134 REPORT — 1866. 



details as to the amount of these contributions for charitable and philanthropic 

 purposes, given by certain influential native gentlemen in India, showing that in 

 many cases the contributions of one individual during a single year amounted to 

 upwards of £5000, and that all these contributions were vohmtarily given without 

 regard to any sectarian feeling or prejudice of any kind whatever. Amongst the 

 subscriptions he mentioned was one for the presentation to the Prince and Prin- 

 cess of Wales of some of the choicest products in India. The object of supply- 

 ing the particulars contained in this paper was, he remarked, to prove the 

 character of the miuds of the people of India, who are British subjects. He con- 

 cluded with a few remarks on female education in India, remarking that from the 

 feelings which were now developing themselves among the people of India, at 

 least among the educated classes, there was reason to believe that a change would 

 yet take place in that country by which the native women of India would be 

 improved in their social position, and there would be a softening of men's man- 

 ners, minds, and habits to an extent that was much required in India. This 

 change had already to some extent taken place, for he could give instances of 

 elevation of sentiment, of high honour, of delicacy of feeling, and of personal sacri- 

 fices on the part of the people of India, which were not oidy creditable to them, 

 but would have been so to the most enlightened among ourselves. 



Colonel Sykes said, that when the donations which he had mentioned were made 

 to any educational institution in India, they were made without any condition 

 stipulated as to the teaching or government of the schools. The public schools of 

 India were all secular, and the missionary schools, which were established by dif- 

 ferent religious denominations, were regarded as being simply private institutions. 



On Modes of Banking in America, Manchooria, and China. 

 By Colonel Sykes, 3LP., F.E.S. 



The author gives an account of the devices of Mr. W. W. Brown, an emanci- 

 pated slave in America, to set up a bank, after a visit to Europe. Cheated out of 

 his first wages in the autumn of 1835, he visits a barber in Monroe, Michigan, and 

 asked employment as a jom-neyman barber. Failing, he set up in opposition, and 

 engaged a room opposite, and placed a sign over the door, " Fashionable Hair- 

 dresser from New York, Emperor of the West." Not succeeding, he was advised by 

 a friend to set up a bank, after the manner of the " Wild Cat Banks," the notes 

 of which were called " Sliinplasters," his capital being to the value of 20 dollars. 

 But lie soon experienced the difficulties of " a rim " upon his bank from the 

 jealousy of the opposite barber, and a ludicrous accoimt is given how the redemp- 

 tion and recashing of " .Shinplasters" was efi'ected. 



With respect to banks in Manchooria in Tartary, the information is obtained 

 from Mr. Consul Meadow's Report to the Foreign Office. He gives a description 

 of Manchooria bank notes. There is not any regidation of paper cm-rency. One 

 hundred and twenty-three houses in Manchooria issue notes at pleasure, expressed 

 in " tcamis'" — a teaou being equal to about 9|d, or about 50 equal £2. The 

 smallest note issued in Manchooria is equal to 2 teaous, or 19d. ; the largest, 

 50 teaous, or £2. The , rate of exchange between notes and silver bullion alter 

 daily in each city. The bankers meet every morning at daybreak to settle the 

 exchange. The rate during the last five years, dated from 1861, averaged about 5 

 teaous for 1 tael, or 6s. 



The banking sj'stem in China is described in Joshua Doolittle's 'Social Life of 

 the Chinese.' The folio-wing ai-e heads of Doolittle's information : — Banking is not 

 controlled by Government. Bank bills are issued on behalf of the Imperial 

 Government at Fouchau. Iron coin <at par with copper. Value of dollar in 1858. 

 Iron cash and Government bills withdrawn. Bankers numerous and wealthy. 

 Denominations and values of bills. Little risk from counterfeit notes. Descrip- 

 tion of bills. Security against counterfeit. The demand of customaiy usage upon 

 new bankers' bills, paid in gold or silver, &c., according to current rate of exchange. 

 If bills not redeemed, the value of same can be seized. Panic in 1855. When an 

 honourable banker is micertain of his position, he posts these words on his premises, 

 •* hereafter pay," which applies to present bills ; and he does not propose to issue 



