129 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Bombay. 



tonnage of their ships destined from Bombay to China ; and in the event of 

 their not occupying it, it is disposed of by open competition : and if the 

 commanders and officers of the ships offer a rate of freight equal to the 

 highest bidder, the preference is given to them, on condition that the 

 freight, together with the proceeds of the goods, shall be paid into the 

 Canton treasury, for the latter of which bills are granted on England at 

 the current rate of exchange. 



The commanders of the Bombay and China ships frequently dispose of 

 their tonnage to the merchants at a stipulated rate of freight for each parti- 

 cular commodity, and advance their money on respondentia on the goods, 

 at a premium of 10 per cent., the rate of exchange being 316 Bombay 

 rupees per 100 Spanish dollars, payable 30 days after the ship's arrival at 

 Whampoa. 



Sugar and sugar candy form one of the most material articles of import 

 from China. To throw this branch of trade more within the British domi- 

 nions, the Government a few years since took off the duties on Bengal 

 sugar, which is now more in demand. 



Duties. — Indian Trade. — Goods imported from Bengal will be ex- 

 empted from duty, on producing the usual certificates, otherwise they are 

 to be assessed at an advance of 15 per cent., and charged with duties as 

 other goods. 



Certificates of duties having been paid from Madras, Malabar, or Surat, 

 admitted in exemption of duties here. 



Certificates from Ceylon not admitted here, nor from Prince of Wales's 

 Island. 



Arrack, the manufacture of Bencoolen, exempted from duties. 



Opium (by Reg. 1818) is subject to a duty of 12 rupees per Surat seer. 



Grain of all kinds may be imported free of duties. 



All other merchandise imported, except cotton, to pay a duty of 2\ 

 per cent, on the manifest prices, and an established advance thereon, regu- 

 lated as follows ; from which advance the cargoes of ships imported from 

 England are to be exempted, vis. 



Cargoes by foreign ships, Americans excepted, from whatever place 

 imported, an advance of 60 per cent 



On British ships, or ships navigated under the colours of the native 

 Princes of India, viz. 



From the Coromandel Coast 15 per cent. 



From Cliina^M^t^^^MM^^v^v^Mm^H^^ 20 ditto. 

 From Mocha, agreeably to the amount sales on oath. 



