182 PREJUDICES AGAINST FOO-CHEW-FOO 



and good as in any part of the river ; the distance 

 is about the same as from Canton to the second 

 bar. "Were it deemed advisable to establish the 

 trade at this point, it would not be difficult to in- 

 duce the tea-men to deliver their teas at this port : 

 the construction of a suitable form of boat would 

 offer no more impediment here, than it did at Can- 

 ton ; the chop-boat, as it is called, was constructed, 

 and is exclusively used, for the foreign trade. In 

 the event of any future collision with the Chinese, 

 it might be a matter for grave consideration, 

 whether this island might not be rendered an im- 

 portant commercial settlement in our hands. 



Although far from meaning to advocate monopoly 

 in any form, yet justice compels me to say, that had 

 the privilege of trading to Foo-chew-foo been ob- 

 tained during the existence of the East India Com- 

 pany's charter, from the unity of action and energy 

 which a corporate body possesses over individual 

 traders pursuing their separate interests, the greater 

 part of the black teas would have been shipped from 

 this port in less than four years. The usual con- 

 tracts would have been made with the tea-men at 

 Canton, and the usual monies advanced; but with 

 this simple difference in the engagement, to deliver 

 their teas at Foo-chew-foo instead of bringing them 

 to Canton. And can it be doubted that these people 

 would gladly have hailed a change which ceased to 

 inflict on them the penalty of a tedious and harass- 

 ing journey, as well as a long and painful separa- 

 tion from their homes and families ? 



