_ 



THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 435 



company, they may fubmit, with the lefs regret, to the re- '779- 



*,, ° December. 



nraints they are kept under. They very rarely pay any vifits *• — » ' 



within the walls of Canton, except on public occafions. In- 

 deed, nothing gave me fo unfavourable an idea of the cha- 

 racter of the Chinefe, as to fino\ that amongft fo many per- 

 fons of liberal minds, and amiable manners, fome of whom 

 have refided in that country for near fifteen years together, 

 they have never formed any friendship or focial connection. 

 As foon as the laft fliip 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 pofTefs in 

 fpecic behind them, which, I was told, fometimes amount- 

 ed to one hundred thoufand pounds fterling, and for which 

 they had no other fecurity than the feals of the merchants 

 of the Hong, the viceroy, and Mandarines. 



During my flay at Canton, I was carried, by one of the 

 Englifli gentlemen, to vifit a perfon of the fir ft confequence 

 in the place. We were received in a long room or gallery, 

 at the upper end of which flood a table, with a large chair 

 behind it, and a row of chairs extending from it on each 

 fide down the room. Being previoufly inflructed, that the 

 point of civility confifted in remaining as long unfeated as 

 poflible, I readily acquitted myfelf of this piece of etiquette j 

 after which we were entertained with tea, and fome pre- 

 ferred and frefh fruits. Our hoft was very fat, with a 

 heavy dull countenance, and of great gravity in his deport- 

 ment. He fpoke a little broken Englifli and Portugueze ; 

 and, after we had taken our refrefliment, he carried us 

 about his houfe and garden ; and having fhewed us all the 

 improvements he was making, we took our leave. 



3 K 2 Having 



