468 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



\ China. 



The Emperor^ books have all ships imported, entered into them 

 under the following denominations, in proportion to which they pay ;i duty 

 of measurage, viz. 



M C C 



1st rates****74 cubits long, and 23 broad, though ever so 



much larger, pay, per cubit * — — ***v*«„^»*«Tales 7 7 7 7 



2d ditto 71 to 74 ditto 22 to 23 broad..™.™. 7 14 2 



3d ditto — 65 to 71 ditto 20 to 22 ditto 5 0 0 0 



Ships, however small, pay as third rates, which is a heavy charge upon 

 small vessels frequenting the port. 



Example. — Suppose a ship measures 79 cubits 0 punts in 

 length, anil 25 cubits 5 punts in breadth ; these multiplied 

 together, produce 178 cubits 3 punts, 66 dec. which, at the rate 



of 7 tales, 7 mace, 7 candareens, 7 cash per cubit, is Tales 1,387 2 8 3 



Deduct the Emperors allowance of 20 per cent *** * — 277 4 5 6 



The Emperor's net duty ******* ****TaIes 1,100 8 2 7 



Add 7 per cent, to make it sycee ************ 77 6 8 8 



1,187 5 1 5 



To the Hoppo, or receiver of customs, 10 per cent, thereon***. 118 7 5 2 



1,306 2 6 7 



To the Collectors, &c. 2 per cent, to be paid in current silver** 22 1 9 6 



1,328 4 6 3 



Impositions at sundry times since the year 1704, under the 

 denomination of presents to the great Mandarins, and 

 which are now claimed to be as much their due as the 

 ship's measurage — ****************.* — * — *** 1,950 0 0 0 



Tales 3,278 4 6 3 



All European ships do not pay a like sum under the denomination of 

 presents. 



TALES. TALES. 



Ships, belonging to the English, pay 1 ,950 Ships, belonging lo the Dutch, pay . 1 ,950 



Ditto, French 2,050 Ditto, Swedish 1,950 



Ditto, Moors 1,950 Ditto, Danish 1,950 



In 1821, the following was the amount of measurement and Govern- 

 ment duties paid by two Country ships : one of 513 tons paid 4356 dollars ; 

 one of 412 tons paid 4161. 



The distribution of the 1,9.50 tales, charged as presents, is said to be 

 thus made : — 



