WEALTH OF THE HONG MERCHANTS. 349 



encouraged the foreigner to deal with embarrassed 

 and bankrupt merchants, and to obtain from them 

 higher prices than the market commanded. This 

 associated form also enabled the Imperial govern- 

 ment to levy contributions on these merchants as a 

 body, which were followed by additional charges 

 on the trade. Again, it enabled the local officers 

 to fix undue responsibility on them, so that they 

 finally became, not only sureties for the duties, but 

 responsible for all infringements of the law by 

 foreigners, and also for their general good conduct. 

 Thus an easy mode of exaction was afforded the 

 local officers ; and out of this form of association 

 arose frequent stoppages of trade, detention of ships 

 at great cost, and most of the disabilities, dis- 

 comforts, and vexations to which all classes of 

 foreigners were subject. But if the Imperial 

 government found in the monopoly granted to the 

 Hong merchants a convenient mode of taxation ; 

 and the local officers a ready means of exaction ; 

 it may easily be surmised, that the Hong merchant 

 did not fail to seek compensation and to avail 

 himself of all the advantages of his exclusive pri- 

 vileges. Thus the wealth of the judicious and able 

 members of this community was enormous, and al- 

 together without parallel except among the mer- 

 chant princes of the middle ages, or the ■ mil- 

 lionaires of our own days. Thus one considerable 

 item which entered into the cost of tea to the 

 foreigner, was the Hong merchant's profit ; which 



