living plants, fruits, books, drawings and maps, pencils and other Chinese writing implements, coal; and lastly, what might almost be deemed out of place in such an enumeration, notwithstanding the importance of the trade, the carrying of Chinese emigrants and laborers across the Pacific, and to Australia, the West Indies, and Guiana.

An estimate of the total value and quantity of all the exports and imports between China and other countries by sea is almost impossible, owing partly to the uncertainty attending the calculation of nearly every article, and still more to the impossibility of separating between the foreign and coast traffic; it was seen that the value of the table would not be equal to the trouble connected with it. There are some branches of the trade which are not amenable to any consulate, and the returns from the open ports, even if they could be all obtained accurately, would be far from giving the general total, in consequence of the unknown values carried in and out at Hongkong, Macao, and points of illegal traffic, which would vitiate the whole. In 1836, when the entire trade was centred at Canton, the total value of the import trade, goods, opium and treasure, was reckoned at $38,579,358; and the export in the three articles tea, silks and treasure, at $35,257,148, leaving less than four millions for sundries. In 1844, the total was underestimated by Mr Robert Thom at fifty millions, by at least ten millions of dollars. A rough estimate at the close of season 1854-55, gave the entire total of the China trade at about 125 millions of dollars.

Since the new treaties and tariff were promulgated, and the trade on the river Yangtsz' opened in 1860, the amount of capital and shipping employed in the commerce has rapidly increased, but the value of imports and exports to foreign countries more gradually. If we estimate in round numbers the value of the present export of tea at 35 millions, silk at 33 millions, opium at 68 millions, and raw and manufactured cottons at 27 millions, the remaining imports and exports will make about 37 millions, or a total of 200 millions of dollars, as the value of the trade for the year ending June, 1862. The Chinese coast trade and that to Siam, Japan, Manila, Java, and India, are so connected with the trade beyond the Cape of Good Hope, that the estimates here given have not been, and cannot be gathered from the Customs' returns, but have been derived from those parties who have a general knowledge of the course and value of the commerce.

CHAPTER III.

FOREIGN COMMERCE WITH CHINÀ.

Section 1.

PORT OF CANTON.

THE rules respecting the management of trade contained in the treaties and commercial regulations already given, are alike applicable to all ports. But there are other rules, applicable only to the ports where they are issued, and liable to be changed from time to time. In this chapter, these rules are given under each port, as they are at present established, with such other information as will be serviceable to the merchant or seaman. A full account of the details of trade at Canton are given; and as many of the same details are applicable to all the ports, a reference to them will obviate their repetition.

A ship, on making the islands off the mouth of the Canton river, will generally see, in fine weather, a number of fishing-boats at some distance from the land. These are liable to be mistaken by strangers for pilotboats, but the former may be distinguished by observing that they are always in pairs, of large dimensions, with broad sterns high out of the water; whereas the pilots' boats are long and low, with short masts raking well aft, and usually hoist a flag of some sort to make themselves conspicuous to a foreign ship as soon as possible. When one of them approaches the ship in the southwest monsoon, sail should be reduced; and if he happens to miss, it is advisable, even when going six or seven knots, to reduce sail in preference to rounding the ship to, for the eddies and chowchow water are often so strong during the freshes, that when a ship heaves to, much time is lost in getting her head to the course again. On receiving one of these pilots on board, no anxiety should be shown to secure him, for they are ready to demand from strangers much more than is usually given. In ordinary weather, ten or twelve dollars would fully remunerate his services for taking the ship into Macao Roads or to Hongkong, but at other times, thirty dollars might not be exorbitant. As soon as a vessel enters the latter port, she will be boarded by the harbor-master's clerk, and directed where to anchor; but in going into Macao Roads there are no regulations of any kind.

After a ship has anchored in Macao Roads or in Hongkong, the captain makes his arrangements for proceeding up the river with his vessel. It is not often that a ship now proceeds from outside directly to Whampoa without stopping, and therefore nothing need be said to the pilot about carrying her into the river. His boat is however usually connected with the establishment of pilots on shore, and he will perhaps inquire

when a river pilot is wanted. Formerly, it was necessary to apply a day beforehand for a pilot, who had to inform the sub-prefect at Casa Branca near Macao, that a foreign ship was about to proceed up the river, give in the particulars of her nation, cargo, armament, &c., and obtain a permit. The rates of pilotage before 1842 were fixed at $60 for every vessel, whatever might be her size, to be paid when application was made. The establishment then consisted of 22 head pilots, each of whom paid upwards of $600 for the station, and was made answerable for the character of the ships he conducted up the river, that no men-ofwar were smuggled in, nor any obnoxious persons or women on board. There are now 20 head pilots, all of them natives, who are distributed at Canton, Macao, and Hongkong, and who have the whole business, equally dividing their receipts among the three offices.

The authorities at Canton issued a notice in August 1843, allowing any fisherman to act as pilot to a foreign ship, in the same manner as the old regularly licensed pilots, provided he was furnished with a pass. The British superintendent of trade at the same time also issued a notification, requesting masters of vessels to furnish with a certificate such men as they found to be capable; three of these certificates were to entitle him to a pilot's license, which is now furnished by the harbormasters at Hongkong and Macao.

Comprador's boats sometimes board ships outside as well as pilots; vessels manned by Europeans will find them useful. There is little or no difference in their charges, and it is as well to employ the first who reaches the ship. The business of purveying is in the hands of a few native firms, who have their runners, and are able to drive off competition; probably the ships are as well or even better served through this arrangement. When engaged, they accompany a ship up the river, bring fresh provisions, hire workmen, purchase whatever is wanted, and act as clerks during her stay in port. American ships were, for several years, supplied by a single native firm, of which there now is a branch establishment at Hongkong; but latterly the great concourse of ships at Hongkong has enabled the consignees of vessels to supply them through their own house compradors, which has interfered with the business of the old ship's purveyors. The practical business habits of the Chinese are well seen in the manner in which they will furnish hundreds of ships with provisions and other articles to any extent; and keep the prices up in the market, preventing all competitors, and still regulating the supply according to the demand.

When the river pilot comes on board at Hongkong, the vessel proceeds up to the Bogue. In going through Kap-shui-moon and up Lintin Bay, and in fact in all the channels and passages among the islands, the ship is subject to chowchow water; it happening, that while running up with a fair wind, she will be whirled round and round, becoming ungovernable, and oftener that she will not obey the helm, but keep her head stationary to one point for a time; this may cause a stranger to suppose the ship ashore, and induce alarm, but it is only caused by the strong eddies. If she arrives near the Bogue at night, she must anchor off Chuenpe or wherever convenient; if in the daytime, with a moderate breeze, she may heave to, when a fisherman or another pilot will come alongside, who has been on the lookout, to assist the pilot.

These river pilots are connected with the establishment at Hongkong, and receive from them $5 for piloting a ship to Whampoa, and $6 for conducting her out, as, in the latter case, they stay by the ship farther outside. The river pilot takes the conduct of the ship, for he knows the channel much better than the other pilot. The entrance of the Pearl River at the Bogue is considered to form the limit of the port of Canton; it is about 45 miles from the city. It is as well to know, that these two pilots, to make one think them clever, or show their abilities, are continually roaring out port! starboard! till the steersman gets the helm hard up or down, when they cry out steady! and before the helm can be righted or the ship steadied, she is across the tide, which puts her much out of her course, and time is thus lost. It is better for the captain to keep them quiet, and not pay much attention to them, letting them point out which way she is to go, but giving orders to the man at there is not much the wheel himself; for the channel being narrow, room to spare. There is a good deal of difference, however, among the pilots, and some of them are quite competent to carry a ship up the river; others know less of the management of a ship, while they are well acquainted with the channel; at times, whether skillful or ignorant, they are unreasonably blamed by the officers of the ship, and not understanding a good deal of what is said to them, get sulky, and care little where or how she goes.

As the ship approaches Second Bar, the pilot talks about Bar-boats, which are fishing-boats hired for the occasion, and anchored on the knolls, to point out the proper channel, the ship passing between them. The price is a dollar for each boat, and six is a sufficient number for any ship, and six or eight dollars for both the Second and First Bars is a fair payment, although the pilot will perhaps object to it as not enough; many commanders refuse to pay anything for them, and throw all the responsibility on the pilot of getting the ship through. The commander will always find it for his advantage to treat the pilot well, and since the prices of pilotage have been reduced, to allow him a generous sum for bar-boats and cumshaw; for if the vessel is only 150 or 200 tons, the sum of $7 or $10 does not remunerate him, and a ship of 300 tons hardly pays the outlay of the establishment. On the arrival of the ship at Whampoa or Blenheim Reach, the pilot has done his duty, and the pilotage, which is fixed at the rate of 5 cents a register ton, is then due him. It is common to make him a present of two or three dollars, but though not necessary, it is as well to do it, as it is expected, and the regular pay of the pilots at present is little enough. Native boats of all sorts, including even those officially placed by the ship, should be watched, and at night all those not belonging to the customs kept clear of the ship, for many of the boat-people are expert thieves. There is a class of covered row-boats, peculiar to the anchorage, called Whampoa boats, whose people are hired to wait on the ship, go of errands, &c.; they are usually connected with the comprador, and are generally trustworthy. Some of them have been furnished with tickets from the consular authorities, which imposes an obligation on them to be measurably honest, lest they lose it and their custom.

Regulations were issued in August, 1861, for the government of British ships and their crews at Canton and Whampoa, which are placed under the immediate supervision of a Vice Consul, who has his office on board of a vessel moored in the Reach.

LOCAL REGULATIONS FOR THE PORT OF CANTON,

In accordance with Article III. of the order of Her Majesty in council of the 13th day of June, 1853, to secure the due observance of treaties between Great Britain and China.

I.-All rules and regulations heretofore in force to secure the observance of treaties, having reference to the port of Whampoa and Canton, are repealed from and after the date of publication hereof.

II. The consulate office will be open for public business from 10 o'clock A.M. to 4 P.M. daily, excepting on Sundays and public holidays.

III.-Every British vessel must show her colors on entering the port, and keep them hoisted until her arrival has been duly reported. On anchoring at Whampoa, the master of any British vessel will, without delay, lodge the articles of his crew with the British vice-consul, and within twenty-four hours of arrival he will deposit at her Majesty's consulate at Canton, his ship's register and a copy of his inward manifest. When the vessel is ready for sea, the master will procure from the custom-house a grand chop, and on exhibiting this at the consulate, and depositing a copy of his export manifest, he will receive back the ship's register, on presenting which to the vice-consul at Whampoa, he will receive the ship's articles and an English port-clearance on payment of the regular fees.

IV. The discharge of guns or other fire-arms from vessels in harbor, as also the display of arms on shore among the villages and people, is strictly prohibited.

V.-All cases of death occurring on board of vessels in harbor, or in the residences of British subjects on shore, must be immediately reported at the consulate office. It is strictly prohibited to throw overboard the bodies of seamen or other persons dying on board a vessel in harbor.

VI. Stone or ballast shall not be thrown overboard in harbor.

VII. Any vessels, laden with gunpowder or other combustibles, are prohibited from entering the anchorage, or anchoring within a distance of one mile of it.

VIII. When a British vessel is ready to leave port, the master shall hoist the blue peter at least twenty-four hours before the time appointed for her departure.

IX.-All offences against the persons or property of individuals, or breaches of the peace, must immediately be reported at the consulate office. Any Chinese subject guilty of a misdemeanor on shore or afloat, may be detained on detection, but information must in such case be forthwith lodged at the consulate office; and in no instance shall British subjects be permitted to punish offenders.

X.-Every British subject residing within the limits of the port, who shall not have been already enrolled in the consular register, shall, upon the promulgation of these regulations, apply at the consulate to be enrolled. And every British subject who may arrive within the limits of the port, save and except any British subject who may be borne on the muster roll of any British vessel, shall apply at the consulate to be enrolled in the consular register. Any British subject neglecting to be so enrolled in the consular register, will not be entitled to claim the protection or intervention of the authorities, unless he can give some valid reason for not being so enrolled.

Save in so far as provided for by treaty, any breach of the above regulations will be punishable by fine, not exceeding five hundred dollars, or three months' imprisonment; and all fines imposed shall be appropriated and applied as provided for in Art. XLIX. of the treaty of Tientsin.

LOCAL CONSULAR REGULATIONS

Relating to the crews of British ships at Canton and Whampoa, promulgated under Article IX. of the treaty of Tientsin.

I.-Masters of vessels in either of these anchorages will be held responsible for the conduct of their crews when on shore on leave. Should any seaman absent himself without permission, the master will forthwith report the same at the consular office, and take effi