394 cook's voyage to dec. 



The streets are long, and most of them narrow 

 and irregular ; but well paved with large stones ; 

 and, for the most part, kept exceedingly clean. 

 The houses are built of brick, one story high, 

 having generally two or three courts backward, in 

 which are the warehouses for merchandize, and, in 

 the houses within the city, the apartments for the 

 women. A very few of the meanest sort are built 

 of wood. 



The houses belonging to the European factors, 

 are built on a handsome quay, with a regular facade 

 of two stories toward the river, and disposed, within, 

 partly after the European and partly after the 

 Chinese manner. Adjoining to these are a number 

 of houses, belonging to the Chinese, and hired out 

 to the commanders of ships, and merchants, who 

 make an occasional stay. As no European is al- 

 lowed to bring his wife to Canton, the English 

 supercargoes live together, at a common table, 

 which is kept by the company, and have each a 

 separate apartment, consisting of three or four 

 rooms. The time of their residence seldom exceeds 

 eight months annually ; and as they are pretty con- 

 stantly employed, during that time, in the service 

 of the Company, they may submit, with the less 

 regret, to the restraints they are kept under. They 

 very rarely pay any visits within the walls of Canton, 

 except on public occasions. Indeed, nothing gave 

 me so unfavourable an idea of the character of the 

 Chinese, as to find, that amongst so many persons of 

 liberal minds and amiable manners, some of whom 

 have resided in that country for near fifteen years 

 together, they have never formed any friendship or 

 social connection. As soon as the last ship quits 

 Wampu, they are all obliged to retire to Macao ; 

 but as a proof of the excellent police of the country, 

 they leave all the money they possess in specie 

 behind them, which, I was told, sometimes amounted 



