146-
FRIEND
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
I CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE,
HONGKONG, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1st, 1842.
H. E. General Sir HUGH GOUGH -K, C. B. landed here on the 27th ultimo, from the Ernaad Transport, which brought him from Koolongsoo. We understand he will shortly take his departure for Calcutta.
-EXPORT of TEA and SILK for the month_ending holders to be stiff : so 31st October 1842.
Congou, Caper
Souchong Sort Pekoe Orange Pekoe Hyson
801,805 8,938 107,402 2,450
8,153
41,867 29.104 990,719
and 567 Bales of Silk. Depreciated dollars. We have received a letter from a correspondent B, who contests the opinion we expressed in our last number, that Mexican dollars were ordinarily of less intrinsic value than Pillar dollars. He corroborates his assertion that they are of equal metallic worth by adducing the case of an eminent house, long resident at Canton, whom he
avers, it is well known have converted téns of thousands of Mexican into Pillar dollars. This to us appeared wholly incredible, but on in- quiry we found that such a practice had once existed at Canton. One party said it was no
Canton News.—YIKSHAN has taken his departure from the Southern emporium, and the usual cort. ege due to the rank of the Imperial Commission ers has been despatched to escort ELEPOO and the others, when they arrive at the precincts of the Qwan-tung Province; which it is believed they will reach in about a week from this date. The senior Hong merchant, Houqua is repairing all the factories in the British Hong
the Company's Hall included, on the restoration of which the The workmen seem to be bestowing great care. largest factory unlet, Howqua will not
accept a
offence, being a laudable endeavour to tenant for untill he learns, whether or not, it will be required by the Superintendent of British increase the circulating medium; at all times Trade. Conservatism is no longer the order of scarce. But a poor plea, for such a misdemeanour the day at Canton. Old things are fast passing we think, if proffered at the bar of the Old Bailey away and all things are becoming new. Innova-whither such an offence would conduct the delin- tions are daily made on the late barbarous restric- quents, if discovered in England. We more- tions on Foreigners, who can now go into the over have been told (what however is no news to
of Spanish Stripes. Grey Long Cloths of fair and g good quality are saleable at $2.90 83 ex Duty. Twist does not rally, is still neglected.
OPIUM-Malwa is going off in large quantities at § 580 a $ 590. At Whampoa about 3 20 lets. The Peace has fully established the former pre- eminence of Canton as the Market for the Drug and many native brokers and dealers who had from terror of the law absconded, have now return- ed to their old pursuits. Patna little selling for Cash but rather a brisk demand for time bargains of 1 month. Cash $810, 1 month 820. Benares neg- lected at 765 Cash 8 775 one month.
Money still scarce and dear with the Chinese. It seem probable when the Tea market re-opens and the Tea-men placed in funds, that most des- criptions of Imports will improve. Mexican dollars are at 6 per cent discount, Carolus at 11 per cent premium. Sycee at per cent premium.
THE SALT TRADE OF CHINA,
No one who has approached the shores of Chi- na or passed up any of its rivers, but must have been struck by the number of Junks of great ton- nage which are constantly employed in the car- rying of SALT to different parts of this vast Em-
pire.
It also notorious thats not an inconsiderable
portion of the contraband trade in Opium is car- ried on through their medium, and whilst we write we see a fleet of these vessels in the bay, lying
City; but the mobbing and confusion, their pres-old residents) that although a certain house off the Opium godowns of a leading firm.
ence occasions, renders & visit at present, anything but agreeable. Ladies are now allowed Sedans, and can pass up and down the river in a boat, without being exposed to indecent insults from the numerous curious gazers, which their presence sures to discover and punish the authors and distri- attracts. The Viceroy has it is said, taken mea butors of the incendiary placards which have been circulated, calling on the natives, to wreak a fear- ful vengeance on the obtrusive and haughty bar.
barians:
A fire broke out on Monday morning among the mat houses which are erected at the back of the lower bazaar. The conflagration being on a rising ground was visible to all the Shipping in the harbour, and excited apprehensions for the fate of the newly built town. The Chief Magistrate, with a body of Police, was very promptly on the spot, and directed measures to be taken to arrest the progress of the flames, which were happily suc cessful and only some forty or fifty mat tenements were destroyed. We are confident, measures will be taken by the Authorities to compel the natives to remove the mat outhouses which are erected contiguous to, and in many instances con- nected with the lately erected brick buildings, else before the winter is over, it is almost certain a fre will break out which will destroy a large portion of our rising town.
We are obliged to our correspondent s. a. for his letter detailing the loss of the Maulmain and probable loss of the Mary Stewart of Madras. We are sorry to add that serious apprehensions are entertained for the Safety of the Conrade bound hither from Singapore, she is long over due.
for years been suspected of this fraud, yet it never amounted to other than mere suspicion, till the mob broke into, and plundered the factories at Canton. Our informant says, he then saw the heavy unremoved parts of the Coining machinery and the room containing it, was strewed with
dollar bags. He adds, he has no doubt a good y now be found in the part of what he saw, may. same state, in one of the dilapidated factories near the Creek.
The amount of tonnage employed in the freight
of SALT must be immense, if we consider the enormous population among which it is one of the
necessaries of life. Looking to the popular taste
Rice, of which it is an indispensable condiment,
as exhibited in the habitual use of Salted Fish and
we are disposed to think, that more SALT is used in China, in reference to population, than is con- sumed by the inhabitants of Europe. If it be so, We cannot insert the communication of B, although we cannot deny the statements he makes, we can then judge in some measure of the con- with reference to a firm, which in extent of com-sumption here, by a comparison with that of France and England. As respects France, where it is a mercial operations would take rank with the
government monopoly, M. Clement Desormes,eugi- Barings, Rothschilds, Aguados and Sinas of Europe,
neer and chief actionnaire of the great Salt works We will not swerve from the course we prescrib- of Dieuze states that the internal consumption is ed ourselves, in starting our Print. Had our
at the rate of 6 kilogrammes per annum for each lucubrations been more personal, we know they individual, of a population estimated at 32 millions. should have been more popular. Hence we should not In England, the annual consumption is estimated
last letter, as we deemed it in- have alluded to admissible to our columns, we have therefore only head or about 250,000 tons.
| by M✩Culloch, and
and later by Dr. at 1b 22 per quoted such part as bore on the question of Depre- think this quantity is under the mark, owing to the extensive use of Salt for agricultural purposes, and also in processes of the arts particularly in the growing manufacture of Soda from Salt, in lieu of Barilla.
ciated currency referred to in our last number,
COMMERCIAL
are disposed to
We are not aware that there exists in China any workable deposits of fossil Salt. We have no doubt for ourselves that they that the ingenious inhabitants, have availed them- y do exist, and selves of this bounty of Nature. We know there are Salt Springs in the most western Province, Sze-chuen, and that Salt is manufactured there, for the supply of it, and the contiguous country.
Our last accounts from Canton report that the markets are not generally active In Tex there is a Iuli as parties do not seem desmous (now nearly all the Fine Chop Congous are bought) to invest further in the middling and common descriptions it being known the stock is very large and further reduction of Duty is confidently expected. This latter circumstance however renders the Tea- man more stiff, and a reduction of Duty if made this season, will perhaps benefit only the Chinese,
From time immemorial in China, Salt has been owing to the cagerness of the merchants to send home, , returns. All the plain Orange Pekoes have a governmental monopoly the mandarins em- been swept off. The Green Teas are daily arriv.ployed in collection of the duties the
therefrom take ing and some of the fine
fine Chops
hops of Gunpowder a high, if not the highest rank among the Imperia Russian Opium trade. In reply to the query of and Imperial, have been settled at a rate, held by revenue officers, and the Salt merchants are it is 3; we would say that although the Emperor of many as extravagant. It seems to be generally well known, among the most opulent individuals of Russia with a professed respect for international admitted that unless very untoward accounts arrive
the Empire. obligations may have prohibited his subjects selling from England, the Export of must be very Opium at Kiahkta to the Chinese,, yet the notor large this Season. Parties, esti ious venality of the Russian Employées lead us to
in expect it is introduced into Chinese Tartary by Russian traders. It is well known the prices for this article are greatly higher in the northern parts of China, than on the Coast, or in the Southern provinces. Every pecuniary motive is therefore afforded for its illicit introduction. The Poppy is much cultivated in some of the Southern slopes of the Himalaya mountians, and the Opium there produced, we are told is of good quality and is mostly introduced into and consumed in the Chi- nese province of Yunnan,
As a Drug it is generally acknowledged the Tur- key is the best Optum brought to China; but it is too strong for the ordinary smokers, and hence it is only used by the inveterate or habitual smokers, who prefer its greater strength. Turkey Opium mainly consumed in admixture with Malwa (the popular drug northward) because of its lower price. We have no doubt Turkey Opium will largely sent seeing that the actual cost Overland from Smyrna to Kielikta we
more than 101
Ib, and
at one half
ppres
popular taste of Egyptian ope
the san
times past, we have found under, rather than over the mark calculate there will be shipped this season to England from Canton, Hongkong and Macao from 45 to th 50,000,000. To this quantity may be added, the probable Shipments from the newsly opened Northern Ports. Their influence will be however much more felt next season, for obvious reasons. We are told an eminent Ame- rican firm has printed in Chinese and circulated at Amoy proposals for the purchase of certain descriptions of Tea grown in its vicinage. The quantity wanted was about 10,000 Packages, We have seen musters from thence, which are very well spoken of and moderate in price, of which one of our residents is daily expecting about 2,800 Packages, as a first trial.
erely to
We are told the duty levied, amounts to about per head than in France, with a population of 320 9 dollars a ton; which, with no more consumption millions (which is not an over estimate) would produce a revenue of $ 18,000,000 or about double the amount which was realized, when the Salt tax was in operation in Great Britain.
been often struck with the immense stacks of Salt, In passing up the Peiho river, travellers have which bined its banks. The latest European visitor Mr. Gutzlaff in his journal says. "The large and numerous stacks of Salt along the shore, especially at Teen-tsin, cannot fail to arrest the attention of strangers, The quantity is very great and seems sufficient to supply the whole empire, it has been accumulating during the reign of five emperors ; and still
tinues to accumulate This astonishment will cease when we assume (which we thirds of the Pop
hink we can fairly do) that only two lation of China consume Sea Salt, then the tonn
ploye amount
would equal the whole (including rep
reign Shipping, v ich an United Kingdom,
ges) all the Ports. the
Raw Silk Is still taken with avidity at late rates; the object of the purchases being
continues dull, the forcing off Stock, the bad state of the market for China produce makes them Cash, which helps to create its prese
Cotton of fine descriptions realizes re- bu
The high prices of Importers not to 8 their property in the
thereof
Han
ted but the stillness of the present Stocks
mng the same believe the
the Canton a
lace of const Lindsay-i
reto
along the coast
red.
Fall vessels there