FREIGHT AND PRICES AT FUHCHO0.

303

trade with the northern and southern coast and the interior, failure of trade can never arise from the deficiency of the elements which constitute the true basis of commerce, as the returns are on the spot.

It has been truly remarked, that Fuhchoo-foo, of all the five ports, should be least dependant upon silver as a return for English goods. There is on the spot the great staple article of export, and the only one for which the demand is steady and regular-Tea. About seventy miles from the city, is the central depôt of the great black-tea, or Bohea, hills, from whence the tea can be sent down to the ship's-side in four days, at an expense considerably less than that which is now paid for its transit to Canton; probably twenty-five per cent. cheaper. Sugar is grown in the neighbourhood of Fuhchoo for home consumption, but the refining process is not well understood. Within six miles of the city, are extensive lead mines; the price, per pecul of eighty pounds, was last year only five dollars.

In Straits produce, including the Indian Archipelago, much trade might be done, as there is a large and increasing consumption of their products, and our freights are considerably lower than that of the Chinese junks. The trade with Loochoo is annually increasing; numerous junks come every year, with 5,000 to 10,000 dollars in gold, to purchase foreign goods, which are principally for Japan. The best proof that can be given of the probability of a trade existing, is that there are not less than 1,000 junks annually engaged in trade.

Freight-Fuhchoo to Amoy costs 1 dollars a pecul: sixteen peculs to a ton; hemp, 10 dollars a pecul; round buttons, 20 cash each; sugar, 5 dollars a pecul; pork, per pound, 100 cash, or to of a tael; rice, per stone, seldom costs less than 2 taels.

The following prices were noted in 1844 at Fuhchoo: the import prices refers to the purchase or sale of one or two pieces, and not to bales.

Alum, 1 50 dollars,

Camphor, 18 dollars.

Captain Rodney Mundy, of Her Majesty's Ship "Iris," in order to test the facilities for inland conveyance, sent a letter from Fuhchoo to our consul at Ningpo, by a special courier, who performed the journey in ten days-of which he travelled eight by land, and two by water-and for which he received 10,000 cash. The same returned to Fuhchoo in twelve days. Letters are sent by the consul at Fuhchoo to Amoy in four days by special courier at a charge of 1,800 cash (1,300 cash to the dollar) for the journey. They may be sent cheaper by not requiring so short an interval of time.

NINGPO.

Ningpo, in latitude 29° 54° north, longitude 121° 52′ 30′′ east, is situated on the banks of the river Takia, the principal of the rivers, which have here their confluence with the sea. The channel for entering this river is between some small islands on the eastern point, having on the bar from three to three and a half fathoms of water, and at the anchorage from five to six. The mouth of the river is only nine leagues distant from Chusan harbour. Ningpo is one of the first-class cities of the province of Chekeang, which reckons eighty-nine cities and large towns; its population is 26,256,784, with an area of 25,056,000 English acres, or 536 individuals to the square mile.

The present appearance of Ningpo proves that it was formerly an extensive place of commerce, and had probably a large trade with the Spaniards; when we took possession of it the people called our sepoys, "Manilla men." The city is encompassed within a wall six miles in circumference, but in a wretched state for defence; it is entered by six gates, and is incapable of any resistance to an European army. Some of the streets are well laid out with good shops, and at night look well when lit with large

lanthorns.

The vast plain of Ningpo is a magnificent amphitheatre, stretching for nearly sixteen miles on the one side to the base of the

CITY OF NINGPO.-CHINHO FORTRESS.

305

distant hills, and on the other to the verge of the ocean. To the north west, south, and south-east, are seen innumerable canals and water-courses, every patch of ground cultivated, comfortable farmhouses, family residences, villages, and tombs. On the opposite direction the land-scenery is similar to that described, but the river appears to be literally covered with boats and human beings.

ap

The height of the city walls is about twenty-five feet, exclusive of the parapet, which is nearly five feet; the width at the top is fifteen feet, and the base twenty-two. The materials of the wall pear to be solid, and where not dilapidated is very substantial masonry. There are six gates in the wall; five are situated at the four cardinal points, there being two on the eastern face. In addition to these principal gates, there is near the south and west gates, a water-gate, or small sally port, used for the ingress and egress of boats, that ply about the city canals. Bridge-gate, so called from a floating bridge, about two-hundred yards long, and nearly six yards broad, is formed of timber lashed together and laid upon lighters, of which there are seventeen linked close together with iron chains it is the only communication with a populous suburb. The six principal gates are double, and each inner gate is supported by an outer one, which is twenty-five yards distant from it. The line of wall that runs off from the one side of the inner gate towards the outer, is the leading wall, which having described a section of a parallelogram, meets the inner gate at the other side. Over each gateway, whether inner or outer, a guard-house is raised, and generally two stories high. At present these stations are unoccupied from the wall the scenery is good. There is a moat of considerable extent, which almost encircles the city. It is calculated at 2142 chang, which is about three miles long, some parts very deep, and varies in width from thirty to forty yards, is well supplied with water, and is daily navigated by small boats.

Chinhoe citadel and town is at the entrance of the Ningpo river, and about thirteen miles from the city; it is on a commanding height, was well protected by forts, walls, cannon, and possessed several large armouries, foundries, &c., filled with guns, musketry, swords, pikes, powder, &c. ; yet its garrison of 15,000 men was routed in a few hours by our troops and seamen, amounting to about 1,500 men.

The situation is very beautiful, and the scenery around charming. Along the river-banks are ice-houses of a lofty size, with high gable roofs, lightly thatched to permit ventilation. From these ice ware-houses, the fishing junks are largely and economically supplied.

There are some large buildings at Ningpo; an hexagonal tower 150 feet high, and one temple in particular of vast size, with numerous columns and splendid ceilings varnished in gold and silver hues. An elegant arch or screen of exquisitely carved

306

ENGLISH LADY MISSIONARY AT NINGPO.

style, attracted my notice. The elephants engraved thereon were well executed, but the art displayed was said not now to be manifested in China; the date was about 400 years old. The city is said to contain 200,000 or 300,000 inhabitants.

At Ningpo an attempt has been made to collect some information on population. The heads of 293 families had 660 children living, of whom 357 were boys, and 303 were girls; 369 persons had 637 brothers, and 427 sisters. Of 300 men above twenty years of age, 36 were unmarried, and only two of those were practical polygamists; these enquiries were made amongst the poorest classes. It is seldom that families have more than four children, the largest in the list had six. There appears to be less mortality among children in China, than in England or the United States. The people of Ningpo are very indignant at being charged with infanticide, yet with one voice charge the crime on the people of Fookien, and the inhabitants of the northern part of the Canton province.

The Missionaries, English and American, at Ningpo, as well as in other parts of China have done great good. An English ladya Miss Aldersey-has settled for life at Ningpo as a missionary, and is doing much good.

The missionary hospital at Ningpo was opened in November 1843. During the first three months 650 patients received surgical treatment. The building, which is in the business part of the city, was freely given for that purpose by a native merchant. It has daily gained confidence and esteem from the inhabitants. It was at first only attended by the poor, but in a few months the hospital was surrounded with grandees in their sedans. The missionaries only profess to cure complaints of the eyes, which are very general, particularly entropium, or turning in of the lid so as to rub the cornea, which is thought to proceed from poor diet, as some wholly live on fish and green vegetables. Next to ophthalmic complaints, those of the skin are most frequent, and by no means confined to the poor.

EARLY FOREIGN TRADE AT NINGPO.-A native work published by imperial authority about fifty years ago, gives a brief sketch of foreign intercourse, both at Tinghai and Ningpo. The writer of this history purposes to give the transactions of the period 1695, and states that the grace and dignity of imperial majesty having diffused itself far and wide, the ships of foreigners arrived in a line of unbroken succession: that foreign goods were lightly taxed, to encourage them. It was then decreed that the annual tax from English imports should amount to 10,000 taels of silver. The writer states that the Hungmaw is the Yingkweili (English nation); its people are of two species, white and black. The white constitutes the honourable class, the black the inferior. Their ships are built of double plank, they are different from Chinese boats, and they sail against the wind.

All efforts failed this year to open a custom house at Tinghai,

INTERNAL AND FOREIGN TRADE AT NINGPO.

307 for the accommodation of foreigners, and the board of revenue ordered that deputies do attend then from Ningpo, to collect the duties. In the 37th of the same Emperor's reign, A.D. 1699, the hoppo reported that the "bay of Tinghae (Chusan) was much better suited for foreign trade than Ningpo ;" and it appears that consent was obtained from the board of revenue to open trade; in 1701 two English ships arrived, and in the eighth month two more ships. It appears trade was going on most prosperously, but the Ningpo people got jealous of their neighbours, and squabbling with each other constantly, when the trade was checked, and the factory was dissolved in 1703.

The commerce of Ningpo is now very active among the Chinese themselves. About 670 junks come annually to this port from Shantung, and Leautung, which bring oil of teuss (peas) green and yellow; brandy, pears, chesnuts, felt caps, cloth and cordage of different kinds, hams, salt meat, vegetables, stag horns, medicine and drugs, wheat, flour, oil, and sauce of humps, paste of green peas, nuts, barley, seeds of the water melon, oil of the fruit tree kin, (black) oil of the pea of Suchoo, a fruit called the fleshy date, a grain known as paomi, horns of animals, rice, a species of silk called kin chou, and the grain of the nuan-mi, kanliang, &c. From Fookein and Hainan, about 560 junks arrive with sugar, alum, pepper, black tea, iron, wood, indigo (both dry and liquid) salt fish, rice, dye woods and fruits: from Canton about twenty-five junks with sugar candy, cotton, and articles as above.

From the straits of Malacca, and the adjacent isles of Jolo, some ships come annually with cargoes of Straits produce, which is the same as that of the Phillipines: these are called ships of the west, some years as many as ten, in other years only one or two: during the year 1844 none arrived.

From the interior, by rivers and canals nearly 4,000 small vessels arrive annually; from Ningpo, large quantities of wood and charcoal are sent to Shanghai, which return a profit of 25 per cent; it is said that in the Archipelago of Chusan, distance only twenty-four miles from Chinho, more than 20,000 people are employed catching and preserving fish. The vessels thus employed belong to natives of Ningpo, and are generally the property of a family, or small company, ten or fifteen persons uniting to purchase the cargo.

The trade of Shantung and Leautung, which supports Ningpo, is annually on the decline-and well informed parties attribute the decline to the increasing prosperity of Singapore, which being a free port, has at all times a large stock of European goods, and the products of the Red and Persian Seas, the Straits of Malacca, and other adjoining countries. There is an annual increase of the vessels, which come from Teintsin and other ports of the empire, to supply themselves from first hands. The vast exportation of silver, which is constantly made from the northern provinces to meet the imports of opium, diminishes they say the