728475-1842-23-Jun-1842 — Page 3

NA

My dear Sir

AL COR

THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

INCL.

Tx brother of the Siamese Prince noticed in my last is generally known by the name of Chow Fah Noi, 1. e. Chow Fuk the

and may be considered the heir apparent to the

one. He is A young mail of more than ordinary mental endow- ments, of a commanding personal appearance, decus. - known, and acknowledged friend of foreigners, t arts and customs, and a popular Prince among his own countrymen. He introduced the art of Ship building in his own country after the model of Europeans by setting an example in person, and laboring with his own hande in the execution of his praiseworthy designs. Another countryman of his, a person of rank has imitated but e

ple and now they have six vessels, each from two to eight hundred tons. Some of the first were poorly fastened and imperfectly formed but have been made that some of the last are strong and fine looking vessels and will sail as well as the ships of any other nation. They have been employed as merchant vessela in trade with Sin gapore, but the early part of the present year they were all furnished with guns and sent to the Cochin Chinese war Prince Chaw Fah, not resting conten ted with his success in the art of ship ilding, turned his attention also to the sci

ation, and by se has

tomed to habits of activity the imitator of their

such improv

his patient application

so far mastered its di

and practice a compelent

ship building, he has ever been ready to avail of the aid of ship Captains visiting the place, as well as those in the Siamese employ, while he has by the aid of these and other gentlemen residing in the country so far acquired the English language as to employ it suc- cessfully in his mathematical studies. As the head of His Majesty's marine forces he spends much time in drilling his men and takes much pride in their martial exhibitions,” In their exercise in gunnery the word of command is given in English, and often by himself in persou, compelling, his men to learn the techicalities and the manouvres at the same time. He has in con- nexion with the men of his own country a few hundred

Cochin Chinese prisoners of war under a course of

martial discipline: In their recent expedition against the Cochin Chinese he went as Commander in Chief of the fleet, composed of five ships and forty five war boats. He is supplied with an English dress, appro- priate to his office, his own ship is kept in fine order, hiving on board n band of music, and his men are men are trained to observe the appropriate regulations of their

station. Back rá, hog

stand as erect before a prince as they would before an equal and this national independance or mode of showing respect is either unheeded, or noticed with a laugh. Chow Fah is very popular among the Chinese population in the country by whom he is called the O Che wang, or black tongued prince. The Siamese consider that in cansequence of his in reality a person of no ordinary character and it is great merit he is invulnerable to musket balls. Heis || reasonable to expect that his influence upon his coun-

try will be salutary and extensive,

Yours &c.

At his palace he has several rooms furnished in Eu- is made the fre ropean style, and while his residence is quent resort of foreigners residing in the city as well as of strangers visiting the place, he receives his guests in a manner which does honor to his taste and hospitality. His chairs, couches, tables, etc. are either of foreign manufacture or are successful imitations made by his own servants. In common with his countrymen he shows a fondness for flowers, and has some pretty gar-

dens of flowers and fruit trees. He has also a cabinet cantaining a choice collection of shells, insects and

birds.

Though he observes some of the formalities of the re- ligion of the country it is believed that he has, but little regard for religion in any form, still he manifests a liberal disposition and has contributed generously for the support of christian schools. He keeps up a friendly intercourse with Europeans and Americans residing at the Capital, offen Vision

Welcome rest, at his own fluence en

and making

His

"wards

to rende palace p

acquaintanc

nother to

Macao, 17th June 1842.

MR. EDITOR: You ask for news. Some things

As came

I have seen and heard and will tell you. up the river, I saw a fine fleet of Smugglers, bearing the English flag at Whampoa there were ten or twelve Sail in all. I was told a Lorcha recently came among them, but was taken and towed out of the feet. They do business in high style, are on the alone by the Mandarins. I saw five or six other En- terins with the people, and are, to say the least, let glish vessels, the two U. S. A. Ships of War, and one or two other Merchant vessels of that Nation, and also a small Schooner called the Echo, and belonging, it was said, to the consulate.

NATIVE Smugglers, in any numbers, and of all des criptions fast-crabs, scrambling dragons, e,

divers

I also saw ;andwhat shall I call then I saw, what was neither Chinese nor European craft a nondescript, English flag, manned by all sorts of people built like a large fastboat, having mat sails, and an

said She was a free trader, and carried two signs writ. colors, A Man who called himself a compradore, ten in Chinese, one offering for sale opium, at so much per catty the other offering to take cargo to Hongkong at so much a picul.

els

factories, five stand near to each other half way to th

I counted seven forts between Whampoa and the city the others near the city? There is one opposite to way to the the factories, and three or four more, I am told, further up on the same side as the factories,

I could see one or two large works north of the city on the hill. There the Blenheim passage. Almost every morning I hear are said to be several forts in the Macao Channel, and the cracking of firearms in all directions about the city.

The factories are still more than half deserted. Some are in utter ruins. There are not, so I have been told, more than fifty or sixty foreigners now in Canton, and they are much restricted, not allowed to ga, except on certain days, even to the Fate Gardens, The people however, so far as I have seen, are very quiet and do not molest you as you go in the streets. In the few streets, through which I have walked and I have been as far as "Physic Street, business seemed to be brisk.

Four flags staffs, the Dutch, English, American, and French, are standing, but the American flag is the only one now flying.

I have not met any of the hong merchants, but have seen several of the shopmen, and also a doctor Longhead, and a linguist called Alanisi. People here tell me that Howqua does not often go abroad, and wishes to keep himself clear of all business. The Chinese like trade better than fighting-

AN UN

Canton 16th June 1842.

TADE

ancem ponics and

MAULMAIN,

YOURS

VIATOR.

numer

Ere au unrestricted trade can be carried on with all these people, a vast deal of mutual jealousy and hatred could ensue without a Resident in that direction to must be reconciled, nor do we think that success smooth all differences and remove all impediments. The Siamese Shans are almost constantly at logger heads with Burmese Shans, and the red Kayons carry them as slaves to the other. These Kayens, however, off people indiscriminately from the one party and sell or at least some portion of them, have, on more than one occasion, we understand, offered to place their country under our jurisdiction without stipulation of no attention has been paid to much Their country is said to produce tin in

lected from Pot the

not as in these Provinces, ning streama, but in large

mountains, The existence such ertained by some competent

ibt not that some enterprising individuals

working it.

flourishes well throughout the whole- to the north-east of Zimmay, but 40 bring this ount in our Market, would require much capital more settled state of affairs than now exists in those ons. We think all these countries should be visited yearly by some officer of this Government, in order to cultivate friendly feelings towards us, to inquire into their resources, and to remove impediments to free intercourse. The expense of such an undertaking would be trifling, while the, advantage gained would annually increase far beyond what we have incidentally alluded to, there is much to engage the attention of traders

THE above extract from the Maulmain

Free Press of the 12th of May) is Chronicle (which we find in the Singapore

in-

teresting as proving the grasson

of our commercial influence to the South western and Southern frontiers of the Ce lestial Empire. We are glad to know the Chinese, who trade to Zimmai, wish to extend their journey to Maulmain. But for our War with China, we have no doubt ere this, they would have resorted thither in considerable numbers. Zimmay, referred to is indifferently called Zemmai and Shaimai, according to Malte Brun. The Society for the diffusion of Useful Know- ledge, have very properly adopted the Siam- ese designation Changmay in their Map. It is a city containing, we are told, 25,000 inhabitants who have a considerable inter, course with the Chinese Province of Yun- nan. They have also a regular intercourse with Ava, and Bankok. The country round Zemmai is densely peopled and the inhabitants, (Shans) are said to be an intel- ligent, peaceable, prosperous race, in arts and civilization advanced far beyond the Burmese. Dr. Richardson of Maulmain (who in the Asiatic Journal, from a personal visit, has given the best account we know of these regions) speaks highly of the "pre- eminent salubrity of the climate." Much of the Tin which arrives from the interior at Bankok, is said to come from the Kayen Country. We think the existence of con- siderable deposites of Tin ore very · prob- able. From what we know of the Geolog- character of this part of Asia, we hink its primitive formation may be stanniferous granite Any way, it would be very desirable to appoint a resident in rter, which we hope will be done

my montha elapse.

this

in 1838 Her

Bit per

1842

575 16.709

114.665.483 4.915.109

43

278.748 275

Muslin

55.118 162

Out of 70.