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The most numerous class of boats that enter our harbour are the large fast boats, which bring supplies and passengers here. There are some that start regularly every day, one to Nan-tow, another to Tue-pang, and a third to Whampoa and Canton. The regularity of service to the other places there is perhaps twice a week. They carry on a great deal of trade, and always have small boats come here for exchange of their goods. More than two hundred enter every month. They have mostly all taken out a permit, and are numbered:
The larger importing boats are nearly all mandarin craft, being very numerously manned. In the sugar season, we have from 8 to 25 a month; this depends entirely upon the prices and the demand for the article.
The junks bound for this port, with cargoes from Formosa with camphor, from Maowgan and Chang-peo with alum, or from Amoy with salt. There is also some bound from vessels from Hue hong importing poultry and pigs. Latterly some from Hai nan have also made an attempt to dispose of provisions, but they will not be able to come during the winter.
The best trade now carried on at this place is that in salt. It is principally brought in smaller kind of junk from Tam shway and various other places of Kwei-shen district. There are seldom under 30 of these vessels at the East point anchorage, and they now and then amount to 40. The salt is bought here by fishermen for immediate use, or smuggled by Portuguese lorchas into the interior.
Regular monthly returns are sent in by the salt-weigher.
The junks that touch here in their way the north or south are very numerous, varying from 10-70 vessels per month. They often take from here a good many goods for the adjacent harbours. The far greater number belongs to Pokeën, and next to them the Teo cheu junks. We have also had vessels from the Straits, which transhipped here their principal cargo to be carried to Canton. Only one junk...