Prospect of Commerce in China. 497 



boating- It up the Yang-tse-kiang from Shanghai to Hang-kow, 

 whence they thought of penetrating via Thibet into British 

 India.* Ah-eady information has been obtained from a 

 variety of these excursions, which were undertaken specially 

 in the interests of commerce, such as justify the most glowing 

 expectations as to the trade with the Yang-tse-kiang and the 

 Pei-ho.f Hang-kow promises to be a most important depot 

 for the exportation of tea, while Tien-Tsin promises to be 

 not less important as an entrepot for the importation of 

 manufactures of every description. By the opening of these 

 two additional ha.rbours, Shanghai and Canton will fall off 

 in their ratio of increase hitherto, but general commerce will 

 on the whole receive a new impulse. 



To the merchant and shipper, the latest intelligence from 

 China as to the enormous development of commerce and 

 trade at numerous spots of the Central Empire, hitherto undis- 

 turbed by European civilization, must be positively astound- 

 ing. It is a rich mine of the most valuable material, which 

 the China Overland Trade Report and the North China Herald 

 presents to its readers, rendered doubly valuable through 



* Abandoned after a large part of the course of the Yang-tse had been explored. 

 Lieutenant-Colonel Sarel published lately a most interesting and valuable pamphlet 

 on this expedition, of which he was the leader, under the title, " Notes on the River 

 Yang-tse-kiang from Hankow to Ping-Shan. Hong-kong, Printed at Noronka's office." 



t Report of the deputation, appointed by the British Chamber of Commerce in 

 Shanghai, on the commercial capabilities of ports and places on the Yang-tse-kiang 

 visited by the expedition under Vice-Admiral Sir James Hope, K.C.B., in February 

 and March, 1861. Supplement to the China Overland Trade Report of 28th Feb. 

 and 27th May, IS61, and Supplement to the Overland China Mail, No. 237 of 12th 

 June, 1861. 



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