China.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



456 



to be seen in the suburbs; all are shops, which seldom consist of more than 

 two stories, the lower floor being the place where the goods are deposited 

 for sale, and the rest of the house serving as a warehouse. At night they 

 all retire inside the citv. 



The river is somewhat broader than the Thames at London Bridge ; 

 and for the space of four or five miles opposite Canton, is an extensive 

 wooden town of large vessels and boats, stowed so close together, that there 

 is scarcely room for a large boat to pass. They are generally drawn up in 

 ranks, with a narrow passage left for vessels to pass and repass. In these 

 vast numbers of families reside, who betake themselves to this mode of 

 living. In the middle of the river, the Chinese junks which trade to the 

 Eastern Islands, Data via, &c. lie moored head and stern ; some of them 

 are of the burthen of 6*00 tons. 



The crews of the Company's ships used to be permitted to pass three 

 days at Canton ; but in consequence of their misconduct, and the risks that 

 have been incurred, the liberty is now abolished. 



Tkade. — The external commerce of Canton is very considerable, and 

 may be classed under the following heads : — 



I. That carried on with Great Britain ; this includes the imports and 

 exports on account of the East India Company, and the private trade of the 

 commanders and officers x>f their ships. 



II. That carried on with the British settlements in India, in ships 

 commonly called Country ships, the property of European resident mer- 

 chants or natives, at the different Presidencies. 



III. That carried on with the other European powers, who once had 

 factories at Canton, but which are at present abandoned, tint* France, 

 Holland, Denmark, Ostend, "Portugal, Sweden, Spain, and Leghorn. 



The trade carried on with the United States of America is blended in 

 the Chinese accounts with that of all other foreigners, except the English 

 from Europe and India. The account of their imports and exports is kept 

 separate. 



IV. That carried on in their own junks or vessels to the Coasts of 

 Siam, Cochin-China, Tonquin, Japan, the numerous islands to the east- 

 ward, and to Batavia. 



The commerce of Canton, immense as it is, is carried on with an 

 astonishing regularity, and in no part of the world can business be trans- 

 acted with so much ease and dispatch to the foreign merchant. The cargoes 

 imported are all weighed on board, and the duties paid by the purchaser, 

 who is generally one of the Hong or Security Merchants, expressly licensed 

 by the Chinese Government to deal with Europeans. Their number is 



