170 IMPORTANCE OF THE PORT 



natives may not combine with crafty foreigners, 

 and form an emporium for tea upon some island ; 

 and having succeeded in so doing, the proud 

 foreigners, getting their tea with such facility, may 

 become indifferent, and no longer respect or seek 

 the favour of China." * 



About this period Puankhequa, who had been 

 the principal Hong merchant for many years, but 

 had obtained permission from the Imperial Govern- 

 ment to retire from business, was now recalled, and 

 to his interference, I am disposed to think, may be 

 ascribed the impediments now thrown in the way 

 of this mode of transit. This wealthy merchant 

 was an able man, and possessed many excellent 

 qualities. In his habits he was social and kind, and 

 in his control of foreigners not ungenerous: but 

 he was vain, and fond of power, and of keeping 

 foreigners under restraint. This wily politician 

 soon saw that if the teas were brought by sea from 

 Foo-chew-foo, Europeans could not fail to be struck 

 with the absurdity of a voyage so unnecessary and 

 disadvantageous, and would become the more im- 

 patient under the restrictive and vexatious policy 

 to which they had so long submitted ; but under 

 which, as they advanced in a knowledge of the lan- 

 guage, which had recently been cultivated with 

 much assiduity and success, they were daily be- 

 coming more impatient. He therefore determined 



* Mr. Reeves's MSS. papers. 



