THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
our obligations for very interesting informa-` tion
THE CHINESE SMUGGLING BOATS.
These boats, named by the Chinese, Tcheong- long-teng, are employed in the contraband (opium) trade in the Canton River, and its various branches. They take a certain number of chests of the drug, from on board vessels anchored at Macao, in the Typa, Hong-Kong, and even at Whampoa, and they carry it for sale to the towns and villages in the vicinity. In whatever part of China the trade in opium may have been esta blished, by common consent it has been determin- ed to sell it for money; or rather, the English Clippers will not deliver Opium except for Sycee Silver, or Dollars; but in all cases, the money is deposited by the buyer, on the deck of the vessel, where the quality of the Sycto is tested, and the Dollars examined and weighed by the Shroff, and it is not until the amount is agreed upon, and the money verified, that a delivery of the opiam is made to the buyer, who, ordinarily, takes the chests without opening, or any examination. Occa- sionally, Gold, in Ingots, and small Plates, are. received in payment.
con-
The principal dimensions we now give ;-
Length
Breadth amid-ship Depth of the hold
Height of the Main-mast Do. Mizen Drawing water
70 courts.
13 do.
5 do. 50 do. 35 do.
31 do. These are the dimensions of a Sariggling boat of the second class. One of the first would be 78 cubits long. It is to be noted that the cubit is about 1 foot 3 inches English.
consists of 1 Captain, 1 Second d:40, 60 Rowers, the vessel is fully manned, the crew and 10 Sailors, to steer and shift sails,
The greater part of the men on board this boat belonged to the town of Whampoa, where the wives of those who are married reside. In every case they are not permitted to husbands, in the fear that
with their would they cause them to lose courage
in time of danger, This essel (or fast boat) is able to carry 350 chests of Opium, or 400 chests of Congou Ten. deduct the cost of provisions for the crew, which From the profits of each voyage they always amounts to $6 per day, or $180 per month,
This first allowance made, the proprietor of the The inferior Mandarins whose silence and con-
Boat takes for himself half of the remaining sum, nivance are mostly purchased by means of co
the other moiety devolves to the boat; and is divided siderable presents from the smugglers, but times by the offer of so much per cent. on all the Captain gets 100 per cent, and the second Ditto some among the crew in such proportions that the
transactions which may be made under their cog- 50 per cent, beyond all the rest on board. nizance] are always disposed to give the smugglers a very great latitude. The Mandarins, in fact,
With a calm sea and fair tide this boat can go at the rate of 6 miles per hour, without using her
miles in the same
are well aware, that the Contrabandists would || sails. With me she can sail 10 or 12
oppose to their authority or interference, an ener- getic resistance in case of need, and that, besides being well armed, they would mutually succour each other, so that, they would come best out of an encounter, unless attacked by very superior numbers..
The war by England, against the Celestial Empire, has induced such a laxity and con- fusion in the public service, and departmental administration of the Chinese, that, since a year and a-haif, Whampoa has become not merely the rendezvous of the Chinese smugglers, but also of European. They have there a special anchorage, hear the mouth of Junk River, and now you are almost always certain to see there, some dozen of cutters-or schooners who openly vend the drug.
Although the Chinese smugglers do not pre- cisely fear the Mandarin boats, they always endea vour to avoid them, unless they have come to some agreement. If they, however, cannot escape being overhauled, they endeavour to negociate, and will offer the Mandarin and his crew a Cumsha la persent] in order to obtain permission to continue their voyage. They do not fight except at the last extremity, or unless the demands of the Mandarin are too exorbitant, or what is still more rare, unless that functionary shews himself inac
to corruption, and will not traffic with his anes. In this case a conflict will ensue, and if the smugglers think they shall get the worst of it. they endeavour to gain the shore, from which they are rarely very far, and abandon to the victor the boat and its cargo.
The smugglers go up as high as Car even beyond to Fo-sham-fooith Opium, which they unload clandesti They study the markets with gr endeavour to arrive with the drug. which, they know, are ill supplied or of stocks are well nigh exhausted. They times into the districts of Chan Chao Fo-kien) on the East coast, from which on going up they alway distance. The innumerable i
and creeks, which exist on this c
abundant shelter in case of bad weat
On their return they bring
Kong, Teas and Silk which either on the East Coast at Amal. Fo
Foshan foo Although they
quality to those furnished by
yet the teas often realize
pay no export duty, and the
vessel which is laden with case to submit to the hard nee Wh hampoa and there paying charges exacted from all forer avance or ignorance of the Chinese
We now present all the mforma
which we were able to obtai from on board a large Smuggling boar the bay of Hong Kong.
This Boat belonged to a rich Chinese n named nd established for some mine in English Colony, and where, this boat
Its construction
the whole rigging
mploved 40
These kind
require to be repa
done, will last some three year
say altogether about seven years.
rchant
Or
During the night the watch consists
ts of 6 men, relieved every hour. As there is no watch clock on board, they calculate the time by means of a Joss Stick, on which are four marks at equal, distances. A watch extends from one mark to another; the Joss Stick is lighted at 8 o'clock at night, they use two during the night, from whence in the morning, it will be seen the last watch finishes at 4 o'clock
·
32
garden cultivation in a liquid state, after the man- ner which from time immemorial has been in use. with the Chinese; the beneficial effects are so great that it renders it the most economical and . productive manure for such purposes.
We have every reason to credit these statements, and as Guano is obtained on the west coast of South America, and as all the Vessels that come it would not be worth trying the experiment of "from thence arrive in ballast, we would ask whether importing this article?
taken by the Chinese in the care, preparation, It is well known that the greatest pains arc
the world are fertilizing matters so economised or and appliance of manures. I no other part of
designate dropping fatness." so wisely appropriated.. Manuring land they
We are
assured that manure is transported from the Southern to the Northem provinces at a incurred on Guans, if brought hither. cost for freight, exceeding that which would be The prime cost of the Chinese article ranges we are told The best is far in inferior in fertilizing efficacy to according to quality, from $25 to $50 per ton. "Guang, which could be imported, we believe, at one-third of this price.
**Dr, Ure, in his DICTIONARY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, &C,. says "GUANO is a substance of a dark-yellow colour; of a strong ambrosial smell, which blackens in the fire, with the exhalation of an ammoniacal odour; soluble with elfér. vescence in hot nitric acid. When this solution is evapo rated to dryness, it assumes a fine red colour, evincing the presence of uric acid. GUANO is found upon the coast of Peru, in the Islands Chinghe, near Pasco, and several other places more to the South. It forms a deposit filty or sixty feet thick, and of considerable extent, and appears to be the excrements of innumerable flocks of birds, especially Herons and Flamands, which inhabit these Islands. It is. an excellent manure, and forms the object of a most exten- sive and profitable trade. For many years a desiccated compost, similar to that in use here, has been exported- from London, to the West Indies, to fertilize -exhausted sugar plantations.
stated that the daily consumption of Tea in the By a late Pamphlet on the Tea Trade, we see it United Kingdom is lb.100,000; and that the annual consumption has
The armament is composed in the following cost of which to the reached lb.36,000,000, the
manier ;—–
1 Long Cannon, 12 Pounder
1
do.
do.
pivots.)
12 Ginjalls (small Rampart Pieces fixed on
1 English Musket
20 Pairs of double Swords 30 Rattan Shielda
200 Pikes or Lances of diverse forms 60 Oars
15 Mats to cover the vessel
2 Cables, one of Bamboo, the other of Coir, of about 50 fathoms length. The latter kind is not ordinarily irsed by the Chinese.
1 Pump of Bamboo tubes, (this is very rarely used because always being near the coast, if the boat makes water they heave her down on the beach to caulk )
│**
1 good Telescope, (European) 1 Compass,
All boats of this kind do not use the European Compass, being generally so near chore the Chinese
com
lves at perfect
sutnicienly exact for them
here the Bh
ws generally remain on boa on shore to purchase
cessary pro
In case of a quarrel on board, the disturbers are, by common consent, put ashore. The captain has not the power to strike a man, nor to put him in
are no regular articles of agreement, merk some one or two dollars selects. There Wounded nursed. Oplum till the some place where she is in
kage
man
which
ble. fertilizm.
damega in mi the fi
yet become acquainted.
my or by
negpgence, he is.
chest in car
reader.
The latest accounts report that, when applied to
consumers is estimated to fully reach £9,000,000, of which sum £3,500,000. goes into the pational Exchequer as duty, the remainder to the Importers and Dealers.
According to the same authority when the late speculation in Tea commenced, there was a stock of lb.54,000,000, which afterwards became reduced to 29,000,000, and at the beginning of this year it was lb.34,000,000.
NOTICE.
MR JOSEPH PYBUS, and MR, JOHN LEFF- LER, are duly authorized to sign for mo, by Procuration, during my absence from Chins."
HENRY PYBUS
Macao, 5th April, 1843.
FOR AMOY AND CHUSAN,
THE Brig "SNIPE" CAPT. W.W. FROST, will be despatched in few days. For freight apply to HUGHE DON, BROTHERS.
Macao, 17th April, 1843.
FOR AMOY AND CHUSAN,
The A. I. British built Barque" COLONIST," THOMAS Leis, Commander will sail for the above-named Ports in all April-For Freight or Passage, apply to
JOHN BURD, & Co. Hong-Kong, 13th April, 1843.
FOR CALCUTTA
TOUCHING AT SINGAPORE AND PENANG.
HE fast sailing Clipper Brig ALGERINE.” J. M. Hill Com- mander will sail for the above named parts on Saturday, the 6th Instant.
For freight or passare apply to
Hongkong, 80th March 1843.
D. WILSON & Co.
FOR LONDON.
THE AL British
built Barque TON.” Captain Catt, loads at gkong and Macao,, and has the
part of her Cargo engaged.
sagy, apply to
OJAMIESON, HOW & Co. uary, 1843.
A CARD
ANDER, BIRD. Accountant, first
House, Prya Grande, Macao.
NOTICE
Mr. Edward Farncomb, Notary Public and Solicitor No. 1 & 2 Magistracy Street
Hongkong
FOR SAL
hors, Cables, Copper Sheath
Felt, Carpeting and Ruga
and Woollen Tartan – by
Hongkong, Jany 11th, 1843,
W. T. Kinsley.