90 BANKING ESTABLISHMENTS. [Cuapr. VI. 
five ports, not even in Shanghae. As all this beau- 
tiful work is expensive, it is, of course, only used 
in the houses of the wealthy. 
There are some large banking establishments in 
Ning-po, having connection with all the othertowns 
in the north, and it is here, therefore, that the value 
of money is regulated, the ‘‘stocks” rising and 
falling exactly as they do in England. There can 
be little doubt that it is a place of great wealth. 
There are a large number of retired merchants in 
the city and suburbs, who have made their fortunes 
in early life, and who now seek to enjoy themselves 
amid the luxuries and retirement of Ning-po. But 
these circumstances, unfortunately, do not fit it for 
a place of active foreign trade; and hence, although 
it is large, rich, and populous, our merchants find 
the northern port of Shanghae of far greater import- 
ance as regards the sale of European and American 
manufactures, and the purchase of tea and silk,—the 
staple productions of the country. And yet, judg- 
ing from appearances, one would think that a 
considerable foreign trade might be carried on at 
Ning-po, as it is in itself a large town, is in the 
midst of a populous country, and has excellent water 
communication with all parts of the empire. Time, 
and the perseverance of our merchants, will soon 
show whether this supposition is a correct one. 
Many of the temples in this town have been much 
admired by foreigners, but I must confess that, to 
me, the very best of them had a childish and tin- 
selly appearance, which I could not admire. The 
