Cuar. VIII.] TRADE OF SHANGHAE, 121 
when properly cooked, more particularly the latter, 
are not bad. Dining-rooms, tea-houses, and bakers’ 
shops, are met with at every step, from the poor 
man who carries his kitchen or bakehouse upon 
his back, and beats upon a piece of bamboo to 
apprise the neighbourhood of his presence, and 
whose whole establishment is not worth a dollar, 
to the most extensive tavern or tea-garden crowded 
with hundreds of customers. For a few cash 
(1000 or 1200 = one dollar) a Chinese can dine 
in a sumptuous manner upon his rice, fish, vege- 
tables, and tea; and I fully believe, that in no 
country in the world is there less real misery and 
want thanin China. The very beggars seem a kind 
of jolly crew, and are kindly treated by the in- 
habitants, 
Shanghae is by far the most important station 
for foreign trade on the coast of China, and is con- 
sequently attracting a large share of public atten- 
tion. No other town with which I am acquainted 
possesses such advantages: it is the great gate 
—the principal entrance, in fact—to the Chinese 
empire. In going up the river towards the town, 
a forest of masts meets the eye, and shows at once 
that it is a place of vast native trade. Junks come 
here from all parts of the coast, not only from the 
southern provinces, but also from Shantung and 
Peechelee: there are also a considerable number 
annually from Singapore and the Malay Islands. 
The convenience of inland transit is also unrivalled 
in any part of the world. The country, being as 
