CANTON. 85 



mained during iny residence in Canton with 

 my friend, Mr. Whiteman. 



Canton is generally said to possess but little, in 

 the confined spot allotted to the range of Euro- 

 peans, to interest the stranger. This may be par- 

 tially correct ; but still the peculiar customs of the 

 people and the range of the suburbs may afford 

 many days of amusement, being novel, and 

 unlike what is seen in any other country in 

 the world. The range of factories or Hongs 

 belonging to different nations, having flag- 

 staffs, on which the national colours are hoisted 

 from sunrise to sunset, are fine buildings, more 

 especially those belonging to the English East 

 India Company, which are of greater extent 

 than the whole of the others. Several weep- 

 ing willows are planted about the open space 

 near the river, in front of the factories. The 

 English and Dutch hongs have neat gardens, laid 

 out for a promenade, in front of them ; but the 

 open space before most of the others forms the 

 " quarter-deck," where every evening the Euro- 

 pean residents take their limited walk. 



The weather in front of the factories is usually 

 at this season of the year sultry, but on entering 

 the alleys of the hongs, cold currents of air are 

 felt pouring down upon the just heated frame. 

 A sudden atmospherical change very frequently 



