GERMAN PIONEER MERCHANT
1 Continuation,
trade with Canton, as foreign sailing vessels were not allowed to go farther up to the Pearl River.
The earliest recollections of foreign commercial intercourse with China are associated with it. "It was at Whampoa then that Mr. Schwarkopf decided to open his field of enterprise. It was in this start at Whampoa that the firm of F. Blackhead and Co. dates its jubilee.
Mr. Scharwkopf purchased a berth-ed junk on which he lived on the river and on which he conducted his business. The junk was fitted up with a stock in trade for the supplying of ships' stores from a needle to an anchor, and from a tot of rum to a keg of biscuits. For going on shore and for calling on board visiting craft and to get orders and for news of the outside world there were no telegraphs or railways - he had a small Canton gig. The tales of the rough and ready life on the Pearl River imparted to the members of his family have been lost in time, but one that was vividly pictured was the murder of the proprietors (Englishmen) of two "chops" moored in close proximity. The hatred of the foreigner in Canton was then so strong that the Mandarins had offered a premium on every foreign head that was brought into their yamen. Fortunately for the firm of F. Blackhead and Co., this fate did not befall Mr. Schwartkopf, but when matters became too hot during the war that followed, he deemed it wise for his personal safety to remove his chop to Hongkong, where he resumed his business opposite the present Gas Works (at West Point). It may be mentioned here that Mr. Schwartkopf soon afterwards married an English lady in the Colony.
The business, including that of sailmaking, developed rapidly as Hongkong grew in importance, and during the flourishing days of the coolie trade at Macao, which brought so much notoriety to the historic old Portuguese settlement, a branch was established there to furnish supplies to the coolie ships. At that time Macao boasted large shipping centres, but with the advent of the British in Hongkong, the silting up of the harbour and the deeper draught of vessels, these interests gradually minimised to practically nothing.
When in 1874 the "coolie traffic pregnant with abuses" was abolished, F. Blackhead and Co. withdrew. Meanwhile, in 1872, Mr. Schwartkopf took a trip to Europe to see to the education of his family, and a gentleman named Smith, Captain of a sailing vessel, who was well known in these parts and who had been in control of the Macao branch, assumed control of the business with Mr. Rapp, who afterwards left Blackhead's to become an auctioneer and died some years ago in the Colony. During their control, the business was opposite the (old) Central...
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GERMAN PIONEER MERCHANT
1 Continuation,
trade with Canton, as foreign sailing vessels were not allowed to go farther up to the Pearl River .***
the ear- liest recollections of foreign commercial intercourse with China are associated with it " It was at Whampoa then that Mr. Schwarkopf decided to open his filed of enterprise. It was in this Start at Whampoa that the firm of F. Blackhead and.Co. dates its jubilee.
# chip # a dismem-
* Mr. Scharwkopf purchased a bered junk on which he lived on the river and on which he conducted his business. The junk wass fitted up with a stock in trade for the supplying of ships' stores from a needle to an anchor, and from a tot of rum to a keg of biscuits. For going on shore and for calling on board Visiting craft and we for orders and for news of the outside world there were no telegraphs or railways - he had a small Canton gig. The tales of the rough and ready life on the Pearl River imparted to the members of his family have been lost in time bas one that was vividly pictured was the murder of the propritors ( Englishmen of two " chops " moored in
) close proximity, of Mrs. Schwartkopf. The hatred of the foreigner in Canton, was then so strong that the Mandarings had offered a premium on every foreign head that was brought into their yamen. Fortunately for the firm of F. Blackhead and Co. this fate did not befall Mr. Schwartkopf but when matters became too hot during the war that followed he deemed it wise for his personal safety to remove his chop to Hongkong, where he resumed his business opposite the present gas Works (at West Point) It may be mentioned here that Mr. Schwartkopf soon afterwards married an English lady in the Colony,
*
11 The business including that of sailmaking developed rapidly as Hongkong grew in importance, and daging the flourishing days of the coolie trade at Macao, which brought so much notoriety to the historic old Portuguese settlement a brach was established there to furnish supplies to the coolie ships. At that time Macao boasted large shipping centres, but with the advent of the British in Hongkong, the silting up of the harbour and the deeper dragught of vesslesthese interests gradually minimised to practically nothing.
" When in 1874 the " coolie traffic pregnant with abuses" was abolished F. Blackhead and Co. withdrew Meanwhile in 1872 Mr. Schwartkopf took a trip to Europe to see to the education of his family and gentleman named Smith Captain of a sailing vessel, who was well known in these parts and who had been in control of the Macao bracnh assumed control of the business with Mr. Rapp who afterwards left Blackhead's to become an auctioneer and died some years ago in the Colony, During their control the business was opposite the (old) Central
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