E N G L I S M F A C T O R Y. ii: 



(at will) from even their daily proviflon. The Fortugueje ilill re- 

 tain pofleffion of the city, and have a governor of their ov/ii ; 

 but a Mandarine refides here who is fupreme over the whole 

 illand, fo that they are in a very dependant ftate ; and they be- 

 fides pay an annual tribute, on the original agreement of being 

 permitted to ere6t fortifications. They enjoy their own laws 

 and religion, and have a billiop of Macao.) fuffragan to the arch- 

 biihop of Goa. 



The Engli/h came in late for their fliare of the Chinefe trade. English, 

 In 1584 we made an unfuccefsful attempt to get there, but ar- 

 rived no farther than the Brazils ; our thoughts at that period 

 were full of the rich Cathaian coaft ; and all Europe was engaged 

 in many an attempt for the difcovery of the paflage to it, but, 



Mountains of Ice did flop the imagin'd way 

 Beyond Petfora eaftward to the rich 

 Cathaian coafl. 



Our firll: factory in that empire was about the year 1701, first at 

 when the Chinefe granted to us Chufan^ a fmall ifland not far 

 from the coaft of Tche-'Tchiang^ in Lat. 30° 40'. It had been 

 totally depopulated by the '■Tartars, but began to be re-peopled 

 when we fettled there. The beft account given of the place is 

 by Mr. J. Cunningham^ a very ingenious furgeon who attended 

 our colony ; he fays* it abounded with provilions of all kind, 

 and with cows, buffaloes, deer, goats, and wild hogs, and many 

 kinds of efculent plants; and with the tea Ihrub on the tops of 

 the hills. The Kieiv-yeu, Croton Sebifemm +,or tallow tree, is com- 



• Ph. Tranf. Abr, vol. v. p. 171. 

 ■\ Emb. to China, vol. ii. p. 430. E. 



Q 2 mon 



