GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL.
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primary, or consular ports, and ten secondary ports, the first-class comprising Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Mingpo, Shanghai, Swatow, Tientsin, Chefoo, Hankow, Kiukiang, and Newchwang. The import trade from Great Britain centres, exclusive of Hongkong, at Shanghai, Hankow, and Tientsin, while the bulk of the exports to Great Britain pass through the ports of Shanghai, Foochow, Hankow, and Canton.
The value of the total exports from China to the United Kingdom, and of the imports of British and Irish produce and manufactures into China, was as follows in each of the ten years from 1863 to 1872:-
Years.
Exports from China to Great Britain.
Imports of
British Home Produce in China.
£
£
1863...
14,186,310
2.416,705
1864
15,673,930
3.092,611
1-65...
10,677.995
3,03,595
1866
10,846,358
5,090,074
1867...
9,340,402
4,996,469
1868
11,217,450
6,312,175
1869...
9,621,358
6,842,840
1870
9,481,737
6,139,633
18.1...
11,830,389
6,628,236
1872
13,246,042
6,624,511
The export from China to Great Britain and Ireland are made up, to the amount of more than nine-tenths, of one article of merchandise, namely, tea. In the year 1864, the quantity of tea sent from the treaty ports to the United Kingdom was 112,128,032, lbs., valued at 8,386,6291.; in 1865 the quantity amounted to 109,805,895 lbs., valued at 9,081,4867.; in 1866 to 127,486,120 lbs., valued at 10,178,070.; în 1867 to 114,511,388 lbs., valued at 8,951,9547.: in 1868 to 137,042,375 lbs., valued at 10,945,530l.; in 1869 to 123,299,115 lbs., valued at 9,007,5981.; in 1870 to 122,197,167 lbs., of the value of 8,556,761l.; in 1871 to 148,118,667 lbs., of the value of 9,763,2761.; and in 1872 to 152,283,847 lbs., of the value of 10,290,3651. Besides tea, the only other important article of export from China to Great Britain is raw silk, the value of which, rising largely from year to year, amounted to 49,8071. in 1867; to 82,8471. in 1868; to 296,2921. in 1869; to 650,2981. in 1870; to 1,713,2867. in 1871; and to 2,035,4547. in 1872. From 1863 to 1865, the exports to Great Britain included large quantities of raw cotton, but the supply ceased in 1868, while subsequently the cotton exports were of the value of 167. in 1869, of the value of 971. in 1870; of the value of 4877. in 1871, and of the value of 4,1197. in 1872..
Manufactured cotton and woollen goods, the former of the value of 5,026,1491., and the latter of 959,4387. in the year 1872, constitute the bulk of the imports of British produce into the Chinese empire.
China is traversed in all directions by 20,000 imperial roads, and though most of them are badly kept, a vast internal trade is carried on over them, and by means of numerous canals and navigable rivers. It is stated that the most populous part of the empire is singularly well adapted for the construction of a network of railways.
Money, Weights, and Measures
The money, weights, and measures, in ordinary use at the treaty ports, and in the intercourse with foreigners, are as follows:-
Money.
The Tael=10 Mace=100 Candareens=1,000 Cash—
Mexican Dollar
Average rates of exchange, 68. 8d., or 3 Taels to £1 sterling. 48. 2d.,
There are no national gold and silver coins in China, and foreign coins are looked upon but as bullion. The chief medium of payment in commercial transactions
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