China.] 



ORIENTAL COMMERCK. 



463 



Previous to the year 1802, the cotton destined for the Chum market 

 came from Bombay exclusively : the other Presidencies have since partici- 

 pated in the trade ; but the Bombay cotton still continues to he preferred, 

 if we may judge from the following rates of profit which the Company's 

 cotton produced at Canton in the year 1815-16: — Bombay 56| per cent. ; 

 Bengal 39 \ ; Madras 7£. 



The amount of trade (including- bullion) between the three Presidencies 

 and Canton for the year 1821-23 was as follows : — 



Imports from Canton. Exports to Canton. 



Bengal.. S. R. 62,22,240 1,05,06,373 



Madras R 5,1S,4£2 6,07 ,385 



Bombay R.* 74,01,160 69,15,803 



Commerce with Foreign Europe. — The Continental nations are not 

 absolutely interdicted from trade here, although much jealousy is shewn 

 towards new comers, and some of them have factories ; yet their commerce 

 has dwindled away, and the European Continent is now chiefly supplied 

 with tea by the Americans and by ourselves. 



Commkrce with America. — There is an American factory at Canton, 

 but no settled establishment; and their ships are under separate manage- 

 ment The articles they bring are chiefly skins, furs, cotton, and ginseng ; 

 and their exports consist of tea, nankeens, China-ware, wrought silks, and 

 drugs. The amount of their trade with the Chinese is not easily known ; 

 but it is understood to be considerably less than it was during the years 

 immediately subsequent to the Feace. 



Commerce with Cochin-China, Siam, Eastern Islands, Japan, Sfc. — 

 The commerce of the Chinese with the adjacent Continental States, and the 

 Islands in their vicinity, is carried on chiefly in their own vessels. The 

 provinces of China which prosecute foreign trade are Canton, (including the 

 island of Hai-nan) Fokein, Tchekien, and Kiangnan. No foreign inter- 

 course is permitted with the island of Formosa; and the dangerous navigation 

 of the Yellow Sea deters the natives of the maritime provinces of Shanton 

 and Pctchelee from engaging in external commerce. 



Exclusive of Corea, Formosa, and the Lew-Chew islands, the following 

 places are visited by the Chinese for purposes of trade: — Japan, the 

 Philippines, Sooloo, Celebes, Borneo, Java, Singapore, and the Straits of 

 Malacca, East Coast of the Malay Peninsula, Siam, Cochin-China (including 

 Cambodia), and Tonquin. The junks which carry on this trade are of 

 various sizes, being generally from 200 to 1000 tons burthen, and the capital 



