372 NATIVE TRADE OF FOO-CHOW-FOO. [Cuar. XX. 
far the greater part of them are narrow and dirty, 
and Foo-chow-foo certainly forms no exception to the 
general rule. A large trade appears to be carried on 
here in copper, judging from the number of shops 
filled with manufactured articles of that metal, par- 
ticularly of gongs, of which I observed an immense 
number of all sizes. This copper is brought here 
principally in junks from Loo-choo. They also 
bring a considerable quantity of gold. Both metals 
are said to be originally the exports of Japan. I 
went on board two of these junks at the mouthof the 
Min, which were bound to Loo-choo, and were loaded 
with tea-oil, which they told me they had taken in 
exchange for their copper, A great quantity of iron 
is manufactured here, and wire-drawing is carried on 
extensively. The great export trade of the port, 
however, is in wood, which is floated down the Min 
in large quantities, and covers many acres in the 
suburbs near the river side. Hundreds of junks 
from Amoy, Ningpo, Chapoo, and some even from as 
far north as the province of Shan-tung and the bay 
of Pee-che-lee, are constantly employed in this trade. 
The wood is chiefly a sort of common pine, employed 
in the building of houses, and it is generally cut into 
lengths suited to that purpose before it is shipped. 
Good planks of fine hard wood can also be had in 
any quantity at this place. The wood junks are 
loaded with great skill, a great part of their cargo 
being lashed to their sides, thus making them about 
three times their ordinary width. 
Banking is carried on to a greater extent in Foo- 
