2 2 Kenneth S. Latourette, 



which followed the first British-Chinese war were signed, it had 

 outlived its usefulness and rightly came to an end. 



The co-hong was the central point in the commercial organiza- 

 tion, but there were, in addition, many regulations which grew 

 up as custom or which were formally enacted from time to time. 

 When a ship arrived at the mouth of the Pearl River, a pilot 

 took it in charge and brought it to Macao. Here an official 

 permit was secured which permitted it to go to Whampoa, and 

 a licensed pilot was taken on board. This latter, with the aid 

 of the assistant pilot, brought the ship past the Bocca Tigris, 

 or mouth of the river, and the first and second bars, and up 

 to Whampoa. This anchorage, twelve miles below Canton, was 

 as far as foreign ships could go, and here they were unloaded 

 and loaded.^® Before trade could be opened, however, the ship 

 had to be secured by one of the hong merchants, who guaranteed 

 its good behavior and the payment of its duties, and through 

 whom in return most of its sales and purchases were usually 

 made. It had also to obtain a comprador to furnish it supplies, 

 and a linguist who for a percentage of the duties, transacted all 

 the business with the custom house and with the various gov- 

 ernment officials. Then the vessel had to be measured by the 

 deputies of the Hoppo, or superintendent of customs, the ship's 

 extra tackle, overhall rigging, stores, and repair casks, must be 

 put in a building or hanksall on the shore,^' a declaration made 

 that no opium was on board, and a permit {chop) obtained for 

 unloading the cargo. During the unloading and the loading, 

 which was done by means of chop or licensed boats running 



""^John Robert Morrison, A Chinese Commercial Guide, Consisting of a 

 Collection of Details respecting Foreign Trade in China, Canton, 1834. 

 Captain Benjamin Hodges in 1789 paid $15 for the pilot to Macao, $40 for 

 the pilot from Whampoa through the mouth of the river. Journal and Log 

 of the Brig William and Henry from Salem, Mass., to Canton, Isle of 

 France, and Salem. 1788-1790. Benjamin Hodges, Master. MS. The 

 pilot expenses of the "Ann and Hope" in 1801 were; expenses at Macao, 

 $9.25, for pilot inwards, $44, for boat at Macao, $4, for boats to tow ships 

 over the second bar and boats stationed there, $14, for pilot outward, 

 $56, for the attendance of six boats at the second bar, $6, for cumshaw 

 (fee) to pilot outward, $2. Disbursements [of "Ann and Hope"] while 

 on their voyage to London and Canton, Christopher Bentley, IMaster. MS. 



" This custom fell into disuse in later years. 



