39
the officials.38 This kind of thing, plus business losses, led some to bankruptcy.
Yet the foreign traders found them to be honourable men of business. There was, says Morse 'an ease in their mutual relations' which was the best commentary on the condition of affairs. "They both had a reputation for commercial honour and integrity such as has not been surpassed in any part of the world or at any time in its history: trading operations were entirely on parole, with never a written contract: and there was much help and sympathy from one to the other.39
The servants in the factories
Earlier regulations stated that Chinese could not be employed as servants to foreigners, but this rule was normally relaxed, albeit with a restriction on numbers. Many Chinese serviced the Factories in diverse occupations, and most must have been local people, some of them long-serving. The personal servant of one head of the EIC's Select Committee had been with him for 16 years, and there were clearly others of the kind.
40
However, this was a dangerous employment. It became more so at times when the high mandarins were in dispute with the EIC Select Committee, and rules were invoked and enforced for a time. Servants would have to quit, or sometimes flee, and they and their families were liable to be 'squeezed' by underlings. A striking instance of the kind was the terror inspired by the Hoppo's and Prefect's unannounced visit and high-handed actions at the British Factory in 1831, when 'every Chinese in our Employ fled from our premises in alarm for his safety.'41
The wide range of civilians employed under the Co-Hong's auspices
Associated with the Hong merchants were a large number of other civilians, functionaries licensed by the Chinese authorities, who were required to be secured by the merchants in the performance of their duties.42 These included linguists (otherwise known as "interpreters") and compradors ('negotiators of purchases', storekeepers and ship-chandlers43) who, in their turn, were assisted in their work by a variety of persons offering services to the crews and other personnel connected with the trade. There were also the pilots licensed by the authorities. Besides these were the employees of the Customs, and the naval and
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the officials.38 This kind of thing, plus business losses, led some to bankruptcy.
Yet the foreign traders found them to be honourable men of business. There was, says Morse 'an ease in their mutual relations' which was the best commentary on the condition of affairs. "They both had a reputation for commercial honour and integrity such as has not been surpassed in any part of the world or at any time in its history: trading operations were entirely on parole, with never a written contract: and there was much help and sympathy from one to the other.*39
The servants in the factories
Earlier regulations stated that Chinese could not be employed as servants to foreigners, but this rule was normally relaxed, albeit with a restriction on numbers. Many Chinese serviced the Factories in diverse occupations, and most must have been local people, some of them long- serving. The personal servant of one head of the EIC's Select Committee had been with him for 16 years, and there were clearly others of the kind.
40
However, this was a dangerous employment. It became more so at times when the high mandarins were in dispute with the EIC Select Committee, and rules were invoked and enforced for a time. Servants would have to quit, or sometimes flee, and they and their families were liable to be 'squeezed' by underlings. A striking instance of the kind was the terror inspired by the Hoppo's and Prefect's unannounced visit and high-handed actions at the British Factory in 1831, when 'every Chinese in our Employ fled from our premises in alarm for his safety."41
The wide range of civilians employed under the Co-Hong's auspices
Associated with the Hong merchants were a large number of other civilians, functionaries licensed by the Chinese authorities, who were required to be secured by the merchants in the performance of their duties.42 These included linguists (otherwise known as "interpreters") and compradors ('negotiators of purchases', storekeepers and ship- chandlers43) who, in their turn, were assisted in their work by a variety of persons offering services to the crews and other personnel connected with the trade. There were also the pilots licensed by the authorities. Besides these were the employees of the Customs, and the naval and
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