i86 OS BECK'S VOYAGE. 



he. during our flay in China. The fhip which 

 comes firft has the bed place. Each fhip is 

 obliged to give a fum for the place it takes 

 up, befides paying the comprador for erecting 

 (immediately after the arrival of a fhip) a 

 warehoufe in form of a barn, made of bamboo 

 and mats, in which there are two chambers for 

 the mate or bancfhal captain, who continually 

 watches with fome failors at both ends of the 

 building. As long as they do not fufpect any 

 thieves, they fhout out from one bancfhal to 

 another, all well, and often beat the gungung, 

 to mew their vigilance. A liberty was former- 

 ly given to the centinels of firing upon the 

 Chinefe, who ventured to get into thofe banc- 

 fhals at night ; but this is not now permitted. 



When an eminent flranger pays vifits, or 

 when the colours of a {hip are hoifted, the 

 flags are difplayed in the bancjhaL Towards 

 the departure of a fhip, the neceffary oxen, 

 hogs, &c. are killed in this warehoufe. 



Gungung is the Chinefe name of an inflru- 

 inent "which has the greatefl refemblance to a 

 brafs bafon. In all bancjhah and factories, a 

 fignal on this inflrument is given every half 

 hour, m the fame manner as is done on- board 



by 



