EXAMINED AND ANSWERED. 173 



mind that this port has never been recommended 

 or selected as one favourable for the diffusion of 

 our manufactures over the empire (Shanghai is 

 the natural port for our imports into China), but 

 simply as the best port for the shipment of our 

 black teas ; in consequence of the great expense 

 of transporting so bulky an article across the 

 mountainous ranges which isolate, as it were, the 

 province from the rest of the empire. 



First, with respect to the river Min above the 

 bridge of Foo-chew-foo, Ogilby observes, that, 

 " from the town of Pu-ching-hien to Kiu-keu, the 

 river falls with great force of water through val- 

 ies, rocks, and cliffs ; but from thence glides on 

 but slowly. In three days they go from the above 

 town to Foo-chew-foo with the stream, whereas 

 they are fifteen days towing up against it." * 



Kiu-keu I understand to be on the Pu-ching- 

 hien branch of the river, before its junction with 

 the other branch at Kien-ning-fu : consequently 

 these difficulties, if so considered, are not con- 

 nected with the transport of the teas from the 

 Bohea country to Foo-chew-foo. 



The Fokien merchants say that in spring, the 

 currents then being rapid, in four days the teas 

 are transported down to Foo-chew-foo, but that 

 in autumn it requires eight. 



The Dutch embassy under Van Hoorn, in 1647f, 



* 



Ogilby's China, p. 267. f lb. 



