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The financial arrangements were rather involved.
The managing firm in Hongkong and its branch in Macao took
up a certain number of chests in each consignment and the
cost was debited to the firm's account. But each partner was
at liberty to take up a certain number on his own account,
employees of the firms were also permitted to subscribe for
as little as half a chest, female relations of the parties
and friends also came into the deal, subscribing for a few
chests each. The money was collected just as each found it
convenient to pay, in fact some cases the balance of the
payment was debited against the profits made on sale.
As soon as sufficient money had been gathered together, and
promises obtained to subscribe. a definite number of chests
was ordered, and ten per cent bargain money was remitted.
The ship was then despatched by a circuitous route, via Formosa,
where coal was taken on for the round trip. As oon as the
ship arrived at Bushire and was ready to load the opium, the
remainder of the purchase price was remitted by cable to Bombay.
The ship then loaded the opium and left, proceeding via Sabang
to some destination unknown. In each case part of the cargo of
opium was destined for Shanghai, the first cargo was in part
certainly unloaded in the vicinity of this port, as mention was
found of an item for storage 60 chests in the Colony at $20
per chest, and other items mentioned the expenses of intro-
ducing part of the first cargo into the district near Kongmoon.
The subscribers probably never saw their opium, when
it was safely landed and placed in safe keeping, the firm in
Macao attended to the sale and gave delivery orders, received
the money and accounted for it to the firm there, paying
sometimes direct to the person concerned after the firm here
had confirmed the correctness of the account so far as they
were concerned. It is doubtful exactly what profits were made
as the accounts examined were fragmentary, and it was doubtful
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