434 AVOYAGETO 



•779- the number of inhabitants in the Sampanes alone (for each 



December. 



of them contains one family), mud amount to nearly three 

 times the number fuppofed by M. Sonnerat to be in the 

 whole city. 



The military force of the province, of which Canton is- 

 the capital, amounts to fifty thoufand men. It is faid that 

 twenty thoufand are Rationed in and about the city ; and, 

 as a proof of this, I was afTured, thar, on the occafion of 

 fome diflurbance that had happened at Canton, thirty thou- 

 fand men were drawn together within the fpace of a few 

 hours. 



The ftreets are long, and mod of them narrow and irre- 

 gular; but well paved with large ftones ; and, for the molt 

 part, kept exceedingly, clean. The houfes are built of brick, 

 one flory high, having generally two or three courts back- 

 ward, in which are the ware-houfes for merchandize, and, 

 in the houfes within the city, the apartments for the 

 women. A very few of the meaneft fort are built of wood. 



The houfes belonging to the European factors, are buih 

 on an handfome quay, with a regular facade of two ftories 

 toward the river, and difpofed, within, partly after the Eu- 

 ropean, and partly after the Chinefe manner. Adjoining to 

 ihefe are a number of houfes, belonging to the Chinefe, 

 and hired out to the commanders of fhips, and merchants, 

 who make an occafional flay. As no European is allowed 

 to bring his wife to Canton, the Englifh fupercargoes live 

 together, at a common table, which is kept by the com- 

 pany, and have each a feparate apartment, confiding of 

 three or four rooms. The time of their rcfidence fcldom 

 exceeds eight months annually; and as they are pretty con- 

 ftantly employed, during that time, in the fcrvice of the 



company, 



