requiring information of any kind, they being under the impression that it can
only be required for one object, viz. to serve as a guide in levying some new tare or impost; they sell their quarrels and disputes amongst themselves, generally by the strong hand, and in cases where money is at issue, their frays frequently end in bloodshed; they prefer this course, leaving no easier means of redress: a wholesome dread of the wholesale system of exaction practised in the Chinese Courts, and even, a greater fear of the fleecing of Attornies, heavy Court fees, and delays experienced under our own system, prevails amongst them; a feeling which, through dearly bought experience, is also fully reciprocated by every Chinese resident in the Colony.
I have, &c., (Signed) A. L. Inglis, Registrar General.
To the Colonial Secretary.
Remarks upon the Native Trade at Hongkong.
The only vessels which belong to this island are a great number of large fishing craft which congregate at Stanley and Aberdeen. They are tenanted by whole families of very rough people, who have often been guilty of piracy. Only in bad weather and when wanting supplies they come into the harbour, and assemble regularly at the Chinese new year to make up their accounts with their agents.
As they are still sailing under a Chinese pass, they have never been numbered, nor received permits from our Government, it is very difficult to say how many own this port Hongkong as their home, but are anchored in the appointed anchorage. These boats fill the whole harbour in the above places during the season.
The vessels that regularly clear out from this port are the stone boats, all owned by Punqua, with from 6 to 10 sailors and from 30 to 40 boats with full cargoes of granite cut in the quarries of this colony, leaving this monthly.