Fear
All rubbish! It's a great thing to scratch one's own back; some people like it when they are not interfered with, but in order to avoid this unpleasantness the motto of the day was "Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."
After I considered that the effects of the fracas had died away I addressed the Committee of the Chamber seeking them to suggest the amount of indemnity that I should claim from the Chinese Government for personal detention at Wuchow, inconvenience, and loss of business, and if they would give such claim their support. I received their answer through the Secretary about a fortnight later—they are business people and apparently an improvement on the Committee of three years before—informing me that the question of the amount of indemnity I claimed was out of their province to decide, &c. They had got all they wanted out of me and I was of no further use, and I was again left to continue to follow up my case single-handed and alone. The correspondence re the amount of my claim between Mr. Fraser and myself is of no importance to the subject, but to cut the matter short I received about $2,150 for what I asked considerably more for. This includes one item of $600 for loss of market, and when $1,500 was to pay for hire of houseboat, pay and keep of Chinese staff, postages, telegrams, for three months in the winter at Wuchow, it was understood that there was little left for my own pocket to compensate for the loss of business in Hong Kong. I have it on the best authority that had the Chamber of Commerce supported my claim at Peking I should not have received less than $5,000.
Although I had proved that English piece goods sent up country under transit pass were alright, I felt there might still be some difficulty with other cargo, such as kerosene oil, from which a large proportion of an internal revenue they're trying to obtain, therefore, to complete my task of carrying the transit pass system through in all its branches in the two provinces, I embarked on another venture of 3,000 cases kerosene (Consigned for the old spot on the West River (Wuchow)), but before leaving Hong Kong I had a large obstacle to contend with, viz., the transport of kerosene from Hong Kong to Canton. I must point out that no transit pass can be obtained in Canton unless the cargo is imported by foreign ships. At that time there appeared to be an understanding among the shipping companies trading to Canton that no kerosene should be carried. I called and enquired at every shipping office in the trade to obtain freights for my oil, but was refused space at any price. Among them might be mentioned Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. I eventually procured an old South Sea Island schooner, had her registered so that she could carry a flag, got her towed up to Canton, where I obtained transit passes in equal quantities to the principal centres of trade in Kwangsi, viz., Kweilinfoo in the north, Luchowfoo in the west, and Namningfoo in the south. The schooner, which was named the Wuchong, returned to Hong Kong, where she was wrecked in the typhoon of 27th July last year, when the Captain (Jay) was drowned. However, I proceeded with my cargo up the West River, and, with the exception of a threatened attack from pirates, I arrived safely at Wuchow after a passage of nine days from Canton, and again trouble began. The kerosene oil farmer, who before this collected 30 cents per case on all kerosene which passed through Canton, despatched a steam-launch to Wuchow to warn all merchants not to buy my oil under threat of their being fined and their shops closed. I put myself at once into communication with Mr. Fraser, and through his representations with the officials the farmer's steam-launch was withdrawn and I was informed by the Prefect there would be no further trouble. However, confidence was not easily restored among the dealers. I despatched the three consignments into the interior, each in charge of one of my servants. But after ten days I could not get an offer for the portions retained for sale at Wuchow (about 1,000 cases). A new idea struck me. I had a large signboard printed in large Chinese characters meaning something in the following effect: "John Andrew, foreign merchant, dealer in kerosene oil, single cases for sale." On the first day I sold five cases singly, and continued selling in small quantities for six weeks, the largest quantity at one time being 24 cases. By this time confidence was restored and the local dealers came forward and in a few days I was rid of the whole cargo, my detention on this occasion being about two months. My servants from Kweilin and Namning returned in due course with the proceeds of their consignments, having met with considerable obstruction and detention, but eventually, with Mr. Fraser's help again, they came back with the money. I felt pleased at the successful termination of my trip, although by no means a paying one, but I looked forward to obtaining a good market and speedy clearance on another cargo which I intended to bring up at once.
It was towards the end of August that I left Wuchow, and on the following morning one might imagine my surprise to meet five cargo boats deeply laden with kerosene oil, clearly adorned with the house flag of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co., and escorted by a Chinese junk in a bamboo boat. All my legs of coping with loss on the first venture were crushed: to place 3,000 cases on the top of what I had already sold meant about two months' supply on the then small market of Wuchow. I never felt so small in all my life, and although I had no reason to complain about other people taking advantage of work I had volunteered to do, I do most bitterly complain that I was not treated fairly. These 3,000 cases belonging to the above firm had been brought up to Canton by one of the Indo-China steamers and I naturally had a grievance at their accepting freight from others that they firmly and distinctly refused to me. Had I been granted the same privilege I would have saved the loss occasioned by the wreck of the Wuchong and the life of one European would have been spared.
With the market of Wuchow closed to me with kerosene I decided to try green beans and peas now and accordingly started up the North River with her cargo towards the end of the year. The first venture was 2,700 cases and although I met with considerable detention on this occasion, by avoiding obstruction at Lewchowfoo, to the north-east of the Kwangtung Province, I finally succeeded, with Mr. Fraser's aid, in getting the Prefect to issue proclamations allowing free sale of kerosene and other cargo arriving under transit pass. I also visited Luchow, in the north-west of Kwangtung, where I met with the same success. I then felt that my duty was done and returned well rewarded with the object attained. Had I not, however, received the substantial support, which I did, from H.M.'s Acting Consul at Canton, Mr. Pouser, my labours would have been wasted in vain. To him and his superiors in Peking I owe my sincerest gratitude.
The question of the inward transit pass system having been settled arrangements were also carried, under certain rules, for outward transit pass goods. This I had nothing to do with, but the one had to follow the other, so I cannot be blamed for taking credit for both, and there is not a merchant in Canton of any importance who does not take advantage of either one or the other or both. Take one or two German firms, for instance: they have traced my footsteps so fine that in under convoy kerosene oil from Hong Kong to Canton, and bought under transit pass, for places on the North River, have either for themselves or acting for Chinese, purchased Chinese junks and obtained a register under the British flag in order to secure cheap transport.
My explanation is almost done. The question which might naturally arise is, "What about the opening of the West River?" In answer to this I can merely say that I selected Wuchow on the West River as my base of operations over the transit pass case knowing that H.M.'s Government only wanted some excuse for insisting upon the Chinese opening the river to trade. I found the excuse and it might have been years before such another opportunity turned up. The Chamber of Commerce were good enough to mention in their last annual report that "Mr. Andrew's claim against the Chinese Government had been settled satisfactorily." Where they got their information from I don't know, but if the case was settled no thanks are due to them. If under the heading of "Opening of the West River" in the same report they had expressed their thanks for the good work I had done it would have been more to the point. I am not, however, a member of the Chamber, but it might have been a proper thing on the part of the Committee to ask me to become one. I may almost say that I have met with more obstruction, opposition, and competition from the European mercantile community of Hong Kong in carrying out the transit pass system than I did from the Chinese officials. The weakest go to the wall and I suppose I must take a back seat among all the wealthy merchants who now make use of transit passes, but I have had my way and the arm raised for
Justice and Mercy.
JOHN ANDREW, Hong Kong, 27th August, 1897.
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