220 



FOEEIGN TRADE 



Chap. XI. 



the same description of black teas which formerly 

 were carried overland across the Bohea mountains 

 to Shanghae and to Canton. Mr. Cunningham, 

 the head of that house at Shanghae, had promised 

 me his assistance in the kindest manner, and Mr, 

 D. 0. Clark, who was conducting the business at 

 Foo-chow, also entered warmly into my views on 

 my arrival. 



From the opening of Foo-chow in 1843 to the 

 period mentioned, no foreign trade of any import- 

 ance had been carried on at this port. Several 

 merchants had tried it during these ten years ; but 

 as they were men of limited means — not being 

 able to send funds into the country to purchase 

 teas from the manufacturers — their exertions were 

 not attended with success. When the rebels 

 began to disturb and overrun the southern and 

 central districts of the country, and when it 

 seemed doubtful whether the tea-merchants would 

 be able to bring their teas to Canton and Shang- 

 hae as formerly, Messrs. Russell and Co., with a 

 clear-sightedness which does them the highest 

 credit, foresaw that, owing to the power of the 

 Grovernment at Foo-chow, that port was likely to 

 remain longer open than any of the others ; and 

 as it was no great distance from one great black- 

 tea country— a country which during the days of 

 the East India Company's charter produced the 

 finest teas exported — they determined to make a 

 vigorous effort to open up the trade. Having 

 . Chinese on their establishment whom they could 



