464 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[China. 



on which they trade being often as small as 3000, and not unfrequently as 

 large as 50 to 00,000 dollars. Some are built in the countries to wind) they 

 trade, particularly in Siam and Cochin-China, and these are the best ; but 

 the greater number in China itself, of the fir and other inferior woods of that 

 country. Some are owned by Chinese residing in foreign countries, some by 

 the Chinese themselves, and often there is an intimate connexion between 

 those residing on the spot and the colonists abroad ; every where they are 

 commanded and navigated by Chinese. The smallest, but the most 

 numerous, junks sail from the island of Hai-nan. Canton furnishes the 

 largest description of junks — these trade every where but to Japan. 

 The junks of Fokien or Amoy are small, but valuable — they trade also every 

 where but to the last place, but are fewer in number than those of Canton. 

 The junks of Tchekien are the only Chinese vessels which trade to Japan; 

 besides which they trade to Manilla, Cochin-China, and Siam, but do not 

 appear to cross the Equator. Those of Kiangnan are few in number, hut 

 large, and carry very valuable cargoes ; their trade is confined to the 

 Philippines, Siam, and Cochin-China. 



The construction and rigging of a Chinese vessel is her proper registry, 

 and a very efFeetual one it is; for any deviation from the set form and 

 character subjects her immediately to foreign duties, and what (if possible) 

 is still worse, to all kinds of suspicion. No measurement or tonnage duty is 

 paid in China, on native vessels trading with foreign parts ; but there is a 

 kind of tariff, whieh, however, varies in the different provinces. At Can- 

 ton, a pecul of manufactured silk goods pays seven dollars, and a pecul of 

 fine earthenware one dollar. These duties are highest in the ports of Fokien, 

 and the lowest of all in the island of Hai-nan. The Chinese traders of Siam 

 state that they carry on a fair and easy trade with the cities of Nimpo and 

 gianghai, in Tchekien, and Kiangnan. Every where the Chinese traders 

 exhibit a very admirable dexterity in evading the Imperial Custom-house 

 laws, and putting them upon a footing of more freedom and liberality than 

 is allowed by their letter. The coasting trade of China, for example, is 

 nearly free of duty. The merchant takes advantage of this, and, intending 

 in reality to go to Siam or Cochin-China, he clears out for Hai-nan. When 

 he returns again, his junk will be four or five days off and on, at the mouth 

 of the port, until he has made a regular bargain with the Custom-house 

 officers, for a reduction of duties ; threatening all the time to discharge his 

 cargo at some other port, and wheedle them out of their perquisites, if they 

 will not come into his terms. The following may he looked upon as an 

 approximation to the amount of the foreign trade, which China either now 

 conducts, or has lately in general conducted with foreign countries, mar. 



