340 FOREIGN TRADE. Chap. XX. 
and those of the jute-plant, from which the hark 
has been removed for its fibre, are saved and 
stacked up for this purpose, and thus take the 
place of branches of trees and brushwood. In 
other parts of China, where trees are plentiful, 
millet of this kind, and jute, are not met with. 
Foreign merchants and traders at Tien-tsin have 
as yet met with few articles for export, except the 
precious metals. Here there is no silk or tea — 
articles which form the most valuable of our ex- 
ports from the ports of the south. Peas and beans 
are sent to the south in large quantities, but chiefly 
from Shantung, on the southern shores of the Gulf 
of Pe-chele, and Newchwang in the north — the 
latter being the most northerly of the trading 
ports. It is to be hoped that, as we get better 
acquainted with the trade of Tien-tsin, some valu- 
able articles for export may present themselves to 
the notice of foreign merchants, for at present 
their ships have generally to go away in ballast. 
The import trade at this port is already one of 
considerable importance, hut is confined chiefly 
to our cotton goods and opium. As the winters 
are cold, we may expect a demand, in the course of 
time, for our woollen manufactures, and doubtless 
for other articles of European and American com- 
fort and luxury ; and it is very likely that foreign 
merchants will take the coasting trade out of the 
hands of the junkmen, and bring up the supplies 
of medicine, dyes, and other articles of Straits pro- 
duce formerly carried in the junks from Canton, 
