shroff or money house by which they are issued. - -As a natural consequence of the non-existence of gold or silver coin, -imported dollars, from being continually weighed and stamped when -passing from hand to hand, became 'chopped dollars' or 'cut money' -in Canton phraseology, the first from being stamped by the Shroff on -examining them, with any character which he may select, and which -is his guarantee of goodness. In the shapeless form which they thus -acquire, payments are made by weight in taels, and its component parts -of mace, candareens, and cash.[33] This custom of weighing metals -has existed in China since 903 A.D. If any money stamped by a Shroff -on examination proved bad, it was exchanged by him, but such cases -were extremely rare. A small pair of scales for money transactions is -generally carried by Chinese attached to a waistbelt. - -Shroffs examined all amounts brought to them by any one, but went -to the foreign Factories, to the Hong merchants or other customers, -when required. The charge was small, and the amount of silver passing -yearly through their hands was enormous, as amongst the Chinese all -transactions were for money or its representative.[34] Shroffs were also -'changers'--providing when required either Sycee, chopped dollars, or -gold--as well as bankers, making loans or receiving deposits. The floors -of their shops are covered with brown tiles, and at the end of the year -they can sell the privilege of removing the floor for the chance of -finding scraps of silver which may have escaped through the interstices -of the tiles, the buyer of the privilege replacing the floor at his own -cost. I have heard of as much as fifty taels (about $70) being paid to -an important Shroff-shop for such a transaction. - -Several descriptions of dollars were imported from 1825, previous -to which time the most numerous were those of Carolus IV. of Spain. -These kept the preference above all others, and were currently known -as 'Old Heads.' So accustomed were the Chinese to this dollar, that -when Carolus III. or Ferdinand VII. were offered, they were taken with -reluctance, while the 'Old Head' commanded a premium, and it thus became -an exception to the general rule of 'breaking up.' For a long time they -had been taken by dealers in raw silk from the middle provinces, in -whole dollars, and finally so much prejudice existed in their favour -that they would take no others except as cut money. This caused them -to advance in value to 10 and even 15 per cent.; finally, during one -season, we sold to the senior Hong merchant $60,000 at a premium of 30 -per cent.,½ receiving in exchange $78,000 in cut money. Ferdinand VII.'s -dollars became 'New Heads,' and next came into favour, there being a -diminishing supply of the 'Old,' but they were never at more than 1 to 2 -per cent. premium. Of other kinds there were Chilian, Peruvian, Mexican, -and United States, which were submitted to the process of breaking up, -and were never in greater favour with the Chinese than cut money. They -were not 'old custom,' and they could not reconcile themselves to the -new effigies or legends which they bore. Now and then, if wanted for a -special occasion, Mexican dollars could be passed at a small premium, -say 1 or 1½ per cent. It is very probable, as often supposed, that the -Shroffs had much to do with these varied transactions; they were behind -the scene and perhaps they had, as many of the establishments belonged -to wealthy proprietors, who used them for purposes of speculation in -money. - -Book accounts, as has been said, were kept in dollars and cents by -foreign houses, at the conventional rate of 717/1000 of a tael per -dollar. There was but one exception, that of the English East India -Company, which adopted the more rational system of Chinese currency. -Payments for raw silk were made at 750/1000, for teas 720/1000, musk -750/1000, as well as for some kinds of opium. As all Chinese produce -went by weight, even raw and manufactured silk, and as all computations -were in decimals, this system contributed to the ease with which -business was carried on. - - * * * * * - -_Pigeon-English_ is the well-known name given to that unique language -through the medium of which business was transacted and all intercourse -exclusively carried on between the 'Western Ocean' foreigners and Canton -Chinese. For years after my arrival but three foreign residents were -Chinese scholars--namely, Doctor Morrison; the present Sir John Francis -Davis, the last Chief of the English East India Company's establishment; -and one American, myself--while 'Pigeon-English' had grown up with the -early days of foreign intercourse with the port of Canton. It is not -difficult to arrive at the creation of this particular and strange -language. Foreigners came to Canton for a limited period, and would not -or could not apply themselves to the study of so difficult a language as -the Chinese, of which even a sufficiency for commonplace purposes was -not easy to acquire, and if acquired would be useless anywhere else. The -local government also placed serious obstacles in the way of learning -it, to the length of beheading a Chinese teacher for giving lessons. -This is on the authority of Dr. Morrison, who related to me an instance -that took place before I arrived, and he further informed me that for -years after his own arrival in 1807 he was obliged, as a protection -to his own teacher, to study at night in a room with lights carefully -screened. - -On the other hand, the shrewd Chinaman succeeded in supplying this -absence of the knowledge of his own language by cleverly making himself -familiar with _sounds_ of foreign words, and conforming them to his own -monosyllabic mode of expression, at the same time using simple Chinese -words to express their meaning. He thus created a language, as it may -be called, deprived of syntax, without the logic of speech, and reduced -to its most simple elements. It took firm root, became the conventional -medium of intercourse in respect to transactions of enormous value and -magnitude, and exists in all its vigour and quaintness to this day. - -It was undoubtedly an invention of the Chinese, and long anterior to the -appearance of the English at Canton in its origin, as may be proved by -the admixture of Portuguese and Indian words still to be found in it, -the latter having probably been originally made known by those primary -visitors from the western world _viâ_ India. The English came more than -a hundred years after; words from their language were then gradually -incorporated, and increased with the disappearance of the Portuguese, -who confined themselves to their own growing colony of Macao, until, -finally, the former became the principal traders, and thus this language -became known as Pigeon-English. - -The word 'pigeon' is simply a corruption of 'business' and with its -companion means _business_-English. Of Portuguese origin we have the -most undoubted proof in such words as _mandarin_, from mandar, to order; -_compradore_, from compra, to buy; _joss_, from Deös; _pa-te-le_, from -padre; _maskei_, from masqué, never mind; _la-le-loon_, from ladrao, -a thief; _grand_, from grande, the chief, as, for instance, 'grand -chop;' _junk_, from the Portuguese sound of Chueng in the dialect -of the East Coast, where they first traded. Of Indian words we have -_bazaar_, a market; _Shroff_, money-dealer; _chunam_, lime; _tiffin_, -luncheon; _go-down_, from ka-dang; _lac_, one hundred thousand; _cooly_, -a labourer; _chit_, a note or letter; _bungalow_, a cottage; _kaarle_, -curry, and others. - -Some peculiarities of expression and application of two words constantly -used in Pigeon-English may be mentioned. The language was by no means -confined to those of foreign, but it contained quite a vocabulary of -words of Chinese origin; it was, in fact, a very mixed tongue. 'Chop,' -for instance, is of perpetual occurrence. It is the same as 'cho,' which -signifies literally any 'document.' A shopkeeper's bill is a 'chop,' -so is an Imperial edict or a Mandarin's proclamation; a cargo-boat is -a chop-boat; it does duty also for a promissory note, a receipt, a -stamp or seal, a license for shipping off or to land cargo, a mark for -goods, or a permit. 'First quality' is expressed by 'first chop,' and an -inferior according to quality is No. 6, 8, or 10 'chop,' the worst of -all. When a cooly is sent on an errand requiring haste, he is told to -go 'chop-chop.' A 'first chop' man speaks for itself, so does 'bad chop -man.' - -The variety of uses to which the compound word 'chow-chow' is put is -almost endless, and in some cases have a directly opposite meaning. -For instance, a 'No. 1 chow-chow' thing signifies 'utterly worthless' -but when applied to a breakfast or dinner it means 'unexceptionally -good.' A 'chow-chow' cargo is an assorted cargo; a general shop is a -'chow-chow' shop; provisions of all kinds are classed under the general -head of 'chow-chow;' and, as may have been remarked in the list of the -Factories, one was called the 'Chow-chow' from its being inhabited by -divers Parsees, Moormen, or other natives of India. - -Although by the Chinese all foreigners were called 'Fan Kwaes,' -or 'Foreign Devils,' still a distinction of the drollest and most -characteristic kind was made between them. The English became -'Red-haired devils;' the Parsees, from the custom of shaving their -heads, were 'White-head devils;' Moormen were simply 'molo devils.' -The Dutch became 'Ho-lan,' the French 'Fat-lan-sy,' and the Americans -'Flowery-flag devils.' The Swedes were 'Suy' and the Danes 'Yellow-flag -devils.' The Portuguese have never ceased to be 'Se-yang kwae,' thus -retaining the name first applied to them on their arrival from the -'Western Ocean' (which the words signify), while their descendants, -natives of Macao, are 'Omun kwae,' or 'Macao devils' from the Chinese -name of the town. - -In the Canton book-shops near the Factories was sold a small pamphlet, -called 'Devils' Talk.' On the cover was a drawing of a foreigner in -the dress of the middle of the last century--three-cornered hat, coat -with wide skirts, breeches, and long stockings, shoes with buckles, -lace sleeves, and in his hand a cane. I have now one of these pamphlets -before me. It commences thus, 'Yun,' and under it is its 'barbarian' -definition, expressed in another Chinese word whose _sound_ is 'man.' -After many examples of this kind come words of two syllables--thus, -'kum-yat' with their foreign meaning expressed by two other Chinese -characters pronounced 'to-teay' to-day--and so on to sentences, for -which the construction of the language is peculiarly adapted. This -pamphlet, costing a penny or two, was continually in the hands of -servants, coolies, and shopkeepers. The author was a Chinaman, whose -ingenuity should immortalise him. I have often wondered who the man was -who first reduced the 'outlandish tongue' to a current language. Red -candles should be burnt on altars erected to his memory, and oblations -of tea poured out before his image, placed among the wooden gods which -in temples surround the shrine of a deified man of letters. - - * * * * * - -Although during the south-west monsoon little general business went -on, transactions in Opium were very active. It was the period when the -new drug arrived. Sales were made to brokers for cash (only) against -orders on the receiving ships. The orders would be sent down by 'smug -boats,'[35] which carried the Opium to its several destinations. These -boats, of a peculiar build, were of great length and beam, the latter -increasing rather disproportionately abaft to give quarters to brokers' -agents who always went with them. The crews numbered from sixty to -seventy men, who, like all Chinese boatmen, were singularly good -sailors, intelligent and very active. They plied the oars sitting on low -benches ranged on both sides of the deck, while additional propelling -power was provided in an enormous mainsail and a foresail made of mats, -bamboos, and rattans. The armament was one large gun in the bows, -swivels, spears, and flint-lock muskets purchased from foreign vessels. -The 'smug boats' differed from Government cruisers in a less powerful -armament, smaller crew, and in the hull being bright varnished instead -of painted 'black and red,' which are the colours of the latter. - -On delivery of the opium, the receiving ships were paid five dollars -per chest,[36] which was called 'cumsha' (literally 'gold sand'), and -two dollars for 'demurrage' if the order was not presented within seven -days. It was always repacked, before being taken from the ship, in mat -bags, then marked with the owner's private sign and the weight. At times -as many as one hundred chests, in bulk, would form a single cargo, whose -market value was from $150,000 to $200,000. The Canton agent received -five, afterwards reduced to three, per cent. commission on sales. The -time occupied in unpacking, weighing, and repacking would occupy but a -few hours. The crews of the receiving ships were mostly Manila men and -some Lascars, while the shroffs, carpenters, and boats' crews, cooks and -servants were Chinese. - -It is needless to say the opium trade was prohibited by Imperial edicts -as well as by proclamations of the Canton authorities. The Chinese who -dealt in 'foreign mud'[37] were threatened even with capital punishment, -but so perfect a system of bribery existed (with which foreigners had -nothing whatever to do) that the business was carried on with ease and -regularity. Temporary interruptions occurred, as, for instance, on the -installation of newly-arrived magistrates. Then the question of fees -arose, but was soon settled unless the new-comer was exorbitant in his -demands, or, as a broker would express it, 'too muchee foolo'--i.e. -'the man is crazy.' In good time, however, all would be arranged -satisfactorily, the brokers reappeared with beaming faces, and 'peace' -and immunity reigned in the land. - -Opium was never found for sale in Chinese shops at Canton, nor were -there any signs by which one could judge where it was prepared for sale -or for smoking, it being used in no other form. - -The Canton officials rarely made any reference to the Lintin station; -but sometimes, compelled by form to do so, would issue a proclamation -ordering vessels 'loitering at the outer anchorage' either to come into -port or sail away to their own countries, lest the 'dragons of war' -should be opened, and with their fiery discharges annihilate all who -opposed this, a 'special edict.' - -Another branch of the opium trade was on the East Coast, where vessels -of moderate size, belonging to two foreign houses at Canton, were -stationed, say, near Amoy, Chin-Chew, Cup-Chee, and the island of Namao. -They received supplies by brigs and schooners (all in this business -being known as 'coasters'), which, starting from Lintin, touched at the -anchorages above on going up to deliver, and on their return collecting -the proceeds of sales. As an opportunity offered to get a practical -experience of this trade, which was carried on with all the secrecy -possible by the few engaged in it, I availed myself of a suggestion -from the house to take a run up to Namao. We owned at the time a -Boston clipper schooner called the 'Rose,' which, in 1837, was about -leaving for that anchorage with a quantity of opium sold at Canton for -delivery there, and an additional number of chests to try the market. -The whole cargo consisted of nearly 300 chests of the Canton value of -about $300,000. I joined the vessel at Capshuymun from Macao with an -English gentleman, my guest there, whom I invited to accompany me. The -'Rose' was soon ready for sea; we made sail and started with a moderate -south-west monsoon. She was a foretopsail schooner of about 150 tons -register, with her scuppers within two feet of the water. The weather -proved delightful, the wind steady, and the sea smooth. We kept an eye -upon the barometer, it being the taiphoon season, and a sharp look-out -upon the fleet of 'fishing boats' which covered the water, and the crews -of which were peaceable fishermen or cut-throat pirates according to -circumstances. - -We anchored on the inside of the island of Namao on the third day, -close by two English brigs, the 'Omega'[38] and 'Governor Findlay.'[39] -Inshore of us were riding at anchor two men-of-war junks, with much -bunting displayed; one bore the flag of a 'Foo-Tseang' or Commodore. -Knowing the 'formalities' to be gone through with the Mandarins, we -expected a visit from one, and until it was made no Chinese boat would -come alongside, nor would a junk, not even a bumboat. We had no sooner -furled sails and made everything shipshape, when 'his Excellency' -approached in his 'gig,' a sort of _scow_ as broad as she was long. -Besides the oarsmen, there were official and personal attendants, -in grass cloth with conical rattan hats and flowing red silk cord -surrounding them to the brim. He himself sat majestically in an -arm-chair smoking quietly. A large embroidered silk umbrella was held -over his head, while servants with fans protected him from the attacks -of flies and mosquitoes. He was received at the gangway by Captain -Forster. His manner and bearing were easy and dignified. When cheroots -and a glass of wine had been offered, the 'Commodore' enquired the -cause of our anchoring at Namao. The Shroff[40] gave him to understand -that the vessel, being on her way from Singapore to Canton, had been -compelled, through contrary winds and currents, to run for Namao to -replenish her wood and water. Having listened attentively, the great man -said that 'any supplies might be obtained, but when they were on board, -not a moment must be lost in sailing for Whampoa, as the Great Emperor -did not permit vessels from afar to visit any other port.' He then -gravely pulled from his boot a long red document and handed it to his -secretary, that we might be informed of its purport. - -It was as follows:-- - - AN IMPERIAL EDICT. - - As the port of Canton is the only one at which outside - barbarians are allowed to trade, on no account can they be - permitted to wander about to other places in the 'Middle - Kingdom.' The 'Son of Heaven,' however, whose compassion is as - boundless as the ocean, cannot deny to those who are in distress - from want of food, through adverse seas and currents, the - necessary means of continuing their voyage. When supplied they - must no longer loiter, but depart at once. Respect this. - - Taou-Kwang, 17th year, 6th moon, 4th sun.[41] - -This 'Imperial Edict' having been replaced in its envelope and slipped -inside of his boot (for service on the chance of another foreign vessel -'in distress'), his Excellency arose from his seat, which was a signal -for all his attendants to return to the boat except his secretary. The -two were then invited to the cabin to refresh, which being done, we -proceeded to business. The Mandarin opened by the direct questions, -'How many chests have you on board? Are they all for Namao? Do you go -further up the coast?' intimating at the same time that _there_ the -officers were uncommonly strict, and were obliged to carry out the will -of the 'Emperor of the Universe,' &c.; but our answers were equally as -clear and prompt, that the vessel was not going north of Namao, that -her cargo consisted of about 200 chests. Then came the question of -'Cumsha,' and that was settled on the good old Chinese principle of 'all -same custom.' Everything being thus comfortably arranged, wine drunk -and cheroots smoked, his Excellency said, 'Kaou-tsze' ('I announce my -departure').[42] We escorted him to the side, over which he clambered -with the aid of his secretary; we saw him safely deposited under his -brilliant silken canopy, and in a short time rejoin his junk. - -Chinese buyers came on board freely the moment they saw the 'official' -visit had been made. A day or two after, several merchant junks -stood out from the mainland for the anchorage. As they approached we -distinguished a private signal at their mastheads, a copy of which -had been furnished to us before leaving Capshuymun. We hoisted ours, -the junks anchored close to us, and in a surprisingly short time -received from the 'Rose' in their own boats the opium, which had been -sold at Canton, and there paid for, deliverable at this anchorage. -It was a good illustration of the entire confidence existing between -the foreign seller in his Factory at Canton and the Chinese buyers, -and of a transaction for a breach of any of the conditions of which -there existed no legal redress on one side or the other. This parcel, -whose value was $150,000, had been already packed in bags, marked and -numbered, at Capshuymun. The Chinaman who held the order of the Canton -house for its delivery, on coming on board unfolded it from a cotton -handkerchief, smoked a pipe or two and drank a cup of tea with the -Shroff while it was going over the side, then took leave of us with the -usual 'Good wind and good water,' or, 'May your voyage be prosperous!' -The junks had anchored, mainsail to the mast, and as the last bag was -received on board the anchors were at the bow and they standing to the -northward. - -Various attempts had been made to establish 'floating' depôts further -north, for which purpose even the coast of Corea had been visited, -as well as the port of Ke-Lung on the north end of the island of -Formosa. The clipper 'Sylph,' Captain Wallace, sailed up to the Gulf -of Leaou-Tung, having on board the celebrated Prussian missionary -Gutzlaff, who, for the privilege of distributing the Scriptures and -tracts, acted as interpreter for the sale of opium. The Rev. M. Gutzlaff -was an 'old coaster,' his first appearance in China being as passenger -from Singapore in a Chinese junk. As he had also studied at Malacca, -there was a fellow-feeling between us. The first foreign opium vessel -stationed on the East Coast was the 'Colonel Young'[43] in 1831, her -tender, running between the station and Lintin, being the 'Fairy.' M. -Gutzlaff was for some time on board the former, and, from his knowledge -of the Chinese coast dialects, could make himself very useful. He -resembled a Chinese very much, while _they_ declared him to be a 'son -of Han in disguise'! The accounts of his travels along the coast and -in the interior which he gave me on his return were very curious and -interesting. He would leave the brig and be absent many days together. -On one occasion he nearly reached the frontier of the Canton province; -on another he penetrated to the Bohea tea-country, in the province of -Fuh-Keen. He described the people as hospitable and kind. Sedan-chairs -of a rustic sort were furnished to him, with food without stint, and he -never failed to find quarters for repose and refreshment in a temple. -His object in travelling, besides the acquisition of knowledge, was -the distribution of tracts. On visiting a town or village he would -distribute translations of 'The Word of Life' and administer 'Lee's -Antibilious.' Landing one day in the ship's boat, she was capsized, and -he found himself rolling about in the surf with 'The poor man's friend,' -a box full of 'Saints' Rest,' to which he clung, and packages of -'Cockle's pills,' while in momentary alarm that he and the boat's crew -(four Caffres) would be picked up by shovel-nosed sharks. - -At the end of a fortnight I decided to return to Capshuymun and Canton. -My friend Mr. N---- was agreeable, but the question was, how and when? -The 'Rose' had still a considerable quantity of opium to dispose of, and -would not probably be ready for a month. In this dilemma two days went -by, when the schooner 'Harriet'[44] came in from the northern stations. -She was a small fore and aft craft of nominally 100 tons, built at Macao -by Hamilton, an American ship carpenter, and was commanded by a friend, -Captain Hall, who consented to take us back to Capshuymun. After she -had received treasure from the three Namao vessels, her entire freight -consisted of $430,000 in value of gold bars and Sycee-silver. We went on -board with our traps and servants, and were soon under way. The cabin -being, of course, of preposterously small dimensions, and overrun with -ants, cockroaches, and centipedes, with which we should have interfered, -we made ourselves comfortable on deck--dining, smoking, and joking _al -fresco_. We anchored at Kow-Lung just in time to escape an unusually -heavy taiphoon. We rode it out there; then sailed to Capshuymun, and -from thence direct to Canton by fast boat. - -The 'Rose' subsequently foundered in a taiphoon,[45] on July 21, 1841, -only one of her crew being saved, a Portuguese Sea-cunnie,[46] who -was for three days on a plank. He was picked up by my old friend and -shipmate, Captain Fraser, in the 'Good Success,' thirty miles from the -Grand Ladrone. - -This tedious review of the opium traffic, as existing during the first -fifteen years of my residence at Canton, will give the reader a correct -idea of the mode in which it was carried on. The confiscation of 20,052 -chests by the Imperial Commissioner Lin, in 1839, checked the local -trade for a time, but did not do away with it. Up to this period it had -indeed been an easy and agreeable business for the foreign _exile_ who -shared in it at Canton. His sales were pleasantness and his remittances -were peace. Transactions seemed to partake of the nature of the drug; -they imparted a soothing frame of mind with three per cent. commission -on sales, one per cent. on returns, and no bad debts! To the agent each -chest was worth 20_l._ sterling, one year with another. - -Consequent upon the seizure of the English-owned opium, the city of -Canton, lying at the mercy of Sir Hugh Gough, was ransomed, as has been -said, for $6,000,000, and this sum was afterwards appropriated by the -British Government to indemnify its owners, who had delivered it up, -either directly, or indirectly through their Canton agents, in obedience -to the command of Captain Elliot, 'for surrender to the Imperial -Commissioner on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.' - -The amount of the ransom was much below the ordinary market value, even -of its cost; on the other hand, no one could foresee to what a low price -it _might_ fall, through the measures which were being taken by the -Pekin authorities to 'put an end for ever' to 'opium smoking' in their -dominions, and the whole arrangement was, under the circumstances, a -very reasonable one. - -The largest quantity surrendered by any one house was 7,000 chests; we -came, I think, third on the list, with 1,500 chests; the remainder was -principally in the hands of English, Parsee, and other native of India -firms. The appointment and approaching arrival of the Imperial Envoy -became known at Canton in the latter months of 1838. The local Mandarins -therefore began a system of harshness towards dealers in order to appear -vigilant and active in the carrying out of old decrees. This led to much -cruel punishment, to the execution of one man in the Square in front -of the Factories, in December 1838 (by way of casting obloquy upon the -foreigners), and an attempt to strangle another one there in February -1839. This latter caused an unprecedented riot, led to an attack upon -all foreigners who happened to be out of their residences, several -of them being injured, and to the Factories being besieged by many -thousands of vagabonds, who kept up an incessant attack on windows and -gates with stones and brickbats. - -They tore down and used as 'battering rams' the heavy posts of which -the small enclosures in front of each Factory were constructed, yelling -and shrieking like so many wild animals. We were rather anxious that -some should force their way in, as we had distributed broken bottles -in great quantities up and down the main entrance to our own Factory, -No. 2 Suy-Hong, our enemy being a barefooted crowd, while against the -other great casks of coal had been rolled; we were not gratified by -seeing the efficacy of the first protection. The mandarins had brought -an 'opium dealer' to the Square about noon, in order to strangle[47] -him there. The Cross was already driven in the ground, and in a few -minutes it would have been all over, when an unusual hubbub of something -extraordinary being about to take place attracted the attention of some -foreigners who were on the Square at the time. Instantly the news flew -from Factory to Factory, when all we could muster, perhaps seventy to -eighty, rushed out to stop the proceeding. I acted as spokesman on -behalf of all present, and protested against the Square being turned -into an execution ground. The Mandarin in charge said that the orders -he had received must be carried out, that the Square was a portion of -His Celestial Majesty's Empire. He was told that might be, but it was -leased to us as a recreation ground, and that we _would not permit_ its -desecration by a public execution! This was a bold thing to say. During -this short interval the scene was a most extraordinary one. There was -the cross, and close to it the victim with a chain about his neck, held -by two gaolers, all looking on with a quiet curiosity. The servants -of the mandarin were supplying him with constantly renewed pipes; his -attendants, a few soldiers, and his chair-bearers, seemed more amused -than anything else. There is no telling what might not have taken place -had it not been for a boat's crew who happened to come from Whampoa that -morning. They belonged to the old East India Company's ship 'Orwell,' -Captain 'Tommy' Larkins, formerly of that Company's service, and a -well-known and general favourite in the community. These sailors had -been wandering about the Square, but gradually approached the spot and -looked on. Seeing the drift things were taking, suddenly they seized the -cross, smashed it in pieces, and began to lay them over the heads and -shoulders of the executioners and any Chinamen within reach. The gaolers -dragged the prisoner away. Jack tore down a tent that had been pitched -for the mandarin, capsized the chairs, the table, with the teapot and -cups, and would next have attacked the mandarin himself had we not -interfered to protect him. We were much relieved when his Excellency -and his aids were carried away and no harm done to them, and we found -ourselves in possession of the ground. Then cried out one of the sailors -to another, 'I say, Bill, we don't get such a lark as this every day!' - -The siege of the Factories by the mob was continued throughout the -afternoon, the guards at the corner of the American Factory were obliged -to retreat after ineffectual efforts to clear the ground of our -assailants, and things looked very serious. In the 'Imperial' Factory, -Captain St. Croix, of the 'Alexander Baring,' had collected all the -inmates, armed with such weapons as they had amongst them, revolvers and -fowling-pieces, and proposed a rush out, but happily no demonstration -was made. There were without doubt eight or ten thousand of the vilest -of the population seemingly bent on the destruction of the 'foreign -devils.' Towards five o'clock some one suggested that it might be worth -while to get notice of our situation to Houqua. It looked as if the -Mandarins had left us at the mercy of the mob, while the streets were -completely blocked, and no Chinaman probably thought of going on such -a mission. Mr. G. Nye (an American gentleman) and myself undertook to -go and see him. Getting on the roof of No. 4 'Suy-Hong' we managed to -cross to that of a shop in Hong Lane, through which we descended, and -after some exertion reached the street in the rear of the Factories, -called the 'Thirteen Factory Street,' which led to Houqua's Hong. We -found the old gentleman in some trepidation from the news that had been -already brought to him, but he seemed quite ignorant of the Square and -the Factories being at the mercy of the crowd. He at once despatched a -messenger to the 'Kwang-Chow-Foo,' the chief magistrate of the city, and -we returned the way we had come. About half-past six o'clock, to our -great relief we heard the approaching sound of the gong, denoting the -coming of the officers, and witnessed from our verandah the immediate -dispersion with whips of the rabble. No one was spared, the sight of -the numerous soldiers in attendance on the Mandarins caused a rush -towards every outlet from the Square, and even to the river, where -several were drowned, not a boatman offering them the least assistance. -Wide open flew the Factory gates, and in an instant their imprisoned -occupants appeared with looks of relief indescribable. The Mandarins -passed the night on the ground, chairs were procured for them, official -lanterns were lighted, and, conscious of the entire safety which we now -enjoyed, and without being disturbed by the hourly beating on gongs -of the different watches of the night, we all turned in. The next -day everything reassumed its normal state of comfort and safety. The -'victim' had been strangled at the public execution ground, to which he -was taken from the Square. Approaching the Mandarins in the morning to -thank them for their timely assistance (rather a 'cool' thing to do, as -some one remarked, seeing we had taken the law in our own hands and had -driven away the officer of justice the day before!), they received us -very courteously, and assured us we had 'nothing to fear!' - -This was the most serious of many provocations inflicted by foreigners -upon the authorities. We treated their 'chops,' their prohibitions, -warnings, and threats, as a rule, very cavalierly. We often spoke of -their forbearance and wondered at the aid and protection they extended -to us; in fact, they considered us more as unruly children, people who -had never had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with 'Taou-Le,' or -'reason.' - -When the Imperial Government took the unlooked-for measure of seizing -the English-owned opium and punishing the native dealers, the day seemed -to have arrived when the trade in it would really cease. The Canton -houses had been forcibly deprived of their stocks; the supply on the -East Coast, under the control of very few of them, was diminishing, -with no fresh supplies to look forward to. Quantities which were on -their way from India were being landed at Singapore or sent over to -Manila, while further shipments from the former country were entirely -suspended. On all sides a complete darkness existed as to what would -be the result. Holders were offering to sell at Singapore for next -to nothing; the article was in reality a drug indeed. Even as low -as $150 to $200 per chest became its nominal value in the Straits. -This was the condition of the 'opium question' which quickly followed -the confiscation. The foreign community, with the exception of the -Americans, had all left Canton, and at first took up their quarters -on board of ships at 'Kow-Lung;' but having been bombarded out of -that anchorage by the mandarins, 'Toon-Koo,' at the mouth of the -'Capshuymun,' became the general rendezvous. One day a clipper schooner -got under way and stood seaward, and some time elapsed before she was -heard from again. She had taken on board a few chests of opium that -had arrived since the seizure. At the moment of sailing a letter was -handed to the captain, directing him to open one of two others enclosed, -after he should have got clear of the land. On doing so he found that -he was ordered to make the best of his way to Singapore, to land the -opium he had on board, and deliver the unopened letter to his consignee -there, by whose instructions he would be subsequently governed. The -schooner consequently proceeded on her voyage, the captain not having -the slightest intimation of the object of it. Simply, he was directed -to reply to any enquiries on arrival that he had brought down opium. -The twenty chests were landed at a moment of the day when the Bund was -crowded with Moormen, Jews, Parsees, and Chinese, all opium holders or -brokers. No letters had of course been received by them, but at the -unprecedented sight of twenty chests being landed they concluded that -now indeed 'God was great and Mohammed was his prophet,' and that China -had at last resolved to permit no more poisonous drug to be landed on -its shores. Before twenty-four hours had passed, so adroitly had the -agent made his plans, that, aided by clever brokers, he secured nearly -700 chests, quietly, here a little and there a little, at prices 'dirt -cheap.' Opium had been unsalable at Singapore, many of the holders -were unable to hold, and some were under orders to sell for whatever -they could get, and 'have done with it;' the average of the purchase -in question was $250 per chest. The twenty chests were re-shipped to -the schooner, the newly purchased were taken on board, and after a very -short detention she sailed, whither no one knew. She was bounding up the -China Sea. Her destination was the East Coast, and there her cargo was -readily disposed of at an average of $2,500 per chest. - -Inside of the city of Canton, as we heard from Chinese, the price rose -to $3,000, while the sale of it or the smoking of it was almost a matter -of life and death--the latter was the penalty threatened and even -carried out against those who were known to indulge in it. The Imperial -Commissioner was on the spot; he was inexorable, consternation prevailed -throughout the Chinese community, but we heard from good authority that -the number of the beheaded was not large. - -While the opium trade was going on, discussions often occurred as to -the morality of it, as well as to the effect of smoking on the Chinese. -None of the Hong merchants ever had anything to do with it, and several -of the foreign houses refrained from dealing in it on conscientious -grounds. As to its influence on the inhabitants of the city and suburbs -at large, they were a healthy, active, hard-working, and industrious -people, withal cheerful and frugal. They were intelligent in business, -skilful in manufactures and handicrafts. These traits are inconsistent -with habitual smoking, while the costliness of the prepared drug was -such as to render a dilution of it (to bring it within the means of -the masses) utterly harmless. Amongst the wealthier classes, no doubt, -it was more or less common, this we knew; but I myself, and I think I -may safely say the entire foreign community, rarely, if ever, saw any -one physically or mentally injured by it. No evidences of a general -abuse, rarely of the use of the pipe, were apparent. I remember one man -having been brought to a missionary hospital to be treated for excessive -smoking of opium, but he was looked upon as a Lion and much was made of -him. In fact, smoking was a habit, as the use of wine was with us, in -moderation. As compared with the use of spirituous liquors in the United -States and in England, and the evil consequences of it, that of opium -was infinitesimal. This is my personal experience during a residence at -Canton, Macao, and Hong Kong of forty years. - - * * * * * - -For many years after the first foreign merchants came to Canton, they -were not permitted to remain after their vessels were despatched, but -were obliged to leave in them. In the case of the great Companies -such as the English East India and the Dutch, it gradually became a -great inconvenience. These, therefore, retired to Macao, where in time -residences were specially built for their accommodation. (The old Dutch -factory there, which had stood for over a century, was destroyed by a -taiphoon in 1875.) The removal from Canton to Macao took place at the -close of the north-east monsoon, simultaneously with the commencement -of the dead season, when the market would have been cleared of teas and -few or no vessels at Whampoa. Macao possesses a delightful climate, -completely within the sea breezes, and is beautifully situated; it -moreover offers in its entirety perhaps a unique specimen of Western -colonies in the Eastern world as they existed 250 years ago--in -its forts, churches, and walls, its convent, senate-house, and the -extensive, solidly built, private residences. - -The Bay of Macao, looking eastward, is strikingly like that of Naples. -The fine houses which border it are protected by a broad esplanade,[48] -supported by a sea-wall with a low parapet. The view from it is -very fine across the outer harbour in a north-east direction to the -islands of Lantoa and Lintin; to the north lie the 'Nine Islands,' and -south-westerly is the anchorage called 'Taypa,' between the islands of -Montanha to the west and Cabreta to the east. This anchorage is about -three miles from Macao, and (as well as the two islands) is under the -sovereignty of the Portuguese. West of Macao is the inner harbour, which -separates it from the island called the 'Lappa.' On it in the early -days the Portuguese built villas and laid out gardens, but they were -subsequently abandoned from an inability to protect them effectually -from Chinese marauders and pirates, and in 1825 a few vestiges of them -only remained. - -The departure from Canton of the Factory was annually quite a -circumstance. From fifteen to twenty 'chop-boats' were drawn up at -the Company's landing, of which some were converted into sleeping -apartments, for which their high decks and capacious holds, which were -floored off, afforded ample space. On either side were large windows, -with curtains and movable shutters, for protection against rain. Others -were appropriated to several milch cows and their keepers, for supplies -for the journey, as well as books and papers of value. The members of -the Factory, rarely fewer than twenty to twenty-five, occupied the -others with their personal servants; and, what with Compradore's men, -cooks, and coolies, the entire number was not less than 250 to 300 -persons, including the boats' crews. On the arrival of the Linguist with -the Government permit, the fleet set sail amidst the beating of gongs, -burning fire-crackers and small squares of red paper, as a propitiation -to the gods presiding over rivers and streams. The boats always took the -Macao passage, as it was called, which is a broad stream branching off -from the Pearl River, about a half-mile westward of the factories and -running due south; consequently they passed the Factories, affording -altogether a fine sight. The distance to Macao, taking the curves of -the river, is about 120 miles, and the journey averages three or four -days. As the return to Canton formed also an event in local life, being -at Macao when the Company left in October 1831, I was glad to have the -opportunity of availing myself of an invitation from Mr. Majoribanks, -the then 'Chief,' to go up with them. A chop-boat was placed at the -disposal of young John Robert Morrison and myself, and the following -particulars of the trip to the provincial city are from a letter written -by me at the time to a relation in the United States:-- - - On board the 'Golden Galley,' Macao to Canton: October 4, 1831. - - It was the intention of the Factory to embark on the - 1st, but the departure was postponed to the 2nd. A circular - was then sent to the members, requesting them to be on board - their respective boats by half-past ten the next morning, at - which time they were to get under way. Accordingly, my chum - and I joined our chop-boat, anchored in the inner harbour - with thirteen others, which composed the fleet. Presently a - signal was made by the boat of Mr. Davis, Chief of the Select - Committee, hoisting its mainsail, and in a few minutes we were - sailing in line through the harbour. We numbered, including - invited guests, thirty-eight foreigners. Three of the boats - (which in foreign measurement would be of, say, 120 tons) were - full of Factory coolies, cows, and provisions, the latter in - addition to each one having a supply on board sufficient for - three days. Our chop is large and comfortable; we have a cabin, - by means of partitions, 14 feet by 10 and 7 feet high, and - forward of it is another for our servants, the cook, and stores. - Two couches, one on either side, serve for beds, added to which - are tables, toilette arrangements, and everything complete, - with cleanliness the most perfect. We breakfast and dine as - regularly and in as good style as on shore. Some boats have four - gentlemen and others five, as arranged among themselves. They - are chartered by the Factory twice a year, and each one receives - one hundred Spanish dollars for the trip up or down. Provisions - and furniture--in fact, all things needful--are also supplied by - the Company. We have not with us all the members, some remaining - awhile longer at Macao; but amongst those now on their way to - Canton are Dr. Colledge and Padre Vachell, as well as that - other important personage, the Steward Canning! The Company's - Compradore also accompanies the fleet, with three or four fast - boats under his control for carrying messages, making visits, - or distributing fresh milk. So you see everything is as cosy as - possible. The crews, numbering about fifteen men to each boat, - manage them with surprising dexterity. These Chinese boat people - are perhaps unequalled by any others in the world. They are not - only active and intelligent, but good-natured and obliging, and - seem anxious to get on as quickly as possible. - - Now that I have given you a sketch of our accommodation, - I will go on with our passage from the inner harbour. While - passing through it, volleys of fire-crackers were let off, - and gongs were beaten by way of 'chin-chining Joss' for a - safe and pleasant passage. A little later dinner was served, - and a No. 1 dinner it was. Crab soup to begin with, an ample - dessert, Hodgson's pale ale, superb La Rose and sherry, with - custard-apples, plantains, and other fruits. We turned in at - eleven, but slept little, as the wind was dead ahead after - entering the 'Broadway,' so I was up early and on deck. The - fleet was hard at it, tack and tack to windward. We found - ourselves in the middle of it, those to windward about three - miles off, and those to leeward about the same distance. At - eight o'clock we passed the Mo-tow, or 'Knife-grinding,' Fort, - which was once a stronghold of the celebrated pirate Apotsae, - who pillaged all the country round about. Near to it were - lying two of His Celestial Majesty's men-of-war junks. The - day's supply of fresh milk was brought on board, and at eight - breakfast, which was attended with difficulty, from the heeling - over of the boat. We entered the 'Heang-Shan'[49] River, but - at 11.30 were all obliged to anchor within five miles of the - city, as it had begun to blow a violent gale, the rain coming - down in torrents. On the morning of the 5th, cloudy and rainy, - but the wind abating somewhat and the tide being favourable, we - hove up, and at 8.30 passed Heang-Shan. We expected to anchor to - receive the customary visit of the mandarin, but he may not have - felt inclined to turn out in such weather. It happened that the - Compradore, who had gone up in a fast boat the evening before, - procured from him his seal to the Company's 'chop,' which - allowed us to go on without anchoring; but through all this fuss - and his absence we lost the milk for our after-dinner tea! On - the morning of the 6th the Compradore was again alongside, and - made it 'all right' with _us_ by threatening to come again with - mutton for dinner; and, considering what we have 'undergone' - since leaving Macao, it will be very acceptable. - - The scenery on both sides of the river is celebrated for - its beauty, and we enjoyed it much. The banks are lined with - orange and lemon trees, peaches and lychee. On the summit of a - high hill stands a seven-story pagoda. If you ask a Chinaman - its object or use, he replies that it is 'Joss pigeon,' and you - are as wise as you were before. In reality, the Chinese believe - that these buildings bring prosperity on the region and ward off - evil influences. The river is crowded with boats crossing from - one bank to the other, filled with all sorts of country produce - or passengers, who stare their very eyes out in looking at us. - Further on we pass another fort, with a curious name, the 'Old - Duck,' and on the riverside opposite is another called 'Greatly - Excellent.' In the afternoon a fine strong breeze sprang up, and - we made rapid progress, passing still another fortification, - called the 'Mouth of the Great Gate.' We were compelled to dine - on a superb roasted capon, with _et ceteras_ as usual. We just - touched at 'Che-nae' for the official formality, and soon after - the Western Fort was passed, when we saw the innumerable lights - and lanterns of the provincial city; and at 8 P.M. glad enough - we were to find ourselves once more in 'Old Canton.' - -The Dutch East India Company followed the same programme to and from -Macao. The members of this Company were never so numerous as that of the -English. There were usually two gentlemen to manage all affairs, with -three or four 'writers.' - -Under various pretexts, other foreign merchants managed to remain at -Canton the year out. One was that their import cargo not having been -sold, consequently the tea and other merchandise which they had shipped -was unpaid for. This, if not considered reasonable, at all events had -the effect of causing the authorities to overlook their presence, and -gradually that article of the 'old regulations' became a dead letter. - -Having seen the manner in which the great Companies went between Canton -and Macao, it will be curious to follow the 'private' individual and -the formalities that had to be gone through (which, however, applied to -those Companies as well). A linguist was sent for, to whom was given -the name and nationality of the person requiring a permit for Macao, -and he would take them to the Hong merchants. Three or four of these -would then petition the Hoppo that the request might be granted. Amongst -these merchants must be included the one who 'secured' the foreigner -in question. On the third day after, the linguist would reappear at -the Factory and give notice that the luggage, &c. must be examined by -an officer from the Hoppo's office, which having been done, the permit -would be given to the head boatman, and on the fourth day the boat -could proceed on her journey. It must not be supposed that these old -'government regulations' were never infringed, for in my own case, -in 1830, being ill, I asked Houqua to use his influence that I might -leave at once, and in twenty-four hours my papers were ready and I was -off. The boats in which foreigners travelled to and from Macao (except -occasionally if a large party, when they took chop-boats) acquired the -name of 'inside fast boats.' They were large and commodious, with cabins -in which one could stand up, broad raised seats on two sides, covered -with clean matting, on which one slept. They were furnished with green -Venetian blinds. In the centre of the cabin stood the dining-table, -and over it a lamp was suspended. The accommodation was ample for four -persons. Abaft the main cabin was a smaller one, for the servants and -cook; then came the stern-sheets, occupied by the helmsman and two -or three men to work the main-sheet. On one quarter was the kitchen; -forward of the principal cabin was a flush deck to the bows; there -stood the foremast, and ten to twelve oars could be used. The crew -consisted of twelve or fifteen men, always alert, hard-working, and -good-natured. The trip down the river or up was particularly enjoyable; -the respite from office duties imparted a new sensation; and, if made -in the south-west monsoon, nothing so exhilarating after the close hot -Factories as this breeze fresh from the sea. The entire cost of the trip -was for the boat eighty dollars, and the invariable 'cumsha,'[50] ten or -fifteen more, according to one's humour after a quick or tedious passage. - -The official papers were four in number, to which on the particular -occasion now referred to a fifth was added. - -No. 1. The petition from the Hong merchants applying for the pass to -Macao, which read thus:-- - - Whereas it is our duty to petition for permits for Macao, it - now appears that the barbarian merchant, H----, having clearly - set forth that on a former year he came to Canton to trade, now - wishes to visit Macao. Not daring to resort to illegal ways, - he has begged us to entreat the favour of an official passport - being granted to him, that he may submit it for inspection at - the several stations on the route. Such being the barbarian's - wishes, we petition that he may be officially permitted to - proceed. - - _Memorandum._--The barbarian merchant H---- is provided with - one sword and one gun for the protection of his person, as well - as with clothing and cooking utensils. - - (Signed) HOUQUA MOUQUA - PWANKEIQUA PWANHOYQUA. - - Taou-Kwang: 19th year, 4th moon, 15th sun. - -No. 2. The Hoppo's answer:-- - - The request is granted. He may go to Macao. This must be - shown at the several custom-houses on the route, and on arrival - at Macao it is to be surrendered to the collector there. - - (Seal of the Hoppo.) - - _Note._--To be countersigned at the West Fort and at Che-Nae. - -No. 3. - - This pass is to be countersigned along the whole route - to Macao. Yu, by Imperial decree Acting Hoppo for the Port - of Canton. Raised two degrees! Whereas it is evident that, - to ensure safety and uninterrupted travelling between Canton - and Macao, barbarians should be furnished with passports for - exhibition at the custom-houses on the way, that they may be - allowed to proceed, and the time of arrival and departure at - each is to be noted on them. All difficulty thus removed, and - no excuse for loitering or wandering, how can disturbances - arise? On arrival at Macao the pass must be delivered to the - custom-house there, to be returned to this office and cancelled. - It is highly important that they (to whose hands it shall come) - attend to this injunction. - - _Memorandum._--One boat, containing one barbarian named - H----, who in the 4th moon, 16th sun, starts from the capital. - - (Seal and date.) - - Countersigned at the - - West Fort 16th, arrived evening, left evening. - Che-Nae 17th, " daylight, " daylight. - Hiang-Shan 18th, " midnight, " " - Macao 18th, " evening. - -(I fill in the dates with arrivals and departures as they took place.) - -No. 4. - - Yu [as above]. - - Whereas, by the will of the Great Emperor, he controls - all matters relating to the trade of the Outer Ocean, now - grants the merchant H----, by means of the boat belonging to - Yip-Paou-Chang, liberty to proceed with fine teas, &c., to Macao - for sale. Herein are registered the articles he takes with him - on which the duties have been collected, viz.:-- - - 63 catties[51] of tea, in five boxes. - 4 large silver spoons. - 8 small silver spoons. - 45 catties of oil, in two jars. - 10 " pictures. - 36 " preserves, in one box. - 27 " salt fish, in one package. - 612 " wooden ware, in eight boxes. - 30 pairs of shoes, in one box. - 270 catties of iron ware, in three boxes. - 18 " hams, in one package. - 1 wooden table. - 27 catties of white sugar, in one package. - 3 small oil paintings. - - The barbarian merchant H---- also takes the following - personal stores:-- - - 524 bottles of foreign wine. - 30 foreign knives, with 30 forks. - 30 " glass cups and bottles (decanters). - 1 trunk of woollen clothing. - 2 boxes of shaving-head implements (razors). - 250 catties of foreign clothing. - 30 " fragrant water. - 200 " lead. - 70 " divers eatables. - 1 glass mirror. - 1 large glass lamp. - 20 catties of foreign crockery. - 10 " copper ware. - 30 " candles. - 10 pieces of foreign fragrant soap. - 1 foreign gun and 1 sword. - 1 hat and 1 spyglass. - 270 catties of foreign white paper. - 5 pictures with glass fronts. - 40 catties of rolled tobacco-leaves (cheroots). - 1 foreign white woollen blanket. - -As my departure for Macao on this occasion took place a month or two -after the surrender of the opium, unusual strictness was observed -for fear that some of the nine foreign merchants selected by the -'Kinchae'[52] as hostages might escape. The following extra document was -therefore issued:-- - -No. 5. - - An extra permit granted by the officer appointed by - the Imperial Commissioner, occasioned by the opium affair, - and stationed in front of the foreign Factories, to take - cognisance of all foreigners arriving at and leaving Canton. - Le, waiting preferment, specially appointed, now reports to the - Kwang-Chow-Hee.[53] It having been brought to my knowledge that - the boat owned by Chang, having on board the barbarian H----, - leaves this 16th sun of the 4th moon for Macao, no delay must - take place. Moreover, as neither of 'the nine' forbidden to - leave are on board, custom-houses will permit her to pass. - - No. 196. (Signature of the Kwang-Chow-Hee), - and endorsed, 'To be returned and cancelled.' - -The House Compradores were always glad to avail themselves of such an -opportunity to send to Macao a lot of 'Chow-chow' cargo on their own -account, a privilege we never refused. This accounts for the sentence in -No. 4--'proceeding to Macao with fine tea for sale.' Whence came the 200 -catties (266 pounds) of lead was a mystery to me, but the 270 catties -of 'iron ware' were iron chests, and 270 catties of foreign white paper -certain office books of accounts and stationery, removed from the -Canton offices in consequence of the unsettled state of affairs, with a -quantity of house stores, &c. The details of everything is peculiarly a -Chinese idea, and as similar documents are now no longer issued, and the -_inside_ passage to Macao never taken under former circumstances, they -are curious in their way. The _outside_ passage, by the way of the Bogue -and in splendid steamers, is now the order of the day. - - * * * * * - -The word _tea_ is of Chinese origin, being a corruption of _tay_ in -the Fuh-Keen dialect, the province from whence it was first exported -to Europe. The leaf has always retained its name of tea in the West, -notwithstanding that in Canton, from which port it has been shipped for -nearly 250 years, it is called _cha_. This word means the _infusion_, -while _cha-yip_, analogous to 'leaves for infusion,' is the tea of -commerce. The varieties are very numerous, and are classed under the -heads of _black_ and _green_. It is only within fifty-five years that -_Oolongs_ and _Ankoys_ have been shipped, and chiefly to the United -States. These are of a light brown colour. _Blacks_ consisted of -_Bohea_, _Congo_, _Souchong_, and _Powchong_. The first derives its name -from the celebrated _Woo-E_ Hills of Fuh-Keen; the second signifies -_Workmen's_ tea; the third 'small seeds;' and the fourth 'seeds in -bundles,' it having been always done up in paper packages. _Greens_ -were, 1, 'Young Hyson,' 2, 'Hyson,' 3, 'Hyson Skin,' 4, 'Gunpowder,' -and 5, 'Imperial.' The first means in Chinese 'before the rains' (when -it was gathered), the second the 'opening of spring,' and the third the -'refuse or end of the crop.' The Chinese name of the fourth signifies -'small pearls' and of the fifth 'large pearls.' - -In addition to these were formerly shipped Campoi, Hung-Muy, Sung-Lo, -Caper, and Woping; but they have now lost their distinctive names, and -if shipped at the present day are merged into other kinds more popularly -known. - -The choicest of all teas, and which we saw only on special occasions, -when it came with the annual New Year presents from the Hong merchants, -was 'Padre Souchong,' so called from its having been grown by the -priests of a famous monastery. The whole quantity was small; it was -put up in canisters of two or three ounces, and was currently supposed -to be sent to the Emperor. His Celestial Majesty deigned as a rare -favour to present some of it to the most favoured of the high officers -of Government at Pekin, and they in their turn, as a great compliment, -forwarded a portion to the Hong merchants. This was in return for -valuable watches set with pearls, for clocks, musical snuff-boxes, or -'smellum water' (as the Chinese call lavender-water and eau de cologne), -which foreign objects it was customary to send to influential mandarins -for favours in the past and those in prospective. - -The following tradition exists as to this peculiar tea. In spite of the -assertion that the entire annual crop is 'offered up to the reigning -Emperor,' it is brought to Canton, but in a very limited quantity. - - In a deep recess of the Woo-E (Bohea) Hills, surrounded - by shrubbery and trees, almost impenetrable to the human eye, - stands the Temple of the 'Silver Moon.' Its antiquity is so - great that all traces of its origin are lost. The temple has - been inhabited from time immemorial by a family of the 'Tea - Sect,' which, at the period of the year coinciding with the - maturity of the leaves, makes offerings to its patron saint of - fine tea. Close by the temple stand three small tea trees, which - are tended by the family. They produce but _one_ catty each. - These trees were originally planted thousands of years ago by - divine hands, and they have never been known to yield more nor - less than three catties (4-1/3 pounds). - -The original paper of which this is a translation was given to me by -Pwan-Suy-Lan, with a small canister of this famous tea; but on asking -him if he considered it to have been originally planted by 'Joss,' he -answered, he thought not, but that 'he own come'--that is to say, 'it -sprang from the ground spontaneously.' It was known that the senior Hong -merchant received the greatest quantity of it. As with Pwan-Suy-Lan and -Pwankeiqua, Houqua's family had long been tea planters in the Bohea -Hills, and were so when they first came to Canton, soon after foreign -trade was confined to that port (as he frequently observed to me), about -the year 1750. - -Well-to-do Chinese drink black tea, but not usually _new_ tea. They keep -it in closely-shut earthen jars for a couple of years before using it. -This moderates the acrid or pungent quality which new tea possesses more -or less, and renders it softer and more acceptable to the taste. - - * * * * * - -As if to make all things work comfortably, the setting in of the -south-west monsoon brought foreign ships to Whampoa to receive cargoes -of teas, which were meanwhile arriving from the interior, from August to -November; and the north-east monsoon, as the ships loaded and left the -port in succession, blew them down again. The only exceptions were known -as 'out-of-season ships,' of which there were rarely over two yearly. -These came east about _viâ_ Gilolo or Dampier's Straits, and they took -away the last teas of a season. An occasional ship, trusting to good -weatherly qualities, would take the Palawan passage _late_ in the year, -beat up under the coast of Luconia to Cape Boleno, and then stretch -across the China Sea; but it was dangerous from its numerous shoals, and -a vessel would be dreadfully knocked about, even if successful. About -1830 or 1831 a bold and successful attempt to set the north-east monsoon -at defiance was made by the _first_ opium clipper. She was called the -'Red Rover,' and was commanded by Captain Clifton, owned at, and from -Calcutta. It was considered a most extraordinary performance. - -The earliest shipments of a season were made from Whampoa by the East -India Company, in November usually. They consisted of contracts made at -the end of the previous year. They could be seen in large quantities -stored in the Hongs, waiting the first ships to come in. These teas -were currently known as 'winter teas,' and went to keep up the quantity -of one year's supply which the Company was bound by its Charter to -keep on hand in London at all times. Continuous shipments followed, so -that by the end of the year or a little later their vessels were all -away. To the United States green teas were exported almost solely until -about 1828, when the first blacks were shipped; after that date they -became a feature in the trade. Contracts were made for the new season's -teas, either at fixed prices, or, if it was an object to get a ship off -quickly, then the prices were governed by those of the opening of the -market. The 'opening' of the tea season was eagerly looked forward to; -and such was the contrast between the busy and the dull season that -during the former we were repeatedly in the offices until two o'clock in -the morning. The seasons of 1830 to 1838 were particularly active ones, -and besides business with India, England, and the West Coast of America, -our own house had frequently at Whampoa at one time ten to fifteen ships -(in the year 1833 twenty-two), every one loading teas and silks for the -United States, and, after 1833, vessels loading for England as well. -It was during one of these years--I think 1834--that we despatched the -_first_ English vessel from Whampoa that had yet carried a full cargo of -free teas to New South Wales; she was named the 'Royal Saxon,' and was -commanded by Captain Robert Towns. - -The final loading of a ship consisted of all sorts of odds and ends -reserved for the last moment, and shipped off by what was called the -'chow-chow chop.' More valuable cargo, not ready in time for the regular -cargo boats, could also be sent to Whampoa by this conveyance. It was -a great convenience, while all other shipping off was conducted on the -strictness of the laws of the Medes and Persians, with documents without -flaw. - -When the market had been cleared of teas, the vessels despatched and the -business of the season over, contracts were made with the Hong merchants -for the next season. These contracts were often of great pecuniary -value. They consisted of teas of certain qualities and kinds, in -packages of chests and half-chests, sometimes at fixed prices, at others -at the opening prices after they should have arrived, and deliverable -at the customary time. No other record of these contracts was ever -made than by each party booking them. No written agreements were drawn -up and signed, nothing was sealed or attested. A wilful breach of -contract never took place, and as regards quantity and quality, the Hong -merchants fulfilled their part with scrupulous honesty and care. I am -speaking of the first twenty years of my own personal experience. - -Entire cargoes of teas were purchased and shipped from a few small -canister musters, and were weighed by taking the average of a few chests -from each 'chop.' A 'chop' of tea was always an uncertain quantity, -blacks numbering 400 to 600 chests, sometimes more or less, and greens -from 120 to 200 chests. The chest contained originally 100 catties, -or 133-1/3 pounds, the halves and quarters in the same proportion, -while boxes were locally packed with canisters of various sizes. The -inconvenience of these larger packages, both in size and weight, caused -a reduction to be made in them gradually until the chest averaged -about eighty catties. Some of the packages shipped at this time have -completely disappeared, and we hear no longer of five and ten-catty -boxes, nor of one, two, or three-pound canisters. - -Valuable invoices of silk piece goods were bought and shipped from an -examination of only a piece or two taken at random from any box we might -choose to have opened. They consisted of satins, crapes, sinshews, -levantines, black handkerchiefs, sarsnetts, lutstrings, and pongees, -besides great quantities of yellow nankins, almost all of which articles -have now ceased to be exported. - -As a natural consequence of the integrity of the Chinese merchants, we -had neither receipt nor check-book. Payments were made by the Compradore -of large amounts on simple scraps of paper signed with the initials of a -firm. No promissory notes existed, and consequently there was no 'bill -book.' There was no post office, there were no postages, and no copying -machines. - -We had no custom-house business to attend to; our inward cargoes were -landed and stored, and our outward ones shipped off, by the Linguists, -to whom we had but to intimate in which Hong the former should be landed -or the ship to which the latter were to be sent. All merchandise was -purchased at long price, and all sold at short price; this was the rule, -and saved us an infinity of trouble. We were under no apprehension as -to the outturn of the quality or weight of the teas and silks which we -shipped. The ingenious process of augmenting the brilliancy of tea by a -clever facing of 'Prussian blue' or 'Chinese yellow,' of adding to the -bulk by an admixture of chopped willow or elm leaves, of increasing its -weight by iron filings, was not yet practised by those 'heathen Chinee.' -Possibly the absence of these 'industries' formed a very primitive mode -of carrying on business! - -On the other hand, we were obliged to make our own ink (out of powders -from England), in which we resembled the Jews, who arrived in China and -settled at Kae-Fung-Foo any time between B.C. 1122 and 249! Historians -have not settled this point, but they have ascertained that, whenever -it might have been, 'those people used split bamboos for pens, and at -the Feast of Tabernacles made sufficient ink for the ensuing year'! Our -letters and shipping documents were despatched under wafer or seal, as -no such thing as envelopes yet existed (they had been in use in China -for centuries!), nor did we enjoy the luxury of postage-stamps. Moreover -every consignee of a ship was his own 'post office' for all letters -brought out by her, and he delivered them to suit his own convenience. I -have known cases in which outward letters were delivered when the vessel -that brought them was outside the Bogue, homeward bound. This custom of -not always delivering letters on the arrival of a ship from the United -States was mutually understood, and considered as the privilege of any -house. It can easily be imagined that a New York firm, in sending the -'Huntress' to a market 12,000 miles away for a valuable cargo, might -suffer greatly in its interests if she carried letters from a rival -house deliverable on arrival, informing its correspondent that it should -despatch the 'Levant' shortly, give him particulars of her outward cargo -and orders for a return one. Thus very reasonably, letters were detained -until the agent of a ship had concluded his purchases--at least he had -the privilege of detaining them. There was, of course, the chance of the -passage out, and the difference that might result to the quickest ship. - - * * * * * - -When a ship had anchored at Whampoa, the pilot reported her arrival to -the Hoppo through a branch Hoppo station at that place. This would be -done, not by giving the name of the ship, but that of the captain. Two -boats were then made fast to her, to see that no smuggling was carried -on; they were attached one on each quarter. Meanwhile the agent would -select a Hong merchant to become 'security' for her and a Linguist to -transact her business with the Hoppo's office, to send boats to bring -her cargo to Canton, and to take to Whampoa her outward cargo, and these -were all the 'official' duties that the agent had to attend to. - -Before she could open hatches, the formality of 'Cumsha and Measurement' -had to be gone through. The first word signifies 'present,' and was -a payment made by the earliest foreign vessels for the privilege of -entering the port; and the second is equivalent to tonnage duties. On -a day of which notice was given to the agent, a specially appointed -mandarin from the Hoppo's office was sent on board, attended by pursers -and numerous servants. He was always received with some ceremony, and -regaled with wine and biscuit. As with all the officials, they were men -of a good deal of dignity and ease of manner. The captain would receive -him at the gangway, while all hands were rigged out in their 'Sunday -suits.' After the ordinary salutations, enquiries as to the passage out, -&c., the measurement would be made by one of the attendants attaching -the end of a measured tape to the forward part of the rudder head and -running it to the after part of the foremast, then calling out the -length, which others would note in writing; the breadth was then taken -amidships close abaft the mainmast, between the plankshears, which -being booked, a calculation was made of the dimensions for duty. As the -details were peculiar I give those of the ship 'Maria' (Captain Evans), -of New York, whose tonnage was about 420 (Canton, June 1830). - - - Length, 67 covids; breadth 22; total - 147-4/10 covids. Deducting one-fifth - according to the regulations for - second-class ships. Equal to taels[54] 842.2.8.5 - Loss in converting into Sycee-silver 75.8.0.6 - For work of converting, 1/5 per cent. 15.1.6.1 - Cumsha 810.6.9.1 - ----------- - 1,743.9.4.3 - - The Hoppo's 'opening barrier fee' 480.42.0 - ----------- - 2,224.3.6.3 - Transport to Pekin and weighing in - Government scales 150.1.4.5 - To the Superintendent of the Treasury 116.42.4 - Add 1-1/10 per cent. converting into - Sycee 1.2.8.0 - ----------- - 2,492.2.1.2 - - Difference in weights between Canton and - Pekin, 7 per cent. 174.4.5.5 - ----------- - At 72 per dollar, are $5,092-59/100 Taels 3,666.6.6.7 - =========== - -Vessels coming to Whampoa with rice only were subject to the modified -port charges of $1,150 up to the year 1833, but in that year, owing to -a great famine that existed, they were done away with. The Viceroy Loo -then issued a lengthy proclamation, in which the Hong merchants were -ordered to make known the cessation of those charges to 'all the foreign -barbarians,' 'who would leap for joy, and go backward and forward in -search of rice cargoes.' - -The 'Cumsha and Measurement' having been duly disposed of, a permit -was granted for 'opening hatches,' and the unloading went on -uninterruptedly. The outward cargo was then shipped off, and the -vessel ready for sea. Tea ships exclusively met with no great delay at -Whampoa--on the average about three months--but if silks constituted her -homeward lading, frequently six months passed before they were ready. -It then happened that not a solitary foreign vessel remained at the -anchorage; I have seen this to occur on several occasions. - -When finally loaded, application was made through the Linguist to the -Hoppo for the 'Grand Chop.' This was at once delivered on ascertaining -that all formalities had been fulfilled and duties collected. It was a -large sheet having a broad border, on two sides of which was the figure -of a Dragon (the symbol of the Celestial Empire). They were always the -same in form, and printed from wooden blocks, with blank spaces to be -filled in with the name of the captain, number of the crew, list of -armament, and date of issue. The following is a translation of the grand -chop of the ship 'Maria,' Captain Evans:-- - - Chung, filling the office of Hoppo by Imperial appointment, - issues this in obedience to his will. When Western Ocean ships - have been measured, paid their duties, and departed, should bad - winds and water drive them to the shores of another province - (not being within the accorded limits of trading), if it is - found that they possess this sealed discharge they must be - allowed to continue their voyage without delay or opposition. - Which is on record. - - Now the foreign merchant ship 'Ewan' having loaded with - merchandise, goes to the Hwa-Ke[55] country, there to manage - her business. She has been measured, and duties incurred by her - have all been settled, as customary. As she is now departing, - this is given as a clearance into the hands of the said merchant - to grasp and hold fast, so that, should he meet with any other - custom-house, he must not be detained. Military stations to - which it may be shown must also let the said vessel pass without - interruption, and not induce her to remain and trade that they - may be benefited by any charges or duties. Should they act - otherwise, it will give rise to trouble and confusion. - - According to old regulations, the guns and ammunition and - other arms she carries for her defence are herein enumerated. - An unnecessary quantity is not allowed, nor has she dared to - receive on board contraband articles. Should it have been - discovered that these rules were broken by her, this permission - to sail would assuredly not have been granted. - - Respectfully examine this _and depart_. - (Hoppo's seal.) - - Sailors 26 - Great guns 4 - Shot 100 - Swords 10 - Muskets 10 - Fire-physic (powder) 200 catties - - Taou-Kwang: 11th year, 10th moon, 12th sun. - - * * * * * - -The _Whampoa Compradores_ who attended upon American and other foreign -ships received their licenses from the Hoppo's office. They were, -like their Canton brethren, a notable class, and fulfilled for the -ships the same offices as the latter did for the Factories. It was -another illustration of the perfect system that existed, whereby all -having business at the port were aided in every manner for their own -convenience and security. The Whampoa Compradore for American vessels in -eight cases out of ten was 'Boston Jack'. He was much considered by his -countrymen on the island, and ever civil and obliging. He had once made -a passage to Boston as steward, and returned to Whampoa, _viâ_ Cape Horn -and the north-west coast of America, in a small schooner of about 200 -tons called the 'Cossack,' on board of which was Mr. Oliver H. Gordon as -supercargo. 'Boston Jack' was very fond of relating his experiences on -board of the 'Cossack,' particularly off the Horn, where, as he would -say, 'too muchee strong gale; sea all same high masthead--no can see -sky, no can see water,' meaning that in the turmoil of the elements one -could see nothing. By his countrymen he was looked upon as a very 'great -gun;' he was a favourite with the Americans, and finally died at a good -old age, 'universally regretted' and much missed! - -The grand chop having been received from the Hoppo, the pilot was -obtained at Whampoa. As the ship got under way, the Compradore's -'cumshas,'[56] according to 'olo custom,' were brought on board. They -consisted of dried lychee, Nankin dates (the 'latest dates,' as they -were christened), baskets of oranges, and preserved ginger; then, amidst -a firing off of crackers attached to the end of a long pole from the -Compradore's boat--'to awaken the gods to the vessel's departure,' that -they might vouchsafe to her 'good wind and good water'--she departed. As -in entering the river, she hove to off Anonghoy Fort at the Bogue, that -the pilot could exhibit his pass. Sailing by Macao, this individual was -cast off, and soon outside, she was rolling down the China Sea--homeward -bound! - -The English East India Company's ships were divided into two fleets, -which came in alternate years. Each fleet consisted of about twenty -vessels, a certain number of which were appointed for China _viâ_ -Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, while the remainder were direct ships. - -They were splendid vessels of 1,800 to 2,000 tons. Some belonged to the -Company, others were chartered usually for a certain number of voyages. -Many of them were built in India of teak. In time of war they sailed -under convoy; the gun-deck then carried a suitable armament, of which -good use was made in several encounters--notably in the southern part -of the China Sea, when, under Admiral Duckworth, a French squadron was -beaten off, and on other occasions in the Bay of Bengal. They sailed -under the flag of the Company, which resembled that of the United -States in its alternate red and white stripes, having for its field the -English Jack. The discipline on board was that of a man-of-war, and they -differed in no respect from one except that they did not fly the pennant -or carry a special body of marines. Besides the commander, the officers -were six in number, several midshipmen, surgeons, and purser, together -with the usual complement of warrant officers. Those of the fleet told -off for India conveyed troops and munitions of war, for service in the -Company's possessions there. - -No finer sight of the kind could be seen in any part of the world than -the Company's fleet collected at Whampoa, with their inward cargoes -discharged, and every ship in beautiful order, waiting for teas. -Those formidable vessels were not of the modern clipper model, but -broad-backed, with swelling sides and full bows. On board everything was -neat, everything indicated system, discipline, and force. The oldest -captain (in date) daily hoisted his pennant as Commodore. Daily one of -the ship's boats came to Canton in rotation, independently of others -on individual service. The hospitality of the captains and officers -was generous, and, as some of them had bands on board, it was a treat -indeed to be included amongst the guests. The 'Vansittart's' band even -came to Canton to play in the Factory on one occasion, and regaled the -entire community by playing in the Square. The music attracted many -Chinese also, it being to them a wonderful novelty. The bandsmen wore -a uniform of red coats. We were all looking on and listening, when -suddenly a Chinaman exclaimed, 'What for he makee so muchee noisee?' -'Noise!' said one of the barbarians; 'may Fo[57] run away with you--that -no belong noise, belong music. You no likee?' 'Hae-yah![58] my how can -likee, all make mixee--_my_ China music No. 1; _he_ too muchee foolo!' -What he would have added we couldn't tell, but suddenly he darted off, -crying out, 'What for you kick my?' and made the best of his way up Old -China Street. Soon afterwards the crowd became so numerous and so noisy -that to avoid further 'complications' the band was withdrawn inside the -Company's Factory and the Square cleared, and not very quietly, as the -Chinamen's bare heads resounded with the thwacks which were laid on -them, but it took place with great celerity. That was the first and only -time a foreign band of music was heard to play in the Square. - -Exports by 'country ships' to India consisted of tea, coarse porcelain, -paper umbrellas, silks, and a multitude of 'chow-chow' articles, -together with enormous quantities of silver and bar gold. For the -latter a special chop, called 'money chop,' had to be obtained from -the Hoppo. It was these repeated shipments of treasure that attracted -the attention of the local authorities, and through whose reports in -connection with the foreign commerce of the port they were made known to -the Government at Pekin. As a natural result, Imperial edicts were sent -down forbidding shipments of such quantities of money, as being for the -purchase of 'foreign mud,' to be introduced by stealth into the 'Middle -Kingdom,' against prohibitions successively issued, warning all engaged -in the trade 'to desist and not to incur the Imperial displeasure,' -while any Chinese co-operating in it were to be severely punished. But -the immunity so long enjoyed, with the inherent weakness of the Chinese -Government, caused foreigners to believe that any serious attempt to put -a stop to the trade was simply impracticable. The Imperial edicts were -considered as so much waste paper. Opium was imported and sold, while -'the oozing out of fine silver' went on as usual. - - * * * * * - -Of the 'Outside' Chinese Merchants several were of much consideration, -and of an integrity and intelligence in business unsurpassed by the -mercantile classes of any other country. Such men were Washing, Cumwa, -Linchong, Wo-Yun, Yeeshing, Keet-Chong, and others. An incident in -relation to Yeeshing, serving as an illustration both of his honesty and -unselfishness, may be related. - -On the occasion of the great fire in 1822, enormous quantities of -private property and of merchandise were destroyed, and opportunities -offered when, without the possibility of discovery, the latter, -particularly, could have been concealed and reported as having been -consumed by the flames. Mr. John P. Cushing, of the house of Perkins & -Co., had placed with Yeeshing 5,000 pieces of crapes to be dyed, whose -value was about $50,000. There was, of course, no insurance upon them, -nothing of the kind existing at Canton. A day or two after the fire -Yeeshing entered Mr. Cushing's office, exclaiming,'Hae-yah! Hae-yah!' -'Well, Yeeshing,' enquired Mr. C., 'how fashion?' To which he replied, -'My have loosum my house, my shop--alla finishy, too muchee trub.' Mr. -C. began to express his sympathy, with the conviction that he too was -involved in the loss, when Yeeshing continued, 'My alla finishy, only -when my take out you crape (to save it) hav loosum 84 peecee, how can -my, no too muchee trub?' He had saved Mr. Cushing's crapes, but had lost -his own dwelling and its contents, with an important quantity of his own -goods and chattels, in doing so. - -Keet-Chong, named above, possessed an estate on French Island, on which -his family had resided for more than 800 years. It was of moderate -extent, the dwelling spacious, and, as he used to say, 'all thing no -have changee.' He showed me on one occasion his genealogical tree -(which Chinese families keep with scrupulous care), and which ascended, -according to it, to the Sung Dynasty (967 to 1281 A.D.). This dynasty -immediately preceded the Yuen, or Mongol Tartar, family, the first -emperor of which was Kublai Khan, grandson of 'Jengis Khan.' - -The custom exists among Chinese of not using their family names -in business, either for firms or individuals. They assume certain -designations by which they are known, are responsible, and recognised by -the authorities. As examples, Houqua, whose family name was Woo (from -which _How_), was known commercially as 'Ewo.' Pwantingqua, whose -family name was Pwan, was known as 'Tung Foo,' and the family name of -'Washing' was Moo. The choice of these names is singularly diversified -and sometimes very droll. In passing through any business street you -see on a small sign attached to a pillar at the side of a door such -firms as 'Peace and Quiet,' 'Current Gains,' 'Collective Justice,' -'Perfect Concord,' 'United Concord.' I have seen 'Tan-E' (which means -literally 'Solitary Idea'), 'Perfect Record,' 'Three Unities.' Where -something of a more imposing nature is chosen--as, for instance, 'George -and Thomas Sandbank, Sons and Nephews'--a double name, such as 'The -Record of Perpetual Harmony,' would be adopted. One is struck with the -use of short inscriptions on narrow sheets of red paper over doorways, -at the foot of stairs, over weights and measures, everywhere and on -everything almost. On entering an outer door you observe above it, 'May -the Five Happinesses enter the abode' (longevity, riches, posterity, -love of virtue, and a natural death), while within may be seen, 'May -wealth flow in abundantly;' and not a bad one, 'For idle persons there -is no admittance.' 'As wheels revolve, so may supplies and sales -continue;' 'Customers come in numbers, like the gathering of clouds;' -'Here are sold superior goods, in whose prices there is no change;' -'Rich customers are perpetually welcome;' 'Daily may there be weighed -10,000 taels' (May the transactions amount to that sum); 'From a single -cash, may 10,000 be derived' (these last two may be seen over scales -and weights); and so each object has its peculiar, if not appropriate, -device. You read on each one of a pile of water-tubs, 'The bucket of -superlative peace;' on chests, 'The box of great tranquillity;' over -inner doors, 'May happiness attend the opening of the door;' and over -shelves and drawers, 'When opened, may prosperity follow;' at the top -of a stairway, 'May the going up or down be calm and peaceful.' On the -sterns and bows of boats and junks you may read, 'Prosperous gales -and smooth seas' (which in Canton jargon is simplified to the usual -expression 'Good wind, good water'); 'Grant favourable breezes;' 'A fair -wind is riches;' 'The moon's rays shine upon and enliven the waters;' -'The dragon's head produces horns of gold' (an allusion to the bows of -a junk, which are supposed to represent the head with the large eyes of -the dragon), signifying, 'May the voyage be successful.' - - * * * * * - -The first foreign newspaper published at Canton was in 1827; it was -called the 'Canton Register,' and was printed on a small hand-press -lent for the purpose by Mr. Alexander Matheson, of the then house of -Magniac & Co.[59] Its size was but a little more than that of a large -sheet of foolscap. The editor, who himself was the first compositor, was -a young American gentleman named Wood, of Philadelphia, and son of the -celebrated tragedian. He was a person of great versatility, mentally and -materially; he abounded in wit, was well read, and of no fixed purpose. -Having ceased to be connected with the 'Register,' he entered the -office of Messrs. Russell & Co. about the same time with young Irving, -a nephew of Washington Irving. One day, one of our Parsee friends, -Nanabhoy Framjee, came in for bills on London 'in small pamphlets' -(moderate amounts each), and it was Wood's business to fill them up. -Our office, one of three, was the general rendezvous of Russell & Co.'s -captains, and on the day in question five or six of them were present, -talking over purchases in carpenter's square of camphor-wood trunks, -lacquered ware boxes, writing desks, &c. The bills having been made out -were left on Mr. Low's desk for signature. Suddenly from the 'Tai-Pan's' -office we heard a great shout of laughter, and that gentleman appeared. -'Wood,' said he, handing him one of the bills, 'I doubt if Baring's will -accept this, or even Nanabhoy take it; read it over.' Wood did so, and -to his confusion saw that B. B. & Co. were requested to pay to the order -of Nanabhoy Framjee, Esq., 'one hundred lacquered ware boxes,' which in -his absence of mind he had caught up from the skippers. Not very long -after, Wood took up his quarters in the French Factory, and established -a second newspaper, called the 'Chinese Courier,' which had but a short -existence. Amongst his other accomplishments was that of sketching, -for which he had a remarkable talent, and he was, moreover, a maker of -verses! One evening at dinner at his house, several being at table, the -conversation ran upon poetry, and some impromptu verses having been -made, something led to a challenge to Wood to parody Byron's 'Know'st -thou the land,' confining the words entirely to local matters and -things. He accepted the challenge, and when we again met he read after -dinner the following, on which we congratulated him, as being _good_ -for Canton! - - Know'st thou the land where the nankin and tea-chest, - With cassia and rhubarb and camphor, abound? - Where oft in the Hongs, by the coolies' foul feet pressed, - They pack their Boheas in a way to astound? - - Know'st thou the land where in vain you endeavour - To sell your fair longcloths or barter your yarn? - Where you fidget and fret, be you never so clever, - And find all your profits are going 'astarn'? - - Know'st thou the land where the drug in its glory, - With cotton and betel-nut, govern the day? - Where Patna or Malwa's the theme of each story, - The life of each anecdote, solemn or gay? - - Know'st thou the land where the fair, unprotected - By the lords of their destinies, wither alone? - Where woman's a slave, by her tyrants neglected, - And the only bright jewel they sigh not to own? - - Where lips which were formed to breathe of devotion - To affectionate spouses or lovers provoke; - Instead of confessing their tender emotion, - Give forth all their sensitive feelings in _smoke_? - - 'Tis the land we now live in--the land that would shame - The world by its valour, invention, and worth; - Where the page of her history glows with the name - Of her sage,[60] and her warrior,[61] the pride of the earth; - - Where tea is the potion great deeds to inspire, - And emperors deign (and if _they_, who will not?) - To watch the decoction, themselves, on the fire, - And write prosy odes to the 'pride of the pot.' - - Tho' fairest Hwâ-Te[62] are thy gardens of flowers, - And sweet every blossom that flings to the breeze - Its perfume, decks with its tints thy gay bowers, - Or clings on its vine to thy moss-covered trees; - - Yet fairer the lands we have all left behind us, - And gayer the flowers and purer the air. - Do we need in our exile this rhyme to remind us - Of the hearts that are glowing with love for us there? - - Farewell then to tea-chests; the loosened sail flying - Expands to the breeze and chides our delay; - Now past is the parting, the 'chin-chin,' the sighing - Of all the poor 'devils'[63] who _can't_ get away! - -Wood and a brother resident, an Irishman named Keating, had at one time -a 'little difficulty.' Mr. Augustine Heard acted for him, and Mr. James -Innes, an 'old school' and eccentric Scotchman, for the latter. Much -correspondence took place between them as to where the question should -be washed out in 'blood.' One side chose French Island, at Whampoa; -the other Lintin, as being beyond the interference of the Chinese -authorities in case of 'accident;' but through the good sense of the -'_best_ men,' and to the gratification of common friends, the dispute -was arranged--because, as Wood said, 'There was no abbey in which to lay -a body.' After a residence of nearly ten years at Canton, Wood removed -to Manila, and established himself on a coffee and sugar plantation -at Jala-Jala. His letters from this new abode were full of wit and -mirthful to a degree, even in describing bad crops caused by visits from -Messrs. Taiphoon, Drought, & Co., or the destruction of his fences by -wild buffaloes, while he never could get a night's sleep from the many -snakes of preposterous dimensions which made themselves 'at home' in his -bungalow, and pursued the most 'harmless' of rats across the ceiling, up -and down posts, and across the floors 'under his very eyes.' At length -he quitted Jala-Jala and joined the office of Messrs. Russell & Sturgis, -at Manila. Under their generous auspices and considerate kindness he -ever after found there a home. - -He was the first person to introduce the art of photography in Manila, -and through his teaching many Mestizos[64] became proficients, and -practise it now as a profession. He made one short visit to Europe, from -which he returned delighted, and one to myself at Macao (thirty years -after we first met at Canton). At length for poor Wood the 'tolling of -the bell' was heard; he died, full of years, after an extraordinary life -of great personal worth, great unsteadiness of purpose, and, as far as -worldly success went, a great unsuccess. - - * * * * * - -Under certain circumstances foreign residents could 'offer up' petitions -at the city gates! It was a privilege that had its origin a long -while ago. At the same time it was discouraged by the authorities, -while strict orders were given to the guards at the gates to keep a -sharp look-out and close them if any number of barbarians were known -to be approaching. This old custom originated in some question, such -as praying for a diminution of duties (all duties being more or less -arbitrary), or for permission to ship off an extra weight of silks, -which was fixed at a certain number of piculs per vessel,[65] and called -the 'silk privilege,' or on some matter affecting their personal -comfort. The Co-Hong frequently co-operated with us, recommended our -petitioning, and even themselves made a draft paper. Answers to these -petitions were invariably received, when the Hong merchants would -prepare for us a rejoinder, if necessary. - -Great precautions were taken to keep the intention as quiet as possible, -consequently all who were disposed to join a party in presenting a -petition were advised in time. None were more anxious to accompany it -than the younger members of the community, who considered it great -fun! To refer to a particular case, directly in front of the American -Factory, at the river side, there existed a huge mound of earth and -rubbish that had its origin with the great fire of 1822. While the new -Factories were going up and the damaged ones being repaired the workmen -and coolies threw all sorts of rubbish on the spot. Subsequently it -became a depository of refuse of all sorts, and finally a resort of -loathsome beggars, of whom many died on it; but beyond obtaining the -carrying away of the dead bodies, all efforts by the foreigners to get -the whole thing removed had proved ineffectual. - -The Hong merchants now and then sent a number of coolies, but they made -small impression upon it; and at length, mostly at their suggestion that -it was 'Mandarin pigeon,' it was resolved to present a petition at the -city gates, which they themselves prepared and we copied. - -On the day agreed upon, therefore, the party going were quietly advised -and informed at which gate to meet. Taking different streets in small -numbers of three or four, all drew towards the 'petition gate,' as we -called it, and suddenly with a rush entered it. The surprise of the -guards was complete. They hastily closed the ponderous outer gate to -prevent the Chinese entering and possibly creating a row. Seeing the -petition on red paper held up above our heads, they knew from experience -the object of our visit, and forthwith despatched a messenger to the -Hoppo's 'Ya-Mun.'[66] Any annoyance caused us by Chinese lookers-on -or by any who tried to crowd about us called for prompt 'whipping' by -the soldiers, as was always the case, letting foreigners have their -own way, and laying it well over the shoulders of their own countrymen -who attempted any interference or who did not 'move on' fast enough. -It happened that on a previous occasion of petitioning an unpleasant -incident occurred, which arose from a fancied insult; blows had been -exchanged, and certain words used by an excited member of the foreign -party in reference to the soldiers became a tradition, 'Knock them down, -friend Olyphant, they are only tea and rice,' and the best of the joke -was that the speaker was a Quaker and Mr. Olyphant one of the quietest -men in the world, and the last person to strike any one. - -Such exhibitions were much to be deplored as encouraging the belief that -foreigners were indeed 'unruly devils'--a pugnacious, wild, boisterous -people. Presently we heard the sound of the gong and the loud cries -of lictors preceding the Mandarin calling out his rank and office as -well as keeping the street clear. The space between the large outer -and inner gate is the thickness of the wall, about thirty feet, and -twelve to eighteen feet broad, the quarters of the guard, about twenty -or twenty-five in number, being in recesses on either side, and in this -space petitions are received. The Ta-Yin[67] (great man) having entered -with other Mandarins and attendants, after salutations and surprise at -seeing so many foreigners, they seated themselves on chairs brought -by their followers. He then commenced by telling us of the extreme -impropriety of entering the gates in opposition to the will of the 'Son -of Heaven,' cautioned us to be wary how we did the like again, lest we -might check the flow of Imperial benevolence towards all coming from a -distance, &c. &c., which was the usual opening formula, when a Linguist -being found cut and dried on the spot (sent privately by the Hong -merchants), stepped forward, knelt on both knees, and 'handed up' the -petition. In the meantime it was a strange sight to see the houses, shop -doors, and windows inside the city full to overflow of Chinese, intently -looking on in profound stillness and curiosity. - -His Excellency, having read the paper, said in placing it in the hands -of an officer that a communication would be sent to the Hong merchants, -'that we must return to our Factories, be henceforth reverently -obedient, when all would be well, otherwise His Sacred Majesty, Ruler -of all under the Sun, notwithstanding that he was the incarnation of -consideration for all beyond the Western Ocean, might be provoked to -withdraw his beneficent,' &c. &c. 'That the laws of the Celestial Empire -must be obeyed,' and this was the closing formula. - -Business being thus ended, a disposition was shown for a little -conversation. Acting as interpreter, I was invited to speak of the -distance of our countries from the 'Celestial Flowery Land,' how many -moons it took to come and to return; all which was done in laying great -stress upon the clear light of day into which we emerged as we left -our own gloomy shores and approached the 'Middle Kingdom'! Questions -were asked as to our respective nationalities, our names also; and -in their attempts to repeat such as Zacharia, Krieroffski, Burr, -and Brown, they turned to one another and laughed heartily at their -unsuccessful efforts. The teapot and servants to prepare the infusion -being indispensable in the suite of Mandarins (as well as pipe-bearers), -tea was presently offered to us; we in exchange 'offered up' Manila -cheroots. No one exhibited the slightest impatience, no matter how many -hundreds of Chinese were obliged, outside or inside, to make great -détours to reach other gates. - -The Mandarins being provided with two watches each, next began a -comparison of time; they asked our ages, how long we had lived within -the benign sway of that 'Almighty Ruler' under whose protecting wings we -found ourselves; and being assured, in reply to other enquiries, that -in our distant countries now and then a sun, very occasionally two or -three moons, with a rare glimmer of a star, might be seen, they rose -from their seats, took leave, and were soon out of sight. The great -gate was then opened after a violent effort, with a loud grating of its -enormous hinges, and the 'foreign devils' returned to the Factories, -after an hour or two agreeably passed. The petition in question resulted -in the Hong merchants receiving orders for the immediate removal of -the unsightly mound, of course at their expense. They were effectually -carried out and the ground was levelled off. It then became the -favourite resort of the Indian servants of Parsee and Moormen residents. - - * * * * * - -Until the summer of 1829 the most important of the American houses was -that of Perkins & Co. It was the oldest one existing, without change -of name, of all the foreign firms, having been established soon after -a visit made by Mr. Thomas H. Perkins with two vessels to Canton in -1798. The house was represented until 1807 by Mr. Bumstead, who was then -succeeded by Mr. Cushing. For comparison with the size of merchant ships -at the present day, it may be noted that this gentleman came out in -the ship 'Levant' (Captain Proctor), of 264 tons! Mr. Cushing became a -partner in the Boston firm of J. and T. H. Perkins, and managed that of -Perkins & Co., of which he was also a partner continuously until 1828, -without leaving Canton, when he returned to Boston in the ship 'Milo,' -arriving there on September 17. - -To Mr. Cushing succeeded Mr. Thomas T. Forbes, who, on returning from -a visit to Macao in his yacht, was unfortunately drowned in a taiphoon -on August 9, 1829, together with Mr. S. H. Monson, the book-keeper of -Russell & Co. On this sad event taking place, amongst his papers was -found a sealed letter addressed to Russell & Co. It requested them, in -case of accident to himself, to take charge of the local business of -his own firm, as well as that of J. and T. H. Perkins. They did so, -and naturally came with it that of Houqua, who had been the intimate -personal friend of Mr. Cushing during his unbroken residence of over -twenty years in Canton. - -When the news of Mr. Forbes's death reached him, Mr. Cushing was in -England, where the 'Bashaw' (Captain Pearson), one of the ships of his -Boston firm, was loading for Whampoa. He returned to Canton in her, -arriving in the month of August 1830. Arrangements were then definitely -concluded by which Russell & Co. were officially appointed sole agents -for the Boston house, that of Perkins & Co. being wound up, while the -important foreign business of Houqua was then also definitely secured to -them. - -Towards the close of 'ante-treaty' days, the house met with a serious -loss in the violent death of another book-keeper, Mr. George C. Perkins, -of Boston. He entered the office as assistant book-keeper,[68] and -subsequently took charge of that important branch of the business. -He was about thirty years of age, very systematic and methodical, a -well-read man, and of most agreeable manners. He left Macao on a visit -to the United States, and was returning by the way of San Francisco to -resume the duties of his office. Having arrived near Hong Kong, he left -the ship in which he had crossed the Pacific, for Macao in a fast boat -with all his baggage. Supposing it to contain gold, coming from the -'Gold Hills' (by which name California is known to the Chinese), the -cupidity of the boatmen was excited. They threw Perkins overboard in the -Lantao Channel, and he was drowned. On the event being made known to -the Canton authorities, their search for the boatmen was so energetic -that they were soon discovered in the midst of a number of fast boats -anchored in Anson's Bay, and beheaded. - - * * * * * - -The year 1830 was an unprecedented one in the annals of foreign life at -Canton, by reason of the coming to the Factories of several English and -American ladies from Macao, in 'direct opposition to old regulations.' -The Mandarins were thoroughly at their wits' ends by so extraordinary an -occurrence. 'Chops' began to circulate freely. The ladies were ordered -to leave forthwith, and without one moment's delay, otherwise the 'Son -of Heaven,' 'so considerate for all beyond the sea,' would withdraw his -compassion, and, and--in fact, had the world been coming to an end, the -authorities could not have been more thoroughly alarmed. In a letter -written at the time, I find the following, dated April 8, 1830:-- - - Went in the morning to the 'Company's' chapel with several - Americans to hear the Rev. Mr. Vachell preach, and to see the - 'foreign devil females,' as the Chinamen call them. They were - Mrs. Baynes, wife of the Chief of the Factory, Mrs. Robinson, - and Mrs. Fearon, but _she_ is the beauty of the party! Mrs. B. - was dressed in true London style, which, much admired by us, is - considered 'frightful' by the Chinese. It was quite a strange - thing to see foreign ladies in the 'Celestial Empire,' an - occurrence which had never before taken place! After a few days - they left, but not until the mandarins threatened to stop all - trade! - -On November 12 of the same year I find the following:-- - - What will Canton turn into, and where will bachelors find - rest? Nowhere. Mrs. and Miss Low and other ladies are at this - moment here! The second day after they arrived several old - codgers were seen in immense coats, which had been stowed away - in camphor trunks for ten or fifteen years, and with huge - cravats on, and with what once were gloves, on their way to make - visits! - - _13th._--Called on the Tai-Pan's wife and niece, and - entertained them with descriptions of local worthies such as - 'Houqua,' 'Mouqua,' and 'Gowqua,' 'Man-Hop,' 'Wa-Hop,' and - 'Tung-Hop'--a jumble they had never heard of, and names that - amused them immensely. - - _22nd._--Evening Church service at Talbot's, the Consul, - at No. 1 American Hong. The ladies and a good number of - gentlemen present. At half-past nine we accompanied the former - to show our fashionable street, Old China Street, its shops - shut at that hour; but some Chinamen passing began to cry out, - 'Foreign devil women!' when instantly every door was opened and - lanterns appeared. In less than ten minutes we were completely - surrounded, and had to beat a hasty retreat. We were not at all - molested; it was simply surprise and curiosity; and on arriving - at the gate of the Hong everyone quietly dispersed. - - _24th._--The Chinese are not so far out in calling us - barbarians. Two or three from No. 2 Suy-Hong called on the - ladies. Coats, gloves, and cravats--such cravats! I heard one - say when he returned, 'Thank God that is over!' and then call - for jacket and black neck-ribbon! He next lighted a cheroot, and - looked as if a great burthen were off his mind. In the evening - dined at Charles N. Talbot's; all bachelors, of course! A fine - little party; but I dissipated too much, and the sooner bedtime - comes the better. Bad habit of dining out in this country; I - think I shall swear off, no getting home without being observed! - I hope the ladies in No. 1 did not see me come in! - - _30th._--The ladies took their departure this evening. They - went on board the boat that was to convey them, escorted by all - the American gentlemen. While returning from Jackass Point an - inveterate bachelor said, 'I hope we shall never be _bothered_ - with ladies in Canton again!' but he was a notoriously crusty - old fellow. - - * * * * * - -Having lost a fine retriever named Rover, and an English friend a small -pug named Bop, I caused a 'reward-card' to be posted on the walls of -Chungqua's Hong. As these 'cards' have a peculiar phraseology, I give a -translation of the one in question:-- - - On the 10th day of the 1st moon of the present year two - foreign dogs strayed, one from the Suy-Hong and one from the - Dutch Hong, and have not been seen to return. Long ears and - a long tail adorned the one, which had also a brown star on - its breast, the body being of the colour of 'fragrant ink.' - The other was a small dog, with cropped ears and a tail of no - length. His body was spotted in variegated colours of brown and - white. The larger dog was named 'Lo-Wa,' and the smaller 'Po-Pa.' - - This is to give notice that should any 'superior man' - know where they are, or if they have been 'misled,' and will - inform, he shall be rewarded with _flowered red money--two great - rounds_[69] for the big one, and one great round for the little - one. Even should they have been _stolen_ (_an inconceivable - thing!_), if the person who took them will bring them to - Suy-Hong No. 2 he Shall still be rewarded, and clemency used - towards him. This placard is real; its words will not be eaten. - - Taou-Kwang: 14th year, 15th day, 1st moon. - -The poor dogs were never found, and the Compradore insisted upon it that -'some man hav chow-chow he,'[70] and we supposed so too. - - * * * * * - -On February 27, 1831, Mr. Russell and Mr. Cushing took their final leave -of Canton in the 'Bashaw' (Captain Pearson), for Boston, the former -with the satisfaction of having founded a house in that distant port -which, under his sagacious management, had secured the confidence and -consideration of the entire foreign and Chinese mercantile community, as -well as of its numerous foreign correspondents in all quarters of the -world. Its present world-wide reputation renders it needless to say that -it still exists, and has become one of the oldest, if not _the_ oldest -firm whose style has undergone no change eastward of the Cape of Good -Hope. Mr. Russell was a native of Middletown, Connecticut, a person of -singularly gentle and benevolent disposition. There was about him a -suavity and charm of manner which under no circumstances ever deserted -him. Throughout a long life he enlisted the esteem and respect of all -who knew him. Of his considerate forbearance under great provocation I -can vouch from personal experience. From my first entrance in the office -he was desirous that I should make myself acquainted with book-keeping. -Its mysteries he first taught me. However incorrectly the tyro -appreciated the relative bearing of successive transactions or bungled -in recording them, he was corrected with a patience and kindliness of -manner that knew no bounds, and the encouragement he thus received at -length led him to a clear idea of the respective value of debit and -credit, as well as to the knowledge that they were 'the two factors -which formed the base of all mercantile transactions.' - -The younger members of the office, as a slight testimony to the paternal -kindness which they had received from their worthy 'Tae-pan,' invited -him to dine with them, to consider himself as their guest, at a 'parting -dinner.' He graciously accepted, and seemed pleased at the idea. We -invited Mr. Cushing and his old friend Houqua. The latter could not be -present, but sent us a very choice bird's-nest soup for the occasion. -We sent to Manila for a _fine_ turkey, and on its arrival put it out to -board on Honam, with injunctions that it should be well fed. The turkey -was a very rare bird at Canton and supplies came from Manila. Ours -looked rather haggard on arrival, and the Compradore attributed it to -its being 'very tired,' but added that it would be No. 1 when killed, -fat and presentable. The day came, and with it the dinner. At the proper -moment a great dish was placed upon the table and the cover removed in a -triumphant way, only to exhibit, to our horror, a lot of legs and wings -of the turkey, but as to body next to nothing! - -Not the least remarkable feature of Old Canton life was the 'Factory,' -as the common dwelling and common place of business of all the -members, old and young, of a commercial house. The system begat mutual -confidence. All affairs, past, present, and future, were discussed at -the table, and became as familiar to the clerks as they were to the -partners. While the latter imparted their own views and experiences, -the former benefited by them. The knowledge thus acquired was applied, -each in his special department, to a more intelligent co-operation, -which contributed to a general harmony in current affairs or special -enterprises. And so also in regard to other subjects. The younger -members had the advantage through this daily 'family' intercourse of -acquiring much useful information on a diversity of subjects. There were -few if any Principals, who had not had in different parts of the world -experience of men and things, who had not adventures to relate--how -unexpected difficulties were overcome or chance advantages availed of. -In daily exercises or pastimes all associated together; whether for -walking, for boating, or sight-seeing, 'Tae-Pans' and 'pursers' shared -them together. Should one of the former take the helm to-day, and one of -the latter an oar, to-morrow saw the order reversed. - -At length, as the elders retired, leaving, as was always the case, vast -and important affairs in course of execution, they did so with the -conviction that their successors possessed the qualifications to carry -them on to a logical termination, as well as to initiate new ones. - - * * * * * - -Before leaving us Mr. Russell had placed me in charge of the books and -accounts. We were excessively busy during the year, as, in addition -to orders for teas, those for manufactured silks were unprecedentedly -large. In May I was on the sick list; Doctor Bradford[71] sent me to -Macao in July for change of air, whence I returned in October. A serious -relapse took place in December, and, as a 'last chance,' passage was -taken for me in a small ship called the 'Howard,' of about 400 tons, -for New York. It was supposed the 'sea air' might have a good effect. -I was carried to the ship in such a state as to leave small hope of -reaching New York alive. We sailed from Whampoa early in February 1832. -(To replace me in the office, George R. Sampson was engaged, afterwards -Sampson & Tappan, Boston.) Down the China Sea the weather and progress -were good; we passed out into the Indian Ocean between Pulo Crockatoa -and Prince's Island, which took us ten days. We had a light 'trade' to -the Cape; there we were met by a succession of north-westerly gales, -which detained us twenty-two days. We were becalmed on the Equator a -long time; but at length arrived at New York, on the 162nd day, my -health perfectly restored. - -I was delighted to meet again Mr. Samuel Russell, then at the 'Clinton -Hotel,' as genial and kindly as always. He asked me to breakfast, to -meet Mr. Joseph Coolidge, Junior, about to leave for the office at -Canton, and afterwards I was invited to make him a visit at Middletown, -where I had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Russell, a -charming, quiet lady, whose reception of me was of the kindest. - -The 'Roman' was now again fitting out for Canton, under my old shipmate, -Captain Lavender. He had made several voyages in the 'America,' -belonging to Mr. Thomas H. Smith. Mr. Olyphant consented to my going in -the ship, and there was no other passenger on board. It was not yet the -usage for China ships to take passengers, nor would they take general -letters. We sailed on October 25, 1832, after a very short stay at home. -This time we took the Gilolo passage into the Pacific. At five A.M. of -March 5, 1833, we made Fo-Ki Point, on the coast of 'teas, silks, and -cassia,' and at 5.30 P.M. anchored under the peak of Lantao, in the -Lantao Channel, in 131 days' passage. Lavender despatched a fast boat to -his agents at Canton, Messrs Olyphant & Co., advising his arrival, while -I took another and arrived at the Factories in the evening of the 9th. - -Thus ended a second 'run home' (as those trips were euphemistically -called) of a year each. These 'runs,' however, were in reality nine -months of listening to 'what the wild waves were saying,' 'and wandering -about at home,' unknowing and almost unknown, for three months; to being -subjected, while there, to sleep on mattresses and pillows filled with -feathers in the summer months, with the thermometer at any height you -please, instead of on the clean, cool, hard rattan mat or mattress of -bamboo shavings, as in Canton, where it was rarely over 96° at midnight. - -It was not until eleven more years had passed that I took another -'run.' This was from Macao in 1844 in the 'Prince of Wales,' of Bombay -(Captain Jones), to Galle, then in the steamer 'Seaforth,' from Colombo, -_viâ_ Cannanore and Mangalore, to Bombay, with a trip to Mahableshwar -and Poonah for 'sight-seeing;' then to Aden and back to Bombay in -the East India Company's steamer 'Atalanta;' thence to Macao, _viâ_ -Singapore, in the splendid new clipper 'Mohr' of about 280 tons, -belonging to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, & Co., and commanded by 'my old -friend,' Fraser, who was second officer of the 'Good Success' in 1825, -to Singapore. - - * * * * * - -At the end of 1833 we had the misfortune to lose our estimable chief Mr. -W. H. Low, whose health failed from incessant application to the duties -of his responsible position. He took passage in the Company's ship -'Waterloo,' for England, with his family, and some months after we heard -of his death at the Cape. - - * * * * * - -The same year was notable for the hitherto unprecedented event of the -marriage at Macao of a young American lady, Miss Shillaber, of Boston, -to Doctor Thomas R. Colledge, of the Company's 'Factory.' It was a -brilliant affair, and celebrated with more than usual éclat from its -novelty. - - * * * * * - -The quitting of Canton by the Honourable East India Company in 1833 -was succeeded by the arrival of Lord Napier on July 25, 1834, as -'Chief Superintendent of the English Trade.' His lordship landed in a -boat belonging to the country ship 'Fort William.' This vessel being -secured by the Hong merchant 'Sun-Shing,' he was held responsible, -conducted into the city and imprisoned. As Her Majesty's representative -declined to correspond with the Viceroy through the Hong merchants, -the latter issued a proclamation on September 5, in which he spoke of -this 'contumacy' as a breach of the existing laws and regulations of -the Empire--of his Lordship having come to Canton officially, without -the permission of His Imperial Majesty, and requested him to return -to Macao pending a reference to Pekin; adding that, if he refused to -leave for Macao, no Chinese should serve him in any capacity. The -proclamation being pasted on a thin board, was suspended at the gate -of his Lordship's (the East India Co.) Factory and guarded by about -twenty soldiers. No sooner was this done, than the Chinese within the -building, half frightened to death, and fearing that the soldiers would -enter, rushed upstairs and reported what had taken place. Lord Napier, -who was at dinner with Sir George Best Robinson and others, instantly -left the table and came down to the gate. The proclamation was at once -removed, and, apprehensive of something serious, Lord Napier despatched -a messenger to Captain Blackwood, of H.M.S. 'Imogene,' then outside the -Bogue, to send him a guard of a dozen marines, and to come with his own -vessel and her consort, the 'Andromache,' to Whampoa with all despatch. -This being done, his lordship retired inside the Factory with his suite, -and the gate was bolted. At midnight Sir George left Canton in a small -cutter to join the two frigates. Very soon the marines arrived at the -Factory, the Square was filled with Chinese soldiers, and war junks and -boats were gathered on the river. All communication with the Whampoa -shipping was cut off, and orders were issued that no English boats -should come to the city. The Viceroy had also requested the American -merchants not to allow boats from their vessels to come up except on -urgent business. It is needless to add that the whole foreign trade of -the port was entirely stopped. At the time the disturbance took place, -one of our captains, Hepburn, of the ship 'Nile,' was in the Factory, -and having been assured by the Linguist that he should be provided with -a Chinese boat to take him to Whampoa, had sent his own back to the -ship. On the 6th, when ready to start, we found that the Linguist could -not procure one. I therefore ordered my own, a small schooner yacht, -the 'Ferret,' to be made ready, and together we left Canton at four -in the afternoon. We passed through a fleet of about fifty war boats, -filled with men and armed to the teeth. Presently, to our surprise, we -met a small English cutter, having on board Captain St. Croix, of the -'Alexander Baring,' just arrived from London, on his way up with our -despatches. I told him it was useless to attempt to get through, and -brought him with us to the 'Nile.' - -The next day, September 7, Mr. Coolidge, Mr. A. A. Low, and Mr. Cabot -made their appearance; they had pulled down for the 'Baring's' letters, -having heard of her arrival soon after I left. The 'Union' schooner next -hove in sight, coming from Macao, with Mr. George R. Sampson and a Dutch -gentleman, Mr. Vandermulen, on board. I took them out and brought them -to the 'Nile.' - -Later in the day, Coolidge, Low, and Cabot started with the 'Baring's' -letters, in the hope of being able to get to the Factories; but on -arriving at 'Houqua's' Fort, about half-way, first one and then another -ball flew over their heads, which brought them to. A war boat came -alongside, with a Linguist on board; he told them it was useless to -attempt going on, as, owing to these troubles with the English, the -Viceroy had issued an additional order, that to prevent 'the innocent -from suffering with the guilty,' no foreign boat could come to Canton. -They pulled back to the 'Nile.' We found ourselves, therefore, all -prisoners at Whampoa, including another American, named Gorham. We -styled ourselves 'the Canton refugees,' and threw ourselves upon the -hospitality of our friends the captains of the six American vessels -then at the anchorage. And this rather eventful day closed with a -dinner on board the 'Coliseum' (Captain Stoddard), with whist in the -evening on board the 'Nile.' The next day we dined on board the 'India' -(Captain Cook, of Salem), and quartered ourselves upon our friends as -follows:--Coolidge, Vandermulen, and myself, on board the 'Nile;' Low on -board the 'York;' Cabot, Sampson, and Gorham, on board the 'Coliseum.' - -_September 26._--At last we have safely arrived back at our old quarters -in the Factories, after being 'refugees' at Whampoa for just twenty -days. The commotion is still great, and we are cautioned about going far -from 'home.' The streets are full of rowdies and blackguards, who abuse -us in words far from complimentary, and make signs as if beheading us! -Nevertheless we are comfortable enough as far as 'Jackass Point' or Hog -Lane, and can look up 'Old China Street' without bodily fear. - -The return to Canton immediately after 'hostilities' had ceased by the -departure of Lord Napier was worth making, if only to see the enormous -preparations that had been made against an attempt by the boats of the -frigates. We took the Junk river passage, and met with no obstructions -until we had passed Houqua's Fort and got abreast of the 'Lob Creek' -Pagoda. Here we were brought to and ordered to pull alongside of a -large mandarin boat, crowded with a ferocious looking lot of fellows, -and half-starved as well, to judge from the avidity with which they -seized upon some biscuit we threw among them. We were in two boats--one -with Captain Tonks, of the Bombay ship 'Lord Castlereagh,' Mr. Low, -and Sampson, and my own small gig, with myself alone. A petty officer, -wearing an opaque white button, got in Tonks's boat and directed him to -a junk, on board of which was a Linguist, and I followed. We reached the -Factories four and a half hours from Whampoa. - -Correspondence between the Hong merchants (as intermediaries of the -Viceroy) and Lord Napier, which his lordship would not comply with, was -the only mode that could be expected under the existing foreign and -Chinese relations. The Viceroy could not set aside that yet unrepealed -system, nor enter into personal communication with any foreign -representative. To do so, special authority from the Imperial Government -was indispensable. The entire difficulty therefore was caused by Her -Majesty's representative persisting in requiring of the Viceroy that -which the latter could not grant. Naturally, the 'Napier War,' or, as -locally called, the 'Napier fizzle,' was the result. It was coupled, -too, with an entire stoppage of all foreign trade from September -2 to September 24, which was a very serious thing, and entirely -unjustifiable in the absence of a declaration of war. The mortifying -result was that Lord Napier had to renounce his expressed determination -to remain at Canton. The British Government should either have obtained -official recognition from Pekin for their representative, or simply have -appointed a Consul whose dignity could not have been infringed upon by -his being placed on the same footing as Consuls of other foreign nations. - -On September 21 Lord Napier quitted Canton with his suite for Macao. -As the frigates proceeded towards the Bogue and Lintin, so did the two -chop-boats of Lord Napier, _pari passu_, towards his destination by the -inner passage. He was convoyed by several Chinese men-of-war boats. At -length his Lordship arrived on the 26th. The humiliating end of his -ineffectual attempt to correspond directly with the local government -aggravated an illness brought on by the vexation and excitement he had -undergone from the day of his landing from the 'Fort William's' boat, -and on October 11 his Lordship died at Macao. - - * * * * * - -The years 1835 and 1836 were unmarked by any event out of the regular -course. The business of the house was taking a great extension -(purely as agency); but in 1837 occurred the failures in London of -three important banking houses having a large American connection. -We had negotiated their 'credits' for some of our constituents to a -considerable amount for the payment of teas and silks. Those houses were -Thomas Wilson & Co., George Wildes & Co., and Timothy Wiggin, commonly -known as the three W's. These failures were within a short time of each -other. On reference to our register of bills drawn, we found the total -amount of which we had not yet received advice of payment or acceptance -to be close upon 200,000_l._ They were all drawn on 'clean credits,' -without 'collaterals' (which were not yet in vogue), and at six months' -sight. We had confidence in our American constituents, but as the -shipments occupied, say, four months in getting to market, and could -only be sold at the usual credit of six months, very little margin of -time existed. Our own credit, however, was the first consideration. One -of our partners, then in Boston, had in his charge a very large amount -belonging to Houqua, who gave us an order on the former to hold at our -disposal any sum required. Enclosing this, we directed remittances to be -made to Messrs. Barings of a sufficiency to cover all such bills on the -W's as could not be relied upon for payment by those for whose accounts -they had been drawn, and simultaneously we informed Messrs. Barings that -remittances would be made to them to provide for such bills, so that our -signature could be promptly honoured. - -Communication with the Western world was long in those days; there were -even no 'clipper' ships yet. Accustomed, however, to such delays, we -waited patiently the result. Our first advices were from London. They -informed us that the writers, Messrs. B. B. & Co., would honour all -bills bearing our name on the three bankrupt houses in question. This -was a gratifying thing, as they had not yet received our communication -above referred to. Everything worked with regularity. Some of the firms -for whose accounts the bills had been drawn were ready to meet them, -others furnished securities, and the ultimate loss was inconsiderable -on the whole account. So rapid had been remittances from our Boston -partner that, when the final account current was received at Macao -from London, 1840-41, the balance of interest was in our favour, while -Houqua was recouped in full as payments were made to our home partner by -American constituents. - -If I am not very much mistaken, 1837 was the first of those years ending -with '7' which have become proverbial as attended with great commercial -troubles in the Western world. - - * * * * * - -In the year 1838 (November) Mr. William Jardine took his departure from -Canton. He founded in 1832 the house of Jardine, Matheson, & Co., on the -closing up of that of Magniac & Co., which until then had been under the -management of Mr. Hollingworth Magniac. Mr. Jardine had been a surgeon -in the marine service of the Honourable East India Company, and had made -several voyages to Bombay and China. He had made the acquaintance of the -celebrated 'Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy,' that prince of Eastern merchants, -that philanthropist--the building of the hospital which now bears his -name, and the construction of the Bund from the island of Bombay to -Basseen, being amongst the numerous works which were carried out at -his own expense for the comfort and welfare of his countrymen. He was, -moreover, the first native inhabitant of the Presidency, and I think -of India, on whom was conferred the dignity of Baronet by the British -Government. The business transactions of Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy with -Jardine, Matheson, & Co. became of a colossal scale. - -The vast commercial operations of Mr. Jardine Seemed to be conducted -with sagacity and judgment. He was a gentleman of great strength of -character and of unbounded generosity. To him belongs the shipping of -the first cargo of 'free teas' to London, at the end of the two hundred -years of close monopoly of the East India Company. As a peculiarity of -his character, it may be mentioned that, in his own private office in -the Creek Factory, a _chair_ was never seen--a hint to any who may be -bothered with gossips or idlers during business hours! - -A few days before Mr. Jardine's departure from Canton, the entire -foreign community entertained him at a dinner in the dining-room of the -East India Company's Factory. About eighty persons of all nationalities, -including India, were present, and they did not separate until several -hours after midnight. It was an event frequently referred to afterwards -amongst the residents, and to this day there are a few of us who still -speak of it. - -Mr. Jardine was succeeded in the management of the house by Mr. (the -late Sir James) Matheson, who finally left China on March 10, 1842, -after a residence of about fifteen years. He was a gentleman of great -suavity of manner and the impersonation of benevolence. As the 'Chinese -Repository,' in noting his departure from Macao, said: 'On his leaving -the foreign community lost one of its most enterprising, able, and -liberal members.' - - * * * * * - -On February 26, 1839, execution of a Chinese, said to be an -opium-dealer, took place in front of the American Factory. The officers -had chosen the hours of the afternoon when nearly all the foreigners -were away in their daily walks or on the river. The man was tied up and -strangled in a twinkling, and all had rapidly returned up Old China -Street with the body. On landing from our boats we found the few who -had not been away collected in the Square, and heard from them what had -happened. The only public notice that could be taken of this affair -was to discontinue the daily hoisting of the national flags before our -doors; nor were they re-hoisted until March 22, 1842. - -The appointment of a 'Kin-Chae', or Imperial Envoy, to Canton, for -the express purpose of putting a stop to the opium trade, had now -become known. This appointment--only made on an occasion calling for -extreme measures--was conferred upon Lin-Tsih-Soo, and involved control -not only over all the Canton authorities, but those of the southern -and south-eastern provinces. His Excellency 'Lin' was the son of an -independent gentleman of Tseuen-Chow in the province of Fuh-Keen who -lived on the revenues of a porcelain manufactory, in which he himself -had worked as a day labourer it was said. - -The 'Kin-Chae' at length arrived at Canton on Sunday morning, at -half-past eight o'clock of March 10. Two gentlemen and myself went -on board of a small schooner lying off the Factories to witness his -arrival. He was seated on board of a large official boat, with a few -red- and blue-button Mandarins standing a little to the rear, so that we -had an excellent view of him personally. He had a dignified air, rather -a harsh or firm expression, was a large, corpulent man, with heavy -black moustache and long beard, and appeared to be about sixty years of -age. His own boat was followed by a great many others, on the sides -of which, on a black ground, were painted in gold letters the rank of -the principal occupants, while flags of various colours were displayed -abaft. The crews were neatly dressed in new uniforms of red trimmed -with white, and conical rattan hats of the same colours. These boats -contained the principal officers of the city, civil and military, from -the Viceroy to the Superintendent of the Salt Department. The walls of -the 'Red Fort,' nearly opposite the Factories on the Honam shore, were -lined with soldiers, as were those of the 'Dutch Folly,'[72] arrayed in -bright new uniforms. Both shores of the river, every door and window, -and every spot of standing ground, were thick with people. Everyone was -observing the novel scene quietly and as curiously as ourselves. No -other boat of any description was moving about; all were lying close to -the shores, and a universal silence prevailed. Besides my companions and -myself, not a 'foreign barbarian' was to be seen in the vast gathering. - -On the 17th the Hong merchants, the Linguists, and the Compradores -(except our own) were summoned to an audience of the 'Kin-Chae.' They -obeyed it with fear and trembling. The object was to ascertain who, -amongst the foreigners duly registered as occupying the Factories, and -whose names had been forwarded to Pekin eighteen months before, were -still present and in the opium 'business.' Russell & Co. not having -been included, our Compradore was not 'invited,' at which he appeared -particularly delighted. - -On the 18th the Kin-Chae sent for the Hong merchants. They were charged -with having connived at the opium trade, and his Excellency threatened -to strangle some of them if it was not _instantly_ put a stop to! They -were also accused of allowing foreign dealers in 'smoke' to reside in -their Factories, and were very much frightened, as one of them said, -'No hav see so fashion before.' Forthwith they met in 'Consoo' to -deliberate, and remained until late in the night. - -On the same day the first edict from the 'Kin-Chae' to foreigners was -issued. It ordered all Opium held by them to be surrendered, and that -they should sign bonds to discontinue the trade, 'under penalty of -death.' It became very clear that his Excellency was not to be trifled -with. - -On the 19th, Messrs. Matheson, Dent, Green, Wetmore, Dadabhoy Rustomjee, -and Daniell met the Hong merchants at the Consoo House, and were -informed by them verbally of the commands of the 'Kin-Chae,' which were -a repetition of the foregoing, with the addition that the opium was to -be destroyed. Moreover, if his Excellency's orders were not complied -with, the consequences would be serious. There were at this time 15,000 -chests on board of the 'receiving ships' at Lintin, and 5,000 chests at -the coast stations, and the cost of all over $12,000,000. - -The foreign community thought to propitiate the 'Kin-Chae,' after the -receipt by them of his '_unalterable_' commands, by offering to give up -a _certain_ quantity. This had been suggested by the Hong merchants, -who, no more than ourselves, supposed the 'Kin-Chae' to be serious in -insisting upon _all_ that was held. A meeting was therefore convened in -the Danish Hong, on the night of March 21, at which nearly everyone was -present, as were also the Hong merchants, who assembled in an adjoining -room. They were as anxious as we were to avert the threatened troubles, -should the 'Kin-Chae' not listen to 'reason,' as they expressed it. In -fact, throughout, while we were prisoners in the Factories, as will be -seen, for six weeks, under threat of death and constant, unheard-of -pressure, they did what they could to alleviate our condition through -appeals to the 'authorities of the City.' All this was done with very -great risk to themselves. Their presence at the meeting was from a -desire to know the decision to which it might come, that they could -report it to the 'Kin-Chae' as quickly as possible, and, in fact, we saw -by his reply that it had been made known to him between five and seven -on the morning of the 22nd. - -An hour or two before the meeting, Houqua made his appearance at our -office, and requested Mr. Green, the then chief, to add 150 chests of -opium to the quantity he intended to offer on behalf of Russell & Co. -to the general subscription, for which he himself would pay. The cost -of these chests would have been $105,000! The gentlemen present at -the meeting, on behalf of their firms subscribed 1,034 chests in all, -of the value of $725,000. These were offered to the 'Kin-Chae,' but -disdainfully refused. All communication with the shipping at Whampoa was -then cut off; quantities of soldiers collected near the Factories, as -well as on the river, while several days before, all the gates opening -to the rear of the Factories had been bricked up. - -Before the promulgation of the 'Kin-Chae's' proclamation to foreigners, -I was invited by the senior Hong merchant to translate from English -into Chinese a communication that had been prepared by his Excellency, -conjointly with the Viceroy[73] and Lieutenant-Governor of Canton, -addressed to Her Majesty the Queen of England. This arose from the -original having been translated into English, and the Imperial Envoy -was desirous to judge for himself if the latter version conveyed the -sense of the Chinese. Having consented, I passed four hours of a very -cold day at the Consoo House in accomplishing the task. There were -present a delegate from the Commissioner, a Mandarin of the fourth rank -(light blue button), an inferior officer, Houqua's grandson, Mouqua -and Kingqua, and two Linguists. The document was a most extraordinary -one. Prominent is the bombastic style, the outcome of ages of dominion, -ignorance of Western official forms through an absence of diplomatic -intercourse. It said: 'In dealing in opium, regardless of the injury it -inflicts upon the Chinese people, an inordinate thirst for gain controls -the actions of these foreign merchants.' With an idea that the use of -it was prohibited in England: 'We have heard that England forbids the -smoking of opium (within its dominions) with the utmost rigour; hence -it is clear that it is deleterious. Since, then, the injury it causes -has been averted from England, is it not wrong to send it to another -nation, and especially to China?' Then there is an appeal to personal -feeling: 'How can these opium-sellers bear to bring to our people -an article which does them so much harm, for an ever-grasping gain? -Suppose those of another nation should go to England and induce its -people to buy and smoke the drug--it would be right that You, Honoured -Sovereign, should hate and abhor them. Hitherto we have heard that You, -Honoured Sovereign, whose heart is full of benevolence, would not do -to others that which you would not others should do to yourself.' The -grandiloquent then appears: 'Our great Emperor maintains Celestial lands -and foreign nations in equal favour; he rewards merit and punishes vice; -and, as is the heart of heaven and earth pure and incorruptible, so is -his own. The Celestial Dynasty rules over ten thousand[74] nations, -and in the highest degree sheds forth its benign influence with equal -majesty.' This is in the sense of grandeur or stateliness. It ended -thus: 'By manifesting sincere and reverential obedience[75] mutually -will be enjoyed the blessings of great peace! Heaven will protect your -Majesty; the Gods bless you, lengthen your years, and grant you a happy -and an honourable posterity.' I never heard if this document reached its -destination. - -On March 23, every Chinaman in the Factories, from the Compradore to -the cook, left by order of the 'Kin-Chae,' and were threatened with -decapitation if they dared to return. The day before, Mr. Lancelot Dent, -chief of Messrs. Dent & Co., had been _invited_ to enter the city and -meet his Excellency, which he declined to do. Other but ineffectual -attempts by the authorities to induce him to go were also made, when, on -the 24th, Captain Charles Elliot, Her Majesty's Superintendent of Trade, -arrived from Macao, and immediately assumed charge, on behalf of the -English residents, of the perplexing question of the 'total surrender -of the opium.' The street in rear of the Factories was now filled with -soldiers, a strong guard was also placed in the 'Square,' and a triple -cordon of boats drawn up from the Creek to the Danish Factory. The whole -community were thus prisoners in the hands of the Chinese. Provisions -were not allowed to be brought in, no one was permitted to go beyond the -'Square,' and matters assumed a decidedly serious aspect. We overcame -the difficulty of provisions in this way. The Chinese soldiers being -entirely unaccustomed to foreigners, there was a danger that 'trouble -would arise;' the Hong merchants therefore represented this to the City -authorities, and offered to send their _own coolies_ to keep watch at -the different gates of the Factories.[76] This was agreed to, and the -double object was gained in supplies of firewood and provisions, which -were at night stealthily brought to us by them. - -On March 27, on the 'Kin-Chae's' demand to Her Majesty's Superintendent -'that all the opium under the control of the English merchants should be -given up,' 20,283 chests were tendered and accepted, and 'Chunpee' fixed -upon as the place of delivery. To control the delivery, Mr. Alexander -Johnston, Deputy Superintendent, was furnished with a conveyance, and -left Canton on April 3. The 'receiving ships' moved up to the Bogue, -where the entire quantity was handed over to officers (appointed by the -'Kin-Chae'), who caused it to be destroyed in deep trenches on Chunpee -heights. Thus 'reverent obedience' was shown. Captain Elliot remarked, -in his despatch to her Majesty's Government, dated March 30, 1839: -'This is the _first time, in our_ _intercourse with this Empire_, that -its Government has taken the _unprovoked_ (?) initiative in aggressive -measures against British _life_, _liberty_, and _property_, and against -the dignity of the British Crown.' No words could more strongly confirm -everything herein said in relation to the safety of property and life -which we had enjoyed at Canton. But the despatch contained not a word of -the provocation given by foreigners in continuing the condemned traffic -under constantly repeated injunctions against doing so, and persistent -warnings to discontinue it. I, of course, do not blame my brother -merchants at Canton, no matter to what nation they belonged, as we were -all equally implicated. We disregarded local orders, as well as those -from Pekin, and really became confident that we should enjoy perpetual -impunity so far as the 'opium trade' was concerned. - -The night of March 24 was one of unusual brilliancy in its cloudless -sky and full moon. The Factories, forcibly abandoned by several hundred -Chinese (estimated at eight hundred) at a moment's notice, resembled -somewhat places of the dead! Their foreign occupants were thus left -literally in a complete state of destitution as regards service of any -kind, not even a scullion being allowed to remain. The consequence was -that they were compelled, in order to _live_, to try their own skill in -cooking, to make up their own rooms, sweep the floors, lay the table, -wash plates and dishes! It may be supposed that it produced discontent, -complaints, and impatience. Not at all; we in the Suy-Hong--and it was -the same with our fellow-prisoners in the other Factories, with few -exceptions--made light of it, and laughed rather than groaned over the -efforts to roast a capon, to boil an egg or a potato. We could all -clean knives, sweep the floors, and even manage to fill the lamps. But -there were mysteries which we could not divine; our chief, Mr. Green, -after a vain attempt to boil rice--which, when prepared, resembled a -tough mass of glue--proved a most wretched cook, and took to polishing -the silver, but abandoned that and finally swept the floor! Mr. Low -conscientiously did all he could, but after toasting the bread to death, -and boiling the eggs till they acquired the consistency of grape-shot, -he abandoned that department, and took to one not exacting so much -exercise of mind, and 'laid the cloth' dexterously and well. The rest -of us, from modesty or a feeling of sheer incapacity, did no more than -was absolutely necessary. It would have been unfair to rob the others -of their laurels! Some one had to fill the pitchers; anyone could draw -a cork, or even boil water. Thus, by hook or by crook, we managed -to sustain life--of which the 'bread' was nightly supplied to us by -Houqua's coolies. They also brought (made up in bags, as if 'personal -effects' or 'blankets to keep off the dew,' thus passing the guards) -edibles of all sorts. - -During the day we met in the Square, which became 'High 'Change' of -experiences in desperate efforts to roast, boil, or stew. Some went the -length of considering it great fun; others heaped unheard-of blessings -upon the heads of His Celestial Majesty, Taou-Kwang, and his envoy 'Lin.' - -No two men were so unctuously abused; _as if_ the vilifiers themselves -had always followed strictly the 'Eight Regulations' under which they -lived! What amusement all this created. - -By May 2, 15,501 chests had been given up, when the servants were -allowed gradually to return, and the whole quantity, 20,283 chests,[77] -completed on the 21st. On the 27th Captain Elliot returned to Macao, -and on the 30th the opium clipper 'Ariel' left for Suez direct with -despatches for the British Government. She returned on April 2, 1840. - -Between May 6 and 21 many foreigners were permitted to leave the city, -and went to Macao or Whampoa. Captain Elliot, before going himself, on -the 22nd issued a notice to British subjects that they also were to -leave, and by the end of the month they had left; and there remained -no foreigners but Americans, about twenty-five in number. On the 29th -I left with all books, papers, &c., not actually required at Canton, -in company with six other boats for Macao, containing Parsees and -several English, including Doctors Cox and Dickson. On the way down -we were joined by four large chop-boats with Messrs. Lindsay & Co.'s -establishment, and John Shillaber and others from Messrs. Jardine, -Matheson, & Co.'s. The trip was most enjoyable; we dined or passed the -day with one another, and arrived nearly at the same time at Macao on -the night of June 1. The Mandarins who came on board at Che-Nae and at -Heang-Shan were civil as usual, and seemed perfectly indifferent to what -had passed at Canton. - - * * * * * - -The surrender of the 'British-owned opium' was followed by events to -which the foreign trade had from its foundation at Canton been a -stranger. Now were initiated political relations between the vast -and unknown Empire of China and European nations--the first that had -existed. No treaty had yet been entered into, except with Russia for -regulating its trade and arranging boundaries. Russian and Chinese -commercial relations had existed between two frontier towns (separated -but by the boundary line) well known as Kiachta and 'Mae-Mae-Ching.'[78] - -No Western officer was yet officially recognised, even of the rank of -Consul or Vice-Consul, and all communications between one or the other -and the Canton Government were through the intermediary of the Co-Hong. -The consequences, therefore, that might grow out of the delivery of the -opium filled the foreign community with anxiety. The Americans had not -delivered any American-owned opium, of which we held at the time of -surrender about fifty cases of Turkey, but they determined to remain -in the Factories and continue their business. The English on leaving -placed theirs in charge of the American houses. A large share of it fell -under the control of Russell & Co., and, to facilitate negotiations with -its new constituents outside, one of the partners opened an office on -board the English ship 'Heroine,' at 'Kow-Lung,' and subsequently, when -all foreign vessels were driven away from that anchorage, at Toon-Koo. -Several ships of the firm, including the 'Lintin,' were kept running -between these places and Whampoa with British goods at thirty to forty -dollars per ton, and Indian cotton at seven dollars per bale, and -receiving on board no freight unless consigned to the house. A very -active business was carried on under the American flag, greatly to the -convenience of English friends, as well as to their profit. Teas were -the returns for these inward cargoes, which were brought down to the -anchorage and shipped from Toon-Koo for England. - -While the shipments were going on an English vessel of about 900 tons -arrived from Singapore, named the 'Cambridge' under the command of -Captain Douglas. Being offered for sale, she was purchased by Russell -& Co., and her name changed to 'Chesapeake' of eventful memory. Loaded -with British goods, valued at 150,000_l._, with her deck full to the -top of the rail, she was despatched for Whampoa, in charge of Captain -Gilman. She had of course been put under the American flag. There was -very little time to spare, as a blockade was to commence in a few days. -On June 22, 1840, H.M.S. 'Volage,' and subsequently the 'Hyacinth,' -took up their positions off Chunpee[79] at the moment the 'Chesapeake' -sailed by. She was the last vessel that entered the port. She arrived at -her destination and delivered her cargo, which was landed at Canton in -regular course. - -The Chinese had thrown a great raft across the river just above the -second bar, in anticipation of hostilities with the English. They then -thought the best thing to do was to purchase a large foreign ship, arm -and man her, and anchor her above the raft, as an additional protection -against the barbarian war ships. Application being made to Mr. Delano, -the then chief of Russell & Co., who had never left Canton, a bargain -was concluded for the 'Chesapeake.' The American flag and papers -were removed, and she was made over to the Mandarins. Her 'Cumsha and -Measurement' charges, amounting to about _$_8,000, were abandoned. The -Mandarins took charge and began to fit her out as an 'auxiliary defence' -to the raft, and thus stop 'English men-of-war' which 'from vainglory -or conceit might dare to attempt the inner waters.' Two great eyes were -painted on her bows. Great streamers hung from every mast to the deck, a -multitude of flags of all colours and shapes--bearing such words painted -thereon as 'Courage,' the 'Yang-Yin,' and the 'Pa-Kwa,'[80] together -with the rank of the officer in command--were arranged around the -taffrail. In short, she became the Chinese emblem of everything 'mighty -and victorious!' She would strike would-be assailants with consternation -and despair! - -Meanwhile her armament was sent on board. Cannon of every available size -were ranged on her two decks; round shot, stones, and other missiles -were accumulated in quantities; nor were bows and arrows forgotten, -nor quantities of muskets, flint-lock and percussion, and the more -familiar matchlock. Her crew consisted of Whampoa Chinese (amongst many -others)--these were accustomed to foreign vessels, and no better sailors -than they--Manila men, Seedies,[81] and Lascars, runaways from country -ships. There were probably four or five hundred men on board. - -Thus equipped she was towed down to her appointed station amidst an -inconceivable beating of gongs, the explosion of fire crackers, flying -serpents, and fiery dragons--thanks to which and her two bow 'eyes' she -arrived in safety and anchored. - -This was a few days before February 26, 1841, when the Bogue Forts -were captured by Sir Gordon Bremer. The 'Unconquerable' was then -taking powder on board in large quantities, packed in jars, which were -promiscuously stowed on deck and between decks, as usual. She was so -engaged also on the 27th, having a great number of chop-boats and -other small craft alongside. Suddenly appeared the smoke of a steamer -approaching from the Bogue! It turned out to be H.M.'s ship 'Nemesis,' -Captain Hall. She had the 'singular audacity to approach the barrier,' -and when within an easy distance, the 'unheard-of temerity' to try -the effect of a Congreve rocket on the emblem of 'victory and might.' -The aim was true, and like a flash--or in a 'flash'--ship, crew, and -contents, boats, all disappeared from the face of the waters! The -explosion was terrific, and was distinctly heard at Canton, a distance -of thirty miles. Not a human creature was reported to have survived! -For years after there was to be seen on the left bank of the river the -bottom of the ship. It had been separated from the hull as if sawn off -in all its length; and it gradually disappeared through the combined -efforts of Chinese boatmen, who broke up and carried it piecemeal away. - -The English forces having moved up to Canton, a suspension of -hostilities was agreed upon on March 20, 1841, and the port was again -free. Local disturbances, however, broke out, and, on May 22 following, -a mob of Chinese plundered and burnt down the East India Company's new -Factory, the Dutch, and the Creek. On the 25th, Sir Hugh Gough landed -near Pwantingqua's country house and took possession of the heights -overlooking the city. The authorities then ransomed it for six millions -of dollars, of which five millions were paid on the 31st, when the -forces left Canton and foreign vessels again entered the port. - -The carrying trade on the river now ceased. Lying in the outer waters we -had the 'Lintin,' the 'Lantao' the 'Lema,' and the 'Ladrone.' The former -commenced her career in China as Russell & Co.'s 'receiving ship' in -1830. She was well constructed to carry a large cargo, and her sailing -qualities were fair. Her career and ultimate fate were singular. With -the exception of shifting stations during the taiphoon seasons, her -anchors were never raised for nine years, when in 1839, as related, she -resumed her original vocation of a sailing ship up and down the 'Pearl' -River. - -During this state of idleness for our ships, I received information from -Mr. Delano that Houqua was disposed to send orders to India for cotton. -Prices had naturally fallen there during the blockade and troubles at -Canton, while the non-importation for several months had caused a great -rise. Three of the ships were despatched and 100,000_l._ remitted to -Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. The funds were in East India Company's -bills on Calcutta. The 'Lintin' sailed for Madras, the 'Lantao' for -Calcutta, and the 'Lema' for Bombay, thus securing so much tonnage for -the cotton, while other vessels were to be chartered at those ports. The -first vessel, however, that arrived with a portion of the purchases was -the Swedish ship 'Calcutta,' and she had anchored in the Taypa only a -few days when she was driven on shore in a taiphoon. In due time our -own ships arrived. The 'Lintin' was then despatched a second time, but -got no further than Singapore, when her captain, Townsend, in direct -breach of orders, and under various pretexts, took in a cargo of rattans -and returned to Macao! His 'accounts' being refused, he brought an -action against us in the Macao court. - -It was still going on when I left Macao in 1844. The legal papers had so -accumulated that they seemed sufficient to 'dunnage' the ship. Asking -the clerk of the court one day if he thought it would _ever_ be settled, -he made the same reply that he had repeated for years: 'Se senhor, ma, -hum poco tiempo!' ('Certainly, sir, but it requires a little time'). - -The 'Lintin,' however, was sent to Whampoa. The first English treaty -with the Chinese having been broken, further preparations were made -for defence, and the authorities, not discouraged, sought for another -foreign ship--this time for service nearer the city. They took a fancy -to the 'Lintin;' she was sold to them, and towed up the river by a -great fleet of small boats. An eye[82] was painted on each bow; she was -completely unrigged to her lower masts, and, amidst a confused noise -of gongs and fireworks, she was anchored just below the Dutch Folly, -opposite the city. - -On the day appointed for 'making her over' various high Mandarins with -many followers came on board. Captain Endicott, who was in charge, had -caused certain refreshments to be laid out on the cabin table with which -to regale these officers. They consisted of several junk bottles of gin -and brandy, a jug or two of water, hard biscuits and cheroots! Before -accompanying them over the ship, he invited them to the cabin. - -As he said when relating the circumstance to us, 'after drinks all -round and a weed' we returned on deck to look about the vessel; next -we visited the between-decks, and the Mandarins pronounced everything -highly satisfactory. Seeing a Scuttle-Butt[83] pump, it attracted the -attention of one of them, who took it to be an 'engine of war,' and -asked to be informed as to the manner of its use! They soon after took -leave and returned to the city. 'Thank heaven,' said Captain Endicott -to a gentleman whom he had asked on board to see the Chinese officials, -'that's over; now that they are off, let us go down and take a drink -and a smoke.' On getting to the cabin they found that _everything_--the -gin and brandy, cigars, biscuits, even the water-jug, pitcher, and -tumblers--had all been walked off with by the followers of the high -dignitaries! A Chinese crew and naval Mandarin took possession, as -Captain Endicott pulled away from his 'old home' for so many years. She -was then duly turned into a Chinese man-of-war. There were the usual -insignia of invincibility, triangular flags, on which were figures of -dragons swallowing the moon, the 'Yin and Yang,' circles and zigzag -lines, emblematical of thunder and lightning. - -The commanding officer of all this destructive paraphernalia, with the -peacock's feather in his cap, a large silk umbrella held over his head, -seated himself comfortably in a bamboo chair, smoking his pipe. - -Other formidable preparations for war were duly made in a provision of -worm-eaten guns, matchlocks, spears, and shields. She would soon have -been ready for an encounter with any of the English sloops, whether the -'Modeste' or the 'Algerine,' perhaps even the 'Herald;' but one night -a great freshet took place. The violence of the tide was such that she -swerved at her anchor from right to left, struck on the rocks close to -the 'Folly,' slid off, and went down in deep water! The Chinese then set -to work and unshipped her masts, leaving a stump of the foremast about -seven feet above the deck, and placed upon it a diminutive lantern. This -served thenceforth as a 'lighthouse' to guide boats up and down the -river! It was the _first_ lighthouse in Canton waters 'on record.' When -I last saw the stump of the mast, twenty-eight years after, a great bank -of mud had formed around the hull, and a faint glimmer from a penny dip -in a small paper lantern marked the last resting-place of the 'Lintin.' - - * * * * * - -The seizure of the opium in its consequences was _the_ feature in the -breaking up of the exclusive conditions of foreign trade at Canton, as -it had existed since 1720. The peculiar conditions also of social life -were doomed, as was that perfect and wonderful organisation, the Co-Hong. - -On August 10, 1841, Sir Henry Pottinger arrived at Macao as Her -Majesty's sole plenipotentiary and Minister Extraordinary. Negotiations -with the Mandarins were carried on simultaneously with the capture of -cities on the coast. The material losses and destruction of life to -the Chinese were incalculable, particularly through suicide by those -helpless people. An English officer who was present at the taking -of Cha-Po in May 1842 wrote to a friend at Macao that on landing, -about 3,500 strong, under cover of the men-of-war, the most terrible -enormities were committed. He then goes on to say: 'After the city had -been captured, I entered more than a hundred houses, and in each there -were not less than two, and in many eight, persons found dead. They were -the bodies of mothers and daughters who had committed suicide from a -dread of becoming prisoners; 1,600 dead were buried after the battle, -of which more than one-half were Tartar soldiers, who in despair of -repelling the enemy, and preferring death to defeat, had _nearly all_ -destroyed themselves. Is not this a splendid exhibition of patriotism?' - -The losses of the English on this occasion by the official accounts were -one colonel, one sergeant, and seven men killed, seven officers and -forty-seven men wounded; and so on to the end, the pigmy against the -giant! - -At length the treaty of Nanking, in which the Chinese consented to -pay an indemnity of _$_21,000,000, was signed off that city, on board -of H.M.S. 'Cornwallis,' on August 29, 1842, by his Excellency Sir -Henry Pottinger, the Imperial Commissioners Ke-Ying and E-Leepoo, and -New-Keen, the Viceroy of Keang-Nan and Keang-Se. And thus concluded the -first European war with China, one of the most unjust ever waged by one -nation against another. - -The next treaty was that of the United States, which was signed at the -village of Mong-Ha (Macao) on July 3, 1844, by Mr. Caleb Cushing and -Ke-Ying. Together they were the 'knell, the shroud, the mattock, and the -grave' of Old Canton. - - * * * * * - -The Chinese had not looked with satisfaction upon the concessions -they had been obliged to make to an overwhelming military and naval -force, which had caused them the loss of myriads of lives, often under -circumstances of great atrocity, of unheard-of suffering, as well -as of many millions of dollars independently of the war indemnity. -The ordeal was a terrible one; but they gained by it the, to them, -unenvied _privilege_ of falling in with Western ideas. Encouraged by the -confidence inspired by so _great_ a _privilege_, they now contract for -loans of money, they build vessels of war on European models, and drill -their soldiers in foreign tactics; they provide themselves with Western -arms of precision--in short, they are putting on their armour. They are -in full career of a diplomacy in which Ambassadors or Ministers--that -is to say, 'spies upon one another'--watch over the interests of their -respective countries. With the sword at their throat they have become -members of what is facetiously called the 'Brotherhood' of Nations! - - - - -MESSRS. RUSSELL & CO., CANTON. -1823 TO 1844. - - -The house of Russell & Co. was constituted on January 1, 1824, in -succession to that of Samuel Russell & Co., which had existed from -December 26, 1818, to December 26, 1823. It is known amongst the Chinese -as 'Kee-Chang-Hong.' It confined itself strictly to agency business. -From January 1, 1824, until the middle of 1830 the sole partners were -Mr. Russell and Philip Ammidon. In September 1829 Mr. Wm. H. Low arrived -from Salem in the ship 'Sumatra' (Captain Roundy); and in November 1830 -Mr. Augustine Heard, Senior, arrived from Boston in the bark 'Lintin' -(Captain R. B. Forbes). These two gentlemen (Mr. Low and Mr. Heard) -became partners in the house, the first until the end of the year 1833, -when, having been obliged to leave Canton from ill health, he was landed -and died at the Cape of Good Hope. - -During the term of 1834-5-6, consequent upon the death of Mr. Low, were -admitted Mr. John C. Green (special agent at Canton of Messrs. N. L. -and G. Griswold, of New York), Mr. John M. Forbes, who had arrived in -the 'Lintin' to join the office in 1830, and Mr. Joseph Coolidge, who -arrived in 1832; and Mr. Heard retired. - -The term of 1837-8-9 saw the withdrawal of Messrs. Forbes and Coolidge, -the first on December 31, 1838, and the latter on December 31, 1839. -Were admitted on January 1, 1837, Mr. A. A. Low (nephew of Mr. W. H. -Low), who had come out to join the office in 1833), and Mr. W. C. -Hunter. Mr. Edward King (who came out in the 'Silas Richards,' Captain -Rosseter, 1834), was taken in the office on arrival, and became a -partner on July 1, 1837; Mr. Robert B. Forbes (who arrived in the -'Bashaw' in October 1838) was admitted January 1, 1839, and became the -chief of the house. - -The term of 1840-41-42, Mr. A. A. Low having retired, began with the -admission of Mr. Warren Delano (formerly of the house of Russell, -Sturgis, & Co., of Canton and Manila). He succeeded Mr. Forbes as chief -of the house when the latter left for New York in the 'Niantic' on July -7, 1840. Mr. Russell Sturgis, also a former partner of Russell, Sturgis, -& Co., became a partner on January 1, 1842. Mr. King and Mr. Hunter -retired on December 31, 1842, left Macao in February 1844 for New York, -_viâ_ the Cape (in the ship 'Akbar,' Captain Hallet), and the retirement -of Mr. Sturgis took place on December 31, 1843. - -This is but a rapid _résumé_ of an interval of twenty years. A history -of the house from its foundation to the present time--a period of sixty -years--has been compiled by a former partner. The work, which would -prove of interest to its many friends, its old associates, and their -successors, may be published. - - - - -EPILOGUE. - - -Just a Cycle ago, a gentleman came on board the ship 'Citizen,' as she -anchored at Lintin, China, from New York, to hear the _latest_ news she -may have brought--125 days old!--the interval was a short one at that -time. - -Such as Canton _then_ was in its commercial, social, and domestic life -it has been for two generations a sealed book; nor will the world ever -see its like again! May those who _now_ seek China Opened be as well -received, as little molested, as much protected, as were those over whom -the ægis of treaties never existed, and as bountifully rewarded as those -whose enterprise led them to what was _then_ a 'mysterious land.' - -It is _now_, through the untiring encouragement and assistance of the -gentleman above referred to (and who will, I trust, excuse my naming -him)--Robert B. Forbes, Esq., of Boston, U.S.A.--that I have reproduced -in the foregoing pages the days of Old Canton, with which we became -familiar; regretting that to restore those scenes--all of which we saw, -and part of which we were--it fell not to a more able pen. - - W. C. H. - - - - - LONDON: PRINTED BY - SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE - AND PARLIAMENT STREET - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Viz., 'The Huntress,' 'Beaver,' 'Europa,' 'America,' 'Maria,' and -'Mary Lord.' - -[2] A fast pulling and sailing boat. - -[3] A poetical term for small-footed women. - -[4] One of the most famous Chinese dynasties, 2nd and 3rd centuries -A.D., from which the name 'children of Han.' - -[5] _Bogue_ is a corruption of the Portuguese word _bocca_ (mouth). When -the Portuguese first approached it, about 1525, the strong resemblance -of the red sandstone eminence to the left of the narrow mouth of -the Pearl River to a tiger's mouth, caused the exclamation, still -perpetuated in its name, 'Bocca Tigre!' The Chinese name for it is 'the -Lion's Gate.' - -[6] _Sampan_, a small skiff or boat. - -[7] 'Chow-Chow,' mixed. - -[8] Siamese teak. - -[9] Any Mandarin or official station was locally known as 'Chop-house.' - -[10] The Chinese name for Sweden is Suy-Kwo. - -[11] An assistant-magistrate. Up to 1848 Macao was under the joint -government of the Portuguese and Chinese. - -[12] At this time the ships' Compradores were engaged at Macao, and not -at Whampoa. - -[13] Buddhist Temple. - -[14] The Dutch East India Company. - -[15] 'Man-ta-le'--Pigeon-English for 'Mandarin' - -[16] A lac is 100,000. - -[17] Pigeon-English for 'cold.' - -[18] The best quality of birds' nests was brought from Java. This -'whimsical luxury' was worth 4,000 Spanish dollars per picul of 133-1/3 -pounds. - -[19] Pigeon-English for 'old friend.' - -[20] Pigeon-English for 'quicksilver.' - -[21] 'Unfortunate.' - -[22] A complimentary term. - -[23] Captain Elliot. - -[24] Baring Brothers & Co. - -[25] Pigeon-English for 'gentlemen.' - -[26] A complimentary term. - -[27] One of our partners whom we had sent to London. Lord Byron once -wrote of him to Murray as full of 'Entusymusy;' so we called him -'Tusymusy.' - -[28] Their Chinese names were Tan and Tung, but these words not being -readily distinctive to the foreign ear, they both became Tom, while -'Old' and 'Young' were added to suit their respective ages. - -[29] 'My compliments to you.' - -[30] The chief of a foreign house was known as 'Tai-pan.' The word -signifies 'head manager.' The assistants or clerks were called -'pursers.' This word was undoubtedly taken from the office of 'purser,' -whom the Chinese had only known as transacting business for the -commanders of the East India Company's ships. The latter enjoyed the -privilege of forty tons of space (English measurement) in each vessel -homeward, which involved the presence at Canton of the 'pursers' to act -for them in selling their outward and buying their homeward investments. -The 'pursers' frequently hired a portion of a Factory (when to be had), -and resided in it more or less while their ships were at Whampoa. - -[31] Since the Conquest the reverse bears the name of the Emperor in -Manchoo Tartar letters. - -[32] Known as 'Sycee,' which means literally 'fine silk.' - -[33] 10 cash = 1 candareen, 10 candareen = 1 mace, 10 mace = 1 tael. - -[34] Bar gold, Sycee silver, chopped dollars. - -[35] The Chinese called these boats 'scrambling dragons' and 'fast -crabs.' - -[36] A chest contained 1 picul = 133-1/3 pounds. - -[37] Often so called in official language. - -[38] The 'Omega' belonged to Dent & Co. - -[39] The 'Governor Findlay' to Jardine, Matheson, & Co. - -[40] All opium vessels carried Shroffs. - -[41] The Chinese character which represents 'day' is literally 'sun.' - -[42] When a Chinese takes leave, he says, 'Kaou-tsze' ('I inform you of -taking leave'). - -[43] The 'Colonel Young' belonged to Jardine, Matheson, & Co., as well -as the 'Fairy.' - -[44] The 'Harriet' belonged to Jardine, Matheson, & Co. - -[45] Literally 'great wind,' not those destructive storms which occur -but once in three or four years, unroof houses and tear ships to pieces; -they are called Teet-kuy, 'iron whirlwinds.' - -[46] Country ships and coasters carried Manila men--Portuguese of -Bombay or Macao--as helmsmen; they hove the lead, &c., and were called -'Sea-cunnies.' - -[47] Strangling is by means of a wooden cross driven into the ground -to which the prisoner's neck and outstretched arms are secured. A more -ghastly and ignominious death than beheading. - -[48] Called the Praya Grande, temporarily destroyed by the taiphoon of -1875. - -[49] The Fragrant Hill. - -[50] 'Cumsha' means 'a present.' - -[51] A catty is 1-1/3 pounds English. - -[52] The Imperial Commissioner. - -[53] A subordinate officer of the chief magistrate's department. - -[54] The currency being taels, mace, candareens, and cash. - -[55] 'Flowery flag,' the United States. - -[56] Presents to the captains and officers. - -[57] Buddha. - -[58] A very common exclamation on any occasion. - -[59] The late Sir James Matheson was the reputed founder of the foreign -press in China (_The Canton Register_); but it was an open question -whether it was he or Mr. Wood. I contributed to that paper (translations -from Chinese) when started; but in the consequent daily intercourse with -Wood, he never hinted that he was not its sole founder. If my memory -serves me Sir James was at the time on a trip up the coast. Nevertheless -there is but one 'old Canton' who can decide the point, the present Sir -Alexander Matheson. - -[60] Confucius. - -[61] Kung-Ming, a celebrated warrior of the third century A.D. - -[62] Celebrated gardens, near Canton, visited by foreigners. - -[63] 'Fan-Kwae,' foreign devils. - -[64] The offspring of European Spaniards and natives. - -[65] The privilege was 140 piculs weight. - -[66] Public office. - -[67] Equivalent to Excellency. - -[68] At Macao, 1841. - -[69] Whole dollars were so called put up in red paper--a neat way of -paying small sums. - -[70] 'Eaten them.' - -[71] The resident physician of the foreign community, apart from the -Honourable East India Co. He was from Philadelphia. - -[72] An old Chinese fort so called, east of the Factories. - -[73] The capital of Canton province is Show-King-Foo, and was the -residence of the Governor-General of Canton and Kwang-Se. Consequent -upon the former becoming the seat of foreign trade, the Governor-General -removed there, and second to him is the Lieutenant-Governor. He is now -styled Viceroy. - -[74] Figurative for 'a great many.' - -[75] These and similar expressions in Chinese official documents, -over which Western people make such an absurd fuss, are no more to be -taken literally than the vulgarised form of 'your obedient servant.' -In the present case 'reverential obedience' is to be taken as 'serious -co-operation,' so the Blue Button pointed out to me. - -[76] That no one might escape. - -[77] The Canton agents talked over the question of half-commissions on -consignments thus withdrawn. It was argued that their Indian principals -would recover from the British Government, a charge sanctioned by -commercial usage. The half-commissions were assumed to be about 300,000 -dollars. No unanimous decision was arrived at, but on the quantity -delivered up by Russell & Co.--nearly 15,000 dollars--the charge was -foregone. - -[78] Buying and selling town. - -[79] At the mouth of the Bogue. - -[80] Yang-Yin, one of the chief features of which, in some mysterious -way, gives notice of impending change of fortune deduced from the -Pa-Kwa, a complicated system, of very remote antiquity, of divination. - -[81] Natives of Africa, sweepers, &c. - -[82] The 'eyes' on the bows of Chinese junks gave rise to the -expression, 'No got eye, no can see,' under the erroneous foreign belief -that the Chinese attributed to them the power of seeing and avoiding -danger. This is very far from the fact. The bows of sea-going junks -represent the head of a _dragon_, with expanded jaws and full round -eyes, and being the symbol of the Chinese Empire, it is used as a carved -eagle may be on an American vessel, without occult power attaching -thereto. - -[83] A 'Scuttle-Butt' is a cask with a square hole in its bilge, kept on -deck to hold water for daily use, which is drawn by means of a hand-pump. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes - - -The author's name is William C. Hunter. - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Hyphen added: hard-working (p. 87). - -Hyphen removed: mastheads (p. 1). - -P. 3: added "a" (my fellow-passenger took a fast boat). - -P. 3: "Sandal Wood Island" changed to "Sandalwood Island". - -P. 32: "Mr. Holingworth" changed to "Mr. Hollingworth". - -P. 94: "the first ships tome co in" changed to " the first ships to come -in". - -P. 130: "We styled oursveles" changed to "We styled ourselves". - - - - -[Illustration: Back cover: KPT & Co.] - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty -Days 1825-1844, by William C. Hunter - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON *** - -***** This file should be named 42685-8.txt or 42685-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/6/8/42685/ - -Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844 - -Author: William C. Hunter - -Release Date: May 10, 2013 [EBook #42685] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON *** - - - - -Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration: Cover - THE - 'FAN KWAE' - AT CANTON - BEFORE TREATY DAYS - 1825-1844 - BY AN OLD RESIDENT -] - - - - -THE -'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON - - - - -[Illustration: HOUQUA.] - - - - - THE - 'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON - BEFORE TREATY DAYS - 1825-1844 - - _BY_ - _AN OLD RESIDENT_ - - LONDON - KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE - 1882 - - - - - (_The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved_) - - - - -PREFACE. - - -During the days of Old Canton, the Middle Kingdom deigned to suffer the -presence of a small number of 'foreign barbarians' on the banks of the -Choo, or Pearl River. Their residences consisted of Factories built -expressly for them, and originally destined one for each nationality. -They were contiguous, except where separated by three streets of narrow -dimensions which led from the suburbs of the city to the river which ran -in front of them. - -No other port than that of Canton was open, nor had there been one since -1745, and no foreigner was permitted on any pretext to enter the country -or even the city outside of which he lived. The actual relations of the -Chinese Government with Western nations consequent upon the treaties -have caused such an entire change from the old mode of transacting -business, as well as in the life then led by the few foreign residents -at Canton, that a narration of the peculiar conditions of both (as they -were) is now, as a Chinese official would say, placed 'on record.' - - PARIS: _March 31, 1882_. - - - - -OLD CANTON. - - -Even the departure of a vessel from New York for Canton in 1824 was a -rare occurrence. Neither had it yet become fashionable to place the -accent on the _last_ syllable in the name of that distant port. It would -have appeared pedantic. Years after, only, did it become _ton_! As the -ship cast off, the neighbouring wharves were crowded with lookers-on, -national and private flags were run up to the mastheads of sea-going -craft lying near. - -Cheers were heard as she glided into the river, and the ship 'Citizen,' -Captain E. L. Keen, passed Sandy Hook in the evening of October 9 of the -above year, bound to the Central Flowery Land. Friends and relations who -had accompanied us thus far now took leave, and returned to the city in -the pilot boat, steam tugs not having yet come into existence. - -The 'Citizen,' of 498 tons was one of seven ships[1] owned by Mr. Thomas -H. Smith, of New York, who had been for many years engaged in the China -trade. She had already made two voyages to Canton, and before leaving on -her present one, had been newly coppered and 'thoroughly' overhauled, -the better to withstand the westerly gales she was likely to encounter -on her return passage off the Cape of Good Hope in the winter season. -The crew consisted of thirty-two men and boys, with two officers. One -of the latter, the second officer, as well as Captain Keen and ten -or twelve of the men, had served on board privateers in our last war -with Great Britain, while eight sailors had just returned from a three -years' cruise in the Pacific, on board the U.S. 74 'Franklin,' Commodore -Stewart. As usual at this time with vessels bound on Eastern voyages, -the 'Citizen' was well provided with arms and ammunition--not only for -the risk of pirates in the Atlantic, to whom her valuable cargo offered -great temptation, but from possible mishaps while passing through the -Eastern Straits. - -The cargo consisted of 350,000 Spanish dollars in kegs (no letters of -credit on London bankers then existing), furs, lead, bar and scrap -iron, and quicksilver. Passengers were not taken except under peculiar -circumstances. I should have been the only one, in virtue of being -destined for Mr. Smith's Factory at Canton, but just before sailing -a Scotch gentleman presented himself at the office, and sought for a -passage on board. The letters he bore were of a high character, among -them being one from the celebrated Mr. Hume. His name was Fullerton, -and his vocation that of surgeon in the English East India Company's -service. He was allowed to go in the ship, and proved to be a most -intelligent and amiable person. - -He had made several voyages to India and China, was full of anecdote -and pleasant conversation, thereby relieving the weariness of the -journey. The medical advice he most cheerfully gave rendered him a -valuable addition to us, particularly on the occasion of the ship -taking fire just before making Sandalwood Island, when one of the men -was so seriously injured that his life was despaired of for a time; but -although he managed to get back in the ship to New York, he never did -a day's work after the accident. My fellow-passenger was only known -on board as Doctor Smyth. He had come to New York expressly to get to -China in an 'out of season' vessel, which ours was. We had no idea of -the object he had in view, and he volunteered no information. There was, -however, a little mystery in the matter. - -On our arrival at 'Lintin' we had scarcely anchored when my -fellow-passenger took fast[2] boat and went to Macao. Soon after, we -heard that he had there engaged two young Chinese small-footed women -to accompany him to Calcutta, from whence he took passage with them -for England as a 'speculation.' Subsequently we learnt that he was -associated in the enterprise with Captain C----, also of the Honourable -East India Company's service, on board whose vessel he had filled the -office of surgeon. While in England, these 'Golden Lilies'[3] had the -honour of a presentation to H.M. George IV. The enterprise, however, was -not successful. It met with great opposition in certain quarters, and -finally it ended by those young daughters of 'Han'[4] being returned to -their own country. - -Some years after, in the winter of 1832, I last had the pleasure of -shaking hands with my old shipmate at Canton. He was then surgeon of the -Honourable Company's ship 'Lady Melville.' - -We had the misfortune to lose the ship's cook about five o'clock on -the morning of the twenty-fifth day out, when he sprung into the sea. -We had rushed on deck at the cry of the 'cook overboard,' and heard him -shout as he passed the ship's quarter, 'You are all going to--(a most -uncomfortable place of one syllable, beginning with the letter H), I'm -going to Guadaloupe.' The ship was instantly brought to the wind, a man -sent aloft to keep the poor fellow in sight, and a boat lowered in a -trice, but suddenly he disappeared. We resumed our course. The crew had -often been amused while about the galley to find its 'monarch' with an -open Bible in one hand, and reading aloud from it, while prodding the -salt junk in the boiler with a 'tormentor' in the other! They thought -him a 'queer fellow,' particularly as he would caution them as to their -wickedness in blaspheming, and their utter disregard of the future! We -had heard through the officers of those erratic ways and strange conduct -for a 'ship's cook,' but no one imagined that his head was turned. - -The next morning the chief officer discovered on our starboard beam a -three-masted felucca, under small sail, standing as ourselves. It was -nearly calm; presently the 'little stranger' steered for us, manned a -certain number of sweeps, and seemed to have a great number of men on -board. She was about 140 or 150 tons burthen. While examining her with -our glasses, a sail was set on her jigger mast. There seemed to be a -general wish that she would 'come on,' in spite of what was unmistakably -a heavy swivel gun amidships. We showed our colours, to which no reply -was made. At last we seemed to have fallen in with the traditional -'long, low, black schooner,' metamorphosed into a felucca for the -nonce. Suddenly the man at the wheel directed the attention of the mate -to another sail just appearing on our larboard beam; she was steering -to the southward, with a light air and under a crowd of sail. As she -approached, she proved to be a schooner of the size of our revenue -cutters. A barque also hove in sight, bringing up a stiff squall, with -heavy rain. The felucca was next observed standing on the same course as -ourselves. We trimmed sail to the wind, and hauled up to the eastward; -presently, the wind increasing, the schooner crossed our bows, almost -within hailing distance--a beautiful object to look at. She set all -studding sails as she went by us, with a fore skysail, and that other -unusual sail, now, perhaps, never heard of, and then not common, called -a 'ring tail.' - -We crossed the equator on the thirty-first day out, with a good easterly -wind, which hauled to the south-east and blew stiffly. A few days after -we discovered a good-sized barque standing in for the coast of South -America. She hoisted Brazilian colours. Her decks, forward of the -mainmast, were crowded with negroes, while abaft we observed several -dark-brown gentlemen, the captain, officers, and supercargoes, perhaps. -She was evidently a slaver returning from the West Coast of Africa, with -a full cargo of ebony. She crossed our bows within a few hundred yards, -and on gaining our starboard side, our dark-brown friends raised their -panamas, and waving them, wished us 'Bon voyage.' This vessel proved to -be the last 'living thing' we saw for a period of nearly fifty days, -except albatross, whales, and Mother Carey's chickens. - -Passing within a short distance of Tristan d'Acuna to correct our time, -we then began the long tedious running down 'easting.' The weather was -generally fine, with a bright sun; it was in the summer season. Our -course between 43 deg. and 45 deg. south latitude. The sea ran 'mountains high,' -the crest of each wave breaking in masses of sparkling diamonds, then -losing itself in this wilderness of waters, an indescribably magnificent -sight. The ship rolled gunwale under, receiving on board vast quantities -of water, which swashed fore and aft and from side to side, at times two -or three feet deep. Gradually this frightful chaos of warring winds and -furious seas became a matter of course, while Captain Keen gave way to -his delight in exclaiming, 'How splendidly she behaves,' or, 'She rides -the seas like a bird;' and thus we went on, with little change, until we -made the island of Amsterdam. - -We then steered direct for Sandalwood Island, across a pleasant -south-east trade, with nothing material occurring until two days before -sighting it. - -After the cook had left us so abruptly for Guadaloupe, it was arranged -that the chief steward should fill his place for the cabin, while some -of the crew offered their services for the forecastle and steerage; thus -everything went on well in this respect. Before we now made the land, -taking advantage of the fine weather and smooth sea which prevailed, all -hands were occupied in caulking the bends and the deck, while, as had -before happened, the leak decreased. The 'officer of the kitchen' for -the day referred to was a fine young sailor about twenty-five years of -age. Being in the galley in the afternoon, about seven bells, watching -a pot of pitch being boiled, it overflowed, and the contents fell among -the burning coals. Instead of immediately clapping on the lid, he seems -to have lost his head, and in attempting to unship the pot from the -hook it capsized, and in a moment everything was in a blaze, burning -the poor fellow so fearfully that he had to be carried to his bunk. His -lower limbs were almost peeled, and had it not been for the presence of -the 'doctor,' he would inevitably have died. - -We passed close to the harbour and town of 'Dilly,' which displayed the -Portuguese flag. - -Two years before, the ship 'Ontario,' Captain Depeyster, belonging to -the owner of the 'Citizen,' called in at Dilly for supplies on her way -to Canton, and was totally lost in coming out of the harbour. - -The loss of the 'Ontario' gave rise to the longest passage ever made -between Whampoa and New York. Captain Depeyster left Dilly, with the -treasure saved from the wreck of his ship, for Batavia, and there -chartered the American brig 'Pocahontas,' to carry it to Canton. Mr. -Smith's agent there rechartered her to take as much of the proceeds of -the treasure as she could carry in teas and silks to New York, where she -safely arrived in charge of the first officer, Mr. Teel (Captain Snow -having died on the passage), close upon ten months from Whampoa. - -'A good full,' cries out the second mate to the man at the wheel as -a breeze springs up. A first-rate 'old salt,' and as odd a fish, our -second mate, as need be. I have been time and again amused with the -yarns he has spun during his first watches. Of the war of 1812 he is -full of anecdotes. He is always on the dolphin-striker when porpoises -are around us, and usually strikes successfully. Anything not done in -a sailor-like fashion excites him, and we hear him cry out, 'You'll -never be a sailor. You were not shaped for a sailor. You were cut out -to handle a musket, not a marlin-spike.' 'Sailors,' said he to me one -evening, 'have their prejudices like others; they have always a run -upon soldiers, more perhaps in joke than in earnest. A sailor will say, -"Give me a messmate before a watchmate, a watchmate before a shipmate, a -shipmate before a dog, a dog before a marine, a marine before a soldier, -a soldier before--the devil." If you ask why a _marine_ in preference to -a soldier, the answer is, because he knows the difference between the -best bower anchor and--a "chaw of baccy!"' - -We now steered for Dampier Straits. Having left Booro astern, we were -struck with a sudden and violent squall, resembling more a tornado. -The rain poured down like a deluge, the rattling of the thunder and -the vividness of the lightning were frightful. Our maintopsail-yard -was snapped asunder in the slings, the fore and mizen topsails flew -into ribbons; the jib disappeared from the bolt ropes. Each flash of -lightning was succeeded by the darkness of Erebus, while in the midst of -all, the loud voices of the officers and the replies of the men created -a turmoil such as I had never witnessed. - -The squall was luckily of short duration; it came upon us during the -dog watch, but so intelligently did all hands do their duty, that by -midnight another maintopsail-yard was crossed, the sail bent, the other -topsails and the jib replaced, and we were making good way with all sail -set, 'low and aloft,' including royals and flying jib. The stars shone -out with increased brilliancy, all things had returned to a condition -of perfect quiet, so had one watch to their hammocks, and no sound fell -upon the ear save the ripple of the water under the bows. We had noticed -before, and this night particularly after the squall, a strong spicy -odour, the air seemed 'breathing an aromatic redolence.' - -As we neared Pigeon Island, the vast and imposing one of New Guinea -being to our right, numerous canoes came alongside. The appearance of -their inmates was singularly repulsive; the wool on the heads of these -Papuans was of so fertile a growth, that it reached a diameter of over -two feet, while from the application of chunam, it becomes a dirty, -uncertain red, hideous to behold. By means of baskets attached to -ropes, we carried on a trade, giving in exchange for shells, plantains, -papayas, stuffed birds of paradise, and ingeniously made baskets, -everything in the shape of cast-off garments that we could muster. It -was thought a mockery when I offered an old straw hat for a bird of -paradise, but everything seemed fish that came to their net, and to -my surprise the bucket returned with the coveted prize. On the return -of the ship to New York I sent it home, and it proved a rare and most -acceptable gift. We anchored near Pigeon Island during the night, and -the next day entered the Pacific Ocean. - -We hove to close to the Pelew Islands, to allow a crowd of canoes to -come alongside, that we might obtain further supplies of fruit, shells, -and yams, and thereby get rid of the remainder of our old clothes. The -natives were considered as unoffensive, but this was not justified by -an attack made by them, just before we passed, on a schooner from Java -to Lintin. Her deck was crowded with natives, who had been permitted to -come on board, and while bartering, suddenly the crew was fallen upon -and several killed, all who could taking to the rigging. Plundering -then commenced. The 'boarders' were having it their own way, but had -overlooked the cook, who had shut himself in his galley. Bolting one -door, he suddenly commenced a liberal distribution of hot water on the -assailants, who, being entirely naked, plunged overboard with astounding -shrieks and yells. The men aloft quickly descended. Seizing handspikes, -they were in time to cut off the retreat of many who had been inspecting -the cabin lockers, the bodies of these were thrown overboard, a few -musket shots hastened the departure of the canoes, and the schooner -continued on her journey. - -Our course was north-westerly, the crew employed in putting the ship -in order. After passing through the Bashees, one of the men being over -the side, to reeve the lower studding sail tack, he tumbled overboard. -The second officer, to whose watch he belonged, threw him a rope, which -he _just_ caught and was soon hauled up on deck. 'You must have been -asleep,' said Mr. Hughes, who then asked him if the water felt warm or -cold. When the officer came in the cabin later, he exclaimed, 'That -fellow wouldn't have fallen had he not been fast asleep; but it is lucky -for him he "awoke in time" to get hold of the rope, or he would have -gone down.' This is a specimen of what 'Jack' calls 'sojer's comfort.' -They had what they called 'sailor's comfort' every Saturday afternoon in -the middle watch. It consisted in overhauling their chests and bags, or -mending their clothes, on the system, as they said, of putting a patch -next to a patch, as being neighbourly, but never a patch upon a patch, -as that was beggarly. Many of the men remembered, as boys, the wearing -of 'pig tails,' and their being mutually dressed, preceded by the -calling out in the 'foksle' of 'Tie for tie,' or, 'Tie me, I'll tie you, -and damn all favour.' - -No happier crew were ever 'rocked upon the cradle of the deep' than -the one of which the 'Citizen' was composed. This was the result of -uniformly taut but considerate treatment, the best of food, good grog, -and no _needless botheration_, while the utmost harmony prevailed -between Captain Keen and his officers. On the return of the ship to -Canton, on her second voyage after, in 1827, Captain Keen related the -homeward passage of 1825, which was an unusually hard one. The ship was -forty days from point Natal to the Cape, knocked about in the teeth -of westerly gales and frightful seas, and referring to his crew he -remarked, 'No better men ever manned a ship.' - -We made the coast of China at 5 A.M. on February 11, 1825. A pilot came -on board off the Lema Islands, took us through the channel of the same -name, having to starboard the then 'terra incognita,' 'Hong Kong,' and -anchored the ship under the island of 'Lintin,' at 2 o'clock P.M., 125 -days from New York. - - * * * * * - -The island of 'Ling Ting,' or the 'Solitary Nail,' commonly called -'Lin Tin,' was at this time the anchorage of the 'opium store ships,' -and temporarily of vessels whose destination was Whampoa (with some -exceptions). On the arrival of an American ship, she communicated with -her agent at Canton by means of a 'fast boat,' meanwhile despatching -another one to Macao for a pilot to take her inside the river. The -_exceptions_ were the ships of the English East India Company, and -country ships from India having no opium on board (those which had -anchoring at Lintin to deliver it); these then took pilots off Macao and -sailed directly to the 'inner anchorage,' as Whampoa was called. The -Lintin anchorage was not, however, only an opium station. All vessels -bound to Whampoa were loaded with general cargo, or with rice only, and -were subject to what were called Cumsha and Measurement charges. These -were very heavy in the case of the former, but moderate in the latter. -It was therefore an object for a vessel entering the river with only -part of a general cargo to fill up with any freight that might offer, -and thus reduce the heavy charges referred to, or to send up what she -had on board, if of moderate quantity, in another ship, then load with -rice and go on to Whampoa, if she was to load with tea for her return -voyage. It almost always happened that these arrangements could be made, -as arrivals were continually taking place with rice cargoes or general -cargoes. - -After a week's detention at Lintin, the 'Citizen' was directed to -receive any river freight that might offer, and proceed to Whampoa. -In passing the Bogue[5] Forts, the main topsail was backed while the -pilot went on shore to exhibit his pass to the Mandarin, with whom he -returned to the ship, ostensibly to verify description with fact; but -it is unnecessary to say this had become a mere matter of form. After -a glass of wine, and presenting the old gentleman with a few sheets of -writing paper, which, I found out afterwards, were considered a great -treat, I offered him a box of a then recent invention, viz., friction -matches; they astonished him mightily, and he left us with numerous -'Chin-chin's' and best wishes for 'good wind and good water,' equivalent -to a quick passage. We anchored abreast of French Island on the 20th. - - * * * * * - -It was in the year 1745 that Yung Ching, the third Emperor of the -present dynasty, ordered all foreign trade to be confined to the port -of Canton, universally known as Whampoa. Separated by a branch of the -river from French Island stands Dane's Island. These were so named from -the privilege that those nationalities originally enjoyed of occupying -bankshalls or storehouses upon them, wherein to shelter the crews while -smoking ship and overhauling after the desperately long passages they -must have made from Europe. All vestiges of those buildings have long -since disappeared, but numerous decaying tombstones, half buried beneath -earth and weeds, still tell the tale. The regular tea season being over, -we found few vessels at Whampoa, and these, as with the 'Citizen,' were -designated, 'out of season ships.' The northern side of the anchorage -is formed by the important island of Wang-Po; the river is named the -Wang-Po, and the same is applied to the anchorage. The words mean the -'Yellow Anchorage.' On the island is a large town of many thousand -inhabitants, almost all of whom are directly or indirectly connected -with the foreign shipping, as compradores, stevedores, blacksmiths, &c. - -The Choo, or Pearl River, commonly called the Canton River, presented a -vastly different appearance on the 21st February, 1825, from what it did -twenty years later. It was then crowded with native vessels, including -those immense coasting junks which have now almost entirely disappeared. -They then made voyages to the northern and southern ports of China, to -the Celebes, Borneo and Java, and to Singapore, as well as to Manila. -Long tiers of salt junks lined the shore of the island of Honam; these -brought cargoes from Teenpak and places on the coast south-westward of -Macao. They were owned by a corporation of salt merchants, who enjoyed -a monopoly of the trade, and, to prevent smuggling, a special fleet of -cruisers was organised by the local government. The penalties against -a clandestine introduction of salt were as severe and more rigorously -carried out than even against opium. The merchants were an influential -body, as much considered as the Hong merchants, whom they rivalled in -wealth. The number of cargo boats from the interior, of passenger boats, -floating residences and up-country craft, with Government cruisers -and flower boats, was prodigious. To these must be added sampans,[6] -ferry boats plying to and from Honam, and quantities of barbers' boats, -vendors of every description of food, of clothes, of toys, and what -would be called household requirements if in shops on shore; besides -boats of fortune-tellers and of theatrical performers--in short, imagine -a city afloat, and it conveys a very correct idea of the incessant -movement, the subdued noises, the life and gaiety of the river. - -But now, an additional interest was added to this floating scene, from -its being the first days of the Chinese new year. The noise of gongs, -as a compliment to the meeting of mutual acquaintances or when one boat -or junk arrived or set sail, was startling; and finally, the red and -gilt patches of paper, on which words or sentences were written in large -black characters, appropriate to the opening of the new year, formed -another conspicuous feature on every kind of craft. Ships' boats were -usually furnished with paddles, which were always brought into use from -below the Dutch Folly to the landing place in front of the factories. -The oars of our boat being therefore replaced by them, with skill and -patience, after two hours from Whampoa, we landed at 'Jackass Point,' -so memorable in the days of old Canton. Crossing the Square, under -the guidance of Captain Keen, we entered the Suy-Hong, and met with -the kindest reception from Mr. Jacob Covert and Oliver H. Gordon, the -special agents of Mr. Smith, and from the two younger members of the -office, John H. Grosvenor and Thomas Bloodgood. - -Having been sent by Mr. Smith to Canton expressly to study the Chinese -language preparatory to entering his office there, as the difficulties -to be overcome in providing a teacher for me proved insuperable, Mr. -Covert decided to send me at once to Singapore, where a college had -been commenced in which foreign students could be received, and which -might be ready for the purpose. I went, therefore, to the Straits in -the Bombay ship 'Good Success,' Captain Poynton, and arrived at my -destination in the month of April, after seventeen days' passage. -I took letters to the Resident, Mr. Crawford, and others, and was -consigned to Messrs. A. L. Johnston and Co. The college, however, had -not only not been finished, but there was no prospect of its being. My -friends, therefore, after taking information from Malacca, where the -Anglo-Chinese College was in full operation, sent me there in a small -native brig. We arrived after four days' passage from Singapore. During -the two months that I passed at Singapore I was the guest of Mr. and -Mrs. Christopher Read in their bungalow on the ascent of Government -Hill. I shall never forget the parental care of my host and hostess. -They soon caused me to forget that I was the youngest of strangers -in, to me, a most strange land. To this day I recall their quiet and -unaffected efforts to make me at home, and the drives they took me in -their palkee gharrie. The novelty of everything interested me; it was as -if I had landed on another planet. At that time the site occupied by the -present town of Singapore was being cleared of its primitive jungle. - -The Anglo-Chinese College was in every way adapted for instruction, and -I continued in it as a student of Chinese until the end of December -1826. I then left in the ship 'Bengal Merchant' for Canton. She was -loaded with cotton and opium, and not a fast sailer. Captain Brown was a -most pleasant and agreeable gentleman, full of jokes and amusing stories -with which to while away the time. We anchored at Singapore, which gave -me an opportunity to see my old friends the Reads, Mr. A. L. Johnston, -and to run up to Government House to make my salaam to Governor and -Mrs. Crawford and their nieces, being received everywhere with a kindly -welcome and the exclamation, 'How you have grown!' Continuing on our -voyage, we passed through the Caramatta Passage, the Java Sea, Straits -of Salayer, and into the Pacific by Dampier's Straits again. Between the -Pelews and the Bashees we fell in with a typhoon _au grand complet_. At -night the sea was as white as snow and of portentous height, coming -upon us with the full uninterrupted sweep of the Pacific. We anchored at -Lintin after a passage of sixty days. - -Mr. D. W. C. Olyphant had arrived in 1826 as the successor of Mr. -Covert; Mr. Gordon had entered the office of Messrs. Russell and Co., -No. 2 Suy-Hong. The American Factory had been entirely built anew -since 1825, and to it I betook myself. In addition to Mr. Olyphant -were Charles N. Talbot and Charles W. King. Mr. Talbot was filling the -office of U.S. Consul, and the flag was daily hoisted in the Square in -front of the house. No. 1 Suy-Hong was occupied by James P. Sturgis, -No. 3 by John R. Latimer, and No. 4 by John P. Cushing, T. T. Forbes, -and John Hart. With Mr. Olyphant I called on, and made the acquaintance -of, the Rev. Dr. Morrison, who had recently returned from England. Soon -after I underwent a searching examination by him of the progress I had -made in my Chinese studies at the Malacca College, and he pronounced -it to be 'good.' There was no intention, however, that they should be -discontinued, and in a few days I was placed under the tutorship of Le -Seen-Sang. The tea season was over; all but one or two 'out of season' -ships had sailed, but of those remaining was my old home and 'first -cradle of the deep,' the 'Citizen,' and it was not long before Captain -Keen and I again on board at Whampoa 'fought over the battles' of our -voyage out together. - - * * * * * - -The year 1827 was a dull one so far as business was concerned, and I -read Chinese with my teacher 'Le.' At length the tea season commenced -in October. When the ships began to arrive, unpleasant news came -also. My brother, of the office of Thomas H. Smith and Son (as it -had become), wrote me that 'difficulties' existed in the affairs of -the house. Finally it stopped payment and went into liquidation, but -from causes not attributable to its China business. The Canton agency -had therefore to be closed. Consulting with Mr. Olyphant in regard to -myself, he advised me to return to New York, where only my position -could be arranged. As usual at the time of which I write, certain -indentures between employers and _employes_ were usually drawn up. They -existed between Mr. Smith and myself. In them, he engaged to send me to -China for the purpose of acquiring the Chinese language, and then to -be employed in his Factory at Canton, as clerk or Factor, and I was to -render him service until I should have reached the age of twenty-one. -It was a long time for me to look forward to in 1827. Several ships of -the New York house were loading which had arrived in regular course -before insurmountable difficulties had occurred. Amongst them was the -'Mary Lord,' Captain Rosseter. I left in her and arrived in a good -run of 120 days. My fellow-passenger was Mr. Daniel Stansbury, whose -name has become identified with the American trade at Canton from his -having been the inventor of a measuring rod, by which cargoes were ever -after measured. It proved to be an instrument of wonderful accuracy and -rapidity, simple in the extreme, as well as the most convenient that can -be imagined. 'Stansbury's measuring rod,' now proverbial, dates from our -last war with Great Britain, 1812, when the inventor, being at Canton, -and business with the United States suspended for some time, in his days -of forced idleness he conceived the actual mode of measuring cargoes, -which up to that time had been measured with the foot rule! - -My interviews with Mr. George W. Bruen, the partner of Mr. Smith, led -to no other result than the cancelling of the indentures, without -indemnity. Not long after Mr. D. W. C. Olyphant himself returned to -New York, leaving Messrs. Talbot and King at Canton, with the view of -establishing a house there of his own. His first purchase was a very -fine ship named the 'Roman,' Captain Lavender, of about 500 tons. He -offered me a passage out in her, for the _chance_ of being employed -in the new house, which afterwards occupied for a great many years -so distinguished a position in the commercial community in China. I -accepted the _chance_ and sailed in the 'Roman' in October. We were in -all six passengers. The father and brother of Mr. Charles N. Talbot -going out for the trip; Mr. Talbot, senior, had already been to Canton -in 1802 or 1803. Two of the others were the Rev. E. C. Bridgman and -the Rev. David Abeel. They were the first American missionaries to the -Chinese. The former became one of the most accomplished Sinalogues of -the day (which I _do not_ attribute to my having given to both these -gentlemen daily lessons on the passage out!), while Mr. Abeel was the -_first_ United States Consul appointed at _any_ port north of Canton, -being commissioned to Amoy. - - * * * * * - -We sailed in October, and anchored at Lintin in February, _via_ -Dampier's Straits, in 134 days. I was received by Mr. Talbot, who, from -the yet uncertain advices from New York as regarded future business, -could hold out no encouragement for me of office work; but, failing -any other house, I was always welcome to a return passage in the -'Roman.' There were very few American houses then in Canton, and they -were Agencies; moreover, they seemed provided with youngsters, and I -accordingly prepared to leave again for New York. Meanwhile, however, -Mr. Talbot busied himself on my behalf, but the stay of the 'Roman' -was short and she was soon to be despatched. There appeared absolutely -nothing to be done. A few days before the ship sailed, while in my room, -occupied with my luggage, one of the Chinese servants came to me, and -said, 'Mr. Talbot chin-chin you come down.' I went accordingly, and was -introduced to Mr. Samuel Russell, the chief of the house of Russell & -Co. He had heard, he said, from Mr. Talbot, of my probable return home -in the 'Roman,' and had come to invite me to his office. I accepted -the offer, and in the evening I was duly installed at No. 2 Suy-Hong. -This was on March 24, 1829, and it became my uninterrupted home until -December 31, 1842. - - * * * * * - -The word 'Factory' was an importation from India, where the commercial -establishments of the 'East India Company' were so designated, and -synonymous with 'agency.' It is well to explain this, as it is now being -confounded with 'manufactory.' - -The space occupied by the foreign community at Canton was about 300 feet -from the banks of the Pearl River, eighty miles from Macao, sixty miles -from Lintin, forty miles from the Bogue Forts, and ten miles from the -Whampoa anchorage. In breadth from east to west it was about 1,000 feet. -On it stood the Factories, which comprised the dwellings and places of -business of each nation originally under one roof. The line of frontage -was uniform, all looking due south. The distinction of _new_ given to -_one_ of the two buildings occupied by the 'Company' applied to that -one which was rebuilt after the great fire of 1822, which destroyed all -the others, with a few exceptions, as well as, according to official -accounts, '12,000 Chinese houses, shops, and temples in the western -suburb.' Each Factory consisted of a succession of buildings, behind -one another, separated by narrow spaces or courts, and running north. -The front ones were numbered 1, those back of them, nearly all of three -stories, No. 2, 3, and so on. The least numerous Factories were then -in the American Hong, the greatest number were in the Danish and Dutch -Hongs, which contained seven and eight respectively. - -The Chinese word 'Hong' was applied to any place of business, but -was more particularly used to designate the Hongs of the 'Security -Merchants' whence Hong Merchants or any foreign Factory in its entirety. -It signifies a row of buildings. By the Chinese, the places of business -of foreigners were known as 'Foreign Hongs;' those of the Security -Merchants as 'Foreign Hong Merchants.' - -Beginning at the west, stood the Danish Factory; adjoining it were -Chinese shops in its whole length, forming New China Street, which here -intervened, separating it from the Spanish. Next the French, and by its -side in its whole length, that of the Hong Merchant Chungqua; Old China -Street here came in, and against it was the American, then the Imperial, -by its side the Paou-shun, next in order the Swedish, the old English, -and then the Chow-Chow.[7] Now came a small narrow lane, the renowned -Hog Lane, most appropriately named. The high walls of the new English -Factory bordered the lane, having as next neighbour eastward the Dutch, -and next to this stood the Creek Factory. The latter took its name from -a small creek, which, running down along the walls of the city, here -emptied into the river. Originally this creek formed the ditch of the -west side of the city. - -The entire number of buildings, therefore, was thirteen. Immediately in -their rear, and running east and west, was a long, narrow, but important -street, named 'Thirteen Factory Street.' - -From the front of the new English a long broad terrace projected towards -the river, its columns supporting an entablature, whose pediment bore -the arms of England with the substitute of 'Pro Regis et Senatus Angliae' -for 'Honi soit qui mal y pense.' The Dutch company ('Maatschappay') -possessed a similar terrace, with the national arms and motto 'Je -maintiendrai.' These two, the English and Dutch Companies, were the -direct successors of those founded on December 31, 1600, and in 1602 -respectively. The English Jack, the Dutch, the United States, and the -Spanish flags, were daily, in 1825, hoisted before those respective -Factories, and were visible from a great distance. The Spanish flag -represented the Philippine Company. The French flag was hoisted on -December 13, 1832, after an interval of thirty years; it denoted simply -the Canton residence of the Consul, as the trade of that country was -insignificant, while the Swedish, Danish, and Imperial (Austrian) direct -commerce had ceased, and no other Western nation traded directly with -Canton. Portugal was confined in her commercial relations to her own -colony of Macao; Russia to Kiachkta. From the port of Cha-po, on the -east coast of China, two junks sailed annually to Nagasaki. Siamese -vessels would occasionally be seen at Whampoa, when conveying tribute -bearers on their way to Pekin, and not far from the Factories was the -residence of the Ambassadors. - -At the northern extremity of Old China Street, and facing it, stood -an extensive and handsomely built series of buildings, in the Chinese -style, called the 'Consoo' House, or 'Council Hall of the Foreign -Factories.' It contained numerous suites of rooms for receptions and -business, with open courtyards, and was always kept in excellent order -and cleanliness by the Chinese in charge. It was the property of the -Hong merchants collectively, and was maintained by funds appropriated -by them for the purpose. When any event bearing upon the foreign -trade required it, such as new regulations, or confirming old ones, -or a revision of duties, the 'Tai pans' or _Chiefs of Houses_ would -be invited to meet the Hong merchants and discuss the subject. Any -foreigner went if inclined, and would occasionally learn of many -official acts, having a bearing upon business, and even upon his daily -walks or boat-pulling on the river, which may have come under the notice -of the authorities, who would have suggested shorter journeys or the -exercise of care from collisions. It was also in the Consoo House that -the Hong merchants met, or a committee of them, in the rare cases of -bankruptcy or pecuniary difficulties of one of their number, and it -was the depository of books of accounts relative thereto, as well as -of records of meetings. The entrance to it was by a flight of broad -granite steps, through large heavy folding doors of a highly polished -and valuable wood.[8] Being a handsome specimen of this style of Chinese -architecture, foreign visitors to Canton were taken to see it as one of -the sights. - -The Factories were the individual property of the Hong merchants, -and were hired of them. By law, no women were permitted to enter -them, nor were guns, muskets, powder, or military weapons allowed to -be brought within the gates. Entrance to the rear Factories was by -arched passages running through those in front. The lower floors were -occupied by counting-rooms, go-downs, and store-rooms, by the rooms of -the Compradore, his assistants, servants and coolies, as well as by -a massively built treasury of granite, with iron doors, an essential -feature, there being no banks in existence. In front of each treasury -was a well-paved open space, with table for scales and weights, the -indispensable adjuncts of all money transactions, as receipts and -payments were made by weight only, except in some peculiar case. The -second floor was devoted to dining and sitting rooms, the third to -bedrooms. As almost all were provided with broad verandahs and the -buildings put up with care, they were quite comfortable, although -in every respect devoid of ornamental work. In front of the middle -Factories between Old China Street and Hog Lane ran a broad stone -pavement, and this bordered an open space running down to the banks of -the river, a distance of about three hundred feet. On the east side -it was bounded by the wall of the East India Company's landing place -and enclosure, and on the west by the wall in front of the landing and -enclosure of Chungqua's Hong. The Chinese were prohibited from loitering -about this 'Square,' as it was called. On the corner of Old China -Street and the American Hong stood a guard-house with ten or a dozen -Chinese soldiers, acting as police to prevent disturbance or annoyance -to the 'foreign devils.' On the edge of the river, facing the 'Pow -Shun' and the Creek Hongs were 'Chop' houses,[9] or branches of the -Hoppo's department, whose _duty_ it was to prevent smuggling, but whose -_interest_ it was to aid and facilitate the shipping off of silks (or -the landing of cloths) at a considerable reduction from the Imperial -tariff. A few pleasant words, accompanied by a fee, would secure a -permit for the boat of the 'Wandering Eagle' to be allowed to pass all -revenue cruisers 'without molestation' on her way to Whampoa. - -[Illustration: - - Island of Honam. - - _REFERENCE._ - - A. _Pwanting Qua Street._ - B. _New China Street._ - C. _Old China Street._ - _X Guard House._ - D. _Hog Lane._ - E. _The Creek._ - F. _Jack Ass Point._ - L. _Old Clothes Street._ - N. _Old Tom Linguist._ - O. _Carpenters Square._ - P. _Bridge Over Creek._ - G.H.J. _Custom Houses._ - K. _King Qua's Hong._ - M. _Mau Qua's Hong._ - H. _Hou Qua's Hong._ - X. _Honam Joss House._ - Y. _Hou Qua's House._ - Z. _Pwanting Qua's House._ - _CH._ _Consoo House._ -] - -The words Factory and Hong were interchangeable, although not -identical. The former, as will have been seen, consisted of dwellings -and offices combined. The latter not only contained numerous offices -for _employes_, cooks, messengers, weighmasters, &c., but were of vast -extent, and capable of receiving an entire ship's cargo, as well as -quantities of teas and silk. When speaking of their own residences, -foreigners generally used the word 'Factories;' when of a Hong -merchant's place of business, the word Hong. The Swedish Factory, -however, seemed to enjoy the distinction of going by its Chinese -appellation, viz. 'Suy-Hong.'[10] - -I have been thus specific in the description of these world-renowned -Factories, as they were subsequently razed to the ground consequent -upon Sir Michael Seymour's bombardment of the city of Canton. When I -last visited the site, nearly thirty-five years after I first took up -my residence in them, it was literally unrecognisable. It presented -a scene, the desolation of desolation; there remained not one stone -upon another! For more than one hundred years they had formed the sole -residence of foreigners within the limits of the vast Chinese Empire. -The business transacted within their walls was incalculable, and I think -I am safe in saying that from the novelty of the life, the social good -feeling and unbounded hospitality always mutually existing; from the -facility of all dealings with the Chinese who were assigned to transact -business with us, together with their proverbial honesty, combined with -a sense of perfect security to person and property, scarcely a resident -of any lengthened time, in short, any 'Old Canton,' but finally left -them with regret. - -In no part of the world could the authorities have exercised a more -vigilant care over the personal safety of strangers who of their own -free will came to live in the midst of a population whose customs and -prejudices were so opposed to everything foreign, and yet the Chinese -Government was bound by no treaty obligations to _specially_ provide -protection for them. They dwelt at Canton purely on sufferance. Neither -Consul nor any other official representative from abroad was directly -acknowledged as such, and yet the solicitude of the local government -never flagged. In addition to the guards always posted at the corner of -the American Hong and Old China Street, others were stationed in various -directions in the suburbs frequented by foreigners, in order that any -Chinese who might be troublesome could be driven off, or that they -could escort back to the factories those who were uncertain of their -whereabouts. - -During the north-east monsoon fires were quite frequent in the densely -populated suburbs lying north of the factories. When they threatened the -foreign quarter the Hong merchants, acting in consonance with the known -wishes of the Mandarins, would send gangs of armed coolies to assist in -the removal to boats provided by them of books, papers, treasure, and -personal effects. All strange Chinese would be ruthlessly driven from -the Square, and an unobstructed passage to the boats secured. I have -witnessed this repeatedly. Should a foreigner get into a disturbance -in the street, and it was generally safe to say it was through his -own fault, the Chinamen went to the wall. When a mob of many thousand -ruffians invaded the Factory Square, as in November 1838, shortly -preceding the opium surrender, and with stones and missiles of all sorts -drove the foreigners inside their gates, which they were forced to -barricade, a not unnatural anxiety prevailed amongst us as to what might -be the result. Yet this attack was _caused by foreigners, who interfered -with the Mandarins_ while attempting to carry out Government orders. - -All foreigners who came to Canton, from the first arrivals, were -considered as having no other object than that of commerce. The -English and the Dutch made their appearance in the first half of the -seventeenth century; successively arrived, the Danes, Swedes, and -Austrians (Imperialists). The Spaniards invited the Chinese to their new -settlement at Manila for a time, and afterwards they themselves came to -the provincial city. - -Some amongst these different nationalities, tradition said the Dutch, -had _red hair_, which led the Chinese facetiously to apply the term -'Red-headed Devils' ever after to all foreigners alike. They themselves -give to the whole of their own race the name of 'Black Hair'd.' - -The authorities framed eight regulations for the especial government -and control of these divers people from afar. They date from the year -1760, and are curious enough to recall. Never having been abrogated, -they were assumed to be in force always. They were confirmed by an edict -of the Emperor Kea-King in 1819, after a revision in 1810. Some of them -came to be disregarded by the foreign community, particularly those -referring to the Gardens, the Honam Temple, and pulling in their own -boats on the river; but so far as regards women entering the Factories, -an infringement of them in this essential particular took place in -1830, as will be seen hereafter. The chief sufferers in the event of a -disregard of any important item of the regulations would of course be -the Hong merchants. The 'Eight Regulations' were now and then brought to -the Factories by a Linguist, as an intimation that they were not to be -considered a 'dead letter.' Translated into English they read thus---- - - _Regulation 1._--All vessels of war are prohibited from - entering the Bogue. Vessels of war acting as convoy to - merchantmen must anchor outside at Sea till their merchant-ships - are ready to depart, and then sail away with them. - - _Regulation 2._--Neither women, guns, spears, nor arms of - any kind can be brought to the Factories. - - _Regulation 3._--All river-pilots and ships' Compradores - must be registered at the office of the 'Tung-Che'[11] at Macao. - That officer will also furnish each one of them with a licence, - or badge, which must be worn around the waist. He must produce - it whenever called for. All other boatmen and people must not - have communication with foreigners, unless under the immediate - control of the ships' Compradores; and should smuggling take - place, the Compradore[12] of the ship engaged in it will be - punished. - - _Regulation 4._--Each Factory is restricted for its service - to 8 Chinese (irrespective of the number of its occupants), say - 2 porters, 4 water-carriers, 1 person to take care of goods - ('go-down coolie'), and 1 ma-chen (intended for the foreign word - 'merchant'), who originally performed all the duties of the - 'House Compradore,' as he is styled to-day. - - _Regulation 5_ prohibits foreigners from rowing about the - river in their own boats for 'pleasure.' On the 8th, 18th, and - 28th days of the moon 'they may take the air,' as fixed by the - Government in the 21st year of Kea-King (1819). All ships' - boats passing the Custom-houses on the river must be detained - and examined, to guard against guns, swords, or firearms being - furtively carried in them. On the 8th, 18th, and 28th days of - the moon these foreign barbarians may visit the Flower Gardens - and the Honam Joss-house,[13] but not in _droves_ of over ten - at one time. When they have 'refreshed' they must return to the - Factories, not be allowed to pass the night 'out,' or collect - together to carouse. Should they do so, then, when the next - 'holiday' comes, they shall not be permitted to go. If the ten - should presume to enter villages, public places, or bazaars, - punishment will be inflicted upon the _Linguist_ who accompanies - them. - - _Regulation 6._--Foreigners are not allowed to present - petitions. If they have anything to represent, it must be done - through the Hong merchants. - - _Regulation 7._--Hong merchants are not to owe debts to - foreigners. Smuggling goods to and from the city is prohibited. - - _Regulation 8._--Foreign ships arriving with merchandise - must not loiter about outside the river; they must come direct - to Whampoa. They must not rove about the bays at pleasure and - sell to rascally natives goods subject to duty, that these - may smuggle them, and thereby defraud His Celestial Majesty's - revenue. - - * * * * * - -Originally there existed two English East India Companies, the oldest of -which was incorporated in 1579. In the year 1600 they amalgamated, and -received a charter from Queen Elizabeth. At the same time they assumed -the title of the 'United East India Company,' and as a trade-mark, a -heart with two transverse bars, bearing in the four divisions thus -formed the letters V. E. I. C. - -[Illustration: V E I C] - -This trade-mark had acquired such a well-merited reputation at Canton, -that it was considered unnecessary to examine any package of merchandise -that bore it. A simple exhibition of musters was made, when transactions -were concluded, and the original packages forwarded unopened to all -parts of the Empire. The Company's vessels first arrived at Canton -between 1650 and 1660, and tea was first used in England in 1666. - -By the Chinese the Company was known as Kung-Se, the characters -signify 'United Affairs.' By the Canton community its representatives -collectively were universally referred to as 'The Factory.' They were -much more numerous than the members of any other establishment. In 1825, -the 'Factory' consisted of Sir James Urmston, chief; Messrs. W. H. C. -Plowden, Marjoribanks, and J. F. Davis, of whom two, with the chief, -formed a select committee; of writers (as usually called) there were -about twenty; an inspector of teas, Mr. Reeves; chaplain, the Rev. R. H. -Vachell; surgeons, Pierson and Colledge; and an interpreter, the Rev. -Dr. Robert Morrison. - -The 'Factory' entertained with unbounded hospitality and in a princely -style. Their dining-room was of vast dimensions, opening upon the -terrace overlooking the river. On the left was a library, amply stocked, -the librarian of which was Dr. Pierson; on the right a billiard room. -At one extremity of the dining-room was a life-size portrait of George -IV. in royal robes, with crown and sceptre, the same that had been taken -by the Embassy of Lord Amherst to Pekin, offered to and refused by the -Emperor Keen-Lung, and brought to Canton overland. Opposite to it hung a -smaller full-length portrait of Lord Amherst. - -From the ceiling depended a row of huge chandeliers, with wax lights, -the table bore candelabra, reflecting a choice service amidst quantities -of silver plate. - -I was glad to have witnessed this sight, unique in that distant quarter -of the world, to reach which the old adage would apply, 'it was not -every one who could get to Corinth.' Soon after I landed at Canton, I -had the honour of a first invitation to dine with the 'Factory' and must -confess that at my then age I accepted it with fear and trepidation. One -of the _invite_ from the Suy-Hong, Mr. Oliver H. Gordon, accompanied me. -Our way led through the great outer gate, past the 'chapel' whose spire -bore conspicuously a large clock, the only one in Canton, and by which -everyone regulated his watch; then up a broad flight of stone steps to a -verandah, crossing which one entered the library and reception room as -well. When the hosts and the guests had assembled, large folding doors -were opened and we entered the noble dining-room, whose brilliancy and -cheerfulness and gorgeously furnished table I see _now_. At the remote -end of the room were grouped the Chinese servants of the Factory and of -the guests, in caps and long robes, who immediately took up their places -behind their respective masters as soon as seated. - -About thirty gentlemen were present, including Mr. Bletterman, chief -of the 'Maatschappay;'[14] Mr. Hollingworth Magniac, of the 'licensed' -house of Magniac & Co. (predecessors of the present firm of Jardine, -Matheson, & Co.); Mr. Thomas Dent, of another 'licensed' firm, Thomas -Dent & Co.; and several of my own countrymen, including Mr. Benjamin C. -Wilcox and John R. Latimer. - -But the days of the Honourable East India Company were now unconsciously -drawing to an end. It had existed for 250 years! It ceased as a -'commercial' body in 1833. Many members of the 'Factory' were then -removed to India and there took up civil appointments. Messrs. Astell -and Clarke alone remained at Canton to close up outstanding affairs, -and finally left in December 1839. Twenty-five more years were accorded -to the Company after 1833 to transfer to the Crown the splendid empire -those enterprising merchants had founded in India, and in 1858 its sun -set--politically. - -Few now remain who witnessed the final breaking up and departure of -'the Factory' from Canton; personally, there was much regret, as it had -always been a marked feature in the community. The 'Outside' Merchants, -unshackled from licenses, hailed it as an auspicious day, opening up to -them visions of prosperity, which soon assumed the form and substance of -reality. As an event to be placed 'on record' as the Chinese say, the -first 'free ship' with 'free teas' was loaded at Whampoa and despatched -for London on March 22, 1834, by the still existing house of Messrs. -Jardine, Matheson, & Co. The vessel was named the 'Sarah,' Captain -Whiteside. - -The principal teas shipped by the Company were Bohea and Congo. One may -judge of their qualities by their selling in England from 'two shillings -and sixpence up to sixty shillings per pound, while sound common Congo -is selling to-day at sixpence farthing'! (Messrs. J. C. Sillar & Co's -tea circular of February, 1881.) The Company imported English-made -woollens and cottons and raw cotton from India. The most important of -the licensed houses in 1825 were Magniac & Co., Thomas Dent & Co., -Ilberry, Fearon & Co., Whiteman & Co., and Robertson, Cullen, & Co. -(Colonel Fearon, who commanded the detachment of troops on board the -East India Company's ship 'Kent,' burnt in the Bay of Biscay, 1825, on -her way to Calcutta, was a brother of the Mr. Fearon just named.) Their -transactions were with India, and in the aggregate on a very extensive -scale. They received raw cotton from the three Presidencies; opium -from Bombay and Calcutta; rice, pepper, tin, &c., from the Straits of -Malacca. The local name for their business was the 'Country Trade' the -ships were 'Country Ships' and the masters of them 'Country Captains.' -Some of my readers may recall a dish which was often placed before us, -when dining on board these vessels at Whampoa, viz., 'Country Captain.' -The ships were 'Country' built as well, and of teak; they were not fast -sailers, but comfortable and substantial. They made one voyage annually, -rolling up the China Sea before the south-west monsoon and rolling down -again with the north-east. Some of them, as the 'Sulimany,' the 'Fort -William,' the 'Futty Salaam,' were not far from their eightieth birthday. - - * * * * * - -The Hong merchants (collectively, the Co-Hong) as a body corporate date -from 1720. From that year, except for a short interval before 1725, -they were the monopolists of the foreign trade. The principal ones, in -1825, were Houqua, Mouqua, Pwankeiqua, Pwansuylan, Chungqua, Kingqua, -and Gouqua. The affix _qua_, which is usually supposed to be a part of -the name, is simply a term of civility or respect, and is equivalent to -Mister or Sir. The word means literally to 'manage' or 'control.' The -number of the 'Co-Hong' was limited to thirteen. - -Their establishments commenced on the creek already referred to, and -extended eastward on the riverside, whereby the shipping off and landing -of cargo were attended with great facilities. They were the 'warehouses' -in which were received all the teas and silk from the interior, and -in which these articles were repacked, if necessary, weighed, matted, -and marked, before being sent to the ships at Whampoa. The boats in -which they were conveyed were of a peculiar build, with circular decks -and sides, and from their resemblance to a melon they were called -'water-melons' by the Chinese, but by foreigners they were always -referred to as 'chop-boats.' They were of the capacity of 500 chests -of tea, or 500 piculs of weight. The orderly and intelligent despatch -of business at the Hongs was characteristic of the Chinese, as were the -neatness of all packages and the dexterity with which they were handled. - -The Hong merchants were the only ones officially recognised by the -Government, and no goods bought of 'outside' Chinese could be shipped -off except through one or the other of the 'Hongs,' which received -thereon a tax, and in whose name they were reported to the Hoppo. The -'outside' merchants had, however, become of great importance, their -transactions were on an immense scale annually. As manufacturers of -silks, of floor-matting, nankeens, crapes, grass-cloth, and a host of -less important articles, many of them had amassed great wealth; at the -same time, they were always assumed, officially, as confining themselves -strictly to such things as were necessary for the 'personal use' of -foreign residents. In fact, it was 'custom' from time to time for the -authorities to remind them of this, and even to enumerate the things -which they were only allowed to furnish. As a curiosity they may be -recorded--clothing, umbrellas, straw hats, fans, shoes, and so on! - -The Hong merchants were responsible to the Hoppo for the duties on all -exports and imports. They alone transacted business with that officer's -department--viz., the 'Customs'--by which foreigners were spared trouble -and inconvenience. It may be as well to mention here that the 'Hoppo' -(as he was incorrectly styled) filled an office especially created -for the foreign trade at Canton. He received his appointment from the -Emperor himself, and took rank with the first officers of the province. -The Board of Revenue is in Chinese 'Hoo-poo' and the office was locally -misapplied to the officer in question. - -As controllers of the entire foreign commerce of the port of Canton, -which amounted annually to many millions of dollars, if the benefits -derived therefrom were of vast importance, the responsibilities were -also great. For infractions of 'regulations' by a ship or by her agents -they were liable. It was assumed that they could, or should, control -foreigners residing in the Factories as well as the vessels anchored at -Whampoa. In both cases they were required to 'secure' due 'obedience.' -Every resident therefore had his 'sponsor' from the moment of landing, -as every ship had hers, and hence the Hong merchants became 'security -merchants.' My own was Houqua, who of course represented some others -also, and in view of these mutual relationships we would jocularly call -them 'our horse godfathers.' - -The purchases of the East India Company were divided amongst the Hong -merchants proportionately, in shares, of which fourteen fell to the lot -of Houqua. - -The position of Hong merchant was obtained through the payment of large -sums of money at Pekin. I have heard of as much as 200,000 taels, say -55,000_l._ sterling. If the 'license' thus acquired was costly, it -secured to them uninterrupted and extraordinary pecuniary advantages; -but, on the other hand, it subjected them to calls or 'squeezes' for -contributions to public works or buildings, for the relief of districts -suffering from a scarcity of rice, as well as for the often imaginary or -over-estimated damage caused by the overflowing of the 'Yang-tsze-Keang' -or the 'Yellow River.' - -'Well, Houqua,' you would say on some visit, 'hav got news to-day?' 'Hav -got too muchee bad news,' he would reply; 'Hwang Ho hav spilum too -muchee' That sounded ominously. 'Man-ta-le[15] hav come see you?' 'He -no come see my, he sendee come one piece "chop." He come to-mollo. He -wantchee my two-lac[16] dollar.' It was the old complaint, a 'squeeze' -and this time a formidable one. 'You pay he how mutchee?' 'My pay he -fitty, sikky tousand so.' 'But s'pose he no contentee?' 'S'pose he, -N^{o.} 1, no contentee, my pay he one lac.' This actual incident will -show the sort of demands upon the senior Hong merchant (each one being -called upon in his turn) and their pecuniary importance. They knew at -the same time that the object of the 'squeeze' was exaggerated, and, -even if necessary, that only a modest portion would go to the repairs -of the banks of the river, the mandarin thinking that his own personal -wants were far more pressing. They might try to parry the question, -they might succeed in getting the sum asked for diminished, but they -could not escape. Payments would also be made by them to the Hoppo on -the occasion of his return to Pekin, on the appointment of a successor, -as well as to the chiefs of the Revenue Board in that capital; but such -as these had a _raison d'etre_, they secured influence and protection, -and besides, the sums paid were voluntary and comparatively moderate in -amount. - -As it added to their dignity and privileges, the Hong merchants -purchased nominal rank, the insignia of which was denoted by a button or -coloured globe attached to the apex of the cap. Of this they might be -deprived for offences against the law or for bankruptcy; then a wearer -of it in local parlance would be 'unbuttoned,' or deprived of this -significant emblem of his social and public status. - -The occupation of a 'merchant' in China is looked down upon by wealthy -landed proprietors, by the _literati_, and by those who have risen to -official rank through their own talents; but bankruptcy is considered -degrading and even criminal. - -Bankrupts are first deprived of any nominal rank they may possess before -being so adjudged by law. Previous to my arrival at Canton one case -of a bankrupt Hong merchant had taken place. The penalty for a member -of the Co-Hong was transportation to E-Lee. Only one other occurred -during the remainder of the period of the existence of the Co-Hong. The -last exiled bankrupt was Man-Ho. He had been a general favourite with -the foreign community, was a person of courteous manners, and in every -respect a well-bred and kindly man. He had borne on his cap the 'blue -button' which denoted the third rank--principal--and it gave him the -privilege of a certain title on his cards, &c. The books and affairs -of his Hong passed into the charge of the Co-Hong for examination, the -result proved most unsatisfactory, and when it was laid before the Hoppo -he was declared bankrupt, and sentenced to transportation for life to -E-Lee (the present Kuldja), on the north-west frontier. It is commonly -spoken of by the Canton Chinese as the 'Colo'[17] country. Few know its -geographical position. Preparations having been made for his departure, -at a moment when some officials were leaving for that remote province, -Man-Ho, with other condemned persons, was placed under their charge. The -boats, having all these on board, anchored off the Factories. Many of -his old Chinese and foreign friends went on board to say goodbye. One -of the latter handed him a letter, in which was expressed sympathy for -his misfortunes. And it added that a sum of money, subscribed by the -Hong merchants and themselves for his personal comfort, had been placed -with reliable servants of his own, who were accompanying him of their -own accord. Neither the Government nor the Hoppo objects to such aid -being rendered by relations and friends to one who by misfortune or bad -management has incurred the penalty of the law, if not excessive. In the -present case the amount was 10,000 dollars. - -In a few hours after, the convoy left on one of the most dreary journeys -that can be imagined. It occupied several months, involving constant -transhipment to other boats, now over execrable roads in the most -comfortless of bamboo chairs, then on pony back, and frequently on foot. - -A very long time after his departure we heard, by the return of one of -his servants, that Man-ho had been at first set to work as 'sweeper' -in a temple, which he was able to compromise into a purely nominal -'office.' Again, that he had managed to get about him sundry comforts, -such as E-Lee possessed, which is saying very little. Years passed, when -we at once heard of his death and of the arrival of the body at Canton -(in charge of the servants who had remained with him) for interment in -his native place. - -After Man-ho left Canton I saw, in the hands of one of the above foreign -contributors, his promissory note for $60,000, bearing interest at 5 -per cent. per month. This was not exorbitant, under the circumstances -in which it was given. The current rate of interest, with the best -security, was 1 per cent. per month on running account, while 2 to 3 per -cent. on temporary loans per month was common. - -As a body of merchants, we found them honourable and reliable in all -their dealings, faithful to their contracts, and large-minded. Their -private residences, of which we visited several, were on a vast scale, -comprising curiously laid-out gardens, with grottoes and lakes, crossed -by carved stone bridges, pathways neatly paved with small stones of -various colours forming designs of birds, or fish, or flowers. - -One of the most beautiful was that of Pwankeiqua, on the banks of the -river, three or four miles west of the Factories. The number of servants -in these private 'palaces,' as they would be called elsewhere, was very -great, comprising, with those ordinarily in attendance, doorkeepers, -messengers, palankin bearers, and choice cooks. We had occasional -opportunities of judging of the skill of the latter by an invitation to -a 'chopstick' dinner, signifying that no foreign element would be found -in it. - -We would be served with such delicacies as birds'-nest soup,[18] with -plover's eggs and Beche-de-Mar, curiously prepared sharks' fins and -roasted snails; these forming but a very small proportion of the number -of courses, which ended with pastry of different sorts. The liquids were -wines prepared from rice, called 'Samshoo,' also from green peas, from -a fruit called Wang-pe, and others whose names we never knew. The wines -were served in tiny silver or porcelain cups, each placed on handsomely -worked silver stands. - -These feasts were very enjoyable, even when their novelty had worn off; -the host, full of _bonhomie_ and politeness, never failing to escort us -to the great outer gate on leaving, and place us under the charge of his -coolies, who would there be waiting with large lanterns bearing his name -to escort us back to the Factories. - -It is not true, as has been supposed, that on these convivial occasions -the guests were served with roast or boiled 'puppy' as a _bonne bouche_, -and I am sure that the author of the following lines gave way to his -imagination after a 'chopstick' dinner with 'green pea' wine when he -wrote them, or to fortify a current joke:-- - - The feast spread out, the splendour round - Allowed the eye no rest; - The wealth of Kwang-Tung, of all Ind, - Appeared to greet each guest. - - All tongues are still; no converse free - The solemn silence broke; - Because, alas! friend Se-Ta-Che - No word of Chinese spoke. - - Now here, now there, he picked a bit - Of what he could not name; - And all he knew was that, in fact, - They made him sick the same! - - Mingqua, his host, pressed on each dish - With polished Chinese grace; - And much, Ming thought, he relished them, - At every ugly face! - - At last he swore he'd eat no more, - 'Twas written in his looks; - For, 'Zounds!' said he, 'the devil here - Sends both the meats and cooks!' - - But, covers changed, he brightened up, - And thought himself in luck - When close before him, what he saw - Looked something like a duck! - - Still cautious grown, but, to be sure, - His brain he set to rack; - At length he turned to one behind, - And, pointing, cried: 'Quack, Quack.' - - The Chinese gravely shook his head, - Next made a reverend bow; - And then expressed what dish it was - By uttering, 'Bow-wow-wow!' - -Numerous instances of munificence and generosity can be recorded on -the part of the Hong merchants. I relate some of the _senior_ one as -illustrations. He would accept the direct consignment of an American -ship, if it was commanded by an old friend. Such a one came to Whampoa, -commanded by Captain C----, having on board a cargo consisting in -a great measure of quicksilver. The price of this article was much -depressed at the time. It was landed at Houqua's Hong and stored, -he offering to take it at its market value. Several months elapsed, -when the close of the south-west monsoon foretold 'business,' and the -Factories began to look out for return cargoes for their ships of new -teas daily arriving. Quicksilver still remained without demand. At the -price it bore, a considerable deficiency would exist in the capacity -of the vessel and the quantity of teas which could be bought with the -proceeds. At the same time news had arrived of an improvement in prices -at New York which exhibited a large profit. Captain C----, therefore, -judging it better to sell his quicksilver and load with all the despatch -he could with as many teas as it would purchase, closed the sale, which -was, in commercial phraseology, 'puttee book' (duly recorded). Tea -purchases were then immediately made, in the course of which Houqua -said to his consignor, 'Olo flen,[19] you shall have a full cargo to -return with; I will furnish it, you can pay my next voyage--you no -trub' (give yourself no anxiety). Everything being thus definitely -arranged, the vessel commenced loading, and was half full, when Houqua -came to Captain C---- and informed him that a sudden demand had arisen -for 'quick'[20] on the part of northern merchants returning to their -provinces, that it had advanced materially in value, and he had been -credited with the parcel he brought out _at the price of the day_; -moreover, that he had cancelled on his books the first purchase. This -generous act on the part of his consignee enabled Captain C---- to leave -with a full cargo, all paid for, and made a difference in the outturn of -his voyage of nearly 30,000 dollars. This information I received some -years after at Canton from Captain C---- himself. - -An American gentleman, who had resided many years at Canton, and had -possessed a considerable fortune, met with serious losses. The hope -of regaining it induced him to continue operations, in which he was -materially assisted by Houqua. They had been, as was usually said, in -the words of the place, 'olo flen.' Time passed, considerable sums were -placed at the disposal of Mr. W----, no reference being made to them by -the Hong merchant, until, at the end of a second or third year, Houqua's -and his accounts were compared, and the balance in favour of Houqua was -72,000 dollars. For this amount he took a promissory note and it was -locked up in his strong box. From knowing Chinese, I was often behind -the scenes on similar occasions, not that the holder had any doubt of -irregularity on the part of the signers, but simply to translate them -into his language for his own satisfaction. It may be stated here that -not a single Chinese then existed at Canton who could read or write -English. I found that these notes bore simply the endorsement of sum and -date with the names of the drawers. Time still went on; Mr. W---- had -frequently expressed a desire to return to the United States, but hoped -that a 'good turn' would take place in his affairs and enable him to -cancel his note. It was cancelled in a most unexpected manner! - -One day, when on a visit to his Chinese friend, the latter said, 'You -have been so long away from your own country, why do you not return?' -To which Mr. W---- replied that it was impossible--he could not cancel -his note, and this alone would prevent him. Houqua enquired if the -bond, only, kept him in Canton, and if he had not some means wherewith -to provide for a residence at home? The answer was that no other debts -existed, and he was not without resources--but the note!! Houqua -summoned his purser, and ordered him to bring the envelope containing -promissory notes from the treasury. Taking out that of Mr. W----, he -said, 'You and I are No. 1, "olo flen;" you belong honest man, only no -got chance.'[21] He then tore the note up, and throwing the fragments -into the waste-paper basket, added, 'Just now hav settee counter, alla -finishee; you go, you please.' That is to say, 'Our accounts are now all -settled, you can leave when you like.' - -When the English troops, under Sir Hugh Gough, on May 21, 1841, had -taken up a position on the heights north of the city walls, and were -prepared to attack, they were prevented doing so by a despatch from -Captain Elliot, the British Superintendent of Trade at Canton, then on -board the cutter 'Louisa,' lying off the Factories. He informed Sir -Hugh Gough that the city had consented to pay a ransom of six millions -of dollars, and directed him to return to the ships in the river with -the forces. This was a judicious and humane arrangement, brought about -by Captain Elliot. Had the city been entered, the loss of life would -have been dreadful, to say nothing of the destruction of houses and -property. There would, moreover, have been but little glory to gain, as -it was in a state of defence utterly inadequate to resist 2,200 English -soldiers and sailors. The authorities of the city, having concluded -the arrangement for the ransom, began at once to look about for money, -and as usual _reminded_ the Hong merchants that something liberal was -expected of them. - -They contributed 2,000,000 dollars, of which Pwankeiqua gave 260,000, -Houqua 1,100,000, and the others 640,000. A belief exists amongst the -Chinese that there is an invisible agency influencing man's career -in life, which they call 'Fung Shuy,' literally 'wind and water.' A -striking illustration of this belief was brought out on this occasion. -Houqua availed himself of the _accident_ of contributing, to express his -gratitude to 'wind and water' for notable incidents in his own life, -and in this way, mentally, he apportioned his donation. For himself, in -recognition of his 'prosperity,' 800,000 dollars; for his eldest son, -200,000 dollars for unswerving filial piety; and 100,000 dollars for his -youngest son, who happened to be born when he himself had just completed -the full term of a 'cycle,' or sixty years. This is considered a very -happy coincidence, or No. 1 'Fung Shuy.' For the total sum, Captain -Elliot was handed three promissory notes, drawn by Messrs. Russell & Co. -at thirty days' date in favour of Houqua, by whom they were endorsed to -his order. Captain Elliot deposited them for collection with Messrs. -Jardine, Matheson, & Co. and Dent & Co. These firms had removed their -offices to Macao, as well as Messrs. Russell & Co. The notes were for -400,000, 400,000, and 300,000 dollars respectively. At this time the -last-named house held about two and a half millions of dollars belonging -to their constituent, the endorser. As an instance of the just pride -Houqua took in his remarkable position and of his commercial sagacity, -a few days before the maturity of the three notes a letter was received -from him in Chinese at Macao, which read thus:-- - -'Benevolent Elder Brother,[22]--The notes endorsed by me to Elut,[23] as -you know, will soon be due. Offer to pay them at once. You will see by -calculating that if the money is now accepted there will be a gain of -over nine hundred dollars by the discount. May all your days be as one.' - -Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, & Co. and Dent & Co. were immediately -communicated with, the notes came in for payment, and were cashed, less -the discount, which amounted to a little short of a thousand dollars! -The next time I saw Houqua in Canton he talked merrily over the close -of the transaction, and said, 'My all same, "Ba-Blo."'[24] The old -gentleman liked to compare himself with that famous house with which, -through Messrs. Russell & Co., he had had for years important business. - -Demands of money on the Co-Hong never ceased. One instance was a -requirement by the Viceroy that they should pay off the indebtedness of -three of their own number to 'outside barbarians.' They were Hingtai, -Mouqua, and Kingqua. Houqua then paid $1,000,000, Pwankeiqua $130,000, -Pwan Hoyqua $70,000, Samqua and Saoqua each $50,000, Footai $90,000. -I mention this circumstance as a feature of 'Old Canton;' it being a -measure taken to prevent complications with Governments beyond the sea. - -In contrast to the style of official language, private letters from the -Hong merchants left nothing to be desired in civility. Here is one of -many. In the year 1837, a few of us younger members of the community -established the 'Canton Regatta Club,' for boat-pulling and sailing on -the river, our chief amusements and mode of taking the air. Nothing like -a club had yet existed. Presently the Hong merchants, in virtue of their -office as 'guardians' of our persons, as well as our 'securities' in -the eyes of the local government, on hearing of the club organisation, -being apprehensive of accidents, they wrote this letter to one of the -members:-- - - 'Ham Tak, venerable old gentleman,--We beg respectfully to - inform you that we have heard of the intention of our respected - elder brother and other chin-te-le-mun[25] to race boats on - the river. We know not if this is true, but heretofore it has - not been custom. Should the authorities hear of this, we your - younger brothers would be reproved, not mildly, for permitting - you to act so indiscreetly. On the river, boats are mysteriously - abundant; everywhere they congregate in vast numbers; like a - stream they advance and retire unceasingly. Thus the chances of - contact are many, so are accidents, even to the breaking of - one another's boats, to the injury of men's bodies, while more - serious consequences might ensue. - - 'We therefore beseech our worthy senior[26] to make known to - the other chin-te-le-mun that they would do well to refrain from - contesting the speed of their boats on the river, so that after - troubles may not accumulate. Then all will be well. Daily may - your prosperity increase, without difference. - - '(Signed) - 'HOUQUA, MOUQUA, PWANKEIQUA' - AND OTHERS. - -The amount of Houqua's fortune was frequently a subject of debate; -but on one occasion, in referring to it in connection with his -various investments in rice-fields, dwellings, shops, and the banking -establishments known as shroffs, and including his American and English -shipments, he estimated it, in 1834, at twenty-six millions of dollars. -Assuming the purchasing power of money at that time as being but twice -greater than at the present day, it would now represent a sum of -$52,000,000. He was a person of remarkably frugal habits (as regards -his style of living) from choice and from being of a feeble frame of -body. His generosity was boundless, and in accounts he was singularly -methodical and precise, never multiplying them beyond what was -absolutely necessary. The two or three rooms which he occupied during -hours of business in his vast, well-regulated Hong were furnished with -simplicity itself. - -He withdrew from general business with the foreign community after -the Honourable East India Company left Canton, and confined himself -exclusively to the house of Messrs. Russell & Co. Through them his -foreign business was entirely managed. His yearly shipments to London -of those celebrated Chops of Congo, grown on his family estates in the -Woo-E country, were well known and appreciated in the English market. -His transactions were on a very important scale, and he entrusted them -to his Canton agents, through whom they were carried out, with the -well-merited confidence which they inspired. They embraced England, -the United States, and India. As another illustration of his generous -nature, I may refer to an affair that took place nearly fifty years ago, -in which his orders were not complied with. We had shipped a cargo, -principally of raw silk belonging to himself, which he had ordered -from the silk country. It was sold at a large profit. His instructions -were that the proceeds should be returned in East India Co. bills on -Calcutta. To our surprise and his disappointment, the result of the -sale was invested in a cargo of British goods. It was as injudicious -an arrangement (free trade then beginning) to ship largely of English -manufactures as his own shipment was sagacious, for but little silk was -exported immediately after the opening of the trade. The result showed a -difference of many thousand dollars to his detriment. On the deviation -of orders becoming known Houqua was at once informed that he should not -suffer for this breach of instructions, and for the loss we would credit -his account. - -The old gentleman replied, 'My consider, my show you to-mollo'--that is -to say, he would think it over and let us know his decision 'to-morrow.' -The following day he was at the office, and this was his decision, -which he emphasised by striking the floor with his cane--Write to Mr. -C----[27] and tell him he must be more careful in future, 'must take -care.' He accepted the woollens, and refused to accept any indemnity. - -This last chief of the world-renowned 'Co-Hong,' which ceased with the -treaties after an existence of 130 years, died at Honam on September 4, -1843, aged seventy-four, having been born in the same year with Napoleon -and Wellington, 1769. - - * * * * * - -Next to the Hong merchants, other Chinese were closely allied to the -foreign community as 'Linguists'--so called, as it used to be remarked, -because they knew nothing of any language but their own. They were -appointed by the Hoppo to act as interpreters, and were duly licensed. -Besides, this was in accordance with the orders of the Pekin Government. -As up to treaty days, neither Consul nor Vice-Consul of a foreign nation -was 'officially' acknowledged, whenever either one of these officers -made a communication to the Hoppo, it had to be done through the Hong -merchants, to whom the despatch was taken by a Linguist. The reply would -be addressed to these merchants, who were directed to make known the -answer to the 'Chief' of the nation, that 'he might reverently inform -himself of it and be duly obedient' (a matter of form). - -The principal Linguists were 'Old Tom,' 'Young Tom,'[28] and 'Alantsae.' -They were at the head of numerous assistants employed in the ordinary -business of foreigners, such as attending upon Mandarins from inside the -city while examining merchandise being landed or shipped off, and making -up reports of the duties for those officers to take to the Hoppo's -office for registration and subsequent collecting. Their duties were by -no means light. They were liable to be summoned at any moment, night or -day, in connection with the multifarious matters in which their services -were required. They were always ready and ever willing, and proved a -wonderful convenience to the community at large. Through them we applied -for permits when going on a trip to Macao, for the shipping off of an -entire cargo of teas or for landing one of foreign goods. All details -of whatever nature were regulated and attended to by them. By law and -'old regulations,' on an excursion on the river, to the 'flower gardens' -a few miles off, or to the Great Buddhist Temple at Honam, opposite -the Factories, a Linguist _should_ personally attend. One was also at -our disposal for a visit to any other place to which the 'regulations' -or 'old custom' permitted us to go. It may be added at the same time -that the 'regulations' which required his personal presence on such -occasions were not strictly enforced, but they were never abolished. -The object of the Mandarins in enjoining upon the Linguists that one of -them should accompany foreigners in their walks or boating excursions -was from the best of motives--that these should not lose their way or -become involved in collisions with the people arising from ignorance -of one another's language. It was the duty of a Linguist to distribute -amongst the Factories any Government proclamations having reference to -their affairs, relating to vessels at Whampoa or the 'receiving ships' -at Lintin. In regard to these last the Linguist would 'translate it,' -and point out that the 'Man-ta-lee' said, 'if they did not immediately -get up their anchors and return to their own countries or come to -Whampoa, cruisers would be sent down to drive them away, and no more -patience manifested.' Then would come the time-honoured question of 'You -savee?' or, 'Do you understand?' with the usual addition of, 'This time -the Mandarin is _really_ in earnest.' The precious document would then -be deposited in the leg of his stocking or in his boot (the customary -receptacles), and with 'My chin-chin you'[29] he would pass on to our -next-door neighbour. - -During the shipping season, from October to March, the Linguist of a -ship in course of loading would be summoned in the evening to a foreign -counting-room (if necessity required), and was frequently detained until -long after midnight while lists of teas to be shipped off in the morning -were being prepared. With these lists he would then be obliged to go to -perhaps several Hongs, to see that the teas were in readiness and 'chop' -boats ordered to convey them to Whampoa. These duties often involved a -whole night's work, but no sign of impatience or inattention was shown. -When a vessel was ready to be measured, the Linguist informed the Hoppo, -who then ordered an officer to Whampoa to attend to this duty, and he -was always attended by a member of the Linguists' establishment called -the 'mandarin' or 'official' Linguist. Should she be under despatch, the -Linguist furnished the agent with a memorandum of the 'Measurement and -Cumsha' charges, and at her final departure he brought to his office -the 'grand chop,' or port clearance, which was only delivered to him -when he had furnished the Hoppo with receipts or certificates of the -import and export duties having been paid, and satisfied him that all -formalities had been fulfilled. When a fire broke out near the Factories -they were immediately in attendance. - -They were, as a body, 'our all in all.' The senior Linguist, popularly -known as 'Old Tom,' was a remarkable man, both physically and mentally, -one whose calmness and self-possession never forsook him. Whether -threatened by the authorities or scolded by foreigners, he never gave -way to ill-humour. He was wonderfully adroit in making everything smooth -with the mandarins and pleasant to the 'outside barbarians,' even in -questions the most irreconcilable. - -Each vessel anchoring at Whampoa incurred a Linguist fee of $250. For -every chop-boat landing her inward cargo, $15.22. Her outward cargo was -taken to her by the sellers of it, at their own risk and expense. - - * * * * * - -The most important Chinese within the Factory was the _Compradore_. -He was secured by a Hong merchant in all that related to good conduct -generally, honesty and capability. All Chinese employed in any factory, -whether as his own 'pursers,' or in the capacity of servants, cooks, -or coolies, were the Compradore's 'own people;' they rendered to him -every 'allegiance,' and he 'secured' them as regards good behaviour and -honesty. This was another feature that contributed to the admirable -order and safety which characterised life at Canton. The Compradore -also exercised a general surveillance over everything that related -to the internal economy of the 'house,' as well as over outside -shopmen, mechanics, or tradespeople employed by it. With the aid of his -assistants, the house and private accounts of the members were kept. He -was the purveyor for the table, and generally of the personal wants of -the 'Tai-pans' and pursers.[30] - -The treasury in which all the cash and valuables were kept was under -his charge, which was no light matter, as with some houses the amount -of cash was extremely large, frequently over a million of dollars and -rarely under $150,000 to $200,000. During the dull season, from April to -October, the principal books of accounts, all important correspondence -and letter books were also deposited in it. For many years after -1824, no such thing as a copying machine was known; all copying was -done by hand, and this exacted greater care of business letters and -papers, while as no Banks existed in the old days, each house was its -own banker. The position of a Compradore was therefore one of great -responsibility, and I never knew of but one betraying the trust reposed -in him. Although his pay was comparatively small, say $250 or $300 per -annum (the pay of our own was raised to $500), his perquisites, from -sources which had long been in existence, and had become 'olo custom,' -were very important. As the balance of the American trade was greatly -in favour of China, large quantities of Spanish and Mexican dollars were -yearly imported to make up the deficiency arising from comparatively -little other import cargo. Teas and silks, and many minor articles -coming under the general head of 'Chow-chow,' were bought for cash. -Thus every ship from the United States brought largely of dollars at -times--as in the case of the 'Citizen,' $350,000, while in 1831 three -vessels alone brought $1,100,000. Added to these supplies, opium was -invariably sold for cash, and so were bills on London when they came -into use; consequently all this money passed primarily through the hands -of the Compradore. He derived a profit from the process of _shroffing_ -which it underwent before being deposited in the treasury; but after -the goodness of a parcel and its exact amount were ascertained, he was -liable for any bad money that might afterwards be found amongst it. He -paid the Shroff one-tenth of a dollar per one thousand for examining -it, while the fixed charge by the Compradore was one-fifth. This formed -an important sum. Another one of his perquisites was five copper cash -(about a halfpenny) per dollar on all payments, no matter to whom or on -what account, of odd sums less than one thousand dollars, which charge -was borne by the payee. He also derived benefit from loans or advances -made to 'Outside' Chinese merchants (and from them) on contracts for -silks and other merchandise entered into with his employers, while on -all Factory supplies he received also a percentage. In the year 1823 -occurred the first and only robbery by a Compradore that came under my -knowledge. He was in the service of one of the two most important of -the American houses, then occupying No. 3 of the Suy Hong. He had made -use of a large sum belonging to the firm for his own speculations, and -it was accidentally discovered. Mr. A----, the then chief of the house, -went directly to Houqua, the Compradore's 'security,' and reported the -loss. The man himself was sent for, and, greatly to the indignation -of his patron, confessed to having used the money for speculation, -intending to replace it, but the unexpected examination by Mr. A---- had -not allowed him time to do so. Houqua sent the deficiency to the firm -the same evening. It was over $50,000. - - * * * * * - -We have seen who and what were the Co-Hong, the Outside Chinese -merchants, the Linguists and Compradores, and what their respective -relations with foreigners were. There now remains the _Shroff_, or money -dealer, whose services were indispensable, particularly in receipts. -They were manifest daily and hourly in the broad arched passages passing -through the Factories, along which, as was constantly said, one could -never move without seeing heaps of silver being examined and hearing its -metallic ring as successive quantities were poured in and out of copper -scales. Scarcely a day or even an hour passed without this glittering -accompaniment of old Canton life. - -Pieces of silver as well as dollars were shroffed and weighed before -being deposited in the treasury. When that was done, dollars had -no longer a distinct existence, for in commerce the Chinese treat -silver and gold as they do lead, iron, or copper. In this they show a -characteristic good sense, and are rewarded by it in the facility with -which all money transactions are carried on. As the result of long -experience, the imported dollar was found to be worth 717/1000 taels -in weight, and this became the standard in all current book accounts. -No coined money exists in the Empire except copper cash, with which -every one is familiar. The use of it is confined to the daily wants of -the people, and it never enters into transactions of importance, except -when money-changers replenish their stocks. The convenience of such a -circulating medium gives facility to every one, no matter how humble his -requirements, and was a wise piece of legislation. The obverse of the -coin bears the name of the Emperor during whose reign it was made, in -Chinese characters, with two others which mean 'circulating value.'[31] -Commerce, on the other hand, stood in need of a larger representative -of value, and this was supplied by gold and silver bars or lumps in -portable sizes. Bar gold bears a small proportion to bar silver in -quantity, and is in oblong pieces usually of ten taels in weight, and -silver[32] in oval lumps called 'shoes' of various sizes and values. -There is no Government interference in the manufacture of these bars and -shoes for purposes of trade, no more than there is of any other metal, -while the guarantee of their purity and value is simply the stamp of the -Shroff or money house by which they are issued. - -As a natural consequence of the non-existence of gold or silver coin, -imported dollars, from being continually weighed and stamped when -passing from hand to hand, became 'chopped dollars' or 'cut money' -in Canton phraseology, the first from being stamped by the Shroff on -examining them, with any character which he may select, and which -is his guarantee of goodness. In the shapeless form which they thus -acquire, payments are made by weight in taels, and its component parts -of mace, candareens, and cash.[33] This custom of weighing metals -has existed in China since 903 A.D. If any money stamped by a Shroff -on examination proved bad, it was exchanged by him, but such cases -were extremely rare. A small pair of scales for money transactions is -generally carried by Chinese attached to a waistbelt. - -Shroffs examined all amounts brought to them by any one, but went -to the foreign Factories, to the Hong merchants or other customers, -when required. The charge was small, and the amount of silver passing -yearly through their hands was enormous, as amongst the Chinese all -transactions were for money or its representative.[34] Shroffs were also -'changers'--providing when required either Sycee, chopped dollars, or -gold--as well as bankers, making loans or receiving deposits. The floors -of their shops are covered with brown tiles, and at the end of the year -they can sell the privilege of removing the floor for the chance of -finding scraps of silver which may have escaped through the interstices -of the tiles, the buyer of the privilege replacing the floor at his own -cost. I have heard of as much as fifty taels (about $70) being paid to -an important Shroff-shop for such a transaction. - -Several descriptions of dollars were imported from 1825, previous -to which time the most numerous were those of Carolus IV. of Spain. -These kept the preference above all others, and were currently known -as 'Old Heads.' So accustomed were the Chinese to this dollar, that -when Carolus III. or Ferdinand VII. were offered, they were taken with -reluctance, while the 'Old Head' commanded a premium, and it thus became -an exception to the general rule of 'breaking up.' For a long time they -had been taken by dealers in raw silk from the middle provinces, in -whole dollars, and finally so much prejudice existed in their favour -that they would take no others except as cut money. This caused them -to advance in value to 10 and even 15 per cent.; finally, during one -season, we sold to the senior Hong merchant $60,000 at a premium of 30 -per cent.,1/2 receiving in exchange $78,000 in cut money. Ferdinand VII.'s -dollars became 'New Heads,' and next came into favour, there being a -diminishing supply of the 'Old,' but they were never at more than 1 to 2 -per cent. premium. Of other kinds there were Chilian, Peruvian, Mexican, -and United States, which were submitted to the process of breaking up, -and were never in greater favour with the Chinese than cut money. They -were not 'old custom,' and they could not reconcile themselves to the -new effigies or legends which they bore. Now and then, if wanted for a -special occasion, Mexican dollars could be passed at a small premium, -say 1 or 11/2 per cent. It is very probable, as often supposed, that the -Shroffs had much to do with these varied transactions; they were behind -the scene and perhaps they had, as many of the establishments belonged -to wealthy proprietors, who used them for purposes of speculation in -money. - -Book accounts, as has been said, were kept in dollars and cents by -foreign houses, at the conventional rate of 717/1000 of a tael per -dollar. There was but one exception, that of the English East India -Company, which adopted the more rational system of Chinese currency. -Payments for raw silk were made at 750/1000, for teas 720/1000, musk -750/1000, as well as for some kinds of opium. As all Chinese produce -went by weight, even raw and manufactured silk, and as all computations -were in decimals, this system contributed to the ease with which -business was carried on. - - * * * * * - -_Pigeon-English_ is the well-known name given to that unique language -through the medium of which business was transacted and all intercourse -exclusively carried on between the 'Western Ocean' foreigners and Canton -Chinese. For years after my arrival but three foreign residents were -Chinese scholars--namely, Doctor Morrison; the present Sir John Francis -Davis, the last Chief of the English East India Company's establishment; -and one American, myself--while 'Pigeon-English' had grown up with the -early days of foreign intercourse with the port of Canton. It is not -difficult to arrive at the creation of this particular and strange -language. Foreigners came to Canton for a limited period, and would not -or could not apply themselves to the study of so difficult a language as -the Chinese, of which even a sufficiency for commonplace purposes was -not easy to acquire, and if acquired would be useless anywhere else. The -local government also placed serious obstacles in the way of learning -it, to the length of beheading a Chinese teacher for giving lessons. -This is on the authority of Dr. Morrison, who related to me an instance -that took place before I arrived, and he further informed me that for -years after his own arrival in 1807 he was obliged, as a protection -to his own teacher, to study at night in a room with lights carefully -screened. - -On the other hand, the shrewd Chinaman succeeded in supplying this -absence of the knowledge of his own language by cleverly making himself -familiar with _sounds_ of foreign words, and conforming them to his own -monosyllabic mode of expression, at the same time using simple Chinese -words to express their meaning. He thus created a language, as it may -be called, deprived of syntax, without the logic of speech, and reduced -to its most simple elements. It took firm root, became the conventional -medium of intercourse in respect to transactions of enormous value and -magnitude, and exists in all its vigour and quaintness to this day. - -It was undoubtedly an invention of the Chinese, and long anterior to the -appearance of the English at Canton in its origin, as may be proved by -the admixture of Portuguese and Indian words still to be found in it, -the latter having probably been originally made known by those primary -visitors from the western world _via_ India. The English came more than -a hundred years after; words from their language were then gradually -incorporated, and increased with the disappearance of the Portuguese, -who confined themselves to their own growing colony of Macao, until, -finally, the former became the principal traders, and thus this language -became known as Pigeon-English. - -The word 'pigeon' is simply a corruption of 'business' and with its -companion means _business_-English. Of Portuguese origin we have the -most undoubted proof in such words as _mandarin_, from mandar, to order; -_compradore_, from compra, to buy; _joss_, from Deoes; _pa-te-le_, from -padre; _maskei_, from masque, never mind; _la-le-loon_, from ladrao, -a thief; _grand_, from grande, the chief, as, for instance, 'grand -chop;' _junk_, from the Portuguese sound of Chueng in the dialect -of the East Coast, where they first traded. Of Indian words we have -_bazaar_, a market; _Shroff_, money-dealer; _chunam_, lime; _tiffin_, -luncheon; _go-down_, from ka-dang; _lac_, one hundred thousand; _cooly_, -a labourer; _chit_, a note or letter; _bungalow_, a cottage; _kaarle_, -curry, and others. - -Some peculiarities of expression and application of two words constantly -used in Pigeon-English may be mentioned. The language was by no means -confined to those of foreign, but it contained quite a vocabulary of -words of Chinese origin; it was, in fact, a very mixed tongue. 'Chop,' -for instance, is of perpetual occurrence. It is the same as 'cho,' which -signifies literally any 'document.' A shopkeeper's bill is a 'chop,' -so is an Imperial edict or a Mandarin's proclamation; a cargo-boat is -a chop-boat; it does duty also for a promissory note, a receipt, a -stamp or seal, a license for shipping off or to land cargo, a mark for -goods, or a permit. 'First quality' is expressed by 'first chop,' and an -inferior according to quality is No. 6, 8, or 10 'chop,' the worst of -all. When a cooly is sent on an errand requiring haste, he is told to -go 'chop-chop.' A 'first chop' man speaks for itself, so does 'bad chop -man.' - -The variety of uses to which the compound word 'chow-chow' is put is -almost endless, and in some cases have a directly opposite meaning. -For instance, a 'No. 1 chow-chow' thing signifies 'utterly worthless' -but when applied to a breakfast or dinner it means 'unexceptionally -good.' A 'chow-chow' cargo is an assorted cargo; a general shop is a -'chow-chow' shop; provisions of all kinds are classed under the general -head of 'chow-chow;' and, as may have been remarked in the list of the -Factories, one was called the 'Chow-chow' from its being inhabited by -divers Parsees, Moormen, or other natives of India. - -Although by the Chinese all foreigners were called 'Fan Kwaes,' -or 'Foreign Devils,' still a distinction of the drollest and most -characteristic kind was made between them. The English became -'Red-haired devils;' the Parsees, from the custom of shaving their -heads, were 'White-head devils;' Moormen were simply 'molo devils.' -The Dutch became 'Ho-lan,' the French 'Fat-lan-sy,' and the Americans -'Flowery-flag devils.' The Swedes were 'Suy' and the Danes 'Yellow-flag -devils.' The Portuguese have never ceased to be 'Se-yang kwae,' thus -retaining the name first applied to them on their arrival from the -'Western Ocean' (which the words signify), while their descendants, -natives of Macao, are 'Omun kwae,' or 'Macao devils' from the Chinese -name of the town. - -In the Canton book-shops near the Factories was sold a small pamphlet, -called 'Devils' Talk.' On the cover was a drawing of a foreigner in -the dress of the middle of the last century--three-cornered hat, coat -with wide skirts, breeches, and long stockings, shoes with buckles, -lace sleeves, and in his hand a cane. I have now one of these pamphlets -before me. It commences thus, 'Yun,' and under it is its 'barbarian' -definition, expressed in another Chinese word whose _sound_ is 'man.' -After many examples of this kind come words of two syllables--thus, -'kum-yat' with their foreign meaning expressed by two other Chinese -characters pronounced 'to-teay' to-day--and so on to sentences, for -which the construction of the language is peculiarly adapted. This -pamphlet, costing a penny or two, was continually in the hands of -servants, coolies, and shopkeepers. The author was a Chinaman, whose -ingenuity should immortalise him. I have often wondered who the man was -who first reduced the 'outlandish tongue' to a current language. Red -candles should be burnt on altars erected to his memory, and oblations -of tea poured out before his image, placed among the wooden gods which -in temples surround the shrine of a deified man of letters. - - * * * * * - -Although during the south-west monsoon little general business went -on, transactions in Opium were very active. It was the period when the -new drug arrived. Sales were made to brokers for cash (only) against -orders on the receiving ships. The orders would be sent down by 'smug -boats,'[35] which carried the Opium to its several destinations. These -boats, of a peculiar build, were of great length and beam, the latter -increasing rather disproportionately abaft to give quarters to brokers' -agents who always went with them. The crews numbered from sixty to -seventy men, who, like all Chinese boatmen, were singularly good -sailors, intelligent and very active. They plied the oars sitting on low -benches ranged on both sides of the deck, while additional propelling -power was provided in an enormous mainsail and a foresail made of mats, -bamboos, and rattans. The armament was one large gun in the bows, -swivels, spears, and flint-lock muskets purchased from foreign vessels. -The 'smug boats' differed from Government cruisers in a less powerful -armament, smaller crew, and in the hull being bright varnished instead -of painted 'black and red,' which are the colours of the latter. - -On delivery of the opium, the receiving ships were paid five dollars -per chest,[36] which was called 'cumsha' (literally 'gold sand'), and -two dollars for 'demurrage' if the order was not presented within seven -days. It was always repacked, before being taken from the ship, in mat -bags, then marked with the owner's private sign and the weight. At times -as many as one hundred chests, in bulk, would form a single cargo, whose -market value was from $150,000 to $200,000. The Canton agent received -five, afterwards reduced to three, per cent. commission on sales. The -time occupied in unpacking, weighing, and repacking would occupy but a -few hours. The crews of the receiving ships were mostly Manila men and -some Lascars, while the shroffs, carpenters, and boats' crews, cooks and -servants were Chinese. - -It is needless to say the opium trade was prohibited by Imperial edicts -as well as by proclamations of the Canton authorities. The Chinese who -dealt in 'foreign mud'[37] were threatened even with capital punishment, -but so perfect a system of bribery existed (with which foreigners had -nothing whatever to do) that the business was carried on with ease and -regularity. Temporary interruptions occurred, as, for instance, on the -installation of newly-arrived magistrates. Then the question of fees -arose, but was soon settled unless the new-comer was exorbitant in his -demands, or, as a broker would express it, 'too muchee foolo'--i.e. -'the man is crazy.' In good time, however, all would be arranged -satisfactorily, the brokers reappeared with beaming faces, and 'peace' -and immunity reigned in the land. - -Opium was never found for sale in Chinese shops at Canton, nor were -there any signs by which one could judge where it was prepared for sale -or for smoking, it being used in no other form. - -The Canton officials rarely made any reference to the Lintin station; -but sometimes, compelled by form to do so, would issue a proclamation -ordering vessels 'loitering at the outer anchorage' either to come into -port or sail away to their own countries, lest the 'dragons of war' -should be opened, and with their fiery discharges annihilate all who -opposed this, a 'special edict.' - -Another branch of the opium trade was on the East Coast, where vessels -of moderate size, belonging to two foreign houses at Canton, were -stationed, say, near Amoy, Chin-Chew, Cup-Chee, and the island of Namao. -They received supplies by brigs and schooners (all in this business -being known as 'coasters'), which, starting from Lintin, touched at the -anchorages above on going up to deliver, and on their return collecting -the proceeds of sales. As an opportunity offered to get a practical -experience of this trade, which was carried on with all the secrecy -possible by the few engaged in it, I availed myself of a suggestion -from the house to take a run up to Namao. We owned at the time a -Boston clipper schooner called the 'Rose,' which, in 1837, was about -leaving for that anchorage with a quantity of opium sold at Canton for -delivery there, and an additional number of chests to try the market. -The whole cargo consisted of nearly 300 chests of the Canton value of -about $300,000. I joined the vessel at Capshuymun from Macao with an -English gentleman, my guest there, whom I invited to accompany me. The -'Rose' was soon ready for sea; we made sail and started with a moderate -south-west monsoon. She was a foretopsail schooner of about 150 tons -register, with her scuppers within two feet of the water. The weather -proved delightful, the wind steady, and the sea smooth. We kept an eye -upon the barometer, it being the taiphoon season, and a sharp look-out -upon the fleet of 'fishing boats' which covered the water, and the crews -of which were peaceable fishermen or cut-throat pirates according to -circumstances. - -We anchored on the inside of the island of Namao on the third day, -close by two English brigs, the 'Omega'[38] and 'Governor Findlay.'[39] -Inshore of us were riding at anchor two men-of-war junks, with much -bunting displayed; one bore the flag of a 'Foo-Tseang' or Commodore. -Knowing the 'formalities' to be gone through with the Mandarins, we -expected a visit from one, and until it was made no Chinese boat would -come alongside, nor would a junk, not even a bumboat. We had no sooner -furled sails and made everything shipshape, when 'his Excellency' -approached in his 'gig,' a sort of _scow_ as broad as she was long. -Besides the oarsmen, there were official and personal attendants, -in grass cloth with conical rattan hats and flowing red silk cord -surrounding them to the brim. He himself sat majestically in an -arm-chair smoking quietly. A large embroidered silk umbrella was held -over his head, while servants with fans protected him from the attacks -of flies and mosquitoes. He was received at the gangway by Captain -Forster. His manner and bearing were easy and dignified. When cheroots -and a glass of wine had been offered, the 'Commodore' enquired the -cause of our anchoring at Namao. The Shroff[40] gave him to understand -that the vessel, being on her way from Singapore to Canton, had been -compelled, through contrary winds and currents, to run for Namao to -replenish her wood and water. Having listened attentively, the great man -said that 'any supplies might be obtained, but when they were on board, -not a moment must be lost in sailing for Whampoa, as the Great Emperor -did not permit vessels from afar to visit any other port.' He then -gravely pulled from his boot a long red document and handed it to his -secretary, that we might be informed of its purport. - -It was as follows:-- - - AN IMPERIAL EDICT. - - As the port of Canton is the only one at which outside - barbarians are allowed to trade, on no account can they be - permitted to wander about to other places in the 'Middle - Kingdom.' The 'Son of Heaven,' however, whose compassion is as - boundless as the ocean, cannot deny to those who are in distress - from want of food, through adverse seas and currents, the - necessary means of continuing their voyage. When supplied they - must no longer loiter, but depart at once. Respect this. - - Taou-Kwang, 17th year, 6th moon, 4th sun.[41] - -This 'Imperial Edict' having been replaced in its envelope and slipped -inside of his boot (for service on the chance of another foreign vessel -'in distress'), his Excellency arose from his seat, which was a signal -for all his attendants to return to the boat except his secretary. The -two were then invited to the cabin to refresh, which being done, we -proceeded to business. The Mandarin opened by the direct questions, -'How many chests have you on board? Are they all for Namao? Do you go -further up the coast?' intimating at the same time that _there_ the -officers were uncommonly strict, and were obliged to carry out the will -of the 'Emperor of the Universe,' &c.; but our answers were equally as -clear and prompt, that the vessel was not going north of Namao, that -her cargo consisted of about 200 chests. Then came the question of -'Cumsha,' and that was settled on the good old Chinese principle of 'all -same custom.' Everything being thus comfortably arranged, wine drunk -and cheroots smoked, his Excellency said, 'Kaou-tsze' ('I announce my -departure').[42] We escorted him to the side, over which he clambered -with the aid of his secretary; we saw him safely deposited under his -brilliant silken canopy, and in a short time rejoin his junk. - -Chinese buyers came on board freely the moment they saw the 'official' -visit had been made. A day or two after, several merchant junks -stood out from the mainland for the anchorage. As they approached we -distinguished a private signal at their mastheads, a copy of which -had been furnished to us before leaving Capshuymun. We hoisted ours, -the junks anchored close to us, and in a surprisingly short time -received from the 'Rose' in their own boats the opium, which had been -sold at Canton, and there paid for, deliverable at this anchorage. -It was a good illustration of the entire confidence existing between -the foreign seller in his Factory at Canton and the Chinese buyers, -and of a transaction for a breach of any of the conditions of which -there existed no legal redress on one side or the other. This parcel, -whose value was $150,000, had been already packed in bags, marked and -numbered, at Capshuymun. The Chinaman who held the order of the Canton -house for its delivery, on coming on board unfolded it from a cotton -handkerchief, smoked a pipe or two and drank a cup of tea with the -Shroff while it was going over the side, then took leave of us with the -usual 'Good wind and good water,' or, 'May your voyage be prosperous!' -The junks had anchored, mainsail to the mast, and as the last bag was -received on board the anchors were at the bow and they standing to the -northward. - -Various attempts had been made to establish 'floating' depots further -north, for which purpose even the coast of Corea had been visited, -as well as the port of Ke-Lung on the north end of the island of -Formosa. The clipper 'Sylph,' Captain Wallace, sailed up to the Gulf -of Leaou-Tung, having on board the celebrated Prussian missionary -Gutzlaff, who, for the privilege of distributing the Scriptures and -tracts, acted as interpreter for the sale of opium. The Rev. M. Gutzlaff -was an 'old coaster,' his first appearance in China being as passenger -from Singapore in a Chinese junk. As he had also studied at Malacca, -there was a fellow-feeling between us. The first foreign opium vessel -stationed on the East Coast was the 'Colonel Young'[43] in 1831, her -tender, running between the station and Lintin, being the 'Fairy.' M. -Gutzlaff was for some time on board the former, and, from his knowledge -of the Chinese coast dialects, could make himself very useful. He -resembled a Chinese very much, while _they_ declared him to be a 'son -of Han in disguise'! The accounts of his travels along the coast and -in the interior which he gave me on his return were very curious and -interesting. He would leave the brig and be absent many days together. -On one occasion he nearly reached the frontier of the Canton province; -on another he penetrated to the Bohea tea-country, in the province of -Fuh-Keen. He described the people as hospitable and kind. Sedan-chairs -of a rustic sort were furnished to him, with food without stint, and he -never failed to find quarters for repose and refreshment in a temple. -His object in travelling, besides the acquisition of knowledge, was -the distribution of tracts. On visiting a town or village he would -distribute translations of 'The Word of Life' and administer 'Lee's -Antibilious.' Landing one day in the ship's boat, she was capsized, and -he found himself rolling about in the surf with 'The poor man's friend,' -a box full of 'Saints' Rest,' to which he clung, and packages of -'Cockle's pills,' while in momentary alarm that he and the boat's crew -(four Caffres) would be picked up by shovel-nosed sharks. - -At the end of a fortnight I decided to return to Capshuymun and Canton. -My friend Mr. N---- was agreeable, but the question was, how and when? -The 'Rose' had still a considerable quantity of opium to dispose of, and -would not probably be ready for a month. In this dilemma two days went -by, when the schooner 'Harriet'[44] came in from the northern stations. -She was a small fore and aft craft of nominally 100 tons, built at Macao -by Hamilton, an American ship carpenter, and was commanded by a friend, -Captain Hall, who consented to take us back to Capshuymun. After she -had received treasure from the three Namao vessels, her entire freight -consisted of $430,000 in value of gold bars and Sycee-silver. We went on -board with our traps and servants, and were soon under way. The cabin -being, of course, of preposterously small dimensions, and overrun with -ants, cockroaches, and centipedes, with which we should have interfered, -we made ourselves comfortable on deck--dining, smoking, and joking _al -fresco_. We anchored at Kow-Lung just in time to escape an unusually -heavy taiphoon. We rode it out there; then sailed to Capshuymun, and -from thence direct to Canton by fast boat. - -The 'Rose' subsequently foundered in a taiphoon,[45] on July 21, 1841, -only one of her crew being saved, a Portuguese Sea-cunnie,[46] who -was for three days on a plank. He was picked up by my old friend and -shipmate, Captain Fraser, in the 'Good Success,' thirty miles from the -Grand Ladrone. - -This tedious review of the opium traffic, as existing during the first -fifteen years of my residence at Canton, will give the reader a correct -idea of the mode in which it was carried on. The confiscation of 20,052 -chests by the Imperial Commissioner Lin, in 1839, checked the local -trade for a time, but did not do away with it. Up to this period it had -indeed been an easy and agreeable business for the foreign _exile_ who -shared in it at Canton. His sales were pleasantness and his remittances -were peace. Transactions seemed to partake of the nature of the drug; -they imparted a soothing frame of mind with three per cent. commission -on sales, one per cent. on returns, and no bad debts! To the agent each -chest was worth 20_l._ sterling, one year with another. - -Consequent upon the seizure of the English-owned opium, the city of -Canton, lying at the mercy of Sir Hugh Gough, was ransomed, as has been -said, for $6,000,000, and this sum was afterwards appropriated by the -British Government to indemnify its owners, who had delivered it up, -either directly, or indirectly through their Canton agents, in obedience -to the command of Captain Elliot, 'for surrender to the Imperial -Commissioner on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.' - -The amount of the ransom was much below the ordinary market value, even -of its cost; on the other hand, no one could foresee to what a low price -it _might_ fall, through the measures which were being taken by the -Pekin authorities to 'put an end for ever' to 'opium smoking' in their -dominions, and the whole arrangement was, under the circumstances, a -very reasonable one. - -The largest quantity surrendered by any one house was 7,000 chests; we -came, I think, third on the list, with 1,500 chests; the remainder was -principally in the hands of English, Parsee, and other native of India -firms. The appointment and approaching arrival of the Imperial Envoy -became known at Canton in the latter months of 1838. The local Mandarins -therefore began a system of harshness towards dealers in order to appear -vigilant and active in the carrying out of old decrees. This led to much -cruel punishment, to the execution of one man in the Square in front -of the Factories, in December 1838 (by way of casting obloquy upon the -foreigners), and an attempt to strangle another one there in February -1839. This latter caused an unprecedented riot, led to an attack upon -all foreigners who happened to be out of their residences, several -of them being injured, and to the Factories being besieged by many -thousands of vagabonds, who kept up an incessant attack on windows and -gates with stones and brickbats. - -They tore down and used as 'battering rams' the heavy posts of which -the small enclosures in front of each Factory were constructed, yelling -and shrieking like so many wild animals. We were rather anxious that -some should force their way in, as we had distributed broken bottles -in great quantities up and down the main entrance to our own Factory, -No. 2 Suy-Hong, our enemy being a barefooted crowd, while against the -other great casks of coal had been rolled; we were not gratified by -seeing the efficacy of the first protection. The mandarins had brought -an 'opium dealer' to the Square about noon, in order to strangle[47] -him there. The Cross was already driven in the ground, and in a few -minutes it would have been all over, when an unusual hubbub of something -extraordinary being about to take place attracted the attention of some -foreigners who were on the Square at the time. Instantly the news flew -from Factory to Factory, when all we could muster, perhaps seventy to -eighty, rushed out to stop the proceeding. I acted as spokesman on -behalf of all present, and protested against the Square being turned -into an execution ground. The Mandarin in charge said that the orders -he had received must be carried out, that the Square was a portion of -His Celestial Majesty's Empire. He was told that might be, but it was -leased to us as a recreation ground, and that we _would not permit_ its -desecration by a public execution! This was a bold thing to say. During -this short interval the scene was a most extraordinary one. There was -the cross, and close to it the victim with a chain about his neck, held -by two gaolers, all looking on with a quiet curiosity. The servants -of the mandarin were supplying him with constantly renewed pipes; his -attendants, a few soldiers, and his chair-bearers, seemed more amused -than anything else. There is no telling what might not have taken place -had it not been for a boat's crew who happened to come from Whampoa that -morning. They belonged to the old East India Company's ship 'Orwell,' -Captain 'Tommy' Larkins, formerly of that Company's service, and a -well-known and general favourite in the community. These sailors had -been wandering about the Square, but gradually approached the spot and -looked on. Seeing the drift things were taking, suddenly they seized the -cross, smashed it in pieces, and began to lay them over the heads and -shoulders of the executioners and any Chinamen within reach. The gaolers -dragged the prisoner away. Jack tore down a tent that had been pitched -for the mandarin, capsized the chairs, the table, with the teapot and -cups, and would next have attacked the mandarin himself had we not -interfered to protect him. We were much relieved when his Excellency -and his aids were carried away and no harm done to them, and we found -ourselves in possession of the ground. Then cried out one of the sailors -to another, 'I say, Bill, we don't get such a lark as this every day!' - -The siege of the Factories by the mob was continued throughout the -afternoon, the guards at the corner of the American Factory were obliged -to retreat after ineffectual efforts to clear the ground of our -assailants, and things looked very serious. In the 'Imperial' Factory, -Captain St. Croix, of the 'Alexander Baring,' had collected all the -inmates, armed with such weapons as they had amongst them, revolvers and -fowling-pieces, and proposed a rush out, but happily no demonstration -was made. There were without doubt eight or ten thousand of the vilest -of the population seemingly bent on the destruction of the 'foreign -devils.' Towards five o'clock some one suggested that it might be worth -while to get notice of our situation to Houqua. It looked as if the -Mandarins had left us at the mercy of the mob, while the streets were -completely blocked, and no Chinaman probably thought of going on such -a mission. Mr. G. Nye (an American gentleman) and myself undertook to -go and see him. Getting on the roof of No. 4 'Suy-Hong' we managed to -cross to that of a shop in Hong Lane, through which we descended, and -after some exertion reached the street in the rear of the Factories, -called the 'Thirteen Factory Street,' which led to Houqua's Hong. We -found the old gentleman in some trepidation from the news that had been -already brought to him, but he seemed quite ignorant of the Square and -the Factories being at the mercy of the crowd. He at once despatched a -messenger to the 'Kwang-Chow-Foo,' the chief magistrate of the city, and -we returned the way we had come. About half-past six o'clock, to our -great relief we heard the approaching sound of the gong, denoting the -coming of the officers, and witnessed from our verandah the immediate -dispersion with whips of the rabble. No one was spared, the sight of -the numerous soldiers in attendance on the Mandarins caused a rush -towards every outlet from the Square, and even to the river, where -several were drowned, not a boatman offering them the least assistance. -Wide open flew the Factory gates, and in an instant their imprisoned -occupants appeared with looks of relief indescribable. The Mandarins -passed the night on the ground, chairs were procured for them, official -lanterns were lighted, and, conscious of the entire safety which we now -enjoyed, and without being disturbed by the hourly beating on gongs -of the different watches of the night, we all turned in. The next -day everything reassumed its normal state of comfort and safety. The -'victim' had been strangled at the public execution ground, to which he -was taken from the Square. Approaching the Mandarins in the morning to -thank them for their timely assistance (rather a 'cool' thing to do, as -some one remarked, seeing we had taken the law in our own hands and had -driven away the officer of justice the day before!), they received us -very courteously, and assured us we had 'nothing to fear!' - -This was the most serious of many provocations inflicted by foreigners -upon the authorities. We treated their 'chops,' their prohibitions, -warnings, and threats, as a rule, very cavalierly. We often spoke of -their forbearance and wondered at the aid and protection they extended -to us; in fact, they considered us more as unruly children, people who -had never had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with 'Taou-Le,' or -'reason.' - -When the Imperial Government took the unlooked-for measure of seizing -the English-owned opium and punishing the native dealers, the day seemed -to have arrived when the trade in it would really cease. The Canton -houses had been forcibly deprived of their stocks; the supply on the -East Coast, under the control of very few of them, was diminishing, -with no fresh supplies to look forward to. Quantities which were on -their way from India were being landed at Singapore or sent over to -Manila, while further shipments from the former country were entirely -suspended. On all sides a complete darkness existed as to what would -be the result. Holders were offering to sell at Singapore for next -to nothing; the article was in reality a drug indeed. Even as low -as $150 to $200 per chest became its nominal value in the Straits. -This was the condition of the 'opium question' which quickly followed -the confiscation. The foreign community, with the exception of the -Americans, had all left Canton, and at first took up their quarters -on board of ships at 'Kow-Lung;' but having been bombarded out of -that anchorage by the mandarins, 'Toon-Koo,' at the mouth of the -'Capshuymun,' became the general rendezvous. One day a clipper schooner -got under way and stood seaward, and some time elapsed before she was -heard from again. She had taken on board a few chests of opium that -had arrived since the seizure. At the moment of sailing a letter was -handed to the captain, directing him to open one of two others enclosed, -after he should have got clear of the land. On doing so he found that -he was ordered to make the best of his way to Singapore, to land the -opium he had on board, and deliver the unopened letter to his consignee -there, by whose instructions he would be subsequently governed. The -schooner consequently proceeded on her voyage, the captain not having -the slightest intimation of the object of it. Simply, he was directed -to reply to any enquiries on arrival that he had brought down opium. -The twenty chests were landed at a moment of the day when the Bund was -crowded with Moormen, Jews, Parsees, and Chinese, all opium holders or -brokers. No letters had of course been received by them, but at the -unprecedented sight of twenty chests being landed they concluded that -now indeed 'God was great and Mohammed was his prophet,' and that China -had at last resolved to permit no more poisonous drug to be landed on -its shores. Before twenty-four hours had passed, so adroitly had the -agent made his plans, that, aided by clever brokers, he secured nearly -700 chests, quietly, here a little and there a little, at prices 'dirt -cheap.' Opium had been unsalable at Singapore, many of the holders -were unable to hold, and some were under orders to sell for whatever -they could get, and 'have done with it;' the average of the purchase -in question was $250 per chest. The twenty chests were re-shipped to -the schooner, the newly purchased were taken on board, and after a very -short detention she sailed, whither no one knew. She was bounding up the -China Sea. Her destination was the East Coast, and there her cargo was -readily disposed of at an average of $2,500 per chest. - -Inside of the city of Canton, as we heard from Chinese, the price rose -to $3,000, while the sale of it or the smoking of it was almost a matter -of life and death--the latter was the penalty threatened and even -carried out against those who were known to indulge in it. The Imperial -Commissioner was on the spot; he was inexorable, consternation prevailed -throughout the Chinese community, but we heard from good authority that -the number of the beheaded was not large. - -While the opium trade was going on, discussions often occurred as to -the morality of it, as well as to the effect of smoking on the Chinese. -None of the Hong merchants ever had anything to do with it, and several -of the foreign houses refrained from dealing in it on conscientious -grounds. As to its influence on the inhabitants of the city and suburbs -at large, they were a healthy, active, hard-working, and industrious -people, withal cheerful and frugal. They were intelligent in business, -skilful in manufactures and handicrafts. These traits are inconsistent -with habitual smoking, while the costliness of the prepared drug was -such as to render a dilution of it (to bring it within the means of -the masses) utterly harmless. Amongst the wealthier classes, no doubt, -it was more or less common, this we knew; but I myself, and I think I -may safely say the entire foreign community, rarely, if ever, saw any -one physically or mentally injured by it. No evidences of a general -abuse, rarely of the use of the pipe, were apparent. I remember one man -having been brought to a missionary hospital to be treated for excessive -smoking of opium, but he was looked upon as a Lion and much was made of -him. In fact, smoking was a habit, as the use of wine was with us, in -moderation. As compared with the use of spirituous liquors in the United -States and in England, and the evil consequences of it, that of opium -was infinitesimal. This is my personal experience during a residence at -Canton, Macao, and Hong Kong of forty years. - - * * * * * - -For many years after the first foreign merchants came to Canton, they -were not permitted to remain after their vessels were despatched, but -were obliged to leave in them. In the case of the great Companies -such as the English East India and the Dutch, it gradually became a -great inconvenience. These, therefore, retired to Macao, where in time -residences were specially built for their accommodation. (The old Dutch -factory there, which had stood for over a century, was destroyed by a -taiphoon in 1875.) The removal from Canton to Macao took place at the -close of the north-east monsoon, simultaneously with the commencement -of the dead season, when the market would have been cleared of teas and -few or no vessels at Whampoa. Macao possesses a delightful climate, -completely within the sea breezes, and is beautifully situated; it -moreover offers in its entirety perhaps a unique specimen of Western -colonies in the Eastern world as they existed 250 years ago--in -its forts, churches, and walls, its convent, senate-house, and the -extensive, solidly built, private residences. - -The Bay of Macao, looking eastward, is strikingly like that of Naples. -The fine houses which border it are protected by a broad esplanade,[48] -supported by a sea-wall with a low parapet. The view from it is -very fine across the outer harbour in a north-east direction to the -islands of Lantoa and Lintin; to the north lie the 'Nine Islands,' and -south-westerly is the anchorage called 'Taypa,' between the islands of -Montanha to the west and Cabreta to the east. This anchorage is about -three miles from Macao, and (as well as the two islands) is under the -sovereignty of the Portuguese. West of Macao is the inner harbour, which -separates it from the island called the 'Lappa.' On it in the early -days the Portuguese built villas and laid out gardens, but they were -subsequently abandoned from an inability to protect them effectually -from Chinese marauders and pirates, and in 1825 a few vestiges of them -only remained. - -The departure from Canton of the Factory was annually quite a -circumstance. From fifteen to twenty 'chop-boats' were drawn up at -the Company's landing, of which some were converted into sleeping -apartments, for which their high decks and capacious holds, which were -floored off, afforded ample space. On either side were large windows, -with curtains and movable shutters, for protection against rain. Others -were appropriated to several milch cows and their keepers, for supplies -for the journey, as well as books and papers of value. The members of -the Factory, rarely fewer than twenty to twenty-five, occupied the -others with their personal servants; and, what with Compradore's men, -cooks, and coolies, the entire number was not less than 250 to 300 -persons, including the boats' crews. On the arrival of the Linguist with -the Government permit, the fleet set sail amidst the beating of gongs, -burning fire-crackers and small squares of red paper, as a propitiation -to the gods presiding over rivers and streams. The boats always took the -Macao passage, as it was called, which is a broad stream branching off -from the Pearl River, about a half-mile westward of the factories and -running due south; consequently they passed the Factories, affording -altogether a fine sight. The distance to Macao, taking the curves of -the river, is about 120 miles, and the journey averages three or four -days. As the return to Canton formed also an event in local life, being -at Macao when the Company left in October 1831, I was glad to have the -opportunity of availing myself of an invitation from Mr. Majoribanks, -the then 'Chief,' to go up with them. A chop-boat was placed at the -disposal of young John Robert Morrison and myself, and the following -particulars of the trip to the provincial city are from a letter written -by me at the time to a relation in the United States:-- - - On board the 'Golden Galley,' Macao to Canton: October 4, 1831. - - It was the intention of the Factory to embark on the - 1st, but the departure was postponed to the 2nd. A circular - was then sent to the members, requesting them to be on board - their respective boats by half-past ten the next morning, at - which time they were to get under way. Accordingly, my chum - and I joined our chop-boat, anchored in the inner harbour - with thirteen others, which composed the fleet. Presently a - signal was made by the boat of Mr. Davis, Chief of the Select - Committee, hoisting its mainsail, and in a few minutes we were - sailing in line through the harbour. We numbered, including - invited guests, thirty-eight foreigners. Three of the boats - (which in foreign measurement would be of, say, 120 tons) were - full of Factory coolies, cows, and provisions, the latter in - addition to each one having a supply on board sufficient for - three days. Our chop is large and comfortable; we have a cabin, - by means of partitions, 14 feet by 10 and 7 feet high, and - forward of it is another for our servants, the cook, and stores. - Two couches, one on either side, serve for beds, added to which - are tables, toilette arrangements, and everything complete, - with cleanliness the most perfect. We breakfast and dine as - regularly and in as good style as on shore. Some boats have four - gentlemen and others five, as arranged among themselves. They - are chartered by the Factory twice a year, and each one receives - one hundred Spanish dollars for the trip up or down. Provisions - and furniture--in fact, all things needful--are also supplied by - the Company. We have not with us all the members, some remaining - awhile longer at Macao; but amongst those now on their way to - Canton are Dr. Colledge and Padre Vachell, as well as that - other important personage, the Steward Canning! The Company's - Compradore also accompanies the fleet, with three or four fast - boats under his control for carrying messages, making visits, - or distributing fresh milk. So you see everything is as cosy as - possible. The crews, numbering about fifteen men to each boat, - manage them with surprising dexterity. These Chinese boat people - are perhaps unequalled by any others in the world. They are not - only active and intelligent, but good-natured and obliging, and - seem anxious to get on as quickly as possible. - - Now that I have given you a sketch of our accommodation, - I will go on with our passage from the inner harbour. While - passing through it, volleys of fire-crackers were let off, - and gongs were beaten by way of 'chin-chining Joss' for a - safe and pleasant passage. A little later dinner was served, - and a No. 1 dinner it was. Crab soup to begin with, an ample - dessert, Hodgson's pale ale, superb La Rose and sherry, with - custard-apples, plantains, and other fruits. We turned in at - eleven, but slept little, as the wind was dead ahead after - entering the 'Broadway,' so I was up early and on deck. The - fleet was hard at it, tack and tack to windward. We found - ourselves in the middle of it, those to windward about three - miles off, and those to leeward about the same distance. At - eight o'clock we passed the Mo-tow, or 'Knife-grinding,' Fort, - which was once a stronghold of the celebrated pirate Apotsae, - who pillaged all the country round about. Near to it were - lying two of His Celestial Majesty's men-of-war junks. The - day's supply of fresh milk was brought on board, and at eight - breakfast, which was attended with difficulty, from the heeling - over of the boat. We entered the 'Heang-Shan'[49] River, but - at 11.30 were all obliged to anchor within five miles of the - city, as it had begun to blow a violent gale, the rain coming - down in torrents. On the morning of the 5th, cloudy and rainy, - but the wind abating somewhat and the tide being favourable, we - hove up, and at 8.30 passed Heang-Shan. We expected to anchor to - receive the customary visit of the mandarin, but he may not have - felt inclined to turn out in such weather. It happened that the - Compradore, who had gone up in a fast boat the evening before, - procured from him his seal to the Company's 'chop,' which - allowed us to go on without anchoring; but through all this fuss - and his absence we lost the milk for our after-dinner tea! On - the morning of the 6th the Compradore was again alongside, and - made it 'all right' with _us_ by threatening to come again with - mutton for dinner; and, considering what we have 'undergone' - since leaving Macao, it will be very acceptable. - - The scenery on both sides of the river is celebrated for - its beauty, and we enjoyed it much. The banks are lined with - orange and lemon trees, peaches and lychee. On the summit of a - high hill stands a seven-story pagoda. If you ask a Chinaman - its object or use, he replies that it is 'Joss pigeon,' and you - are as wise as you were before. In reality, the Chinese believe - that these buildings bring prosperity on the region and ward off - evil influences. The river is crowded with boats crossing from - one bank to the other, filled with all sorts of country produce - or passengers, who stare their very eyes out in looking at us. - Further on we pass another fort, with a curious name, the 'Old - Duck,' and on the riverside opposite is another called 'Greatly - Excellent.' In the afternoon a fine strong breeze sprang up, and - we made rapid progress, passing still another fortification, - called the 'Mouth of the Great Gate.' We were compelled to dine - on a superb roasted capon, with _et ceteras_ as usual. We just - touched at 'Che-nae' for the official formality, and soon after - the Western Fort was passed, when we saw the innumerable lights - and lanterns of the provincial city; and at 8 P.M. glad enough - we were to find ourselves once more in 'Old Canton.' - -The Dutch East India Company followed the same programme to and from -Macao. The members of this Company were never so numerous as that of the -English. There were usually two gentlemen to manage all affairs, with -three or four 'writers.' - -Under various pretexts, other foreign merchants managed to remain at -Canton the year out. One was that their import cargo not having been -sold, consequently the tea and other merchandise which they had shipped -was unpaid for. This, if not considered reasonable, at all events had -the effect of causing the authorities to overlook their presence, and -gradually that article of the 'old regulations' became a dead letter. - -Having seen the manner in which the great Companies went between Canton -and Macao, it will be curious to follow the 'private' individual and -the formalities that had to be gone through (which, however, applied to -those Companies as well). A linguist was sent for, to whom was given -the name and nationality of the person requiring a permit for Macao, -and he would take them to the Hong merchants. Three or four of these -would then petition the Hoppo that the request might be granted. Amongst -these merchants must be included the one who 'secured' the foreigner -in question. On the third day after, the linguist would reappear at -the Factory and give notice that the luggage, &c. must be examined by -an officer from the Hoppo's office, which having been done, the permit -would be given to the head boatman, and on the fourth day the boat -could proceed on her journey. It must not be supposed that these old -'government regulations' were never infringed, for in my own case, -in 1830, being ill, I asked Houqua to use his influence that I might -leave at once, and in twenty-four hours my papers were ready and I was -off. The boats in which foreigners travelled to and from Macao (except -occasionally if a large party, when they took chop-boats) acquired the -name of 'inside fast boats.' They were large and commodious, with cabins -in which one could stand up, broad raised seats on two sides, covered -with clean matting, on which one slept. They were furnished with green -Venetian blinds. In the centre of the cabin stood the dining-table, -and over it a lamp was suspended. The accommodation was ample for four -persons. Abaft the main cabin was a smaller one, for the servants and -cook; then came the stern-sheets, occupied by the helmsman and two -or three men to work the main-sheet. On one quarter was the kitchen; -forward of the principal cabin was a flush deck to the bows; there -stood the foremast, and ten to twelve oars could be used. The crew -consisted of twelve or fifteen men, always alert, hard-working, and -good-natured. The trip down the river or up was particularly enjoyable; -the respite from office duties imparted a new sensation; and, if made -in the south-west monsoon, nothing so exhilarating after the close hot -Factories as this breeze fresh from the sea. The entire cost of the trip -was for the boat eighty dollars, and the invariable 'cumsha,'[50] ten or -fifteen more, according to one's humour after a quick or tedious passage. - -The official papers were four in number, to which on the particular -occasion now referred to a fifth was added. - -No. 1. The petition from the Hong merchants applying for the pass to -Macao, which read thus:-- - - Whereas it is our duty to petition for permits for Macao, it - now appears that the barbarian merchant, H----, having clearly - set forth that on a former year he came to Canton to trade, now - wishes to visit Macao. Not daring to resort to illegal ways, - he has begged us to entreat the favour of an official passport - being granted to him, that he may submit it for inspection at - the several stations on the route. Such being the barbarian's - wishes, we petition that he may be officially permitted to - proceed. - - _Memorandum._--The barbarian merchant H---- is provided with - one sword and one gun for the protection of his person, as well - as with clothing and cooking utensils. - - (Signed) HOUQUA MOUQUA - PWANKEIQUA PWANHOYQUA. - - Taou-Kwang: 19th year, 4th moon, 15th sun. - -No. 2. The Hoppo's answer:-- - - The request is granted. He may go to Macao. This must be - shown at the several custom-houses on the route, and on arrival - at Macao it is to be surrendered to the collector there. - - (Seal of the Hoppo.) - - _Note._--To be countersigned at the West Fort and at Che-Nae. - -No. 3. - - This pass is to be countersigned along the whole route - to Macao. Yu, by Imperial decree Acting Hoppo for the Port - of Canton. Raised two degrees! Whereas it is evident that, - to ensure safety and uninterrupted travelling between Canton - and Macao, barbarians should be furnished with passports for - exhibition at the custom-houses on the way, that they may be - allowed to proceed, and the time of arrival and departure at - each is to be noted on them. All difficulty thus removed, and - no excuse for loitering or wandering, how can disturbances - arise? On arrival at Macao the pass must be delivered to the - custom-house there, to be returned to this office and cancelled. - It is highly important that they (to whose hands it shall come) - attend to this injunction. - - _Memorandum._--One boat, containing one barbarian named - H----, who in the 4th moon, 16th sun, starts from the capital. - - (Seal and date.) - - Countersigned at the - - West Fort 16th, arrived evening, left evening. - Che-Nae 17th, " daylight, " daylight. - Hiang-Shan 18th, " midnight, " " - Macao 18th, " evening. - -(I fill in the dates with arrivals and departures as they took place.) - -No. 4. - - Yu [as above]. - - Whereas, by the will of the Great Emperor, he controls - all matters relating to the trade of the Outer Ocean, now - grants the merchant H----, by means of the boat belonging to - Yip-Paou-Chang, liberty to proceed with fine teas, &c., to Macao - for sale. Herein are registered the articles he takes with him - on which the duties have been collected, viz.:-- - - 63 catties[51] of tea, in five boxes. - 4 large silver spoons. - 8 small silver spoons. - 45 catties of oil, in two jars. - 10 " pictures. - 36 " preserves, in one box. - 27 " salt fish, in one package. - 612 " wooden ware, in eight boxes. - 30 pairs of shoes, in one box. - 270 catties of iron ware, in three boxes. - 18 " hams, in one package. - 1 wooden table. - 27 catties of white sugar, in one package. - 3 small oil paintings. - - The barbarian merchant H---- also takes the following - personal stores:-- - - 524 bottles of foreign wine. - 30 foreign knives, with 30 forks. - 30 " glass cups and bottles (decanters). - 1 trunk of woollen clothing. - 2 boxes of shaving-head implements (razors). - 250 catties of foreign clothing. - 30 " fragrant water. - 200 " lead. - 70 " divers eatables. - 1 glass mirror. - 1 large glass lamp. - 20 catties of foreign crockery. - 10 " copper ware. - 30 " candles. - 10 pieces of foreign fragrant soap. - 1 foreign gun and 1 sword. - 1 hat and 1 spyglass. - 270 catties of foreign white paper. - 5 pictures with glass fronts. - 40 catties of rolled tobacco-leaves (cheroots). - 1 foreign white woollen blanket. - -As my departure for Macao on this occasion took place a month or two -after the surrender of the opium, unusual strictness was observed -for fear that some of the nine foreign merchants selected by the -'Kinchae'[52] as hostages might escape. The following extra document was -therefore issued:-- - -No. 5. - - An extra permit granted by the officer appointed by - the Imperial Commissioner, occasioned by the opium affair, - and stationed in front of the foreign Factories, to take - cognisance of all foreigners arriving at and leaving Canton. - Le, waiting preferment, specially appointed, now reports to the - Kwang-Chow-Hee.[53] It having been brought to my knowledge that - the boat owned by Chang, having on board the barbarian H----, - leaves this 16th sun of the 4th moon for Macao, no delay must - take place. Moreover, as neither of 'the nine' forbidden to - leave are on board, custom-houses will permit her to pass. - - No. 196. (Signature of the Kwang-Chow-Hee), - and endorsed, 'To be returned and cancelled.' - -The House Compradores were always glad to avail themselves of such an -opportunity to send to Macao a lot of 'Chow-chow' cargo on their own -account, a privilege we never refused. This accounts for the sentence in -No. 4--'proceeding to Macao with fine tea for sale.' Whence came the 200 -catties (266 pounds) of lead was a mystery to me, but the 270 catties -of 'iron ware' were iron chests, and 270 catties of foreign white paper -certain office books of accounts and stationery, removed from the -Canton offices in consequence of the unsettled state of affairs, with a -quantity of house stores, &c. The details of everything is peculiarly a -Chinese idea, and as similar documents are now no longer issued, and the -_inside_ passage to Macao never taken under former circumstances, they -are curious in their way. The _outside_ passage, by the way of the Bogue -and in splendid steamers, is now the order of the day. - - * * * * * - -The word _tea_ is of Chinese origin, being a corruption of _tay_ in -the Fuh-Keen dialect, the province from whence it was first exported -to Europe. The leaf has always retained its name of tea in the West, -notwithstanding that in Canton, from which port it has been shipped for -nearly 250 years, it is called _cha_. This word means the _infusion_, -while _cha-yip_, analogous to 'leaves for infusion,' is the tea of -commerce. The varieties are very numerous, and are classed under the -heads of _black_ and _green_. It is only within fifty-five years that -_Oolongs_ and _Ankoys_ have been shipped, and chiefly to the United -States. These are of a light brown colour. _Blacks_ consisted of -_Bohea_, _Congo_, _Souchong_, and _Powchong_. The first derives its name -from the celebrated _Woo-E_ Hills of Fuh-Keen; the second signifies -_Workmen's_ tea; the third 'small seeds;' and the fourth 'seeds in -bundles,' it having been always done up in paper packages. _Greens_ -were, 1, 'Young Hyson,' 2, 'Hyson,' 3, 'Hyson Skin,' 4, 'Gunpowder,' -and 5, 'Imperial.' The first means in Chinese 'before the rains' (when -it was gathered), the second the 'opening of spring,' and the third the -'refuse or end of the crop.' The Chinese name of the fourth signifies -'small pearls' and of the fifth 'large pearls.' - -In addition to these were formerly shipped Campoi, Hung-Muy, Sung-Lo, -Caper, and Woping; but they have now lost their distinctive names, and -if shipped at the present day are merged into other kinds more popularly -known. - -The choicest of all teas, and which we saw only on special occasions, -when it came with the annual New Year presents from the Hong merchants, -was 'Padre Souchong,' so called from its having been grown by the -priests of a famous monastery. The whole quantity was small; it was -put up in canisters of two or three ounces, and was currently supposed -to be sent to the Emperor. His Celestial Majesty deigned as a rare -favour to present some of it to the most favoured of the high officers -of Government at Pekin, and they in their turn, as a great compliment, -forwarded a portion to the Hong merchants. This was in return for -valuable watches set with pearls, for clocks, musical snuff-boxes, or -'smellum water' (as the Chinese call lavender-water and eau de cologne), -which foreign objects it was customary to send to influential mandarins -for favours in the past and those in prospective. - -The following tradition exists as to this peculiar tea. In spite of the -assertion that the entire annual crop is 'offered up to the reigning -Emperor,' it is brought to Canton, but in a very limited quantity. - - In a deep recess of the Woo-E (Bohea) Hills, surrounded - by shrubbery and trees, almost impenetrable to the human eye, - stands the Temple of the 'Silver Moon.' Its antiquity is so - great that all traces of its origin are lost. The temple has - been inhabited from time immemorial by a family of the 'Tea - Sect,' which, at the period of the year coinciding with the - maturity of the leaves, makes offerings to its patron saint of - fine tea. Close by the temple stand three small tea trees, which - are tended by the family. They produce but _one_ catty each. - These trees were originally planted thousands of years ago by - divine hands, and they have never been known to yield more nor - less than three catties (4-1/3 pounds). - -The original paper of which this is a translation was given to me by -Pwan-Suy-Lan, with a small canister of this famous tea; but on asking -him if he considered it to have been originally planted by 'Joss,' he -answered, he thought not, but that 'he own come'--that is to say, 'it -sprang from the ground spontaneously.' It was known that the senior Hong -merchant received the greatest quantity of it. As with Pwan-Suy-Lan and -Pwankeiqua, Houqua's family had long been tea planters in the Bohea -Hills, and were so when they first came to Canton, soon after foreign -trade was confined to that port (as he frequently observed to me), about -the year 1750. - -Well-to-do Chinese drink black tea, but not usually _new_ tea. They keep -it in closely-shut earthen jars for a couple of years before using it. -This moderates the acrid or pungent quality which new tea possesses more -or less, and renders it softer and more acceptable to the taste. - - * * * * * - -As if to make all things work comfortably, the setting in of the -south-west monsoon brought foreign ships to Whampoa to receive cargoes -of teas, which were meanwhile arriving from the interior, from August to -November; and the north-east monsoon, as the ships loaded and left the -port in succession, blew them down again. The only exceptions were known -as 'out-of-season ships,' of which there were rarely over two yearly. -These came east about _via_ Gilolo or Dampier's Straits, and they took -away the last teas of a season. An occasional ship, trusting to good -weatherly qualities, would take the Palawan passage _late_ in the year, -beat up under the coast of Luconia to Cape Boleno, and then stretch -across the China Sea; but it was dangerous from its numerous shoals, and -a vessel would be dreadfully knocked about, even if successful. About -1830 or 1831 a bold and successful attempt to set the north-east monsoon -at defiance was made by the _first_ opium clipper. She was called the -'Red Rover,' and was commanded by Captain Clifton, owned at, and from -Calcutta. It was considered a most extraordinary performance. - -The earliest shipments of a season were made from Whampoa by the East -India Company, in November usually. They consisted of contracts made at -the end of the previous year. They could be seen in large quantities -stored in the Hongs, waiting the first ships to come in. These teas -were currently known as 'winter teas,' and went to keep up the quantity -of one year's supply which the Company was bound by its Charter to -keep on hand in London at all times. Continuous shipments followed, so -that by the end of the year or a little later their vessels were all -away. To the United States green teas were exported almost solely until -about 1828, when the first blacks were shipped; after that date they -became a feature in the trade. Contracts were made for the new season's -teas, either at fixed prices, or, if it was an object to get a ship off -quickly, then the prices were governed by those of the opening of the -market. The 'opening' of the tea season was eagerly looked forward to; -and such was the contrast between the busy and the dull season that -during the former we were repeatedly in the offices until two o'clock in -the morning. The seasons of 1830 to 1838 were particularly active ones, -and besides business with India, England, and the West Coast of America, -our own house had frequently at Whampoa at one time ten to fifteen ships -(in the year 1833 twenty-two), every one loading teas and silks for the -United States, and, after 1833, vessels loading for England as well. -It was during one of these years--I think 1834--that we despatched the -_first_ English vessel from Whampoa that had yet carried a full cargo of -free teas to New South Wales; she was named the 'Royal Saxon,' and was -commanded by Captain Robert Towns. - -The final loading of a ship consisted of all sorts of odds and ends -reserved for the last moment, and shipped off by what was called the -'chow-chow chop.' More valuable cargo, not ready in time for the regular -cargo boats, could also be sent to Whampoa by this conveyance. It was -a great convenience, while all other shipping off was conducted on the -strictness of the laws of the Medes and Persians, with documents without -flaw. - -When the market had been cleared of teas, the vessels despatched and the -business of the season over, contracts were made with the Hong merchants -for the next season. These contracts were often of great pecuniary -value. They consisted of teas of certain qualities and kinds, in -packages of chests and half-chests, sometimes at fixed prices, at others -at the opening prices after they should have arrived, and deliverable -at the customary time. No other record of these contracts was ever -made than by each party booking them. No written agreements were drawn -up and signed, nothing was sealed or attested. A wilful breach of -contract never took place, and as regards quantity and quality, the Hong -merchants fulfilled their part with scrupulous honesty and care. I am -speaking of the first twenty years of my own personal experience. - -Entire cargoes of teas were purchased and shipped from a few small -canister musters, and were weighed by taking the average of a few chests -from each 'chop.' A 'chop' of tea was always an uncertain quantity, -blacks numbering 400 to 600 chests, sometimes more or less, and greens -from 120 to 200 chests. The chest contained originally 100 catties, -or 133-1/3 pounds, the halves and quarters in the same proportion, -while boxes were locally packed with canisters of various sizes. The -inconvenience of these larger packages, both in size and weight, caused -a reduction to be made in them gradually until the chest averaged -about eighty catties. Some of the packages shipped at this time have -completely disappeared, and we hear no longer of five and ten-catty -boxes, nor of one, two, or three-pound canisters. - -Valuable invoices of silk piece goods were bought and shipped from an -examination of only a piece or two taken at random from any box we might -choose to have opened. They consisted of satins, crapes, sinshews, -levantines, black handkerchiefs, sarsnetts, lutstrings, and pongees, -besides great quantities of yellow nankins, almost all of which articles -have now ceased to be exported. - -As a natural consequence of the integrity of the Chinese merchants, we -had neither receipt nor check-book. Payments were made by the Compradore -of large amounts on simple scraps of paper signed with the initials of a -firm. No promissory notes existed, and consequently there was no 'bill -book.' There was no post office, there were no postages, and no copying -machines. - -We had no custom-house business to attend to; our inward cargoes were -landed and stored, and our outward ones shipped off, by the Linguists, -to whom we had but to intimate in which Hong the former should be landed -or the ship to which the latter were to be sent. All merchandise was -purchased at long price, and all sold at short price; this was the rule, -and saved us an infinity of trouble. We were under no apprehension as -to the outturn of the quality or weight of the teas and silks which we -shipped. The ingenious process of augmenting the brilliancy of tea by a -clever facing of 'Prussian blue' or 'Chinese yellow,' of adding to the -bulk by an admixture of chopped willow or elm leaves, of increasing its -weight by iron filings, was not yet practised by those 'heathen Chinee.' -Possibly the absence of these 'industries' formed a very primitive mode -of carrying on business! - -On the other hand, we were obliged to make our own ink (out of powders -from England), in which we resembled the Jews, who arrived in China and -settled at Kae-Fung-Foo any time between B.C. 1122 and 249! Historians -have not settled this point, but they have ascertained that, whenever -it might have been, 'those people used split bamboos for pens, and at -the Feast of Tabernacles made sufficient ink for the ensuing year'! Our -letters and shipping documents were despatched under wafer or seal, as -no such thing as envelopes yet existed (they had been in use in China -for centuries!), nor did we enjoy the luxury of postage-stamps. Moreover -every consignee of a ship was his own 'post office' for all letters -brought out by her, and he delivered them to suit his own convenience. I -have known cases in which outward letters were delivered when the vessel -that brought them was outside the Bogue, homeward bound. This custom of -not always delivering letters on the arrival of a ship from the United -States was mutually understood, and considered as the privilege of any -house. It can easily be imagined that a New York firm, in sending the -'Huntress' to a market 12,000 miles away for a valuable cargo, might -suffer greatly in its interests if she carried letters from a rival -house deliverable on arrival, informing its correspondent that it should -despatch the 'Levant' shortly, give him particulars of her outward cargo -and orders for a return one. Thus very reasonably, letters were detained -until the agent of a ship had concluded his purchases--at least he had -the privilege of detaining them. There was, of course, the chance of the -passage out, and the difference that might result to the quickest ship. - - * * * * * - -When a ship had anchored at Whampoa, the pilot reported her arrival to -the Hoppo through a branch Hoppo station at that place. This would be -done, not by giving the name of the ship, but that of the captain. Two -boats were then made fast to her, to see that no smuggling was carried -on; they were attached one on each quarter. Meanwhile the agent would -select a Hong merchant to become 'security' for her and a Linguist to -transact her business with the Hoppo's office, to send boats to bring -her cargo to Canton, and to take to Whampoa her outward cargo, and these -were all the 'official' duties that the agent had to attend to. - -Before she could open hatches, the formality of 'Cumsha and Measurement' -had to be gone through. The first word signifies 'present,' and was -a payment made by the earliest foreign vessels for the privilege of -entering the port; and the second is equivalent to tonnage duties. On -a day of which notice was given to the agent, a specially appointed -mandarin from the Hoppo's office was sent on board, attended by pursers -and numerous servants. He was always received with some ceremony, and -regaled with wine and biscuit. As with all the officials, they were men -of a good deal of dignity and ease of manner. The captain would receive -him at the gangway, while all hands were rigged out in their 'Sunday -suits.' After the ordinary salutations, enquiries as to the passage out, -&c., the measurement would be made by one of the attendants attaching -the end of a measured tape to the forward part of the rudder head and -running it to the after part of the foremast, then calling out the -length, which others would note in writing; the breadth was then taken -amidships close abaft the mainmast, between the plankshears, which -being booked, a calculation was made of the dimensions for duty. As the -details were peculiar I give those of the ship 'Maria' (Captain Evans), -of New York, whose tonnage was about 420 (Canton, June 1830). - - - Length, 67 covids; breadth 22; total - 147-4/10 covids. Deducting one-fifth - according to the regulations for - second-class ships. Equal to taels[54] 842.2.8.5 - Loss in converting into Sycee-silver 75.8.0.6 - For work of converting, 1/5 per cent. 15.1.6.1 - Cumsha 810.6.9.1 - ----------- - 1,743.9.4.3 - - The Hoppo's 'opening barrier fee' 480.42.0 - ----------- - 2,224.3.6.3 - Transport to Pekin and weighing in - Government scales 150.1.4.5 - To the Superintendent of the Treasury 116.42.4 - Add 1-1/10 per cent. converting into - Sycee 1.2.8.0 - ----------- - 2,492.2.1.2 - - Difference in weights between Canton and - Pekin, 7 per cent. 174.4.5.5 - ----------- - At 72 per dollar, are $5,092-59/100 Taels 3,666.6.6.7 - =========== - -Vessels coming to Whampoa with rice only were subject to the modified -port charges of $1,150 up to the year 1833, but in that year, owing to -a great famine that existed, they were done away with. The Viceroy Loo -then issued a lengthy proclamation, in which the Hong merchants were -ordered to make known the cessation of those charges to 'all the foreign -barbarians,' 'who would leap for joy, and go backward and forward in -search of rice cargoes.' - -The 'Cumsha and Measurement' having been duly disposed of, a permit -was granted for 'opening hatches,' and the unloading went on -uninterruptedly. The outward cargo was then shipped off, and the -vessel ready for sea. Tea ships exclusively met with no great delay at -Whampoa--on the average about three months--but if silks constituted her -homeward lading, frequently six months passed before they were ready. -It then happened that not a solitary foreign vessel remained at the -anchorage; I have seen this to occur on several occasions. - -When finally loaded, application was made through the Linguist to the -Hoppo for the 'Grand Chop.' This was at once delivered on ascertaining -that all formalities had been fulfilled and duties collected. It was a -large sheet having a broad border, on two sides of which was the figure -of a Dragon (the symbol of the Celestial Empire). They were always the -same in form, and printed from wooden blocks, with blank spaces to be -filled in with the name of the captain, number of the crew, list of -armament, and date of issue. The following is a translation of the grand -chop of the ship 'Maria,' Captain Evans:-- - - Chung, filling the office of Hoppo by Imperial appointment, - issues this in obedience to his will. When Western Ocean ships - have been measured, paid their duties, and departed, should bad - winds and water drive them to the shores of another province - (not being within the accorded limits of trading), if it is - found that they possess this sealed discharge they must be - allowed to continue their voyage without delay or opposition. - Which is on record. - - Now the foreign merchant ship 'Ewan' having loaded with - merchandise, goes to the Hwa-Ke[55] country, there to manage - her business. She has been measured, and duties incurred by her - have all been settled, as customary. As she is now departing, - this is given as a clearance into the hands of the said merchant - to grasp and hold fast, so that, should he meet with any other - custom-house, he must not be detained. Military stations to - which it may be shown must also let the said vessel pass without - interruption, and not induce her to remain and trade that they - may be benefited by any charges or duties. Should they act - otherwise, it will give rise to trouble and confusion. - - According to old regulations, the guns and ammunition and - other arms she carries for her defence are herein enumerated. - An unnecessary quantity is not allowed, nor has she dared to - receive on board contraband articles. Should it have been - discovered that these rules were broken by her, this permission - to sail would assuredly not have been granted. - - Respectfully examine this _and depart_. - (Hoppo's seal.) - - Sailors 26 - Great guns 4 - Shot 100 - Swords 10 - Muskets 10 - Fire-physic (powder) 200 catties - - Taou-Kwang: 11th year, 10th moon, 12th sun. - - * * * * * - -The _Whampoa Compradores_ who attended upon American and other foreign -ships received their licenses from the Hoppo's office. They were, -like their Canton brethren, a notable class, and fulfilled for the -ships the same offices as the latter did for the Factories. It was -another illustration of the perfect system that existed, whereby all -having business at the port were aided in every manner for their own -convenience and security. The Whampoa Compradore for American vessels in -eight cases out of ten was 'Boston Jack'. He was much considered by his -countrymen on the island, and ever civil and obliging. He had once made -a passage to Boston as steward, and returned to Whampoa, _via_ Cape Horn -and the north-west coast of America, in a small schooner of about 200 -tons called the 'Cossack,' on board of which was Mr. Oliver H. Gordon as -supercargo. 'Boston Jack' was very fond of relating his experiences on -board of the 'Cossack,' particularly off the Horn, where, as he would -say, 'too muchee strong gale; sea all same high masthead--no can see -sky, no can see water,' meaning that in the turmoil of the elements one -could see nothing. By his countrymen he was looked upon as a very 'great -gun;' he was a favourite with the Americans, and finally died at a good -old age, 'universally regretted' and much missed! - -The grand chop having been received from the Hoppo, the pilot was -obtained at Whampoa. As the ship got under way, the Compradore's -'cumshas,'[56] according to 'olo custom,' were brought on board. They -consisted of dried lychee, Nankin dates (the 'latest dates,' as they -were christened), baskets of oranges, and preserved ginger; then, amidst -a firing off of crackers attached to the end of a long pole from the -Compradore's boat--'to awaken the gods to the vessel's departure,' that -they might vouchsafe to her 'good wind and good water'--she departed. As -in entering the river, she hove to off Anonghoy Fort at the Bogue, that -the pilot could exhibit his pass. Sailing by Macao, this individual was -cast off, and soon outside, she was rolling down the China Sea--homeward -bound! - -The English East India Company's ships were divided into two fleets, -which came in alternate years. Each fleet consisted of about twenty -vessels, a certain number of which were appointed for China _via_ -Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, while the remainder were direct ships. - -They were splendid vessels of 1,800 to 2,000 tons. Some belonged to the -Company, others were chartered usually for a certain number of voyages. -Many of them were built in India of teak. In time of war they sailed -under convoy; the gun-deck then carried a suitable armament, of which -good use was made in several encounters--notably in the southern part -of the China Sea, when, under Admiral Duckworth, a French squadron was -beaten off, and on other occasions in the Bay of Bengal. They sailed -under the flag of the Company, which resembled that of the United -States in its alternate red and white stripes, having for its field the -English Jack. The discipline on board was that of a man-of-war, and they -differed in no respect from one except that they did not fly the pennant -or carry a special body of marines. Besides the commander, the officers -were six in number, several midshipmen, surgeons, and purser, together -with the usual complement of warrant officers. Those of the fleet told -off for India conveyed troops and munitions of war, for service in the -Company's possessions there. - -No finer sight of the kind could be seen in any part of the world than -the Company's fleet collected at Whampoa, with their inward cargoes -discharged, and every ship in beautiful order, waiting for teas. -Those formidable vessels were not of the modern clipper model, but -broad-backed, with swelling sides and full bows. On board everything was -neat, everything indicated system, discipline, and force. The oldest -captain (in date) daily hoisted his pennant as Commodore. Daily one of -the ship's boats came to Canton in rotation, independently of others -on individual service. The hospitality of the captains and officers -was generous, and, as some of them had bands on board, it was a treat -indeed to be included amongst the guests. The 'Vansittart's' band even -came to Canton to play in the Factory on one occasion, and regaled the -entire community by playing in the Square. The music attracted many -Chinese also, it being to them a wonderful novelty. The bandsmen wore -a uniform of red coats. We were all looking on and listening, when -suddenly a Chinaman exclaimed, 'What for he makee so muchee noisee?' -'Noise!' said one of the barbarians; 'may Fo[57] run away with you--that -no belong noise, belong music. You no likee?' 'Hae-yah![58] my how can -likee, all make mixee--_my_ China music No. 1; _he_ too muchee foolo!' -What he would have added we couldn't tell, but suddenly he darted off, -crying out, 'What for you kick my?' and made the best of his way up Old -China Street. Soon afterwards the crowd became so numerous and so noisy -that to avoid further 'complications' the band was withdrawn inside the -Company's Factory and the Square cleared, and not very quietly, as the -Chinamen's bare heads resounded with the thwacks which were laid on -them, but it took place with great celerity. That was the first and only -time a foreign band of music was heard to play in the Square. - -Exports by 'country ships' to India consisted of tea, coarse porcelain, -paper umbrellas, silks, and a multitude of 'chow-chow' articles, -together with enormous quantities of silver and bar gold. For the -latter a special chop, called 'money chop,' had to be obtained from -the Hoppo. It was these repeated shipments of treasure that attracted -the attention of the local authorities, and through whose reports in -connection with the foreign commerce of the port they were made known to -the Government at Pekin. As a natural result, Imperial edicts were sent -down forbidding shipments of such quantities of money, as being for the -purchase of 'foreign mud,' to be introduced by stealth into the 'Middle -Kingdom,' against prohibitions successively issued, warning all engaged -in the trade 'to desist and not to incur the Imperial displeasure,' -while any Chinese co-operating in it were to be severely punished. But -the immunity so long enjoyed, with the inherent weakness of the Chinese -Government, caused foreigners to believe that any serious attempt to put -a stop to the trade was simply impracticable. The Imperial edicts were -considered as so much waste paper. Opium was imported and sold, while -'the oozing out of fine silver' went on as usual. - - * * * * * - -Of the 'Outside' Chinese Merchants several were of much consideration, -and of an integrity and intelligence in business unsurpassed by the -mercantile classes of any other country. Such men were Washing, Cumwa, -Linchong, Wo-Yun, Yeeshing, Keet-Chong, and others. An incident in -relation to Yeeshing, serving as an illustration both of his honesty and -unselfishness, may be related. - -On the occasion of the great fire in 1822, enormous quantities of -private property and of merchandise were destroyed, and opportunities -offered when, without the possibility of discovery, the latter, -particularly, could have been concealed and reported as having been -consumed by the flames. Mr. John P. Cushing, of the house of Perkins & -Co., had placed with Yeeshing 5,000 pieces of crapes to be dyed, whose -value was about $50,000. There was, of course, no insurance upon them, -nothing of the kind existing at Canton. A day or two after the fire -Yeeshing entered Mr. Cushing's office, exclaiming,'Hae-yah! Hae-yah!' -'Well, Yeeshing,' enquired Mr. C., 'how fashion?' To which he replied, -'My have loosum my house, my shop--alla finishy, too muchee trub.' Mr. -C. began to express his sympathy, with the conviction that he too was -involved in the loss, when Yeeshing continued, 'My alla finishy, only -when my take out you crape (to save it) hav loosum 84 peecee, how can -my, no too muchee trub?' He had saved Mr. Cushing's crapes, but had lost -his own dwelling and its contents, with an important quantity of his own -goods and chattels, in doing so. - -Keet-Chong, named above, possessed an estate on French Island, on which -his family had resided for more than 800 years. It was of moderate -extent, the dwelling spacious, and, as he used to say, 'all thing no -have changee.' He showed me on one occasion his genealogical tree -(which Chinese families keep with scrupulous care), and which ascended, -according to it, to the Sung Dynasty (967 to 1281 A.D.). This dynasty -immediately preceded the Yuen, or Mongol Tartar, family, the first -emperor of which was Kublai Khan, grandson of 'Jengis Khan.' - -The custom exists among Chinese of not using their family names -in business, either for firms or individuals. They assume certain -designations by which they are known, are responsible, and recognised by -the authorities. As examples, Houqua, whose family name was Woo (from -which _How_), was known commercially as 'Ewo.' Pwantingqua, whose -family name was Pwan, was known as 'Tung Foo,' and the family name of -'Washing' was Moo. The choice of these names is singularly diversified -and sometimes very droll. In passing through any business street you -see on a small sign attached to a pillar at the side of a door such -firms as 'Peace and Quiet,' 'Current Gains,' 'Collective Justice,' -'Perfect Concord,' 'United Concord.' I have seen 'Tan-E' (which means -literally 'Solitary Idea'), 'Perfect Record,' 'Three Unities.' Where -something of a more imposing nature is chosen--as, for instance, 'George -and Thomas Sandbank, Sons and Nephews'--a double name, such as 'The -Record of Perpetual Harmony,' would be adopted. One is struck with the -use of short inscriptions on narrow sheets of red paper over doorways, -at the foot of stairs, over weights and measures, everywhere and on -everything almost. On entering an outer door you observe above it, 'May -the Five Happinesses enter the abode' (longevity, riches, posterity, -love of virtue, and a natural death), while within may be seen, 'May -wealth flow in abundantly;' and not a bad one, 'For idle persons there -is no admittance.' 'As wheels revolve, so may supplies and sales -continue;' 'Customers come in numbers, like the gathering of clouds;' -'Here are sold superior goods, in whose prices there is no change;' -'Rich customers are perpetually welcome;' 'Daily may there be weighed -10,000 taels' (May the transactions amount to that sum); 'From a single -cash, may 10,000 be derived' (these last two may be seen over scales -and weights); and so each object has its peculiar, if not appropriate, -device. You read on each one of a pile of water-tubs, 'The bucket of -superlative peace;' on chests, 'The box of great tranquillity;' over -inner doors, 'May happiness attend the opening of the door;' and over -shelves and drawers, 'When opened, may prosperity follow;' at the top -of a stairway, 'May the going up or down be calm and peaceful.' On the -sterns and bows of boats and junks you may read, 'Prosperous gales -and smooth seas' (which in Canton jargon is simplified to the usual -expression 'Good wind, good water'); 'Grant favourable breezes;' 'A fair -wind is riches;' 'The moon's rays shine upon and enliven the waters;' -'The dragon's head produces horns of gold' (an allusion to the bows of -a junk, which are supposed to represent the head with the large eyes of -the dragon), signifying, 'May the voyage be successful.' - - * * * * * - -The first foreign newspaper published at Canton was in 1827; it was -called the 'Canton Register,' and was printed on a small hand-press -lent for the purpose by Mr. Alexander Matheson, of the then house of -Magniac & Co.[59] Its size was but a little more than that of a large -sheet of foolscap. The editor, who himself was the first compositor, was -a young American gentleman named Wood, of Philadelphia, and son of the -celebrated tragedian. He was a person of great versatility, mentally and -materially; he abounded in wit, was well read, and of no fixed purpose. -Having ceased to be connected with the 'Register,' he entered the -office of Messrs. Russell & Co. about the same time with young Irving, -a nephew of Washington Irving. One day, one of our Parsee friends, -Nanabhoy Framjee, came in for bills on London 'in small pamphlets' -(moderate amounts each), and it was Wood's business to fill them up. -Our office, one of three, was the general rendezvous of Russell & Co.'s -captains, and on the day in question five or six of them were present, -talking over purchases in carpenter's square of camphor-wood trunks, -lacquered ware boxes, writing desks, &c. The bills having been made out -were left on Mr. Low's desk for signature. Suddenly from the 'Tai-Pan's' -office we heard a great shout of laughter, and that gentleman appeared. -'Wood,' said he, handing him one of the bills, 'I doubt if Baring's will -accept this, or even Nanabhoy take it; read it over.' Wood did so, and -to his confusion saw that B. B. & Co. were requested to pay to the order -of Nanabhoy Framjee, Esq., 'one hundred lacquered ware boxes,' which in -his absence of mind he had caught up from the skippers. Not very long -after, Wood took up his quarters in the French Factory, and established -a second newspaper, called the 'Chinese Courier,' which had but a short -existence. Amongst his other accomplishments was that of sketching, -for which he had a remarkable talent, and he was, moreover, a maker of -verses! One evening at dinner at his house, several being at table, the -conversation ran upon poetry, and some impromptu verses having been -made, something led to a challenge to Wood to parody Byron's 'Know'st -thou the land,' confining the words entirely to local matters and -things. He accepted the challenge, and when we again met he read after -dinner the following, on which we congratulated him, as being _good_ -for Canton! - - Know'st thou the land where the nankin and tea-chest, - With cassia and rhubarb and camphor, abound? - Where oft in the Hongs, by the coolies' foul feet pressed, - They pack their Boheas in a way to astound? - - Know'st thou the land where in vain you endeavour - To sell your fair longcloths or barter your yarn? - Where you fidget and fret, be you never so clever, - And find all your profits are going 'astarn'? - - Know'st thou the land where the drug in its glory, - With cotton and betel-nut, govern the day? - Where Patna or Malwa's the theme of each story, - The life of each anecdote, solemn or gay? - - Know'st thou the land where the fair, unprotected - By the lords of their destinies, wither alone? - Where woman's a slave, by her tyrants neglected, - And the only bright jewel they sigh not to own? - - Where lips which were formed to breathe of devotion - To affectionate spouses or lovers provoke; - Instead of confessing their tender emotion, - Give forth all their sensitive feelings in _smoke_? - - 'Tis the land we now live in--the land that would shame - The world by its valour, invention, and worth; - Where the page of her history glows with the name - Of her sage,[60] and her warrior,[61] the pride of the earth; - - Where tea is the potion great deeds to inspire, - And emperors deign (and if _they_, who will not?) - To watch the decoction, themselves, on the fire, - And write prosy odes to the 'pride of the pot.' - - Tho' fairest Hwa-Te[62] are thy gardens of flowers, - And sweet every blossom that flings to the breeze - Its perfume, decks with its tints thy gay bowers, - Or clings on its vine to thy moss-covered trees; - - Yet fairer the lands we have all left behind us, - And gayer the flowers and purer the air. - Do we need in our exile this rhyme to remind us - Of the hearts that are glowing with love for us there? - - Farewell then to tea-chests; the loosened sail flying - Expands to the breeze and chides our delay; - Now past is the parting, the 'chin-chin,' the sighing - Of all the poor 'devils'[63] who _can't_ get away! - -Wood and a brother resident, an Irishman named Keating, had at one time -a 'little difficulty.' Mr. Augustine Heard acted for him, and Mr. James -Innes, an 'old school' and eccentric Scotchman, for the latter. Much -correspondence took place between them as to where the question should -be washed out in 'blood.' One side chose French Island, at Whampoa; -the other Lintin, as being beyond the interference of the Chinese -authorities in case of 'accident;' but through the good sense of the -'_best_ men,' and to the gratification of common friends, the dispute -was arranged--because, as Wood said, 'There was no abbey in which to lay -a body.' After a residence of nearly ten years at Canton, Wood removed -to Manila, and established himself on a coffee and sugar plantation -at Jala-Jala. His letters from this new abode were full of wit and -mirthful to a degree, even in describing bad crops caused by visits from -Messrs. Taiphoon, Drought, & Co., or the destruction of his fences by -wild buffaloes, while he never could get a night's sleep from the many -snakes of preposterous dimensions which made themselves 'at home' in his -bungalow, and pursued the most 'harmless' of rats across the ceiling, up -and down posts, and across the floors 'under his very eyes.' At length -he quitted Jala-Jala and joined the office of Messrs. Russell & Sturgis, -at Manila. Under their generous auspices and considerate kindness he -ever after found there a home. - -He was the first person to introduce the art of photography in Manila, -and through his teaching many Mestizos[64] became proficients, and -practise it now as a profession. He made one short visit to Europe, from -which he returned delighted, and one to myself at Macao (thirty years -after we first met at Canton). At length for poor Wood the 'tolling of -the bell' was heard; he died, full of years, after an extraordinary life -of great personal worth, great unsteadiness of purpose, and, as far as -worldly success went, a great unsuccess. - - * * * * * - -Under certain circumstances foreign residents could 'offer up' petitions -at the city gates! It was a privilege that had its origin a long -while ago. At the same time it was discouraged by the authorities, -while strict orders were given to the guards at the gates to keep a -sharp look-out and close them if any number of barbarians were known -to be approaching. This old custom originated in some question, such -as praying for a diminution of duties (all duties being more or less -arbitrary), or for permission to ship off an extra weight of silks, -which was fixed at a certain number of piculs per vessel,[65] and called -the 'silk privilege,' or on some matter affecting their personal -comfort. The Co-Hong frequently co-operated with us, recommended our -petitioning, and even themselves made a draft paper. Answers to these -petitions were invariably received, when the Hong merchants would -prepare for us a rejoinder, if necessary. - -Great precautions were taken to keep the intention as quiet as possible, -consequently all who were disposed to join a party in presenting a -petition were advised in time. None were more anxious to accompany it -than the younger members of the community, who considered it great -fun! To refer to a particular case, directly in front of the American -Factory, at the river side, there existed a huge mound of earth and -rubbish that had its origin with the great fire of 1822. While the new -Factories were going up and the damaged ones being repaired the workmen -and coolies threw all sorts of rubbish on the spot. Subsequently it -became a depository of refuse of all sorts, and finally a resort of -loathsome beggars, of whom many died on it; but beyond obtaining the -carrying away of the dead bodies, all efforts by the foreigners to get -the whole thing removed had proved ineffectual. - -The Hong merchants now and then sent a number of coolies, but they made -small impression upon it; and at length, mostly at their suggestion that -it was 'Mandarin pigeon,' it was resolved to present a petition at the -city gates, which they themselves prepared and we copied. - -On the day agreed upon, therefore, the party going were quietly advised -and informed at which gate to meet. Taking different streets in small -numbers of three or four, all drew towards the 'petition gate,' as we -called it, and suddenly with a rush entered it. The surprise of the -guards was complete. They hastily closed the ponderous outer gate to -prevent the Chinese entering and possibly creating a row. Seeing the -petition on red paper held up above our heads, they knew from experience -the object of our visit, and forthwith despatched a messenger to the -Hoppo's 'Ya-Mun.'[66] Any annoyance caused us by Chinese lookers-on -or by any who tried to crowd about us called for prompt 'whipping' by -the soldiers, as was always the case, letting foreigners have their -own way, and laying it well over the shoulders of their own countrymen -who attempted any interference or who did not 'move on' fast enough. -It happened that on a previous occasion of petitioning an unpleasant -incident occurred, which arose from a fancied insult; blows had been -exchanged, and certain words used by an excited member of the foreign -party in reference to the soldiers became a tradition, 'Knock them down, -friend Olyphant, they are only tea and rice,' and the best of the joke -was that the speaker was a Quaker and Mr. Olyphant one of the quietest -men in the world, and the last person to strike any one. - -Such exhibitions were much to be deplored as encouraging the belief that -foreigners were indeed 'unruly devils'--a pugnacious, wild, boisterous -people. Presently we heard the sound of the gong and the loud cries -of lictors preceding the Mandarin calling out his rank and office as -well as keeping the street clear. The space between the large outer -and inner gate is the thickness of the wall, about thirty feet, and -twelve to eighteen feet broad, the quarters of the guard, about twenty -or twenty-five in number, being in recesses on either side, and in this -space petitions are received. The Ta-Yin[67] (great man) having entered -with other Mandarins and attendants, after salutations and surprise at -seeing so many foreigners, they seated themselves on chairs brought -by their followers. He then commenced by telling us of the extreme -impropriety of entering the gates in opposition to the will of the 'Son -of Heaven,' cautioned us to be wary how we did the like again, lest we -might check the flow of Imperial benevolence towards all coming from a -distance, &c. &c., which was the usual opening formula, when a Linguist -being found cut and dried on the spot (sent privately by the Hong -merchants), stepped forward, knelt on both knees, and 'handed up' the -petition. In the meantime it was a strange sight to see the houses, shop -doors, and windows inside the city full to overflow of Chinese, intently -looking on in profound stillness and curiosity. - -His Excellency, having read the paper, said in placing it in the hands -of an officer that a communication would be sent to the Hong merchants, -'that we must return to our Factories, be henceforth reverently -obedient, when all would be well, otherwise His Sacred Majesty, Ruler -of all under the Sun, notwithstanding that he was the incarnation of -consideration for all beyond the Western Ocean, might be provoked to -withdraw his beneficent,' &c. &c. 'That the laws of the Celestial Empire -must be obeyed,' and this was the closing formula. - -Business being thus ended, a disposition was shown for a little -conversation. Acting as interpreter, I was invited to speak of the -distance of our countries from the 'Celestial Flowery Land,' how many -moons it took to come and to return; all which was done in laying great -stress upon the clear light of day into which we emerged as we left -our own gloomy shores and approached the 'Middle Kingdom'! Questions -were asked as to our respective nationalities, our names also; and -in their attempts to repeat such as Zacharia, Krieroffski, Burr, -and Brown, they turned to one another and laughed heartily at their -unsuccessful efforts. The teapot and servants to prepare the infusion -being indispensable in the suite of Mandarins (as well as pipe-bearers), -tea was presently offered to us; we in exchange 'offered up' Manila -cheroots. No one exhibited the slightest impatience, no matter how many -hundreds of Chinese were obliged, outside or inside, to make great -detours to reach other gates. - -The Mandarins being provided with two watches each, next began a -comparison of time; they asked our ages, how long we had lived within -the benign sway of that 'Almighty Ruler' under whose protecting wings we -found ourselves; and being assured, in reply to other enquiries, that -in our distant countries now and then a sun, very occasionally two or -three moons, with a rare glimmer of a star, might be seen, they rose -from their seats, took leave, and were soon out of sight. The great -gate was then opened after a violent effort, with a loud grating of its -enormous hinges, and the 'foreign devils' returned to the Factories, -after an hour or two agreeably passed. The petition in question resulted -in the Hong merchants receiving orders for the immediate removal of -the unsightly mound, of course at their expense. They were effectually -carried out and the ground was levelled off. It then became the -favourite resort of the Indian servants of Parsee and Moormen residents. - - * * * * * - -Until the summer of 1829 the most important of the American houses was -that of Perkins & Co. It was the oldest one existing, without change -of name, of all the foreign firms, having been established soon after -a visit made by Mr. Thomas H. Perkins with two vessels to Canton in -1798. The house was represented until 1807 by Mr. Bumstead, who was then -succeeded by Mr. Cushing. For comparison with the size of merchant ships -at the present day, it may be noted that this gentleman came out in -the ship 'Levant' (Captain Proctor), of 264 tons! Mr. Cushing became a -partner in the Boston firm of J. and T. H. Perkins, and managed that of -Perkins & Co., of which he was also a partner continuously until 1828, -without leaving Canton, when he returned to Boston in the ship 'Milo,' -arriving there on September 17. - -To Mr. Cushing succeeded Mr. Thomas T. Forbes, who, on returning from -a visit to Macao in his yacht, was unfortunately drowned in a taiphoon -on August 9, 1829, together with Mr. S. H. Monson, the book-keeper of -Russell & Co. On this sad event taking place, amongst his papers was -found a sealed letter addressed to Russell & Co. It requested them, in -case of accident to himself, to take charge of the local business of -his own firm, as well as that of J. and T. H. Perkins. They did so, -and naturally came with it that of Houqua, who had been the intimate -personal friend of Mr. Cushing during his unbroken residence of over -twenty years in Canton. - -When the news of Mr. Forbes's death reached him, Mr. Cushing was in -England, where the 'Bashaw' (Captain Pearson), one of the ships of his -Boston firm, was loading for Whampoa. He returned to Canton in her, -arriving in the month of August 1830. Arrangements were then definitely -concluded by which Russell & Co. were officially appointed sole agents -for the Boston house, that of Perkins & Co. being wound up, while the -important foreign business of Houqua was then also definitely secured to -them. - -Towards the close of 'ante-treaty' days, the house met with a serious -loss in the violent death of another book-keeper, Mr. George C. Perkins, -of Boston. He entered the office as assistant book-keeper,[68] and -subsequently took charge of that important branch of the business. -He was about thirty years of age, very systematic and methodical, a -well-read man, and of most agreeable manners. He left Macao on a visit -to the United States, and was returning by the way of San Francisco to -resume the duties of his office. Having arrived near Hong Kong, he left -the ship in which he had crossed the Pacific, for Macao in a fast boat -with all his baggage. Supposing it to contain gold, coming from the -'Gold Hills' (by which name California is known to the Chinese), the -cupidity of the boatmen was excited. They threw Perkins overboard in the -Lantao Channel, and he was drowned. On the event being made known to -the Canton authorities, their search for the boatmen was so energetic -that they were soon discovered in the midst of a number of fast boats -anchored in Anson's Bay, and beheaded. - - * * * * * - -The year 1830 was an unprecedented one in the annals of foreign life at -Canton, by reason of the coming to the Factories of several English and -American ladies from Macao, in 'direct opposition to old regulations.' -The Mandarins were thoroughly at their wits' ends by so extraordinary an -occurrence. 'Chops' began to circulate freely. The ladies were ordered -to leave forthwith, and without one moment's delay, otherwise the 'Son -of Heaven,' 'so considerate for all beyond the sea,' would withdraw his -compassion, and, and--in fact, had the world been coming to an end, the -authorities could not have been more thoroughly alarmed. In a letter -written at the time, I find the following, dated April 8, 1830:-- - - Went in the morning to the 'Company's' chapel with several - Americans to hear the Rev. Mr. Vachell preach, and to see the - 'foreign devil females,' as the Chinamen call them. They were - Mrs. Baynes, wife of the Chief of the Factory, Mrs. Robinson, - and Mrs. Fearon, but _she_ is the beauty of the party! Mrs. B. - was dressed in true London style, which, much admired by us, is - considered 'frightful' by the Chinese. It was quite a strange - thing to see foreign ladies in the 'Celestial Empire,' an - occurrence which had never before taken place! After a few days - they left, but not until the mandarins threatened to stop all - trade! - -On November 12 of the same year I find the following:-- - - What will Canton turn into, and where will bachelors find - rest? Nowhere. Mrs. and Miss Low and other ladies are at this - moment here! The second day after they arrived several old - codgers were seen in immense coats, which had been stowed away - in camphor trunks for ten or fifteen years, and with huge - cravats on, and with what once were gloves, on their way to make - visits! - - _13th._--Called on the Tai-Pan's wife and niece, and - entertained them with descriptions of local worthies such as - 'Houqua,' 'Mouqua,' and 'Gowqua,' 'Man-Hop,' 'Wa-Hop,' and - 'Tung-Hop'--a jumble they had never heard of, and names that - amused them immensely. - - _22nd._--Evening Church service at Talbot's, the Consul, - at No. 1 American Hong. The ladies and a good number of - gentlemen present. At half-past nine we accompanied the former - to show our fashionable street, Old China Street, its shops - shut at that hour; but some Chinamen passing began to cry out, - 'Foreign devil women!' when instantly every door was opened and - lanterns appeared. In less than ten minutes we were completely - surrounded, and had to beat a hasty retreat. We were not at all - molested; it was simply surprise and curiosity; and on arriving - at the gate of the Hong everyone quietly dispersed. - - _24th._--The Chinese are not so far out in calling us - barbarians. Two or three from No. 2 Suy-Hong called on the - ladies. Coats, gloves, and cravats--such cravats! I heard one - say when he returned, 'Thank God that is over!' and then call - for jacket and black neck-ribbon! He next lighted a cheroot, and - looked as if a great burthen were off his mind. In the evening - dined at Charles N. Talbot's; all bachelors, of course! A fine - little party; but I dissipated too much, and the sooner bedtime - comes the better. Bad habit of dining out in this country; I - think I shall swear off, no getting home without being observed! - I hope the ladies in No. 1 did not see me come in! - - _30th._--The ladies took their departure this evening. They - went on board the boat that was to convey them, escorted by all - the American gentlemen. While returning from Jackass Point an - inveterate bachelor said, 'I hope we shall never be _bothered_ - with ladies in Canton again!' but he was a notoriously crusty - old fellow. - - * * * * * - -Having lost a fine retriever named Rover, and an English friend a small -pug named Bop, I caused a 'reward-card' to be posted on the walls of -Chungqua's Hong. As these 'cards' have a peculiar phraseology, I give a -translation of the one in question:-- - - On the 10th day of the 1st moon of the present year two - foreign dogs strayed, one from the Suy-Hong and one from the - Dutch Hong, and have not been seen to return. Long ears and - a long tail adorned the one, which had also a brown star on - its breast, the body being of the colour of 'fragrant ink.' - The other was a small dog, with cropped ears and a tail of no - length. His body was spotted in variegated colours of brown and - white. The larger dog was named 'Lo-Wa,' and the smaller 'Po-Pa.' - - This is to give notice that should any 'superior man' - know where they are, or if they have been 'misled,' and will - inform, he shall be rewarded with _flowered red money--two great - rounds_[69] for the big one, and one great round for the little - one. Even should they have been _stolen_ (_an inconceivable - thing!_), if the person who took them will bring them to - Suy-Hong No. 2 he Shall still be rewarded, and clemency used - towards him. This placard is real; its words will not be eaten. - - Taou-Kwang: 14th year, 15th day, 1st moon. - -The poor dogs were never found, and the Compradore insisted upon it that -'some man hav chow-chow he,'[70] and we supposed so too. - - * * * * * - -On February 27, 1831, Mr. Russell and Mr. Cushing took their final leave -of Canton in the 'Bashaw' (Captain Pearson), for Boston, the former -with the satisfaction of having founded a house in that distant port -which, under his sagacious management, had secured the confidence and -consideration of the entire foreign and Chinese mercantile community, as -well as of its numerous foreign correspondents in all quarters of the -world. Its present world-wide reputation renders it needless to say that -it still exists, and has become one of the oldest, if not _the_ oldest -firm whose style has undergone no change eastward of the Cape of Good -Hope. Mr. Russell was a native of Middletown, Connecticut, a person of -singularly gentle and benevolent disposition. There was about him a -suavity and charm of manner which under no circumstances ever deserted -him. Throughout a long life he enlisted the esteem and respect of all -who knew him. Of his considerate forbearance under great provocation I -can vouch from personal experience. From my first entrance in the office -he was desirous that I should make myself acquainted with book-keeping. -Its mysteries he first taught me. However incorrectly the tyro -appreciated the relative bearing of successive transactions or bungled -in recording them, he was corrected with a patience and kindliness of -manner that knew no bounds, and the encouragement he thus received at -length led him to a clear idea of the respective value of debit and -credit, as well as to the knowledge that they were 'the two factors -which formed the base of all mercantile transactions.' - -The younger members of the office, as a slight testimony to the paternal -kindness which they had received from their worthy 'Tae-pan,' invited -him to dine with them, to consider himself as their guest, at a 'parting -dinner.' He graciously accepted, and seemed pleased at the idea. We -invited Mr. Cushing and his old friend Houqua. The latter could not be -present, but sent us a very choice bird's-nest soup for the occasion. -We sent to Manila for a _fine_ turkey, and on its arrival put it out to -board on Honam, with injunctions that it should be well fed. The turkey -was a very rare bird at Canton and supplies came from Manila. Ours -looked rather haggard on arrival, and the Compradore attributed it to -its being 'very tired,' but added that it would be No. 1 when killed, -fat and presentable. The day came, and with it the dinner. At the proper -moment a great dish was placed upon the table and the cover removed in a -triumphant way, only to exhibit, to our horror, a lot of legs and wings -of the turkey, but as to body next to nothing! - -Not the least remarkable feature of Old Canton life was the 'Factory,' -as the common dwelling and common place of business of all the -members, old and young, of a commercial house. The system begat mutual -confidence. All affairs, past, present, and future, were discussed at -the table, and became as familiar to the clerks as they were to the -partners. While the latter imparted their own views and experiences, -the former benefited by them. The knowledge thus acquired was applied, -each in his special department, to a more intelligent co-operation, -which contributed to a general harmony in current affairs or special -enterprises. And so also in regard to other subjects. The younger -members had the advantage through this daily 'family' intercourse of -acquiring much useful information on a diversity of subjects. There were -few if any Principals, who had not had in different parts of the world -experience of men and things, who had not adventures to relate--how -unexpected difficulties were overcome or chance advantages availed of. -In daily exercises or pastimes all associated together; whether for -walking, for boating, or sight-seeing, 'Tae-Pans' and 'pursers' shared -them together. Should one of the former take the helm to-day, and one of -the latter an oar, to-morrow saw the order reversed. - -At length, as the elders retired, leaving, as was always the case, vast -and important affairs in course of execution, they did so with the -conviction that their successors possessed the qualifications to carry -them on to a logical termination, as well as to initiate new ones. - - * * * * * - -Before leaving us Mr. Russell had placed me in charge of the books and -accounts. We were excessively busy during the year, as, in addition -to orders for teas, those for manufactured silks were unprecedentedly -large. In May I was on the sick list; Doctor Bradford[71] sent me to -Macao in July for change of air, whence I returned in October. A serious -relapse took place in December, and, as a 'last chance,' passage was -taken for me in a small ship called the 'Howard,' of about 400 tons, -for New York. It was supposed the 'sea air' might have a good effect. -I was carried to the ship in such a state as to leave small hope of -reaching New York alive. We sailed from Whampoa early in February 1832. -(To replace me in the office, George R. Sampson was engaged, afterwards -Sampson & Tappan, Boston.) Down the China Sea the weather and progress -were good; we passed out into the Indian Ocean between Pulo Crockatoa -and Prince's Island, which took us ten days. We had a light 'trade' to -the Cape; there we were met by a succession of north-westerly gales, -which detained us twenty-two days. We were becalmed on the Equator a -long time; but at length arrived at New York, on the 162nd day, my -health perfectly restored. - -I was delighted to meet again Mr. Samuel Russell, then at the 'Clinton -Hotel,' as genial and kindly as always. He asked me to breakfast, to -meet Mr. Joseph Coolidge, Junior, about to leave for the office at -Canton, and afterwards I was invited to make him a visit at Middletown, -where I had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Russell, a -charming, quiet lady, whose reception of me was of the kindest. - -The 'Roman' was now again fitting out for Canton, under my old shipmate, -Captain Lavender. He had made several voyages in the 'America,' -belonging to Mr. Thomas H. Smith. Mr. Olyphant consented to my going in -the ship, and there was no other passenger on board. It was not yet the -usage for China ships to take passengers, nor would they take general -letters. We sailed on October 25, 1832, after a very short stay at home. -This time we took the Gilolo passage into the Pacific. At five A.M. of -March 5, 1833, we made Fo-Ki Point, on the coast of 'teas, silks, and -cassia,' and at 5.30 P.M. anchored under the peak of Lantao, in the -Lantao Channel, in 131 days' passage. Lavender despatched a fast boat to -his agents at Canton, Messrs Olyphant & Co., advising his arrival, while -I took another and arrived at the Factories in the evening of the 9th. - -Thus ended a second 'run home' (as those trips were euphemistically -called) of a year each. These 'runs,' however, were in reality nine -months of listening to 'what the wild waves were saying,' 'and wandering -about at home,' unknowing and almost unknown, for three months; to being -subjected, while there, to sleep on mattresses and pillows filled with -feathers in the summer months, with the thermometer at any height you -please, instead of on the clean, cool, hard rattan mat or mattress of -bamboo shavings, as in Canton, where it was rarely over 96 deg. at midnight. - -It was not until eleven more years had passed that I took another -'run.' This was from Macao in 1844 in the 'Prince of Wales,' of Bombay -(Captain Jones), to Galle, then in the steamer 'Seaforth,' from Colombo, -_via_ Cannanore and Mangalore, to Bombay, with a trip to Mahableshwar -and Poonah for 'sight-seeing;' then to Aden and back to Bombay in -the East India Company's steamer 'Atalanta;' thence to Macao, _via_ -Singapore, in the splendid new clipper 'Mohr' of about 280 tons, -belonging to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, & Co., and commanded by 'my old -friend,' Fraser, who was second officer of the 'Good Success' in 1825, -to Singapore. - - * * * * * - -At the end of 1833 we had the misfortune to lose our estimable chief Mr. -W. H. Low, whose health failed from incessant application to the duties -of his responsible position. He took passage in the Company's ship -'Waterloo,' for England, with his family, and some months after we heard -of his death at the Cape. - - * * * * * - -The same year was notable for the hitherto unprecedented event of the -marriage at Macao of a young American lady, Miss Shillaber, of Boston, -to Doctor Thomas R. Colledge, of the Company's 'Factory.' It was a -brilliant affair, and celebrated with more than usual eclat from its -novelty. - - * * * * * - -The quitting of Canton by the Honourable East India Company in 1833 -was succeeded by the arrival of Lord Napier on July 25, 1834, as -'Chief Superintendent of the English Trade.' His lordship landed in a -boat belonging to the country ship 'Fort William.' This vessel being -secured by the Hong merchant 'Sun-Shing,' he was held responsible, -conducted into the city and imprisoned. As Her Majesty's representative -declined to correspond with the Viceroy through the Hong merchants, -the latter issued a proclamation on September 5, in which he spoke of -this 'contumacy' as a breach of the existing laws and regulations of -the Empire--of his Lordship having come to Canton officially, without -the permission of His Imperial Majesty, and requested him to return -to Macao pending a reference to Pekin; adding that, if he refused to -leave for Macao, no Chinese should serve him in any capacity. The -proclamation being pasted on a thin board, was suspended at the gate -of his Lordship's (the East India Co.) Factory and guarded by about -twenty soldiers. No sooner was this done, than the Chinese within the -building, half frightened to death, and fearing that the soldiers would -enter, rushed upstairs and reported what had taken place. Lord Napier, -who was at dinner with Sir George Best Robinson and others, instantly -left the table and came down to the gate. The proclamation was at once -removed, and, apprehensive of something serious, Lord Napier despatched -a messenger to Captain Blackwood, of H.M.S. 'Imogene,' then outside the -Bogue, to send him a guard of a dozen marines, and to come with his own -vessel and her consort, the 'Andromache,' to Whampoa with all despatch. -This being done, his lordship retired inside the Factory with his suite, -and the gate was bolted. At midnight Sir George left Canton in a small -cutter to join the two frigates. Very soon the marines arrived at the -Factory, the Square was filled with Chinese soldiers, and war junks and -boats were gathered on the river. All communication with the Whampoa -shipping was cut off, and orders were issued that no English boats -should come to the city. The Viceroy had also requested the American -merchants not to allow boats from their vessels to come up except on -urgent business. It is needless to add that the whole foreign trade of -the port was entirely stopped. At the time the disturbance took place, -one of our captains, Hepburn, of the ship 'Nile,' was in the Factory, -and having been assured by the Linguist that he should be provided with -a Chinese boat to take him to Whampoa, had sent his own back to the -ship. On the 6th, when ready to start, we found that the Linguist could -not procure one. I therefore ordered my own, a small schooner yacht, -the 'Ferret,' to be made ready, and together we left Canton at four -in the afternoon. We passed through a fleet of about fifty war boats, -filled with men and armed to the teeth. Presently, to our surprise, we -met a small English cutter, having on board Captain St. Croix, of the -'Alexander Baring,' just arrived from London, on his way up with our -despatches. I told him it was useless to attempt to get through, and -brought him with us to the 'Nile.' - -The next day, September 7, Mr. Coolidge, Mr. A. A. Low, and Mr. Cabot -made their appearance; they had pulled down for the 'Baring's' letters, -having heard of her arrival soon after I left. The 'Union' schooner next -hove in sight, coming from Macao, with Mr. George R. Sampson and a Dutch -gentleman, Mr. Vandermulen, on board. I took them out and brought them -to the 'Nile.' - -Later in the day, Coolidge, Low, and Cabot started with the 'Baring's' -letters, in the hope of being able to get to the Factories; but on -arriving at 'Houqua's' Fort, about half-way, first one and then another -ball flew over their heads, which brought them to. A war boat came -alongside, with a Linguist on board; he told them it was useless to -attempt going on, as, owing to these troubles with the English, the -Viceroy had issued an additional order, that to prevent 'the innocent -from suffering with the guilty,' no foreign boat could come to Canton. -They pulled back to the 'Nile.' We found ourselves, therefore, all -prisoners at Whampoa, including another American, named Gorham. We -styled ourselves 'the Canton refugees,' and threw ourselves upon the -hospitality of our friends the captains of the six American vessels -then at the anchorage. And this rather eventful day closed with a -dinner on board the 'Coliseum' (Captain Stoddard), with whist in the -evening on board the 'Nile.' The next day we dined on board the 'India' -(Captain Cook, of Salem), and quartered ourselves upon our friends as -follows:--Coolidge, Vandermulen, and myself, on board the 'Nile;' Low on -board the 'York;' Cabot, Sampson, and Gorham, on board the 'Coliseum.' - -_September 26._--At last we have safely arrived back at our old quarters -in the Factories, after being 'refugees' at Whampoa for just twenty -days. The commotion is still great, and we are cautioned about going far -from 'home.' The streets are full of rowdies and blackguards, who abuse -us in words far from complimentary, and make signs as if beheading us! -Nevertheless we are comfortable enough as far as 'Jackass Point' or Hog -Lane, and can look up 'Old China Street' without bodily fear. - -The return to Canton immediately after 'hostilities' had ceased by the -departure of Lord Napier was worth making, if only to see the enormous -preparations that had been made against an attempt by the boats of the -frigates. We took the Junk river passage, and met with no obstructions -until we had passed Houqua's Fort and got abreast of the 'Lob Creek' -Pagoda. Here we were brought to and ordered to pull alongside of a -large mandarin boat, crowded with a ferocious looking lot of fellows, -and half-starved as well, to judge from the avidity with which they -seized upon some biscuit we threw among them. We were in two boats--one -with Captain Tonks, of the Bombay ship 'Lord Castlereagh,' Mr. Low, -and Sampson, and my own small gig, with myself alone. A petty officer, -wearing an opaque white button, got in Tonks's boat and directed him to -a junk, on board of which was a Linguist, and I followed. We reached the -Factories four and a half hours from Whampoa. - -Correspondence between the Hong merchants (as intermediaries of the -Viceroy) and Lord Napier, which his lordship would not comply with, was -the only mode that could be expected under the existing foreign and -Chinese relations. The Viceroy could not set aside that yet unrepealed -system, nor enter into personal communication with any foreign -representative. To do so, special authority from the Imperial Government -was indispensable. The entire difficulty therefore was caused by Her -Majesty's representative persisting in requiring of the Viceroy that -which the latter could not grant. Naturally, the 'Napier War,' or, as -locally called, the 'Napier fizzle,' was the result. It was coupled, -too, with an entire stoppage of all foreign trade from September -2 to September 24, which was a very serious thing, and entirely -unjustifiable in the absence of a declaration of war. The mortifying -result was that Lord Napier had to renounce his expressed determination -to remain at Canton. The British Government should either have obtained -official recognition from Pekin for their representative, or simply have -appointed a Consul whose dignity could not have been infringed upon by -his being placed on the same footing as Consuls of other foreign nations. - -On September 21 Lord Napier quitted Canton with his suite for Macao. -As the frigates proceeded towards the Bogue and Lintin, so did the two -chop-boats of Lord Napier, _pari passu_, towards his destination by the -inner passage. He was convoyed by several Chinese men-of-war boats. At -length his Lordship arrived on the 26th. The humiliating end of his -ineffectual attempt to correspond directly with the local government -aggravated an illness brought on by the vexation and excitement he had -undergone from the day of his landing from the 'Fort William's' boat, -and on October 11 his Lordship died at Macao. - - * * * * * - -The years 1835 and 1836 were unmarked by any event out of the regular -course. The business of the house was taking a great extension -(purely as agency); but in 1837 occurred the failures in London of -three important banking houses having a large American connection. -We had negotiated their 'credits' for some of our constituents to a -considerable amount for the payment of teas and silks. Those houses were -Thomas Wilson & Co., George Wildes & Co., and Timothy Wiggin, commonly -known as the three W's. These failures were within a short time of each -other. On reference to our register of bills drawn, we found the total -amount of which we had not yet received advice of payment or acceptance -to be close upon 200,000_l._ They were all drawn on 'clean credits,' -without 'collaterals' (which were not yet in vogue), and at six months' -sight. We had confidence in our American constituents, but as the -shipments occupied, say, four months in getting to market, and could -only be sold at the usual credit of six months, very little margin of -time existed. Our own credit, however, was the first consideration. One -of our partners, then in Boston, had in his charge a very large amount -belonging to Houqua, who gave us an order on the former to hold at our -disposal any sum required. Enclosing this, we directed remittances to be -made to Messrs. Barings of a sufficiency to cover all such bills on the -W's as could not be relied upon for payment by those for whose accounts -they had been drawn, and simultaneously we informed Messrs. Barings that -remittances would be made to them to provide for such bills, so that our -signature could be promptly honoured. - -Communication with the Western world was long in those days; there were -even no 'clipper' ships yet. Accustomed, however, to such delays, we -waited patiently the result. Our first advices were from London. They -informed us that the writers, Messrs. B. B. & Co., would honour all -bills bearing our name on the three bankrupt houses in question. This -was a gratifying thing, as they had not yet received our communication -above referred to. Everything worked with regularity. Some of the firms -for whose accounts the bills had been drawn were ready to meet them, -others furnished securities, and the ultimate loss was inconsiderable -on the whole account. So rapid had been remittances from our Boston -partner that, when the final account current was received at Macao -from London, 1840-41, the balance of interest was in our favour, while -Houqua was recouped in full as payments were made to our home partner by -American constituents. - -If I am not very much mistaken, 1837 was the first of those years ending -with '7' which have become proverbial as attended with great commercial -troubles in the Western world. - - * * * * * - -In the year 1838 (November) Mr. William Jardine took his departure from -Canton. He founded in 1832 the house of Jardine, Matheson, & Co., on the -closing up of that of Magniac & Co., which until then had been under the -management of Mr. Hollingworth Magniac. Mr. Jardine had been a surgeon -in the marine service of the Honourable East India Company, and had made -several voyages to Bombay and China. He had made the acquaintance of the -celebrated 'Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy,' that prince of Eastern merchants, -that philanthropist--the building of the hospital which now bears his -name, and the construction of the Bund from the island of Bombay to -Basseen, being amongst the numerous works which were carried out at -his own expense for the comfort and welfare of his countrymen. He was, -moreover, the first native inhabitant of the Presidency, and I think -of India, on whom was conferred the dignity of Baronet by the British -Government. The business transactions of Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy with -Jardine, Matheson, & Co. became of a colossal scale. - -The vast commercial operations of Mr. Jardine Seemed to be conducted -with sagacity and judgment. He was a gentleman of great strength of -character and of unbounded generosity. To him belongs the shipping of -the first cargo of 'free teas' to London, at the end of the two hundred -years of close monopoly of the East India Company. As a peculiarity of -his character, it may be mentioned that, in his own private office in -the Creek Factory, a _chair_ was never seen--a hint to any who may be -bothered with gossips or idlers during business hours! - -A few days before Mr. Jardine's departure from Canton, the entire -foreign community entertained him at a dinner in the dining-room of the -East India Company's Factory. About eighty persons of all nationalities, -including India, were present, and they did not separate until several -hours after midnight. It was an event frequently referred to afterwards -amongst the residents, and to this day there are a few of us who still -speak of it. - -Mr. Jardine was succeeded in the management of the house by Mr. (the -late Sir James) Matheson, who finally left China on March 10, 1842, -after a residence of about fifteen years. He was a gentleman of great -suavity of manner and the impersonation of benevolence. As the 'Chinese -Repository,' in noting his departure from Macao, said: 'On his leaving -the foreign community lost one of its most enterprising, able, and -liberal members.' - - * * * * * - -On February 26, 1839, execution of a Chinese, said to be an -opium-dealer, took place in front of the American Factory. The officers -had chosen the hours of the afternoon when nearly all the foreigners -were away in their daily walks or on the river. The man was tied up and -strangled in a twinkling, and all had rapidly returned up Old China -Street with the body. On landing from our boats we found the few who -had not been away collected in the Square, and heard from them what had -happened. The only public notice that could be taken of this affair -was to discontinue the daily hoisting of the national flags before our -doors; nor were they re-hoisted until March 22, 1842. - -The appointment of a 'Kin-Chae', or Imperial Envoy, to Canton, for -the express purpose of putting a stop to the opium trade, had now -become known. This appointment--only made on an occasion calling for -extreme measures--was conferred upon Lin-Tsih-Soo, and involved control -not only over all the Canton authorities, but those of the southern -and south-eastern provinces. His Excellency 'Lin' was the son of an -independent gentleman of Tseuen-Chow in the province of Fuh-Keen who -lived on the revenues of a porcelain manufactory, in which he himself -had worked as a day labourer it was said. - -The 'Kin-Chae' at length arrived at Canton on Sunday morning, at -half-past eight o'clock of March 10. Two gentlemen and myself went -on board of a small schooner lying off the Factories to witness his -arrival. He was seated on board of a large official boat, with a few -red- and blue-button Mandarins standing a little to the rear, so that we -had an excellent view of him personally. He had a dignified air, rather -a harsh or firm expression, was a large, corpulent man, with heavy -black moustache and long beard, and appeared to be about sixty years of -age. His own boat was followed by a great many others, on the sides -of which, on a black ground, were painted in gold letters the rank of -the principal occupants, while flags of various colours were displayed -abaft. The crews were neatly dressed in new uniforms of red trimmed -with white, and conical rattan hats of the same colours. These boats -contained the principal officers of the city, civil and military, from -the Viceroy to the Superintendent of the Salt Department. The walls of -the 'Red Fort,' nearly opposite the Factories on the Honam shore, were -lined with soldiers, as were those of the 'Dutch Folly,'[72] arrayed in -bright new uniforms. Both shores of the river, every door and window, -and every spot of standing ground, were thick with people. Everyone was -observing the novel scene quietly and as curiously as ourselves. No -other boat of any description was moving about; all were lying close to -the shores, and a universal silence prevailed. Besides my companions and -myself, not a 'foreign barbarian' was to be seen in the vast gathering. - -On the 17th the Hong merchants, the Linguists, and the Compradores -(except our own) were summoned to an audience of the 'Kin-Chae.' They -obeyed it with fear and trembling. The object was to ascertain who, -amongst the foreigners duly registered as occupying the Factories, and -whose names had been forwarded to Pekin eighteen months before, were -still present and in the opium 'business.' Russell & Co. not having -been included, our Compradore was not 'invited,' at which he appeared -particularly delighted. - -On the 18th the Kin-Chae sent for the Hong merchants. They were charged -with having connived at the opium trade, and his Excellency threatened -to strangle some of them if it was not _instantly_ put a stop to! They -were also accused of allowing foreign dealers in 'smoke' to reside in -their Factories, and were very much frightened, as one of them said, -'No hav see so fashion before.' Forthwith they met in 'Consoo' to -deliberate, and remained until late in the night. - -On the same day the first edict from the 'Kin-Chae' to foreigners was -issued. It ordered all Opium held by them to be surrendered, and that -they should sign bonds to discontinue the trade, 'under penalty of -death.' It became very clear that his Excellency was not to be trifled -with. - -On the 19th, Messrs. Matheson, Dent, Green, Wetmore, Dadabhoy Rustomjee, -and Daniell met the Hong merchants at the Consoo House, and were -informed by them verbally of the commands of the 'Kin-Chae,' which were -a repetition of the foregoing, with the addition that the opium was to -be destroyed. Moreover, if his Excellency's orders were not complied -with, the consequences would be serious. There were at this time 15,000 -chests on board of the 'receiving ships' at Lintin, and 5,000 chests at -the coast stations, and the cost of all over $12,000,000. - -The foreign community thought to propitiate the 'Kin-Chae,' after the -receipt by them of his '_unalterable_' commands, by offering to give up -a _certain_ quantity. This had been suggested by the Hong merchants, -who, no more than ourselves, supposed the 'Kin-Chae' to be serious in -insisting upon _all_ that was held. A meeting was therefore convened in -the Danish Hong, on the night of March 21, at which nearly everyone was -present, as were also the Hong merchants, who assembled in an adjoining -room. They were as anxious as we were to avert the threatened troubles, -should the 'Kin-Chae' not listen to 'reason,' as they expressed it. In -fact, throughout, while we were prisoners in the Factories, as will be -seen, for six weeks, under threat of death and constant, unheard-of -pressure, they did what they could to alleviate our condition through -appeals to the 'authorities of the City.' All this was done with very -great risk to themselves. Their presence at the meeting was from a -desire to know the decision to which it might come, that they could -report it to the 'Kin-Chae' as quickly as possible, and, in fact, we saw -by his reply that it had been made known to him between five and seven -on the morning of the 22nd. - -An hour or two before the meeting, Houqua made his appearance at our -office, and requested Mr. Green, the then chief, to add 150 chests of -opium to the quantity he intended to offer on behalf of Russell & Co. -to the general subscription, for which he himself would pay. The cost -of these chests would have been $105,000! The gentlemen present at -the meeting, on behalf of their firms subscribed 1,034 chests in all, -of the value of $725,000. These were offered to the 'Kin-Chae,' but -disdainfully refused. All communication with the shipping at Whampoa was -then cut off; quantities of soldiers collected near the Factories, as -well as on the river, while several days before, all the gates opening -to the rear of the Factories had been bricked up. - -Before the promulgation of the 'Kin-Chae's' proclamation to foreigners, -I was invited by the senior Hong merchant to translate from English -into Chinese a communication that had been prepared by his Excellency, -conjointly with the Viceroy[73] and Lieutenant-Governor of Canton, -addressed to Her Majesty the Queen of England. This arose from the -original having been translated into English, and the Imperial Envoy -was desirous to judge for himself if the latter version conveyed the -sense of the Chinese. Having consented, I passed four hours of a very -cold day at the Consoo House in accomplishing the task. There were -present a delegate from the Commissioner, a Mandarin of the fourth rank -(light blue button), an inferior officer, Houqua's grandson, Mouqua -and Kingqua, and two Linguists. The document was a most extraordinary -one. Prominent is the bombastic style, the outcome of ages of dominion, -ignorance of Western official forms through an absence of diplomatic -intercourse. It said: 'In dealing in opium, regardless of the injury it -inflicts upon the Chinese people, an inordinate thirst for gain controls -the actions of these foreign merchants.' With an idea that the use of -it was prohibited in England: 'We have heard that England forbids the -smoking of opium (within its dominions) with the utmost rigour; hence -it is clear that it is deleterious. Since, then, the injury it causes -has been averted from England, is it not wrong to send it to another -nation, and especially to China?' Then there is an appeal to personal -feeling: 'How can these opium-sellers bear to bring to our people -an article which does them so much harm, for an ever-grasping gain? -Suppose those of another nation should go to England and induce its -people to buy and smoke the drug--it would be right that You, Honoured -Sovereign, should hate and abhor them. Hitherto we have heard that You, -Honoured Sovereign, whose heart is full of benevolence, would not do -to others that which you would not others should do to yourself.' The -grandiloquent then appears: 'Our great Emperor maintains Celestial lands -and foreign nations in equal favour; he rewards merit and punishes vice; -and, as is the heart of heaven and earth pure and incorruptible, so is -his own. The Celestial Dynasty rules over ten thousand[74] nations, -and in the highest degree sheds forth its benign influence with equal -majesty.' This is in the sense of grandeur or stateliness. It ended -thus: 'By manifesting sincere and reverential obedience[75] mutually -will be enjoyed the blessings of great peace! Heaven will protect your -Majesty; the Gods bless you, lengthen your years, and grant you a happy -and an honourable posterity.' I never heard if this document reached its -destination. - -On March 23, every Chinaman in the Factories, from the Compradore to -the cook, left by order of the 'Kin-Chae,' and were threatened with -decapitation if they dared to return. The day before, Mr. Lancelot Dent, -chief of Messrs. Dent & Co., had been _invited_ to enter the city and -meet his Excellency, which he declined to do. Other but ineffectual -attempts by the authorities to induce him to go were also made, when, on -the 24th, Captain Charles Elliot, Her Majesty's Superintendent of Trade, -arrived from Macao, and immediately assumed charge, on behalf of the -English residents, of the perplexing question of the 'total surrender -of the opium.' The street in rear of the Factories was now filled with -soldiers, a strong guard was also placed in the 'Square,' and a triple -cordon of boats drawn up from the Creek to the Danish Factory. The whole -community were thus prisoners in the hands of the Chinese. Provisions -were not allowed to be brought in, no one was permitted to go beyond the -'Square,' and matters assumed a decidedly serious aspect. We overcame -the difficulty of provisions in this way. The Chinese soldiers being -entirely unaccustomed to foreigners, there was a danger that 'trouble -would arise;' the Hong merchants therefore represented this to the City -authorities, and offered to send their _own coolies_ to keep watch at -the different gates of the Factories.[76] This was agreed to, and the -double object was gained in supplies of firewood and provisions, which -were at night stealthily brought to us by them. - -On March 27, on the 'Kin-Chae's' demand to Her Majesty's Superintendent -'that all the opium under the control of the English merchants should be -given up,' 20,283 chests were tendered and accepted, and 'Chunpee' fixed -upon as the place of delivery. To control the delivery, Mr. Alexander -Johnston, Deputy Superintendent, was furnished with a conveyance, and -left Canton on April 3. The 'receiving ships' moved up to the Bogue, -where the entire quantity was handed over to officers (appointed by the -'Kin-Chae'), who caused it to be destroyed in deep trenches on Chunpee -heights. Thus 'reverent obedience' was shown. Captain Elliot remarked, -in his despatch to her Majesty's Government, dated March 30, 1839: -'This is the _first time, in our_ _intercourse with this Empire_, that -its Government has taken the _unprovoked_ (?) initiative in aggressive -measures against British _life_, _liberty_, and _property_, and against -the dignity of the British Crown.' No words could more strongly confirm -everything herein said in relation to the safety of property and life -which we had enjoyed at Canton. But the despatch contained not a word of -the provocation given by foreigners in continuing the condemned traffic -under constantly repeated injunctions against doing so, and persistent -warnings to discontinue it. I, of course, do not blame my brother -merchants at Canton, no matter to what nation they belonged, as we were -all equally implicated. We disregarded local orders, as well as those -from Pekin, and really became confident that we should enjoy perpetual -impunity so far as the 'opium trade' was concerned. - -The night of March 24 was one of unusual brilliancy in its cloudless -sky and full moon. The Factories, forcibly abandoned by several hundred -Chinese (estimated at eight hundred) at a moment's notice, resembled -somewhat places of the dead! Their foreign occupants were thus left -literally in a complete state of destitution as regards service of any -kind, not even a scullion being allowed to remain. The consequence was -that they were compelled, in order to _live_, to try their own skill in -cooking, to make up their own rooms, sweep the floors, lay the table, -wash plates and dishes! It may be supposed that it produced discontent, -complaints, and impatience. Not at all; we in the Suy-Hong--and it was -the same with our fellow-prisoners in the other Factories, with few -exceptions--made light of it, and laughed rather than groaned over the -efforts to roast a capon, to boil an egg or a potato. We could all -clean knives, sweep the floors, and even manage to fill the lamps. But -there were mysteries which we could not divine; our chief, Mr. Green, -after a vain attempt to boil rice--which, when prepared, resembled a -tough mass of glue--proved a most wretched cook, and took to polishing -the silver, but abandoned that and finally swept the floor! Mr. Low -conscientiously did all he could, but after toasting the bread to death, -and boiling the eggs till they acquired the consistency of grape-shot, -he abandoned that department, and took to one not exacting so much -exercise of mind, and 'laid the cloth' dexterously and well. The rest -of us, from modesty or a feeling of sheer incapacity, did no more than -was absolutely necessary. It would have been unfair to rob the others -of their laurels! Some one had to fill the pitchers; anyone could draw -a cork, or even boil water. Thus, by hook or by crook, we managed -to sustain life--of which the 'bread' was nightly supplied to us by -Houqua's coolies. They also brought (made up in bags, as if 'personal -effects' or 'blankets to keep off the dew,' thus passing the guards) -edibles of all sorts. - -During the day we met in the Square, which became 'High 'Change' of -experiences in desperate efforts to roast, boil, or stew. Some went the -length of considering it great fun; others heaped unheard-of blessings -upon the heads of His Celestial Majesty, Taou-Kwang, and his envoy 'Lin.' - -No two men were so unctuously abused; _as if_ the vilifiers themselves -had always followed strictly the 'Eight Regulations' under which they -lived! What amusement all this created. - -By May 2, 15,501 chests had been given up, when the servants were -allowed gradually to return, and the whole quantity, 20,283 chests,[77] -completed on the 21st. On the 27th Captain Elliot returned to Macao, -and on the 30th the opium clipper 'Ariel' left for Suez direct with -despatches for the British Government. She returned on April 2, 1840. - -Between May 6 and 21 many foreigners were permitted to leave the city, -and went to Macao or Whampoa. Captain Elliot, before going himself, on -the 22nd issued a notice to British subjects that they also were to -leave, and by the end of the month they had left; and there remained -no foreigners but Americans, about twenty-five in number. On the 29th -I left with all books, papers, &c., not actually required at Canton, -in company with six other boats for Macao, containing Parsees and -several English, including Doctors Cox and Dickson. On the way down -we were joined by four large chop-boats with Messrs. Lindsay & Co.'s -establishment, and John Shillaber and others from Messrs. Jardine, -Matheson, & Co.'s. The trip was most enjoyable; we dined or passed the -day with one another, and arrived nearly at the same time at Macao on -the night of June 1. The Mandarins who came on board at Che-Nae and at -Heang-Shan were civil as usual, and seemed perfectly indifferent to what -had passed at Canton. - - * * * * * - -The surrender of the 'British-owned opium' was followed by events to -which the foreign trade had from its foundation at Canton been a -stranger. Now were initiated political relations between the vast -and unknown Empire of China and European nations--the first that had -existed. No treaty had yet been entered into, except with Russia for -regulating its trade and arranging boundaries. Russian and Chinese -commercial relations had existed between two frontier towns (separated -but by the boundary line) well known as Kiachta and 'Mae-Mae-Ching.'[78] - -No Western officer was yet officially recognised, even of the rank of -Consul or Vice-Consul, and all communications between one or the other -and the Canton Government were through the intermediary of the Co-Hong. -The consequences, therefore, that might grow out of the delivery of the -opium filled the foreign community with anxiety. The Americans had not -delivered any American-owned opium, of which we held at the time of -surrender about fifty cases of Turkey, but they determined to remain -in the Factories and continue their business. The English on leaving -placed theirs in charge of the American houses. A large share of it fell -under the control of Russell & Co., and, to facilitate negotiations with -its new constituents outside, one of the partners opened an office on -board the English ship 'Heroine,' at 'Kow-Lung,' and subsequently, when -all foreign vessels were driven away from that anchorage, at Toon-Koo. -Several ships of the firm, including the 'Lintin,' were kept running -between these places and Whampoa with British goods at thirty to forty -dollars per ton, and Indian cotton at seven dollars per bale, and -receiving on board no freight unless consigned to the house. A very -active business was carried on under the American flag, greatly to the -convenience of English friends, as well as to their profit. Teas were -the returns for these inward cargoes, which were brought down to the -anchorage and shipped from Toon-Koo for England. - -While the shipments were going on an English vessel of about 900 tons -arrived from Singapore, named the 'Cambridge' under the command of -Captain Douglas. Being offered for sale, she was purchased by Russell -& Co., and her name changed to 'Chesapeake' of eventful memory. Loaded -with British goods, valued at 150,000_l._, with her deck full to the -top of the rail, she was despatched for Whampoa, in charge of Captain -Gilman. She had of course been put under the American flag. There was -very little time to spare, as a blockade was to commence in a few days. -On June 22, 1840, H.M.S. 'Volage,' and subsequently the 'Hyacinth,' -took up their positions off Chunpee[79] at the moment the 'Chesapeake' -sailed by. She was the last vessel that entered the port. She arrived at -her destination and delivered her cargo, which was landed at Canton in -regular course. - -The Chinese had thrown a great raft across the river just above the -second bar, in anticipation of hostilities with the English. They then -thought the best thing to do was to purchase a large foreign ship, arm -and man her, and anchor her above the raft, as an additional protection -against the barbarian war ships. Application being made to Mr. Delano, -the then chief of Russell & Co., who had never left Canton, a bargain -was concluded for the 'Chesapeake.' The American flag and papers -were removed, and she was made over to the Mandarins. Her 'Cumsha and -Measurement' charges, amounting to about _$_8,000, were abandoned. The -Mandarins took charge and began to fit her out as an 'auxiliary defence' -to the raft, and thus stop 'English men-of-war' which 'from vainglory -or conceit might dare to attempt the inner waters.' Two great eyes were -painted on her bows. Great streamers hung from every mast to the deck, a -multitude of flags of all colours and shapes--bearing such words painted -thereon as 'Courage,' the 'Yang-Yin,' and the 'Pa-Kwa,'[80] together -with the rank of the officer in command--were arranged around the -taffrail. In short, she became the Chinese emblem of everything 'mighty -and victorious!' She would strike would-be assailants with consternation -and despair! - -Meanwhile her armament was sent on board. Cannon of every available size -were ranged on her two decks; round shot, stones, and other missiles -were accumulated in quantities; nor were bows and arrows forgotten, -nor quantities of muskets, flint-lock and percussion, and the more -familiar matchlock. Her crew consisted of Whampoa Chinese (amongst many -others)--these were accustomed to foreign vessels, and no better sailors -than they--Manila men, Seedies,[81] and Lascars, runaways from country -ships. There were probably four or five hundred men on board. - -Thus equipped she was towed down to her appointed station amidst an -inconceivable beating of gongs, the explosion of fire crackers, flying -serpents, and fiery dragons--thanks to which and her two bow 'eyes' she -arrived in safety and anchored. - -This was a few days before February 26, 1841, when the Bogue Forts -were captured by Sir Gordon Bremer. The 'Unconquerable' was then -taking powder on board in large quantities, packed in jars, which were -promiscuously stowed on deck and between decks, as usual. She was so -engaged also on the 27th, having a great number of chop-boats and -other small craft alongside. Suddenly appeared the smoke of a steamer -approaching from the Bogue! It turned out to be H.M.'s ship 'Nemesis,' -Captain Hall. She had the 'singular audacity to approach the barrier,' -and when within an easy distance, the 'unheard-of temerity' to try -the effect of a Congreve rocket on the emblem of 'victory and might.' -The aim was true, and like a flash--or in a 'flash'--ship, crew, and -contents, boats, all disappeared from the face of the waters! The -explosion was terrific, and was distinctly heard at Canton, a distance -of thirty miles. Not a human creature was reported to have survived! -For years after there was to be seen on the left bank of the river the -bottom of the ship. It had been separated from the hull as if sawn off -in all its length; and it gradually disappeared through the combined -efforts of Chinese boatmen, who broke up and carried it piecemeal away. - -The English forces having moved up to Canton, a suspension of -hostilities was agreed upon on March 20, 1841, and the port was again -free. Local disturbances, however, broke out, and, on May 22 following, -a mob of Chinese plundered and burnt down the East India Company's new -Factory, the Dutch, and the Creek. On the 25th, Sir Hugh Gough landed -near Pwantingqua's country house and took possession of the heights -overlooking the city. The authorities then ransomed it for six millions -of dollars, of which five millions were paid on the 31st, when the -forces left Canton and foreign vessels again entered the port. - -The carrying trade on the river now ceased. Lying in the outer waters we -had the 'Lintin,' the 'Lantao' the 'Lema,' and the 'Ladrone.' The former -commenced her career in China as Russell & Co.'s 'receiving ship' in -1830. She was well constructed to carry a large cargo, and her sailing -qualities were fair. Her career and ultimate fate were singular. With -the exception of shifting stations during the taiphoon seasons, her -anchors were never raised for nine years, when in 1839, as related, she -resumed her original vocation of a sailing ship up and down the 'Pearl' -River. - -During this state of idleness for our ships, I received information from -Mr. Delano that Houqua was disposed to send orders to India for cotton. -Prices had naturally fallen there during the blockade and troubles at -Canton, while the non-importation for several months had caused a great -rise. Three of the ships were despatched and 100,000_l._ remitted to -Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. The funds were in East India Company's -bills on Calcutta. The 'Lintin' sailed for Madras, the 'Lantao' for -Calcutta, and the 'Lema' for Bombay, thus securing so much tonnage for -the cotton, while other vessels were to be chartered at those ports. The -first vessel, however, that arrived with a portion of the purchases was -the Swedish ship 'Calcutta,' and she had anchored in the Taypa only a -few days when she was driven on shore in a taiphoon. In due time our -own ships arrived. The 'Lintin' was then despatched a second time, but -got no further than Singapore, when her captain, Townsend, in direct -breach of orders, and under various pretexts, took in a cargo of rattans -and returned to Macao! His 'accounts' being refused, he brought an -action against us in the Macao court. - -It was still going on when I left Macao in 1844. The legal papers had so -accumulated that they seemed sufficient to 'dunnage' the ship. Asking -the clerk of the court one day if he thought it would _ever_ be settled, -he made the same reply that he had repeated for years: 'Se senhor, ma, -hum poco tiempo!' ('Certainly, sir, but it requires a little time'). - -The 'Lintin,' however, was sent to Whampoa. The first English treaty -with the Chinese having been broken, further preparations were made -for defence, and the authorities, not discouraged, sought for another -foreign ship--this time for service nearer the city. They took a fancy -to the 'Lintin;' she was sold to them, and towed up the river by a -great fleet of small boats. An eye[82] was painted on each bow; she was -completely unrigged to her lower masts, and, amidst a confused noise -of gongs and fireworks, she was anchored just below the Dutch Folly, -opposite the city. - -On the day appointed for 'making her over' various high Mandarins with -many followers came on board. Captain Endicott, who was in charge, had -caused certain refreshments to be laid out on the cabin table with which -to regale these officers. They consisted of several junk bottles of gin -and brandy, a jug or two of water, hard biscuits and cheroots! Before -accompanying them over the ship, he invited them to the cabin. - -As he said when relating the circumstance to us, 'after drinks all -round and a weed' we returned on deck to look about the vessel; next -we visited the between-decks, and the Mandarins pronounced everything -highly satisfactory. Seeing a Scuttle-Butt[83] pump, it attracted the -attention of one of them, who took it to be an 'engine of war,' and -asked to be informed as to the manner of its use! They soon after took -leave and returned to the city. 'Thank heaven,' said Captain Endicott -to a gentleman whom he had asked on board to see the Chinese officials, -'that's over; now that they are off, let us go down and take a drink -and a smoke.' On getting to the cabin they found that _everything_--the -gin and brandy, cigars, biscuits, even the water-jug, pitcher, and -tumblers--had all been walked off with by the followers of the high -dignitaries! A Chinese crew and naval Mandarin took possession, as -Captain Endicott pulled away from his 'old home' for so many years. She -was then duly turned into a Chinese man-of-war. There were the usual -insignia of invincibility, triangular flags, on which were figures of -dragons swallowing the moon, the 'Yin and Yang,' circles and zigzag -lines, emblematical of thunder and lightning. - -The commanding officer of all this destructive paraphernalia, with the -peacock's feather in his cap, a large silk umbrella held over his head, -seated himself comfortably in a bamboo chair, smoking his pipe. - -Other formidable preparations for war were duly made in a provision of -worm-eaten guns, matchlocks, spears, and shields. She would soon have -been ready for an encounter with any of the English sloops, whether the -'Modeste' or the 'Algerine,' perhaps even the 'Herald;' but one night -a great freshet took place. The violence of the tide was such that she -swerved at her anchor from right to left, struck on the rocks close to -the 'Folly,' slid off, and went down in deep water! The Chinese then set -to work and unshipped her masts, leaving a stump of the foremast about -seven feet above the deck, and placed upon it a diminutive lantern. This -served thenceforth as a 'lighthouse' to guide boats up and down the -river! It was the _first_ lighthouse in Canton waters 'on record.' When -I last saw the stump of the mast, twenty-eight years after, a great bank -of mud had formed around the hull, and a faint glimmer from a penny dip -in a small paper lantern marked the last resting-place of the 'Lintin.' - - * * * * * - -The seizure of the opium in its consequences was _the_ feature in the -breaking up of the exclusive conditions of foreign trade at Canton, as -it had existed since 1720. The peculiar conditions also of social life -were doomed, as was that perfect and wonderful organisation, the Co-Hong. - -On August 10, 1841, Sir Henry Pottinger arrived at Macao as Her -Majesty's sole plenipotentiary and Minister Extraordinary. Negotiations -with the Mandarins were carried on simultaneously with the capture of -cities on the coast. The material losses and destruction of life to -the Chinese were incalculable, particularly through suicide by those -helpless people. An English officer who was present at the taking -of Cha-Po in May 1842 wrote to a friend at Macao that on landing, -about 3,500 strong, under cover of the men-of-war, the most terrible -enormities were committed. He then goes on to say: 'After the city had -been captured, I entered more than a hundred houses, and in each there -were not less than two, and in many eight, persons found dead. They were -the bodies of mothers and daughters who had committed suicide from a -dread of becoming prisoners; 1,600 dead were buried after the battle, -of which more than one-half were Tartar soldiers, who in despair of -repelling the enemy, and preferring death to defeat, had _nearly all_ -destroyed themselves. Is not this a splendid exhibition of patriotism?' - -The losses of the English on this occasion by the official accounts were -one colonel, one sergeant, and seven men killed, seven officers and -forty-seven men wounded; and so on to the end, the pigmy against the -giant! - -At length the treaty of Nanking, in which the Chinese consented to -pay an indemnity of _$_21,000,000, was signed off that city, on board -of H.M.S. 'Cornwallis,' on August 29, 1842, by his Excellency Sir -Henry Pottinger, the Imperial Commissioners Ke-Ying and E-Leepoo, and -New-Keen, the Viceroy of Keang-Nan and Keang-Se. And thus concluded the -first European war with China, one of the most unjust ever waged by one -nation against another. - -The next treaty was that of the United States, which was signed at the -village of Mong-Ha (Macao) on July 3, 1844, by Mr. Caleb Cushing and -Ke-Ying. Together they were the 'knell, the shroud, the mattock, and the -grave' of Old Canton. - - * * * * * - -The Chinese had not looked with satisfaction upon the concessions -they had been obliged to make to an overwhelming military and naval -force, which had caused them the loss of myriads of lives, often under -circumstances of great atrocity, of unheard-of suffering, as well -as of many millions of dollars independently of the war indemnity. -The ordeal was a terrible one; but they gained by it the, to them, -unenvied _privilege_ of falling in with Western ideas. Encouraged by the -confidence inspired by so _great_ a _privilege_, they now contract for -loans of money, they build vessels of war on European models, and drill -their soldiers in foreign tactics; they provide themselves with Western -arms of precision--in short, they are putting on their armour. They are -in full career of a diplomacy in which Ambassadors or Ministers--that -is to say, 'spies upon one another'--watch over the interests of their -respective countries. With the sword at their throat they have become -members of what is facetiously called the 'Brotherhood' of Nations! - - - - -MESSRS. RUSSELL & CO., CANTON. -1823 TO 1844. - - -The house of Russell & Co. was constituted on January 1, 1824, in -succession to that of Samuel Russell & Co., which had existed from -December 26, 1818, to December 26, 1823. It is known amongst the Chinese -as 'Kee-Chang-Hong.' It confined itself strictly to agency business. -From January 1, 1824, until the middle of 1830 the sole partners were -Mr. Russell and Philip Ammidon. In September 1829 Mr. Wm. H. Low arrived -from Salem in the ship 'Sumatra' (Captain Roundy); and in November 1830 -Mr. Augustine Heard, Senior, arrived from Boston in the bark 'Lintin' -(Captain R. B. Forbes). These two gentlemen (Mr. Low and Mr. Heard) -became partners in the house, the first until the end of the year 1833, -when, having been obliged to leave Canton from ill health, he was landed -and died at the Cape of Good Hope. - -During the term of 1834-5-6, consequent upon the death of Mr. Low, were -admitted Mr. John C. Green (special agent at Canton of Messrs. N. L. -and G. Griswold, of New York), Mr. John M. Forbes, who had arrived in -the 'Lintin' to join the office in 1830, and Mr. Joseph Coolidge, who -arrived in 1832; and Mr. Heard retired. - -The term of 1837-8-9 saw the withdrawal of Messrs. Forbes and Coolidge, -the first on December 31, 1838, and the latter on December 31, 1839. -Were admitted on January 1, 1837, Mr. A. A. Low (nephew of Mr. W. H. -Low), who had come out to join the office in 1833), and Mr. W. C. -Hunter. Mr. Edward King (who came out in the 'Silas Richards,' Captain -Rosseter, 1834), was taken in the office on arrival, and became a -partner on July 1, 1837; Mr. Robert B. Forbes (who arrived in the -'Bashaw' in October 1838) was admitted January 1, 1839, and became the -chief of the house. - -The term of 1840-41-42, Mr. A. A. Low having retired, began with the -admission of Mr. Warren Delano (formerly of the house of Russell, -Sturgis, & Co., of Canton and Manila). He succeeded Mr. Forbes as chief -of the house when the latter left for New York in the 'Niantic' on July -7, 1840. Mr. Russell Sturgis, also a former partner of Russell, Sturgis, -& Co., became a partner on January 1, 1842. Mr. King and Mr. Hunter -retired on December 31, 1842, left Macao in February 1844 for New York, -_via_ the Cape (in the ship 'Akbar,' Captain Hallet), and the retirement -of Mr. Sturgis took place on December 31, 1843. - -This is but a rapid _resume_ of an interval of twenty years. A history -of the house from its foundation to the present time--a period of sixty -years--has been compiled by a former partner. The work, which would -prove of interest to its many friends, its old associates, and their -successors, may be published. - - - - -EPILOGUE. - - -Just a Cycle ago, a gentleman came on board the ship 'Citizen,' as she -anchored at Lintin, China, from New York, to hear the _latest_ news she -may have brought--125 days old!--the interval was a short one at that -time. - -Such as Canton _then_ was in its commercial, social, and domestic life -it has been for two generations a sealed book; nor will the world ever -see its like again! May those who _now_ seek China Opened be as well -received, as little molested, as much protected, as were those over whom -the aegis of treaties never existed, and as bountifully rewarded as those -whose enterprise led them to what was _then_ a 'mysterious land.' - -It is _now_, through the untiring encouragement and assistance of the -gentleman above referred to (and who will, I trust, excuse my naming -him)--Robert B. Forbes, Esq., of Boston, U.S.A.--that I have reproduced -in the foregoing pages the days of Old Canton, with which we became -familiar; regretting that to restore those scenes--all of which we saw, -and part of which we were--it fell not to a more able pen. - - W. C. H. - - - - - LONDON: PRINTED BY - SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE - AND PARLIAMENT STREET - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Viz., 'The Huntress,' 'Beaver,' 'Europa,' 'America,' 'Maria,' and -'Mary Lord.' - -[2] A fast pulling and sailing boat. - -[3] A poetical term for small-footed women. - -[4] One of the most famous Chinese dynasties, 2nd and 3rd centuries -A.D., from which the name 'children of Han.' - -[5] _Bogue_ is a corruption of the Portuguese word _bocca_ (mouth). When -the Portuguese first approached it, about 1525, the strong resemblance -of the red sandstone eminence to the left of the narrow mouth of -the Pearl River to a tiger's mouth, caused the exclamation, still -perpetuated in its name, 'Bocca Tigre!' The Chinese name for it is 'the -Lion's Gate.' - -[6] _Sampan_, a small skiff or boat. - -[7] 'Chow-Chow,' mixed. - -[8] Siamese teak. - -[9] Any Mandarin or official station was locally known as 'Chop-house.' - -[10] The Chinese name for Sweden is Suy-Kwo. - -[11] An assistant-magistrate. Up to 1848 Macao was under the joint -government of the Portuguese and Chinese. - -[12] At this time the ships' Compradores were engaged at Macao, and not -at Whampoa. - -[13] Buddhist Temple. - -[14] The Dutch East India Company. - -[15] 'Man-ta-le'--Pigeon-English for 'Mandarin' - -[16] A lac is 100,000. - -[17] Pigeon-English for 'cold.' - -[18] The best quality of birds' nests was brought from Java. This -'whimsical luxury' was worth 4,000 Spanish dollars per picul of 133-1/3 -pounds. - -[19] Pigeon-English for 'old friend.' - -[20] Pigeon-English for 'quicksilver.' - -[21] 'Unfortunate.' - -[22] A complimentary term. - -[23] Captain Elliot. - -[24] Baring Brothers & Co. - -[25] Pigeon-English for 'gentlemen.' - -[26] A complimentary term. - -[27] One of our partners whom we had sent to London. Lord Byron once -wrote of him to Murray as full of 'Entusymusy;' so we called him -'Tusymusy.' - -[28] Their Chinese names were Tan and Tung, but these words not being -readily distinctive to the foreign ear, they both became Tom, while -'Old' and 'Young' were added to suit their respective ages. - -[29] 'My compliments to you.' - -[30] The chief of a foreign house was known as 'Tai-pan.' The word -signifies 'head manager.' The assistants or clerks were called -'pursers.' This word was undoubtedly taken from the office of 'purser,' -whom the Chinese had only known as transacting business for the -commanders of the East India Company's ships. The latter enjoyed the -privilege of forty tons of space (English measurement) in each vessel -homeward, which involved the presence at Canton of the 'pursers' to act -for them in selling their outward and buying their homeward investments. -The 'pursers' frequently hired a portion of a Factory (when to be had), -and resided in it more or less while their ships were at Whampoa. - -[31] Since the Conquest the reverse bears the name of the Emperor in -Manchoo Tartar letters. - -[32] Known as 'Sycee,' which means literally 'fine silk.' - -[33] 10 cash = 1 candareen, 10 candareen = 1 mace, 10 mace = 1 tael. - -[34] Bar gold, Sycee silver, chopped dollars. - -[35] The Chinese called these boats 'scrambling dragons' and 'fast -crabs.' - -[36] A chest contained 1 picul = 133-1/3 pounds. - -[37] Often so called in official language. - -[38] The 'Omega' belonged to Dent & Co. - -[39] The 'Governor Findlay' to Jardine, Matheson, & Co. - -[40] All opium vessels carried Shroffs. - -[41] The Chinese character which represents 'day' is literally 'sun.' - -[42] When a Chinese takes leave, he says, 'Kaou-tsze' ('I inform you of -taking leave'). - -[43] The 'Colonel Young' belonged to Jardine, Matheson, & Co., as well -as the 'Fairy.' - -[44] The 'Harriet' belonged to Jardine, Matheson, & Co. - -[45] Literally 'great wind,' not those destructive storms which occur -but once in three or four years, unroof houses and tear ships to pieces; -they are called Teet-kuy, 'iron whirlwinds.' - -[46] Country ships and coasters carried Manila men--Portuguese of -Bombay or Macao--as helmsmen; they hove the lead, &c., and were called -'Sea-cunnies.' - -[47] Strangling is by means of a wooden cross driven into the ground -to which the prisoner's neck and outstretched arms are secured. A more -ghastly and ignominious death than beheading. - -[48] Called the Praya Grande, temporarily destroyed by the taiphoon of -1875. - -[49] The Fragrant Hill. - -[50] 'Cumsha' means 'a present.' - -[51] A catty is 1-1/3 pounds English. - -[52] The Imperial Commissioner. - -[53] A subordinate officer of the chief magistrate's department. - -[54] The currency being taels, mace, candareens, and cash. - -[55] 'Flowery flag,' the United States. - -[56] Presents to the captains and officers. - -[57] Buddha. - -[58] A very common exclamation on any occasion. - -[59] The late Sir James Matheson was the reputed founder of the foreign -press in China (_The Canton Register_); but it was an open question -whether it was he or Mr. Wood. I contributed to that paper (translations -from Chinese) when started; but in the consequent daily intercourse with -Wood, he never hinted that he was not its sole founder. If my memory -serves me Sir James was at the time on a trip up the coast. Nevertheless -there is but one 'old Canton' who can decide the point, the present Sir -Alexander Matheson. - -[60] Confucius. - -[61] Kung-Ming, a celebrated warrior of the third century A.D. - -[62] Celebrated gardens, near Canton, visited by foreigners. - -[63] 'Fan-Kwae,' foreign devils. - -[64] The offspring of European Spaniards and natives. - -[65] The privilege was 140 piculs weight. - -[66] Public office. - -[67] Equivalent to Excellency. - -[68] At Macao, 1841. - -[69] Whole dollars were so called put up in red paper--a neat way of -paying small sums. - -[70] 'Eaten them.' - -[71] The resident physician of the foreign community, apart from the -Honourable East India Co. He was from Philadelphia. - -[72] An old Chinese fort so called, east of the Factories. - -[73] The capital of Canton province is Show-King-Foo, and was the -residence of the Governor-General of Canton and Kwang-Se. Consequent -upon the former becoming the seat of foreign trade, the Governor-General -removed there, and second to him is the Lieutenant-Governor. He is now -styled Viceroy. - -[74] Figurative for 'a great many.' - -[75] These and similar expressions in Chinese official documents, -over which Western people make such an absurd fuss, are no more to be -taken literally than the vulgarised form of 'your obedient servant.' -In the present case 'reverential obedience' is to be taken as 'serious -co-operation,' so the Blue Button pointed out to me. - -[76] That no one might escape. - -[77] The Canton agents talked over the question of half-commissions on -consignments thus withdrawn. It was argued that their Indian principals -would recover from the British Government, a charge sanctioned by -commercial usage. The half-commissions were assumed to be about 300,000 -dollars. No unanimous decision was arrived at, but on the quantity -delivered up by Russell & Co.--nearly 15,000 dollars--the charge was -foregone. - -[78] Buying and selling town. - -[79] At the mouth of the Bogue. - -[80] Yang-Yin, one of the chief features of which, in some mysterious -way, gives notice of impending change of fortune deduced from the -Pa-Kwa, a complicated system, of very remote antiquity, of divination. - -[81] Natives of Africa, sweepers, &c. - -[82] The 'eyes' on the bows of Chinese junks gave rise to the -expression, 'No got eye, no can see,' under the erroneous foreign belief -that the Chinese attributed to them the power of seeing and avoiding -danger. This is very far from the fact. The bows of sea-going junks -represent the head of a _dragon_, with expanded jaws and full round -eyes, and being the symbol of the Chinese Empire, it is used as a carved -eagle may be on an American vessel, without occult power attaching -thereto. - -[83] A 'Scuttle-Butt' is a cask with a square hole in its bilge, kept on -deck to hold water for daily use, which is drawn by means of a hand-pump. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes - - -The author's name is William C. Hunter. - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Hyphen added: hard-working (p. 87). - -Hyphen removed: mastheads (p. 1). - -P. 3: added "a" (my fellow-passenger took a fast boat). - -P. 3: "Sandal Wood Island" changed to "Sandalwood Island". - -P. 32: "Mr. Holingworth" changed to "Mr. Hollingworth". - -P. 94: "the first ships tome co in" changed to " the first ships to come -in". - -P. 130: "We styled oursveles" changed to "We styled ourselves". - - - - -[Illustration: Back cover: KPT & Co.] - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty -Days 1825-1844, by William C. Hunter - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 'FAN KWAE' AT CANTON *** - -***** This file should be named 42685.txt or 42685.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/6/8/42685/ - -Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. 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