Early Relations between the United States and China. 23 



between Canton and Whampoa, the ship was watched by customs 

 officials to prevent sniugghng. Just before she sailed, a grand 

 chop, or permission to leave, had to be obtained from the Hoppo."'^ 



The duties and port charges were often heavy, and were for 

 the most part uncertain and determined by custom. No table 

 can be given, for no definite one was ever established, or at 

 least, made known to foreigners. ^^ There were both import and 

 export duties, the former paid by the foreigner, the latter by the 

 native merchant. In addition there were measurement duties, 

 varying with the size of the ship,*^" a cumshaw tax, which was 

 originally the sum of a number of extra-legal fees and percentages 

 given to different officials, and was later transformed into a 

 regular sum paid to the imperial custom house, ^^ and pilots', 

 linguists', and compradors' fees."- The last four were the same 

 for all ships, and in 1832-3 amounted to $2,573 P^r ship.®^ The 

 measurement and cumshaw taxes were remitted on ships import- 

 ing rice.'''* 



Various restrictions were placed on trade. No ships w^ere 

 admitted without a cargo of some sort aside from specie.''^ The 

 importation of opium, the exportation of bullion except by spe- 

 cial permit, and of large amounts of rice,"** and any exportation 

 of sycee, or of metallic manufactures, were forbidden. Salt peter 

 could be imported only for the government."" No vessels of 

 war could pass beyond the Bocca Tigris, nor could they even 

 anchor off the coast, unless they came as convoys. Smuggling, 



^ The facts in this paragraph are to be found in W. W. Wood, Sketches 

 of China with Illustrations from Original Drawings, Philadelphia, 1830, 

 pp. 213-217, Morrison, Chinese Commercial guide, pp. 9-18, Roberts, 

 Embassy to Eastern Courts, p. 126, Shaw, Journals, pp. 173-178, Hunter, 

 Fan Kwae at Canton, p. 51, and the East India Trader's Complete Guide, 

 London, 1825, p. 453. William Milburn, Oriental Commerce. 



'"'^ Consular Letters, Canton, III. 



"" In 1832-3 it was $650 to $3000. Roberts, Embassy to En. Courts, p. 126. 



" Alorrison, Chinese Commercial Guide, p. 18. 



'= Ibid. 



"^ Roberts, Embassy to Eastern Courts, p. 126. 



" Ibid., p. 126, and Evidence of Abel Coffin, Pari. Papers, 1830, 5 : 122. 



"^ Snow to Secretary of State, Jan. 24, 1801, Consular Letters, Canton, I. 



^ Morrison, Chinese Com'l Guide, p. 18. 



" Morrison, Chinese Com'l Guide, p. 18. 



