the second offered for sale by the Sunk was of an inferior quality, and next to useless in the English market; the last shipped to London was not selected according to the demand, and realized therefore next to nothing.
Another difficulty was that the men who made this trial had no capital, and could sell for ready money only. If direct communications be established with Fokien, and a judicious choice made of the teas most in demand, the Sunk doubtless might sell the black kinds to greater advantage here, than at Canton, who has to transport his goods through a long and expensive inland passage.
Efforts have been made to induce some of the Fokien junks to bring coals from the north coast of Formosa. Some small investments have been brought here, not yet however to give rise to hopes that all our supplies would henceforth be imported from thence. The Chinese Government does not prevent the exportation, but the labour to bring them on board in the absence of all machinery, and even a cart, is very great. Still it is likely that ingenious and plodding Chinese may get over these difficulties, and import them here during the north-east monsoon as ballast.
Mum finds generally a ready sale at this port, because it can be obtained cheaper here than at Canton, where it has to pay an import and export duty. It is brought here in Fokien Changshan junks which fetch it from Heangshan, an island on the coast where it is found in immense quantities; some comes likewise from the Keang. The junks buy it on the spot at an average rate of 2 dollars per picul, and if they can dispose of it here at 1 1⁄2 dollars, they make a fair profit; at one dollar it does only cover the freight and labour. Several cargoes...
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