C 231 ] 



CHAP. IV. 



Commerce between the Chinefe and Ruffians — liji of the 

 principal exports and imports — duties — average amount 

 of the Ruffian trade. 



THE merchants of Maimatfchin come from the Merchants of 

 Maimatlchin. 

 Northern- provinces of China, chiefly from Pekin, 



Nankin, Sandchue, and other principal towns. They 

 are not fettled at this place with their wives and fami- 

 lies : for it is a remarkable circumftance, that there 13 

 Iiot one woman in Maimatfchin. This reftridlion arifes 

 from the policy of the Chinefe government, which, 

 totally prohibits the women from having the flighteft 

 intercourfe with foreigners. No Chinefe merchant 

 engages in the trade to Siberia who has not a part- 

 ner. Thefe perfons mutually relieve each other. 

 One remains for a ftated time, ufually a year, at 

 Kiachta ; and when- his partner arrives with a frefli 

 cargo of Chinefe merchandize, he then returns home 

 with the Ruffiian commodities *. 



Moft of the Chinefe merchants underiland the Mon- 

 gol tongue, in which language commercial affairs arc 



* PallasReife, P. III.p. 125. 



generally 



