The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-30 00:00:00

smAriG-2111E (On CANS-HAX).

The city Shang-hae is situates on the right bank of tit(
Woo-sung, about twenty or twenty-five miles up. Thu
anchorage at the mouth of' the river is in hat. 31
deg.. 23 min. north, lon. 121 deg. 1 min. 30 sec. east. I
has been several :Mies visited by foreigners since 1832.
when the Lord Amherst first touched there.

Shang-hae is approached immediately from the sea b%
the Tchantr-Hai channel, which is, of considerabi,
breadth. lioo-sung lies at the entrance of the river, anc
the side opposite is defended by a range of forts. I
possesses the means of communication with the grea.
Tai Lake, the borders of which are pe:mliarly rich in the
character of their soil, and extensively laid out in luxu
riant rice grounds, and silk districts. Hang-tchou, situ
ated on the Imperial Canal, which passes by the margh
of the Tai Lake, has a largo depot for silk and silk-
Weaving, and Sou-tchou also carries on a very important
trade for the same article, and japanned goods. It form
a ready means of access to Nanking, and the countr%
everywhere around is the finest imaginable for produc-
tiveness. The salt-pits of Shang,-bas yield a very larg,
supply, and the trade carried on in this commodity is flu
from limited.

The best approach to Shang-hae, in an easterly three-
tion, is by the Yang-tsze-Kiang river, the banks of which
stretch out to a great distance ; the water about it, how-
ever, not being above font feet in depth, but with vet)
regular soundings. Pilots from -hence convey vessels to
the Shang-hap river, the low coast of which, after it short
sailing, is rendered conspicuous by a grove of trees near
the shore. The peak of a small island, the most
northerly of the archipelago, and called by, the Chinese
Seu.Kung-shan, is the only landmark which appears on
steering fur this island. This possesses a safe anchor-
age, and many of the junks destined to Shang-hae wait
in this harbour fir a favourable win& Steerage from
hence is made in a north-western direction, and arrival.
is generally made in a day or two at the mouth of the
Woo-sung river, which leals to Shang-hae. On all th(
banks, during several months of the year, there is fresh
Water, but so long as no regular pilotage is established,
and no survey of the banks taken, the entrance will con-
tinue to be dangerous for ships. So extensive,an empo
Hun], however, it has been remarked, well deserves th,
attention of hydrograph-te. if the spirit of mercantile en-
terprise can give a stimulus to the art of the navigator.
The coast everywhere on the approach to Shang-hae is
low and uniform. Two forts, built .on either shore of
the river, whose entrance is broad, appear, possessing
considerable number of guns. The entrande is about sia
fathoms in depth; but towards the right shore the mite)
shoals, so as to leave only a channel for the passage of
vessels. On the left is a town ; a canal leading to Nan-
kin branches off in a western direction.
The aspect of the country in the vicinage- of Shang-har
is generally a fertile Bat, not much above the level of tilt
sea, well cultivated, and without the least hill. The
ravages occasioned by inundations are very great, as ne
banks of the loamy soil can resist the swollen river.
These marshy grounds the Chinese take care to drain
and to render them well adapted to the culture of rice.
which requires a low and moist soil. To cultivate till:
commodity, and to furnish their tribute of grain to th(
e
capital, which in these parts is very considerable, tin
people direct all their energy, and are enabled to rids,
two crops of grain front this fertile soil—one of rice and
another of wheat.

Shang-hae, as a trading town, ranks after Canton it.
importance. 'Though it may not be the only emporiun
near the Yang-tsze-Kiang, and thus the only place fot
importation to Keang-nan, the junks from all the souther',
provinces are prohibited from proceeding to the harbours
north of this river.
The trade here carried on is always brisk • and non
that Europeans are admitted to its port, it will no doubt
increase to a miraculous degree. The consumption c)
foreign articles, among the many millions who inhabit
Central Asia, is very great. Owing to this circumitanct ,
the imports far exceed the exports ; the latter consist
chiefly of raw silk, silk &tuffs, and teas, besides manufac-
tures fabricated by the skilful hand of the Keang-
nan people. Ships bound to this port can touch
at Cha-poo in Che-Keang province, Hang-cheo
district; and at Soo-chow, a little south of Woo-Sung
river. This latter place is one of the most populous any
delightful
districts of the whole Chinese empire, and
might
fully claim the poetical name of Arcadia. That
so lsrge a field for mercantile enterprise has been hitherto
overlooked is surprising. The fear of infringing Chinesu
laws has deterred ships from even attempting to open
commercial intercourse. _ _

....
The hamlets scattered everywhere over the alluvial

soil which surrounds it are generally built, as regards
`their cottages, among clusters of trees, and would be
very pleasant if care were taken to keep them clean. The
fields, though they yield luxuriant crops, have their most
abundant harvests sufficiently consumed by the number
of inhabitants. The military usually kept here in bar-
racks were poor and inefficient ; the war-boats insuffi-
cient to keep out the smallest well-armed ship, and the
people have for a long time highly disapproved of the
restrictions made upon their trade.
The junks which crowd up to this city are for the
most part of an oblong form, and have generally four
masts, and canvass sails. They seldom exceed two hun-
dred tons burden, are all of them numbered, and have
the place to which they belong written in very large
letters along the side ; most of them are very bad sailers,
and are frequently wreaked. They visit, principally,
the harbours of Leaou- tun,cr or Mantchou Tartary, from
whence they import oil-cakes and peas, whilst they ex-
port silks, and other manufactures of Keang-nan.
The city of Shang-hae is built on the left side of the
river. It is ascended by a stone pier, in front of a
temple, dedicated to the Queen of Heaven, who seems to
have many temples and worshippers in all the trading
towns. The houses are generally very low, the streets
nat row, the shops numerous, the temples very magnifi-
cent, and the bustle excessive. It is the great emporium
of Central Asia. •

When Giftilaff visited this city in his second voyage
along the coast, the following scene ensued, fully de-
scriptive of the jealousy entertained by the Chinese rulers
against the trading of foreigners at this port. So soon
as the vessel arrived, the Taou-tae, or principal Magis-
trate, appeared, and without waiting to be addressed by
the fficers or their party, said, in a very stern voice,
" Why don't you go to Canton. and trade there ? It is
an unheard-of thifig for any ship to come to Shang-hae.
Conform to the established laws of the Celestial Empire,
and don't trouble us with your presence." To this was
answered, " The trade with Canton is in a state of confu-
sion, but that does not concern Keang-nan province. As
we allow junks from Shang-hae to enter our ports, we
think it right to have the same privilege of coming hither
with our vessels." When the Taou-tae heard this, he
grew angry, and said, " Do not permit them (the people
of Shang-hae) to come to your harbours then; but drive
them away." " That is impossible," answered our party.
" Why ?" " Because our Government understands rea-
son, and does not treat any nation unreasonably." After
a great deal of altercation, a withdrawal was made, and
next morning an-order \ill 5 sent us to depart. •