498 Vo?jage of the Novara. 



the influence of that Freedom of Speech, which makes 

 every mercantile nation participate in the very latest in- 

 formation as to these experiments and their results. For, so 

 far as concerns our present direct intercourse with China, a 

 time must come, when more accurate notions will penetrate 

 into even Austrian commercial circles as to the wants of a 

 pojDulation, and the natural wealth of an empire, which em- 

 braces a suj)erficial area of 3,000,000 square miles, with a 

 population of 400,000,000 souls, and whose entire foreign 

 commerce already amounts to £36,000,000, apart from the 

 impulse which recent events must lend it. 



Notwithstanding the immense variety of natural products 

 of the Chinese Empire, the chief articles of export hitherto 

 have been tea and silk, and we shall therefore confine our at- 

 tention to a few important particulars as to those two articles. 



The introduction of silk cultivation into China, one of the 

 most ancient industrial pursuits of the Empire, is due, if we 

 are to believe a native legend, to the consort of the Emperor 

 Hwang-te, who reigned b. c. 2640. The first mention of the 

 mulberry tree and of silk occurs in the Schoo-kiu,* " the 



* According to Dr. W. H. Medhurst's translation of this rare work, for a copy of 

 which, rescued from the last great conflagration at Canton, we are indebted to the 

 kindness of Mr. Wylie, the portion especially referring to this runs as follows : 

 " The mulberry ground having been supplied with silk-worms, the people descended 

 from the hills and dwelt in the plains," (p. 91,) and further on, " their tribute baskets 

 were filled with black silks and checkered sarsenets " (p. 96). See Ancient China, 



^±- /jrA -^4-^ The Shookin, or (he Historical Classic. Beintj the most ancient 



authentic Records of the Annals of the Chinese Empire. Illustrated by later com- 

 mentators. Translated by Dr. W. H. Medhurst, Sen, Shanghai, 1846. 



