RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r 46 A. D. BLUE steamships in India operated on the Hoogly in the early 1820s, mainly as tug boats. The first steamship in the Dutch East Indies was the Van der Capellen, a paddle steamer of 230 tons, designed to operate a coastal service in Java. The Van der Capellen was built by a consortium of British merchants in Sourabaya in 1825, and equipped with engines built by Fawcett and Company of Birmingham. Due to the close association between British India and Canton through the East India Company, it was not long before steamships were introduced on the Canton River. Although he did not live to see his scheme carried through, a Mr. T. J. Robarts of the Company's Canton staff is the pioneer of steam navigation in China. When on leave in London in 1821, just nine years after the Comet was launched on the Clyde, he suggested to the Court of Directors that a steam tug could be usefully employed on the Canton River. Because it was thought that the Chinese might object, his scheme was turned down, but Mr. Robarts decided to go ahead on his own. He ordered two 16 horse-power engines and a copper boiler from Henry Maudslay and Company of London, and a hull of oak frames; all of which arrived at Canton in 1822 and aroused great curiosity and admiration. Unfortunately, bad health caused Mr. Robarts to retire prematurely, and there was no one at Canton able, or willing to continue with his scheme. Everything was therefore sent to Calcutta, and arrived there in June 1822. The parts were assembled at Kyd and Company's yard at Kidderpore, and the vessel, known as the Diana, was launched on 12th July 1823. However, the original oak hull was discarded in favour of a new hull built locally of teak. The name Diana was taken from the figurehead which had accompanied the original hull. The total cost of the Diana was 70,000 rupees, and the government declining to take any part in the enterprise--this was financed by a group of Indian agency houses. The Diana ran successfully, but not profitably, on the Hoogly for a year, and was then sold to the government for use in the Burma War, 1824-1826. It was Captain Marryat, then the senior naval officer in India, who recommended her purchase to the government. The Diana took part in the first expedition to Rangoon, and proved so useful that she was retained on the Irawaddy for the whole of the war. She suffered at times from overloading, as not ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r EARLY STEAMSHIPS IN CHINA 47 only did she carry troops, but often had a gun brig and several small boats in tow. Diana seemed to produce an effect on the Burmese analogous to that produced on the Mexicans by Cortes' horses. She continued in government service until she was broken up at Calcutta in 1835, and her engines installed in a new ship of the same name. The second Diana was also built at Calcutta, and was employed by the government as a cruiser against pirates in the Straits of Malacca, Although her origin was so closely connected with China, the first Diana never operated in Chinese waters. The first steamship to be seen in China was the Forbes, also built at Calcutta and launched in 1829. The Forbes was much larger than the Diana and cost 300,000 rupees. After she had been running on the Hoogly for several months, the Forbes was chartered by Jardine, Matheson and Company to tow their Jamesina, a barque of 362 tons which had formerly been H. M. S. Curlew, to China. At this time great importance was attached to getting the opium from India to China as quickly as possible in order to command the highest price, and no satisfactory passages had been made from Singapore to China against the north-east monsoon. The opium ships normally waited at Singapore until the monsoon was over before tackling the passage up the South China Sea, so that only one India-China voyage was possible in a season. The Forbes-Jamesina convoy left Calcutta on 14th March 1830; the Forbes having 134 tons of coal on board, two-thirds English and the remainder Indian, while the Jamesina had another 52 tons of Indian coal for the Forbes, besides her main cargo of 840 chests of opium. Good weather was experienced on the passage to Singapore, where they arrived on the 27th, steaming for most of the time at 5-4 knots, and at the most favourable times reaching 7 knots. Four days were spent at Singapore, during which time the boiler was cleaned and bunkering carried out. The monsoon was still strong when they left on 31st, and speed fell first to 3-4 and later to 2-1 knots. By 12th April Forbes had only 12 days' coal left with over 500 miles to go and no sign of the monsoon easing. The Jamesina, therefore, was cast off and Forbes proceeded alone, reaching Lintin on 19th April, the first steamship to be seen in China. The Jamesina arrived two days later. ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r NOTES AND QUERIES 155 This calendar gives the following information for each of the 38 items in the collection, and in the following order: Item number (the Xerox copies have this no. in red at the top right corner) Date (for the two undated items, 16 and 17, approximate dates are assigned) Name of vessel and of master if stated (in many cases these have had to be confirmed from other sources) Ports of origin and delivery Consignor and consignee Quantity and nature of goods Remarks The list is followed by an index, showing in one alphabetical sequence the names of vessels, masters, ports, firms and goods, with relevant item numbers. In the list spellings follow the original, but in the index names have been standardized, with any necessary references from variant forms. 1. 1824 Sept. 24 SHERBURNE George White River Hooghly to Canton: Meren & Co. to Chs. Magniac & Co. 577 (or 227?) bales of cotton each 300 lb. 200 bales of cotton each 200 lb. 170 bales of cotton each 150 lb. 2. 1825 April 23 ANN William Allen Bombay to Lintin: Cowasjee Byramjee to Sorabjee and Simjee 15 chests of opium "The opium is to be transhipped immediately on the Ann's arrival off Lintin . . .” 3. 1827 April 30 MEROPE G. Parkyns Hoogly to Canton: Alexander & Co. to Magniac & Co. 25 chests of Patna opium 25 chests of Benares opium 4. 1827 May 24 CASSADOR J.A. da Silva Damão to Macao: Sr Caramichand Semechand [?] to [?] 51 boxes of Anfião de Malva In Portuguese 5. 1828 May 3 DOM MANUEL DE PORTUGAL J.M. de Taria Damão to Macao: Sr Tarachand Motechand [?] to [?] 25 boxes of Anfião de Malva In Portuguese ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r 156 6. 1828 June 23 NOTES AND QUERIES PENANG MERCHANT J. Mitchinson Penang to Lintin: C. Galastauro to Magniac & Co. 652 baskets of cutch 11,600 bundles of rattans “17 bdls and 3 baskets in dispute if found to be deld.” 7. 1828 Sept. 2 CUMBERLAND A. Steel Singapore Roads to Canton: Charles Thomas & Co. to Magniac & Co. 665 pieces of ebony about piculs five hundred 8. 1829 Feb. 7 EPHEMINA N.M. Harper Manilla Bay to Lintin: N.M. Harper to Magniac & Co. 2004 bags rice weighing about 1080 piculs Paddy in bulk about 1950 piculs 9. 1829 March 10 FALCON S. Moore Roads of Singapore to Lintin: Guthrie & Clark to Magniac & Co. Two chests Patna opium Five chests Benares opium 10. 1829 May 14 PENANG MERCHANT J. Mitchinson River Hooghly to Lintin: Nanjie Tacoran for Jamseljie Jyiebhoy [?] to Magniac & Co. Ten chests Patna opium + + + shall not be subject to any demurrage until thirty days after the arrival of the ship at Lintin.” 11. 1830 April 23 CONDE DE RIO PARDO L. d'Encarnacão Damão to Macao: [?] to Magniac & Co. 20 cases of Opio de Malva In Portuguese 12. 1830 May 24 CASSADOR J.A. da Silva Damão to Lintin: Sr Caramachande Arcachande to Magniac & Co. 5 boxes Aufião de Malva In Portuguese 13. 1850 Aug. 13 ARIEL J. Burt River Hooghly to Cumsingmoon: Moolchund Premjee on acct of Oomedchund Hookumchund of Bombay to Jardine Mathewson & Co. 10 chests Patna opium ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r NOTES AND QUERIES 14. 1859 Feb. 21 LIGHTNING P. Taylor River Hooghly to Hong Kong: Pemabhoy Hunchund to Augustine Heard & Co. 25 chests old Benares opium "No 1 and 4 Chests are broken" 15. 1859 March 25 PENGUIN Wm. E. Wheeler 157 San Francisco to Hongkong: Morgan, Stone & Co. to R. Pollard absent A. Heard & Co. 2 boxes said to contain Mexican dollars, 2000 each 16. 186- JENNY W.C. Dunham New York to Hong Kong & Shanghae: Aaron D. Wild & Sons to Russell & Co. 50 barrels extra mess beef LE + · Freight payable before delivery if original contents unknown. Damage by leakage rust or breakage at Shipper's risk" 17. 1861 JOSHUA BATES Hobsons Bay to Hong Kong: Augustine Heard & Co. 807 pigs lead 18. 1861 May 20 PALMETTO Wm. F. Upton Joseph S. Clark Osborn Cushing & Co. to Boston to Hong Kong: Everett & Co. to Augustine Heard & Co. 2 cases merchandise 19. 1861 Aug. 12 JULIA G. TYLER New York to Hong Kong: T.B. Everett of Boston to Augustine Heard & Co, or order 50 eighth casks brandy 20. 1861 Oct. 16 HARRY HASTINGS Nathanial Coleman River Hooghly to Hong Kong: Mackillop, Stewart & Co. to Augustine Heard & Co. 12000 bags rice "To be taken from the ship's tackle at risk and expense of consignees." 21. 1864 Jan. 5 FUSI-YAMA Adam D. Dundas Hong Kong to Calcutta: Augustine Heard & Co. to Ashburner & Co. 80 cases turpentine ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r 160 38. 1873 June 30 NOTES AND QUERIES CYPHRENES Samuel Stephen San Francisco to Hong Kong: Williams, Blanchard & Co. to Augustine Heard & Co. 12 cases Downers Oil 6 cases whiskey one keg butter one keg pigs feet 4 pkgs herrings one case carriage one case butter 5 kegs pork 5 kegs tongues 5 kegs salmon 10 kits mackerel INDEX TO MCMULLEN COLLECTION Names of ships in CAPITALS; names of ship's masters in italics. The numbers refer to item numbers in the Calendar. Alexander & Co. 3 CASSADOR 4, 12 Allen, W. 2 Cavanagh, C. 24 ANN 2 Clark, J.S. 17 Anfião de Malva* 4, 5, 12 Coleman, N. 20 Arcachande, Caramachande 12 CONDE DE RIO PARDO 11 ARIEL 13 Cotton 1, 31 Ashburner & Co. 21 CUMBERLAND 7 AUBURN Beef, Extra mess Begodin, A. 34, 36 Cumsingmoon* 13 Cutch* 6 16 CYPHRENES 38 32 BENEFACTOR 23 Damão 4, 5, 11, 12 Berry, G. 23 Dibblee & Hyde 25 Bombay 37 Dollars, Mexican 15, 25 see also Hooghly, River DOM MANUEL DE PORTUGAL 5 Boston 18 Brandy 19 Downers oil 38 Bread 24 Dundas, A. D. 21 Budroodeen (Abadeen) & Co. 37 Dunham, W. C. 16, 27, 28, 35 Bull, Purdon & Co. Burt, J. 32 13 Encarnacão, L. d' 11 Butter 38 Everett (T.B.) & Co. 18, 19 Byramjee, Cowasjee 2 FALCON 9 Calcutta 21 Flour 24, 27 Canton 1, 3, 7 Foochow 24 Carriage (presumably horsedrawn) 38 Fungus FUSI-YAMA 33 21 *See notes at end of index ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1973 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8910rj06r NOTES AND QUERIES 161 Galastauro, C. 6 Macao 4, 5, 11, 34, 36 Gilman & Co. 30 Macaroni 24 Gould, W.H. 34, 36 Mackenzie, Lieut. Comdr., U.S. Navy 35 HARRY HASTINGS Heard (Augustine) & Co. 20 Mackerel 38 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 Mackillop. Stewart & Co. 24 Macondray & Co. 22, 24, 25, 26, 38 Magniac & Co. 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Hemp 33 Herrings 38 Matheson & Co. 34 Hobsons Bay (Melbourne) 17 Medicine 33 Holliday, Wise & Co. Hong Kong 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 34 Meren & Co. 1 MEROPE 3 Mitchinson, J. 6, 10 Moore, S. 34, 35, 37, 38 Hooghly, River (Bombay) Morgan, Stone & Co. 26 gang 9 Murray (L.M.) & Co. 1, 2, 3, 10, 13, 14, 20 Hookumchund, Oomedchund 13 Nankeens* 33 Howes, B. P. 25 Nelson, W. H. 22 Hunchund, Pemabhoy 14 New York 23, 26 27, 28, 32, 35 Hunt (Thomas) & Co. 27 Nickerson (Jas.) & Co. 27 Jafferbhoy (Ameeroodeen) Oil 33 & Co. 37 see also Downers oil, Turpentine Jardine, Matheson & Co, 13, 34 Jayne 29, 33 Opium 2, 3, 10, 11, 13, 14 JENNY (=JEANIE?) 16, 27, 28 Osborn, Cushing & Co. 17 35 Oysters 26 JOSHUA BATES 17 JULIA G. TYLER 19 Paddy 8 Jyiebhoy, Jamseljie [?] 10 PALMETTO 18 Parkyns, G. 3 Lead (metal) 17 Penang 6 LIGHTNING 14 PENANG MERCHANT 6, 10 Lintin 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 PENGUIN 15 London 36 Pigs feet 38 London & San Francisco Bank Pollard, R. 15 Ltd. 22 Pork 38 LUBRA 25 Premjee, Mool Chund 13 *See notes at end of index ================================================================================