# Ningpo to Shanghai in 1857/Notes

APPENDIX. ——————
NOTES.
1.—Page 2.—This is a variety of the Brassica Napus, and is thus spoken of by Fortune in his first volume of "Wanderings."—
"The oil plant, Brassica Chinensis, is in seed and ready to be taken from the ground in the beginning of May. This plant is extensively grown in this part of China, both in the province of Che-kiang and also in Kiangsoo, and there is a great demand for the oil which is pressed from its seeds. For the information of readers not acquainted with botany, I may state that this plant is a species of cabbage, producing flower stems three or four feet high, with yellow flowers, and long pods of seed like all the cabbage tribe. In April, when the fields are in bloom, the whole country seems tinged with gold, and the fragrance which fills the air, particularly after an April shower, is delightful.
"Very large quantities of the cabbage tribe are cultivated for the sake of the oil which is extracted from their seeds. They are planted out in the fields in autumn, and their seeds are ripe in April and May, in time to be removed from the land before the rice crops. It must not be supposed, however, that the whole of the land is regularly cropt in this ​manner, and that, as some writers inform us, it never for a moment lies idle, for such is not the case."
To this may be added that the boat people of Kiangsoo appear to live almost entirely on the young sprouts, a delicious oleaginous vegetable; but almost too powerful for an European traveller's food.
2.—Page 2.—Dr Macgowan, our fellow traveller, the highest botanical authority in this part of world, has kindly furnished the following information regarding this Peo-moo, or Pei-mü bulb, as gathered from the Chinese Pharmacopœia and his own experience.—
"Its name is derived from its resemblance to a cowrie, a shell which was used for money in China until about the third century of our era. Two kinds are in use,—one from the province of Sze-chuen, the other the product of the mountainous parts of the department of Ningpo, The former are the size of the smallest cowries; white, of farinacous fracture, and slightly bitter:—the latter is half as large again, and of brownish color. It is recommended in a host of complaints, but used chiefly in those of the air stoppages. It is of undoubted utility in coughs, promoting expectoration, and uniting demulcent with tonic properties. I am aiming to introduce its culture, and also its medical use into the West.
"As you need a popular, not a professional character of the Pei-mu (Cowrie Mother) I may mention an instance of its external employment—for it is often applied in surgical cases.—A merchant who lived during the period of the Tong dynasty had an ulcerated tumor on his left arm, just below ​the shoulders, which resembled the human face. It gave him no pain, and his general health was good One day he playfully poured a drop of wine into the thirsty looking mouth of his left hand man;—whereupon the ulcer face reddened and swelled. He then tried it, with various eatables, and found that when he fed the tumor it expanded, and when the supplies were stopped it settled down. At the recommendation of a celebrated doctor he administered all sorts of medicines to the omniverous tumor, mineral, vegetable and animal. Nothing made any difference with it until he gave it some Pei-mu.—Pleased with its action, he thrust a culm of mat grass into the mouth, and through that tube introduced an infusion of the root. In a little while the brows fell off, the eyes closed and shrivelled up, and so did the mouth, and, after a short time, the image was effaced entirely. Our author in detailing the case, which must not be taken as a sample of Chinese medical writing, says he is really unable to tell what disease that was;—nor can I."
3—Page 2.—As stated further on,—Measures of all kinds vary in different districts, and time did not afford us an opportunity of testing the content of a Ching in Fungwha. According to the table of capacities furnished by Gutzlaff in his "China opened" Chapter XIV;—a shing equals 31$\scriptstyle {\frac {2}{3}}$ cubic punts—a punt being the tenth part of a Chinese covid. This would give the content of a shing (ching and shing being identical we presume) at a little under three quarters of an English pint.
Gutzlaff says.—
The measure of contents, which is seldom used, nearly every ​article, and even fire-wood being weighed, are the following:—
6 Suh make a Kwei, 10 Kwei a Chaou, 10 Chaou a Tsuy,—The table in "Chinese opened," referred to is follows—10 Tsuy a Chŏ, 10 Chŏ a Hŏ, 10 Hŏ a Shing, or 31$\scriptstyle {\frac {2}{3}}$ cubic punts, 10 Shing a Tow, 316 cubic punts, 5 Tow 1 Hwŏ, 1,580 punts, and 2 Hwo a Shih, or 3,160 cubic punts. These however are only used in government accounts; the common people avail themselves of the following—2 Yŏ make a Hŏ, 10 Hŏ make a Shing or pint, 10 Shing a Tow 10 Two a Hwŏ, 2 Hwŏ 1 Shih.
Another table runs—
| 10 | Shu | equal | to | 1 | Liu. |
| 10 | Liu | „ | „ | 1 | Chu |
| 24 | Chu | „ | „ | 1 | Tael. |
| 16 | Taels | „ | „ | 1 | Catty. |
| 2 | Catties | „ | „ | 1 | Yin. |
| 30 | „ | „ | „ | 1 | Kiun. |
| 100 | „ | „ | „ | 1 | Pecul. |
| 120 | „ | „ | „ | 1 | Shih or Stone |
| 3 | „ | „ | „ | 4 | Pounds Avoirdupois. |
| 84 | „ | „ | „ | 1 | Cwt. |
| 1 | Pecul | „ | „ | 133$\scriptstyle {\frac {1}{2}}$ | Pounds Avoirdupois |
4—Page 2—A Le is generally spoken of as the third of a mile. Following are the usual—
Measures of Length, :
| Half a Tsun | Half a Tsun | equal | to | 1 | Lí. |
| 5 | Tsun | „ | „ | 1 | Fan. |
| 5 | Chih or Feet | „ | „ | 1 | Pú or Pace. |
| 360 | Pú | „ | „ | 1 | Lí or Mile. |
| 250 | Lí | „ | „ | 1 | Tú or Degree. |
| 1 | Degree | „ | „ | 1460.44 Feet, | 1460.44 Feet, |
Gutzlaff says.—
The Le, or Chinese mile, contains 180 (each of ten feet) fathoms, or Chang, equal to 1,897$\scriptstyle {\frac {1}{2}}$ English feet, or 2,853 toises, and 200 Le measure a degree of latitude. This measurement, however, is not so well fixed as not to admit of doubt and variation. The missionaries divided the degree into 200 Le, each Le amounting to 1,826 English feet, which gives the degree 69.,166 English miles, or 11·131 French myriameters.
The land-measure is still less accurately defined: 5 Chih or Covids make a Poo or Kung, and 68$\scriptstyle {\frac {2}{7}}$ Mow one English acre—in squares. 5 Chih—1 Poo,—140 Poo to one Mow, or 6,000 square covids.
​ 5 and 6—Page 5—Statists differ as to the content of a Mow. Sir George Staunton estimated it at 1.000 square yards. At the Land office, Hongkong 1951$\scriptstyle {\frac {97}{100}}$ were fixed as the standard. In Shanghae, Six mows and a sixtieth constitute an acre. The usual land measure table runs.—
| 5 | chih | 尺 | make one 步 pú (pace), or 弓 kung (bow). |
| 24 | pú | 步 | make one 分 fan; |
| 60 | pú | 步 | make one 角 kioh or horn; |
| 4 | kioh | 角 | or 240 pú make one 畝 mau, or Chinese acre; |
| 100 | mau | 畝 | make one 頃 k‘ing. |
Taking the chih to be 12.587 inches, a square pú will measure 27.499636 square inches; this divided by 9, gives 3.0555 square yards; which multiplied by 240 pú gives 733.32 sq. yds. in a Chinese mau, equal to 6.61 mau to an English acre.
7—Page 5.—A good deal of erroneous statistic has been printed on this land tax point. The latest authority (Williams) says it ranges from 1$\scriptstyle {\frac {1}{2}}$ to 10 cents a mow, or from 1 to 66 cents an acre, according to the quality of the land and difference of tillage But there is a wide difference, it will be seen, between this and what is actually paid.
From Gutzlaff's "China opened," one of the best works extant, we take the following.—
LAND-TAX—TEEN-FOO.
The lands are divided into king and mow: 100 mow make a king; 240 square poo make a mow; and 5 chih, or covids, make a poo, (a chih is reckoned at 14$\scriptstyle {\frac {5}{8}}$ inches.) Thus, 6$\scriptstyle {\frac {32}{67}}$ Chinese mow make 1 English acre.
The grain is measured in the following manner:—6 suh make a kwei; 10 kwei a chaou; 10 chou a tsuy; 10 tsuy a chŏ; 10 chŏ a hŏ; a shing, or 31$\scriptstyle {\frac {2}{3}}$ cubic punts, 10 shing a ​tow, or 316 cubic punts; 5 tow o hwŏ, or 1580 cubic punts; and 2 hwŏ a shih, or 3160 cubic punts.
The whole arable area of China Proper, amounts to 7,875,149 king, 74 mow. Gardens, parks, and plan tations 52,095 king Lands and pastures in Mongolia, and Mantchouria, belonging to the eight standards, 80,248 king. This includes
| | King. | mow. |
| lands belonging to the people paying taxes. | 7,357,913 | 46 |
| Imperial domains, lands belonging to the princes | 13,338 | |
| Do.     to the eight standards | 140,128 | 71 |
| Do.     to the Chinese military | 259,416 | 48 |
| Do.     to the temples | 3,620 | |
| Do.     to the public institutions, and for the maintenance of poor scholars | 11,557 | 73 |
| Shan-se lands, or, mountain ridges | 110 | 60 |
| Arable soil in the Ele district, belonging to the eight standards | 9,751 | |
| From these lands the following revenue arises, taëls, viz.:— | 53,730,218 | 53,730,218 |
| | Taëls. | Taëls. |
| Money sent to the capital | 27,448,701 | 27,448,701 |
| Do.     kept in the provincial treasury | 7,561,677 | 7,561,677 |
| Do.     kept in the district deposits | 1,016,108 | 1,016,108 |
| Do.     kept for exigencies | 10,830,342 | 10,830,342 |
| Commuted capitation tax | 3,521,272 | 3,521,272 |
| Rent for the lands of the eight standards | 276,201 | 276,201 |
| Do.     of the Chinese soldiers | 503,557 | 503,557 |
| Rent from the lands belonging to the public institutions | 20,699 | 20,699 |
| Expenses of transporting the money and grain to Peking | 2,389,661 | 2,389,661 |
| For maintaining the aqeducts of Chih-le and Gan-hwuy | 212,000 | 212,000 |
| The total amount of the land-tax, in kind, is 38,234,138 shih, viz.:— | Shih. | Shih. |
| Annual tribute sent to the capital | 2,561,278 | 2,561,278 |
| Do.   sundries, insurance, additional contributions under various names | 891,397 | 891,397 |
| For the use of the sailors on board the transports | 638,090 | 638,090 |
| For the soldiers or the convoy | 130,606 | 130,606 |
| Grain kept in stores of provincial granaries | 33,792,330 | 33,792,330 |
| Rent of eight standards' lands | 200,244 | 200,244 |
| Do.   soldiers' land | 373 | 373 |
| Do.   public institutions | 19,760 | 19,760 |
| | Taels. | Taels. |
| Total amount of land-tax in specie | 53,730,218 | 53,730,218 |
| Tax in kind, valued at 1$\scriptstyle {\frac {1}{2}}$ tael, per shih | 57,351,207 | 57,351,207 |
| Sundry articles of tribute, as cotton, and silk piece-goods, metals, wax, &c, sent annually from the different provinces to Peking, and mostly bought for money arising from the land-tax | 2,316,632 | 2,316,632 |
| Total | 133,398,057 | 133,398,057 |
In this calculation, however, it ought to be remembered, that we included the 38,792,330 shih of grain stored up in the provincial granaries, which does not belong exclusively to government, but is owned by the greater part of the people, and is only under the management of government officers.
In giving these sums, we have followed the statistics with great minuteness. In adding another 221,857 taels to the above sum, which arises from marshy land, it will be found that the sum total realized by the public from all the lands, is 113,619,914 taels.
For the satisfaction of the reader, we present this result of unwearied research also in details, in which, however, we have left out acres belonging to public bodies. ​
| PROVINCES. | Inhabitants. | Square miles. | Square miles. | Inhabi- tants up- on each square mile. | Inhabi- tants up- on each square mile. | Commuted capitation tax | Lands paying taxes. | Lands paying taxes. |
| | | | | | | | King. | mow. |
| Chih-le | 27,990,871 | 58 949 | 58 949 | 473 | | 424,444 | 227,256 | 50 |
| Shan-tung | 28,958,761 | 56,104 | 56,104 | 515 | | 354,051 | 984,728 | 46 |
| Shan-se | 14.004,210 | 55,268 | 55,268 | 253 | | 642,006 | 532,854 | |
| Ho-nan | 23 037,171 | 65,104 | 65,104 | 354 | | 120,263 | 718,208 | 64 |
| Keang-soo | 37,843,501 | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | 92.961 | 774 | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 250,764 | 447.546 | 27 |
| Gan-hwuy | 34,168,059 | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | 92.961 | 774 | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 224 353 | 340,786 | 33 |
| Keang-se | 30,426.999 | 72,176 | 72,176 | 421 | | 183,145 | 462,187 | 27 |
| Fokeen | 14,777,410 | 53,380, | 53,380, | 276 | | 180,499 | 128,626 | 64 |
| Che-keang | 26 256,784 | 39,150 | 39,150 | 671 | | 237,518 | 464,120 | 16 |
| Hoo-pih | 27.370,098 | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | 144,770 | 317 | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 109,999 | 594,439 | 44 |
| Hoo-nan | 18,652.507 | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | 144,770 | 317 | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 77 036 | 313,024 | 73 |
| Shen-se | 10,207.256 | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | 154,008 | 164 | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 240 313 | 258,404 | 12 |
| Kan-suh | 15,193,125 | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | 154,008 | 164 | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 61,904 | 235,366 | 21 |
| Sze-chuen | 21,435,678 | 166,800 | 166,800 | 128 | | 56,991 | 463,819 | 39 |
| Kwang-tung | 19,147 030 | 79,456 | 79,456 | 214 | | 120,003 | 343,903 | 9 |
| Kwang-se | 7,313,895 | 78,250 | 78,250 | 93 | | 46,303 | 89,601 | 79 |
| Yun-nan | 5,561,32. | 107,969 | 107,969 | 51 | | 29 405 | 93,177 | 9 |
| Kwei-shoo | 5 288,219 | 64,554 | 64,554 | 82 | | 137,801 | 268 54 | |
| Leaou-tung | 942,003 | Unknown. | Unknown. | | | 23,474 | 115,240 | |
| | 362,386,098 | 1,288 979 | 1,288 979 | | | 3,521 272 | 7,357 319 | 46 |
| Provinces. | Regular land tax in silver. | Money sent to the capital. | Grain and . eas. Land tax in kind. | Grain sent to the capital. | Grain left in the provincial granaries. | Money re- maining in the Provin- cial Trea- surer's hands |
| | Taels. | Taels. | Shih. | Shih. | Shih. | Taels. |
| Chih-le | 2,031,290 | 1,929,377 | 24 740 | —— | 2 510,524 | 847,351 |
| Shan-tung | 3,261.000 | 3,004,268 | 507,680 | 83,258 | 2,959 386 | 553,802 |
| Shan-se | 2 421 400 | 3 918,349 | 1·0,160 | —— | 315,837 | 427,421 |
| Honan | 3.136 000 | 2,991,35 | 248,863 | 9 251 | 2,310 999 | 378,480 |
| Keang.soo | 3,267,2 0 | 1 314 49 | 378.050 | 1 015,917 | 4,520,000 | 1,276,998 |
| Gan-hwuy | 1,431,100 | 1,334,29 | 180,700 | 290,464 | 1,884,000 | 420,636 |
| Keang-se | 1 884.500 | 1 868 258 | 129,420 | 351.683 | 1,137,713 | 383,461 |
| Fokeën | 1,607,700 | 1,267,37 | 301,120 | —— | 2,566,449 | 304,679 |
| Chē-keang | 2 556 900 | 2,205 31 | 1,383,106 | 621,473 | ,800,050 | 310,642 |
| Hoo-pih | 1,014.700 | 1,011,58: | 143 830 | 93,676 | 520,935 | 209,659 |
| Hoo-nan | 1,685,740 | 1,033,03 | 144,450 | 95,545 | 702,133 | 277,130 |
| Shen-se | 1.369,500 | 1,407,812 | 194,900 | —— | 2,733,010 | 443,181 |
| Kan suh | 219 206 | 2.025,025 | 484 090 | —— | 3,280,009 | 101,909 |
| Sze.chuen | 611,504 | 586 197 | 12,150 | —— | 29,800 | 169,129 |
| Kwang-tung | 1,159,90: | 996'470 | 341,720 | —— | 2,953.661 | 245,121 |
| Kwang-se | 347,406 | 45,99· | 130,130 | —— | 274,378 | 123,006 |
| Yun-nan | 172,90 | 194,64 | 233,54 | —— | 701.500 | 130,617 |
| Kwei-choo | 107,800 | 70,898 | 123,270 | —— | 507,000 | 39,074 |
| Leaou-tung | 116,210 | 232,166 | 104.35 | —— | 20,000 | 19,387 |
| Total | 28.306,400 | 27.447,701 | 5,193,739 | 2,561,279 | 33,792,336 | 7,561,677 |
​Most of the provinces pay in a leap-year an additional sum both in money and kind. The payment upon each mow varies according to the quality of the land, from 1 to 400 cash.
The assessment having been made, the government not only levies that sum, but takes a certain per centage, as 5 to 10 per cent. insurance and loss in the carriage—for changing cash into silver, and vice versa—expenses of transportation, and many other items under diverse names. There is so great ingenuity shown in this affair, that the account is considerably swelled, and the peasant is obliged to pay at least from 20 to 30 per cent, above the assessment. Moreover, the extortions of the tax-gatherers, and the local mandarins, are far from trifling. Being badly paid, these officers are naturally very anxious to indemnify themselves upon the people. Hence arise bloody encounters, and the people show a most determinate resistance against the oppressors.
Many of the lands of the Mantchoo and Chinese soldiers are situated near the frontiers of the Meaou-tsze territories. The greater part of the Ele area, has likewise been granted to these warriors It is very natural that they should defend their own herd against their enemies, and thus become the natural bulwark of the adjacent districts
Every collector must furnish a certain quantity both of money and grain. If he fails to do so, he must reimburse the deficit himself. His whole property is made surety for the due payment, and if this be insufficient, he is sent to an adjoining rich district, and permitted to exercise extortions, until he has obtained the requisite sum. Such a visit is feared by the people as much as the plague, many of the richer classes immediately abscond, whilst others hide their valuables.
It has often been remarked, that the immense populousness, and the taxes, which on an average are per mow 160 cash, and per king, 16 taëls, (1 taël per English acre,) raise the price of grain higher than it values in other countries. Rice is not half so dear in Bengal as in China, Manilla is enabled to import large quantities to Macao, Java can furnish the market to advantage, and even in Japan it is much cheaper. We have nowhere found it to be at so low a price as at Canton, which is owing to the importation from foreign parts. The land is of very high value, and being parcelled out into many small portions, the cultivators are enabled to extract much more than a large landholder would be able to do. Thus it can pay heavier taxes, especially in the southern provinces; the soil yields a threefold, and often a fourfold harvest.
The richest province is Keang-soo, and it pays therefore an enormous tax; Chè-keang, the smallest province, is evidently over taxed, ​whilst Sze-chuen, Yun-nan, Kwang-se, and Kwei-choo, pay very little.
8.—Page 6. It is an axiom that in China the institutions and practices of Government are directly the reverse of those in Europe. In the administration of justice this is illustrated; and, proud as we are of our forms of trial in the abstract, there is room for believing that benefit would accrue were we to borrow somewhat from the mode of Chinese procedure. A writer in the Chinese Repository for September 1833, says.—
"Justice is often administered in the most summary manner. Not infrequently, in minor cases, the man receives the punishment and again goes free the same hour in which he commits the crime.
"The forms of trial are simple. There is no jury, no pleading. The criminal kneels before the magistrate, who hears the witnesses and passes sentence; he is then remanded to prison or sent to the place of execution. Seldom is he acquitted."
This non-acquittal arises in the majority of cases from the circumstance of all the facts being elicited by the Elders, (who, in reality, are both Grand and Petty Jury) before the criminal is remitted to the Yuen. The writer goes on to say—
"When witnesses are wanting, he is sometimes tortured until he gives in evidence against himself."
This atrocity, we have reason to believe, is found to occur in district cities principally—Police Magistrates in cities relieving Elders of their customary patriarchal duties. These Stipendiaries, no doubt, are very severe in their mode of eliciting truth.
Illustrative of the difference in magisterial proceedings, is the course pursued at Hongkong, where, until very recently, examinations in chief were ​conducted by unlettered and inexperienced Police Inspectors;—the wonder being, not that Justice was so administered, as that so much, with the instruments, was effected. But, from the Police office to the Police-Court, and from that to the Supreme tribunal, it would be interesting to ascertain, from actual statistic, what proportion of the whole number of charges meet a decree. In the Supreme Court, though the juries are by no means fastidious with Chinese culprits, the number of cases resulting in convictions, is, certainly, under the half of the total sent up.
9—Page 14.—This calculation of £12 per ton is made on the estimate of 1250 cash for a Shanghae dollar, or tael weight of silver. A worse exchange, say 1000 Cash only, would make the price of the iron in pigs on a par with English rod, obtainable in Hongkong, as we write this note (February 1858) almost a year after the remark to which it refers was made, at $3,75 per pecul, which, at an exchange on England of 4s. 9d. would be nearly £15 per ton. When to this we add the fact that Pig iron averages only £4 per ton at a Shipping port * it will be seen, that so far as Iron goes, China's sand cannot compete with England's ore.
[After writing this, we obtained the opinion of an experienced iron worker (Mr Dick of Hongkong) ​on a sample which we brought from one of the foundries. This opinion runs as follows—"The pig of four pounds weight, which you tell me is just as it ran from the furnace, may not be classed with common English pig. At one heat it drew out in five eights-bar, an inch wide, to the length of seventeen inches, and is so malleable and tenacious that my men wished to make some "nuts" from it;—articles for which we always use the very best material. I should class it with the best Swedish, and if the Chinese only possessed rolling machines, it might be sold for bar of quality not inferior to Iron for which I am now paying here, landed from England, £14 per ton"]—
10.—Page 15—The quantity of Silk used by each woman in binding the horn cannot be less than half a pound. Produced from their own cocoons, the cost will be trifling; but the appearance of such an exuberance of silk cord could not fail in inducing a reflection on the use of an article which, since trade has been released from the fetters that bound it prior to the war of 1840, has had so much to do with the currency and exchange of England and the whole mercantile world. Prior to 1844 the total quantity of Silk exported from China did not exceed 3,000 bales a year—Fifteen times three thousand is now the average;—and for the year 1856–7 the deliveries of China Silk in England, alone, amounted to 74,215 bales.
From enquiries made we find that this
​extraordinary difference in export is not effected on increase of produc tion so much as on the inability, (for want of means,) or the carelessness of the Chinese to indulge in the luxury, either as tsien for the tail, bands for the waist, or other form of indulgence; and our ruminations have led us to make the following calculation. Allowing the population of China to be 300 millions (doubtful,—See Note on population) and that each man, woman, and child uses a quarter of a pound of silk cord a year for a plait to the end of the tail (a quarter of a pound, be it remembered, being a minimum quantity,—some of the richer classes plaiting in several new tsien in the course of a year, these again using half a pound, and even a pound at a time) we find that the total quantity used, 75 millions of pounds, equals the weight of 750,000 bales. Estimating the price again at four pounds for a Sovereign, we have, in the shape of a tax to carry out a whim imposed by the Tartars on their subjugation of the country, a total sum of nearly Nineteen millions of pounds Sterling per annum—not far short of the interest on the debt created by our forefathers in England to carry on the wars
Whilst on the subject of China-men's tails, we may remark that the region in which we found the peculiar head dress educing this note is that in which the natives exhibited for a lengthened period the firmest determination not to submit to the degradation of a tail; and that this feeling still rankles in the minds of the people was clear from the questions of several of them. Being taken for rebels in disguise, as a feeler, one said—"Why do you not wear a tail?" (the rebels have discarded it)—Answer "Because it is not the custom in our western country—Why do you?—"Answer, ​(angrily)—Because the Tatsing dynasty insist on it!"
Martini, a Roman Catholic priest of the Seventeenth century, in his narrative of the Manchou conquest, thus writes on this opposition of the people to wearing a Queu.—
"While the Tartars, A. D. 1644, were over running the Provinces on the North of the Yellow River, the Chinese prepared to make a stand in the South. They proclaimed at Nanking Hungkwang a descendant of the Mings; but another pretender made his appearance, and while the rivals were discussing their claims, the Tartar hordes were pouring down from the North. They met with little opposition until they appeared before the famous and opulent city of Yangchow. Seu, a faithful minister of Hungchow defended the place with a large garrison; but he was at length forced to yield. The Tartars pillaged every dwelling, slaughtered the whole population, both citizens and soldiers *; and lest their putrifying remains should breed pestilence, collected them into houses, and reduced the city and suburbs to ashes. When they advanced against Nanking, the General Hwangchang met them on the opposite bank of the river and proved that Tartars might be beaten by Chinese. But he fell pierced by the arrow of a treacherous subordinate, and with him perished the hope of his country. His soldiers fled in confusion. The Emperor betook himself to flight; and the same wretch who had slain the general, now betrayed his prince into the hands of the enemy. The unhappy monarch was sent to Peking and strangled. Thus obtaining easy possession of the Southern capital, the Tartars extirpated the family of Hung kwang and marched against Hangchow. At that famous metropolis, prince Lo of the Imperial blood had assumed the sceptre. But, as if in apprehension of a speedy fall, he declined the Imperial title; and in fact he had worn the crown only three days (scarcely as long as the kings in Chinese comedies) when the Tartars arrived. * * * * * * *
Crossing the Tsien‘tang they took possession of Shaouhing, and the rest of Chehkiang submitted without resistance. When however they required the Chinese to shave their heads a la Manchou, both soldiers and people began to sharpen their weapons; rather solicitous for their jetty locks then for their country. Risking their heads to save their hair, they fought bravely, ​expelled the enemy from Shaouhing, obliged him to recross the Tsient‘ang, and if they had followed up these successes they might have cleared the province of invaders. But, as if satisfied with having averted the razor from their heads, they paused and fortified the Southern bank. The Tartars were thus held at bay for a whole year.—Translated from the Latin of Martini, by the Revd W. A. P. Martin.
12 at Pages 21 and 22.—Tah-yeong-pow-tea signifies "Precious temple of the Great and Brave"
Sam-sing-cheng-veh. "The holy footsteps of the three lived (Buddh.)"—
Seaou-yun-laou—"The peaceful departments."
Me-leh-tong-tien—"Me-leh (the name of the Buddh) comprehending the heavens."—
11.–Page 21—Though their accounts of the idol's creation are confused and inconsistent, the priests furnish travellers with a native memoir of which the following is a translation.—
The Stone Image of Buddh. The measurement of the great Buddh of the stone city mountain in Yok-chow, as reported by a priest.—
Thirty lé east of Sui-kè, in the district of Sing-chong, there is a Stone city, called the Secreted Mountain. In reality it is the Western entrance of a defile called Teen-toey, and is distant five or six lé from the capital of the district—near the peak of the twin mountains. The image is chiselled out of a rock so perfectly that it is without seam or crevice in which grass or shrub can grow. Nor is there any hole or cave into which Tiger or wolf can enter. To external appearance, the place is like a beautiful hall;—and, with deep set eyes, Buddh sits in a really god-like place. Truly the maker must have had a special design in this matter. Right and left—before and behind—this temple is surrounded by rocks;—on all sides they stand as attendant servants.
​According to the ancient records of Low-tsz, in the fourth year of Wang-ming,—Fow-to, whose name was Cheng-oo, reverently vowed by the three lives of Buddha that he would make the image of Me-leh—the name of one of these gods; and in the second month of the twelfth year of Tien-cam, of the Leong Dynasty, he made a commencement with his chisel—laying out the divine abode,—110 chak (Chinese feet) high,—70 broad and 50 deep. The body of his Buddhistic majesty was to be 100 chak high, seated upon a throne 56 chak broad. His face from the commencement of the hair on the forehead to the chin was 18 chak,—about 22 chak long, and broad in proportion.
His eyes were 6 feet 3 inches long, his eye brows 7 feet 5 inches his ears 12 feet, and his nose 5 feet 3 inches, his mouth 6 feet 2 inches.—From where his hair commenced to the top of his his head, was 13 feet; his fingers and palm were 12 feet 5 inches long,—broad 6 feet 5 inches;—his feet were of like measurement;—his knees spread apart 45 feet, and the whole figure was beautiful and dignified, resembling a living being of the age of thirty two years. It was altogether most complete.
In the fifth year of Ham Peng,—Tuen-tung made a journey to Teen-toey, and as his way lay by the Mountain he ventured on an inspection of this wonderful image of such extraordinary dimensions. The sight of it induced profound reflection. Beside this image, which is in the district of Ka-seng-peng, under the whole heavens there can be no other to equal it.* Therefore he determined to engrave the idol's dimensions on a stone, in order to preserve a ​memorial for Spectators from every quarter;—so gratifying the eyes and ears with information regarding it. Extraordinary is thy influence, Oh Divine Spirit!—Extraordinary the workmanship on thy exterior;—and, as long as generations endure, so long will thy fame, and that of Low, who carved thee, be told in glowing language.
This matter was recorded in the year 王寶 Yum-yun, in the reign of Kampeng of the Sung Dynasty;—and Too-hung, other wise Pak Cheong, desirous of propagating intelligence, prepared this document in the 31st year of the 9th month of the reign of Taoukwang of the Ta tsing Dynasty;—the head Priest here, with one of this co-adjutors, setting up the tablet on which it is imprinted.
Second 11.—Page 35.—It is is the custom in the south of China to call a person by the name attached to the family name; and in Canton, Woo, or Ahwoo, would be the cognomen of the hospitable individual now written of. At Fong-je-how, however, and in the north generally, the chief, or family name is used with an affix, by way of politeness, of Seen-sang (Scholar) and this term of Seen-sang, (educated man,) is applied honararily even to those who have no education to boast of. Luh Seen-sang, then, as we call him (the head of the Wan-ho firm,) is, it is believed, a fair specimen of "Young China." Impatient at having to do business at Shanghae through the native broker Coong-ming, he has commenced the study of the English language, in which, in a short time, he promises to become a proficient. Once able to speak fluently, he then intends trading direct with the foreign merchant.
​ Second 12. at Page 37.—If the reader at this point will retrace what is written, he will find that, in a working week's travel of 424 lé (or after the average of 70 lē per diem, quite as much as can be done with comfort) we passed through 73 villages and two walled Cities; and that of the villages we have noted upwards of 21,000 families, or at the rate of 5 souls to a family, over 105,000 people. The number of inhabitants at the walled cities mentioned we are not in a position to give; but it may be of interest to the curious in such matters to observe that, for the villages and distance given, the rate of population is about 750 per running mile. For running mile may be read square mile; but this may not be taken as the rate for the province, because, of plain where people reside, to mountain where they do not reside, the proportion is as one to three; that is to say, the mountain covers three parts, and the plain one, of the districts traversed. This is an under estimate, and one of plain to five of mountain would be nearer the mark. Though, therefore, the population of the district cities may tend to swell the aggregate in a very great degree, there appears grave reason for doubting whether the published statement of the census of 1812, * giving 670 souls for every square mile of the province of Chekiang is not an over estimate;—and that there is reason to believe that the populations of the most populous districts have formed the bases for estimating that ​the whole number of inhabitants is so great as twenty six and a half millions.
​ * The price of iron has been subject to great fluctuations,—especially of late years. In September 1824, the current price of common bars at the shipping port was £9 a-ton; in March 1825, a period of great speculation, it rose to £14; but by March 1830, owing to the extended production consequent on this high rate, it fell to £3,,5s. a-ton. Since that period, in consequence of the increased demand for railways and other purposes, the price has risen considerably, and at present (February 1842) it is quoted, in bars, at £6 15s. a-ton; that of pig being £4. Taking the quantity stated above, 1,500,000 tons, as the present annual ​produce, and applying, this last price, of £4, gives the value in pig at £6,000,000; to which, adding £3,000,000 as the cost of converting seven-tenths thereof (the common estimate) into bars, bolts, rods, sheets, and the other forms of wrought iron, makes the annual value of the manufacture £9,000,000.—Waterson's Cyclopædia
​ * When the rebels took Nanking, in 1853, in making that loudly decried extermination of the Tartars they only retaliated, it will be seen—"root and branch"—blood for blood.
​ * Were the dimensions given in this memoir correct, which they are not—the image, large as it is, would be under the proportions of the old Colossus of Rhodes.
​ * Indeed the estimate made by De Guignes in 1743 and by Allerstein a score of years later, of 15$\scriptstyle {\frac {1}{2}}$ millions for the whole province, is much more likely to approximite with the real number than the census of 1812 (25$\scriptstyle {\frac {1}{4}}$ millions ) as given by Gutzlaff in his tables quoted at 98 supra, and cited by other savans without a moment's reflection, apparently, on the probabibility of the correctness.