470 



SINGAFORE. 



[1831. 



however, the grand route between the eastern and western portions of 

 maritime Asia is along the south side of Singapore, and so near to it 

 that ships in passing and repassing approach close to the roads. The 



pines, the Sooloo Islands, Celebes, the Moluccas, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Singapore, Rhio, the 

 east coast of the Malayan peninsula, Siam, Cochin China, Cambodia, and Tonquin. The ports of 

 China at which this trade is conducted are Canton, Tchao-tcheou, Nomhong, Iloeitcheon, Suheng, 

 Kongmnon, Changlirn, and Hainan, in the province of Canton ; Amoy and Chinchew, in the province 

 of Fokien ; Ningpo and Sia:ig-haig, in the province ofChekiang ; and Soutcheon, in the province of 

 Kiannan. The following may be looked upon as an approximation to the number of junks carrying 

 on trade with the different places already enumerated, viz. 



Junks. 



Japan, 10 junks, two voyages, 20 



Philippine Islands, 13 



Sooloo Islands, 4 



Borneo 13, Celebes 2, .15 



Java, . .7 



Sumatra, .10 



Singapore 8, Rhio 1, .9 



East Coast of Malay Peninsula, 6 



Siam, 89 



Cochin China, 20 



Cambodia, 9 



Tonquin, 20 



— Total 222. 



"This statement does not include a great number of small junks belonging to the island of Hainan, 

 Which carry on trade with Tonquin, Cochin China, Cambodia, Siam, and Singapore. Those for 

 Siam amount yearly to about 50, and for the Cochin Chinese dominions to about 43; these alone 

 would bring the total number of vessels carrying o«i a direct trade between China and foreign coun- 

 tries to 307. The trade with Japan is confined to the port of Ningpo, in Chekiang, and expressly 

 limited to 10 vessels ; but as the distance from Nangasaki is a voyage of no more than four days, it 

 is performed twice a year. 



"With the exception of this branch of trade, the foreign intercourse of the two provinces Che- 

 kiang and Kiannan, which are famous for the production of raw silk, teas, and nankeens, is confined 

 to the Philippine Islands, Tonquin, Cochin China, Cambodia, and Siam ; and none of this class of 

 vessels, that I am aware of, have ever found their way to the western parts of the Indian archipelago. 

 The number of these trading with Siam is 24, all of considerable size ; those trading with the Cochin 

 Chinese dominions 16, also of considerable size; and those trading with the Philippines 5; making 

 in all 45, of which the average burden does not fall short of 17,000 tons. I am the more particular 

 in describing this branch of the Chinese commerce, as we do not ourselves at present partake of it, 

 and as we possess no direct means of obtaining information in regard to it. All the junks carrying 

 on this trade with Siam are owned in the latter country, and not in China ; and 1 am not sure how 

 far it may not also be so in the other cases. I do not doubt but that a similar commerce will, in the 

 event of a free trade, extend to Singapore ; and that through this channel may eventually be obtained 

 the green teas of Kiannan, and the raw silks of Chekiang. 



" Besides the junks now described there is another numerous class, which may be denominated the 

 colonial shipping of the Chinese. Wherever the Chinese^are settled in any numbers, junks of this 

 description are to be found; such as in Java, Sumatra, the Straits of Malacca, &c. ; but the largest 

 commerce of this description is conducted from the Cochin Chinese dominions, but especially from 

 Siam, where the number was estimated to me at 200. Several junks of this description from 

 the latter country come annually to Singapore, of which the burden is not less than from 300 to 

 400 tons. 



w The junks which trade between China and the adjacent countries are some of them owned and 

 built in China; but a considerable number also in the latter countries, particularly in Siam and 

 Cochin China. Of those carrying on the Siamese trade, indeed, no less than 81 out of the 89, of con- 

 siderable size, were represented to me as being built and owned in Siam. The small junks, how- 

 ever, carrying on the trade of Hainan, are all built and owned in China. 



"The junks, whether colonial or trading direct with China, vary in burden from 2,000 piculs to 

 15,000, or carry dead weight from 120 to 900 tons. Of those of the last size I have only seen three 

 or four, and the«e were at Siam, and the same which were commonly employed in carrying a mission 

 and tribute yearly from Siam to Canton. Of the whole of the large class of junks, I should think 

 the average burden will not be overrated at 300 tons each, which would make the total tonnage em- 

 ployed in the native foreign trade of China between 60,000 and 70,000 tons, exclusive of the small 

 junks of Hainan, which, estimated at J50tons each, would make in all about 80,000 tons. 



"The junks built in China are usually constructed of fir and other inferior woods. When they 

 arrive in Cambodia, Siam, and the Malayan islands, they commonly furnish themselves with masts, 

 rudders, arid wooden anchors of the superior timber of these countries. The junks built in Siam are 

 a superior class of vessels, the planks and upper works being invariably teak. The cost of ship- 

 building is highest at the port of Amoy in Fokien, and lowest in Siam. At these places, and at 

 Changlirn in Canton, the cost of a junk of 8,000 piculs, or 476 tons burden, was stated to me by 

 several commanders of junks to be as follows : — 



At Siam ....... 7,400 dollars. 



Changlirn, 16,000 



Amoy, . 21,000 



A junk of the size just named has commonly a crew of 90 hands, consisting of the following officers, 

 besides the crew : a commander, a pilot, an accountant, a captain of the helm, a captain of the 

 anchor, and a captain of the hold. The commander receives no pay, but has the advantage of the 



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