The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-17 00:00:00

CHINA PROPER,

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Is situated between the 18th and 41st parallel of north lati-
tude, and the 98th and 123rd of east longitude. Its length,
in a northerly and southerly direction, has been computed at
little short of 2000 miles ; its breath is irregular, and is
stated to be about 1500 miles, and its area 1,298,000 square

miles. The population is about 360,442,000, upon an arable
area, according to the latest calculations of about 141,622,860
English acres. It is bounded on the north by Mangolia and
Mantchooria from which it is separated by the Great Wale ;
on the south by the Chinese sea, Birmah and Laos ; on the
east by the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the Eastern
Ocean ; and on the west by Thibet, Little Bukharia, and
Turkestan. It presents a sea coast to the eastward of about
3000 miles in extent, including gulphs, bays, &c., and has
many. fine harbours and available creeks. Wherever the
coast is mauntainous, the proximate ocean is studded with
islands, which appear barren at a distance, but on a nearer
approach are found to be verdant and productive. The
eastern parts of the country are much lower than the wes-
tern, from the inland altitudes, sloping gradually towards the
sea, and it is truly remarked by Gutzlaff that " no country
is so admirably adapted, from its situation, climate, and soil
to feed so many millions of men." Notwithstanding the
great diversity that exists, in some points, in the Chinese
empire, in no country is there so much-sameness as in China.
Proper. There is one language, one character to express
ideas,—similarity of manners, rites, pursuits, and thoughts."
He adds, that the sameness of the Chinese mind extends to
all their work. Cities, temples, fields, &c. are, with slight
alterations alike over the empire:" Yet he remarks : " The
grandeur of the natural scenery is, in many parts of China,
as striking as in any country in the world. Mountains,
crags, rivulets, and valleys, both picturesque and romantic,
are found in most of the provinces."
It is remarkable that, not long after the deluge, the cele-
brated founder of the Hea dynasty surveyed and engraved
the maps of the nine districts into which he divided it upon
nine brazen vessels, which were kept in the palace, as a pal-
ladium of the empire. The map is still extant, though rude
and imperfect; and, from the course of the rivers and the
outline of the coast differing widely from their present posi-
tion, it is supposed that China has undergone considerable
changes during the lapse of 3,000 years.
The Chinese, it is supposed, (and there are historical re-
cords to bear out the supposition,) are branches of the Mon-
gols, who, as population extended, spread themselves over
the vast regions now distinguished by the name of China.*
From an early period they carried on an intercourse with
foreign nations. It is recorded in their annals that 2,000
years B. c. islanders brought, as tribute (or gifts), flowered
garments to the court of China. There are many other re-
cords of its antiquity which are deemed authentic by histo-
rical students. Amongst others, it is stated by the late ex-
cellent Dr. Morrison, in the Chinese Repository, that 121
Leatlnd.. c. " the Emperor of China sent able ambassadors
tilifferent mercantile countries." China was then pro-
bablyworl • the greatest empire in extent and civilisation in the
but while the western nations have advanced, she
has almost stood still, if not in some points retrograded.
We, however, concur with the Rev. Mr. Reed, the editor of
" China 0
if e
says
:in the conclusion of his introductory re-
marks.(Weighing all the good and bad quali-
ties of the respctive'
we do not hesitate to award
nations in an impartial scale,
t 9 the Chinese the palm of supe-
riority over all other Asiatics
mass with the inhabitants of but comparing the whole
Europe in the present age, we
of
look with veneration to the spiritimprovement which
constituted the latter the umpires of the world. Once they
has
were upon a par ; they even fell beneath the Chinese ; but
now they have risen to a height almost to dazzle the Asiatic
Of the interior topography of the country less is known
rels
d as
ente
than of the sea coast. A large portion is c
mountainous and sterile; there are vast alluvriali'
also fertile vallies watered by noble rivers. ThePlanngs,- tand
ze-
Keang is considered the largest river in Asia. It has a
course of 2,281 miles, and there are many cities, towns and
vallies on its banks, which are of rich alluvial deposit. It
disembogues itself some distance to the eastward of Nan-
King, and is, at its estuary, from 15 to 20 miles in width.
This river is, by means of canals, connected with nearly the
whole empire, and is the quay to China and Central Asia.
We find it remarked in " China Opened," a most valuable
work—" If there had been as much attention bestowed upon
the Yang-tsze-Kang, as there is upon the Nigro, (in Africa)
we might already have discovered, by means of this river,
a passage to Bengal and Birmah. When China is open to
European enterprise, steam-boats will ply on its surface and
transface the blessings of civilization throughout all China."
The Hwang-ho, or Yellow River, is next in magnitude,
and higher in celebrity, it being held in the same veneration
by the Chinese as is the Nile by Egyptians. It is further to
the northward than the Yellow River, and its length from its
source, (which is not yet satisfactorily defined,) is computed
to
mense el9Bi miles. Both these rivers have thrown out im-
alluvial banks into the sea to a distance of many
miles,
some of them forming islands ; and both frequently,
in spite of the erection of immense embankments, inundate
the lower levels of the country.
The Cheo-Keang, whicrtdri;e.
the southern coast, takes itsdisembogues itself at Canton, in
is computed at 600 miles. rise
Therein Yun-nary, and its length
are also several other
rivers, minor, yet of great magnitud
(one f them of 220 miles in circumference) and
many
large lakes
of which vegetation is luxuriant. The Chinese
on the borders
have (we
learn from Gutzlaff and others) greatly improved the
advantages furnished by their rivers for irrigation and
Greatnu
inland navigation, by the formation of canal
Canal is about 660 'miles in length—a l. The
o
ai lasting m
t
went of Kublais' enterprise and perseverancen
is
River. called
Yun-ho, Transit River, or Yu-ho, Imperial
crosses two of the principal rivers named, as well as oihers,
it
and serves as a highway for all sorts of river boats, being
connected with smaller canals. Its sluices and dykes are
admirably constructed. By means of this canal and the
junction of two small rivers, a water communication is made
good between Peking and Canton. The whole empire is
thus connected, and both transportation and the irrigation
of the rice fields is greatly facilitated.
It is remarked, in " China Opened," that the climate of
China in general may be said to be salubrious, without the
vigour of northern regions, and the enervating influence of
the south.
China Proper is divided into eighteen provinces, and these
are again subdivided into counties, districts, &c. The fol-
lowing are theldiptriisnsciiroaal,tedwi:t_h their extent and population.
In the first Pe

Pechelee ............. Bgu.asroe,7mooiles. Inhabitants.
27,990,871
Keeang-soo
Keang-see ........... 27,000 30,426,999
Fuli-keen
57,150 14,777,410
Che-Keang
Sze-Chuen ......
Kwang-tung, (Canton) 97,100 19,174,030
Hoopih, Honan, and Shantung are also rich
provinces. The
others are but little known to Europeans. The general pro-
duce is tea, rice, (the common food of the inhabitants,) silk
millet, vegetables, &c. The most valuable article, for '
fo-
reign export at least, is the first, which has given employment
for a long period to the finest ships in our mercantile marine.
The tea plant, called by the Chinese " Cha," is a shrub of

from tour to five lief high, resembling our myrtle, with
flowers like white roses, but smaller, and bearing a small
oily fruit. Only two species are known to our botanists, but
the Chinese, its almost sole cultivators, count at least two
hundred—probably by a stretch of their hyperbolic genius.
It grows, according to Gutzlaff, (in accordance with several
other writers,) on the most sterile ground, on the sunny
ridges of hills, principally between 25 degrees and 30
degrees of latitude, in the provinces of Fok-een, Che-
keaneg, and Keang-soo ; but almost all over the empire.
The tender leaf, gathered in the spring, has a superior flavour
to the older leaves. "To produce a luxurient foliage, (says
our author) the shrub is regularly and carefully pruned, the
leaves are gathered when it is about three years old, but old
shrubs beyond the age of seven or eight years are good for
nothing. The trunk is cut, and the sprouts shoot out a-new,
to supply the place of the old stem. There are three gather-
ings of the leaves,—the first early in the spring: the second
at the end ; and the third at the commencement of summer.
They are carefully manipulated, dried in various ways, and
then packed. In foreign trade, two different kinds—the
Weo-e, or black tea, and the Sung-10, or green tea, are prin-
cipally in demand." The same writer states that the black
tea derives its name from the Woe-e hill, a romantic spot in
Fokien, and the green tea from a hill in Keang-nan, in lati-
tude 30 degrees. To the Tartars the Chinese sell the coarsest
leaves, which are beaten into cakes, and go under the name of
Kaiel Cha, or brick tea; and with this commodity a trade is
carried on extending all over Central Asia. A small quan-
tity of this, pulverised, and thrown into hot water, makes
good tea. We may add to this portion of our sketch that a
trial is now being prosecuted at Assam, in British India,
which will, ere long, solve the question whether this plant,
which has failed in Java and the Brazils, may not be grown
extensively in our own territories, and thus supersede the
necessity of a total dependence upon the Chinese. Those
employed upon the plantation in the cultivation of the shrub
are principally Chinese labourers, and the small samples al-
ready sent home have been much approved by London bro-
kers. A further experiment is, however, requisite, before
extensive speculations in the culture of the plant can be pru-
dently pursued.
The silk fabrics of China, of which, amongst the higher
classes in that country the consumption is considerable, have
long been in much esteem in Europe and America ; but have,
of late years been rarely if ever imported into this country,—
the duty being excessive, and the dye being considered gaudy,
our own manufactures have superseded them. Russia and
the eastern states of Europe have, however, drawn large sup-
plies from that country, while our principal and almost sole
article of purchase has been tea.
Of the customs, manners, and pursuits of the Chinese,
little need here be said, save by way of reminiscence to the
historical reader. The government is essentially despotic,
but necessarily mild in its sway • the people, from long
habitude, and example handed down from generation to
generation, being throughout the whole or the civilisea-
httt..dermlys inhabited part of
,Ltia,eußtry. of one
depart from the settled and beaten track of their toreralriers.
The celestial monarch arrogates to himself the supremacy of
all the powers on earth, whether Christian or Pagan. He
styles his own " the middle kingdom," all others being
deemed and designated " barbarians"—whom. however, he
does not trouble himself either to " instruct" or molest !
Separated by natural barriers, and the impracticability of the
profitable invasion of a country so peculiarly and densely
peopled, and so extensively cultivated, China has been
enabled to maintain an integrity, and a sort of exclusive but
advantageous commercial intercourse with the more potent
states, altogether unparalleled in the history of nations. The
hive might be assailed, and the bees possibly dispersed by a
combination of European powers ; but the question is, would
the experiment be worth the cost, were ir even justifiable,
(which we deny,) and would conquest secure a larger quan-
tity of the honey ! We think not. Let the Chinese—beyond
an occasional check, when they overstep the limits of com-
mercial forbearance—be left to pursue their industrious
avocation as agriculturists, and the mutual intercourse with
Europeans and others, will be mutually more advantageous,
and finally, perhaps, wear out the jealousy and prejudices
that now pervades that people, and place them in a position
to advantage themselves by the mechanical, scientific, and
general improvements of the western world.
The officers of state, in imitation of their imperial master,
assume exceeding consequence in their edicts and proclama-
tions, the language of which is not only egotistically assump-
tive, but frequently, (as we shall shew with reference to the
present dispute), bombastic and ludicrous. By far the greater
portion of the inhabitants are farmers or rather cottagers,
who devote their whole attention to the cultivation of the
soil. The empire is divided into plots of one or two acres,
separated by ditches which serve as drains, or by narrow
ridges of earth, which are used as footpaths. These arc in
most cases, cultivated by the owners themselves, who raise
simply what supplies their own wants, without regard to pro-
ducing anything for the use of others, and for their own
profit. This system is not, of course, pursued in the neigh-
bourhood of large towns; but it is general, so that the mass
of people may be said merely to vegitate in their respective
little gardens, in which, with the exception of a few flowers,
nothing is cultivated if we except tea, in the districts where
it is grown, but what is immediately useful as food. In case
of failure of crops in one locality, no assistance can therefore
be derived from another, and hence partial famines are not
uncommon. They have but few cattle, or domestic animals
—and prefer living on vegetable diet, chiefly rice, (which they
season with onions or herbs,) or, if they can procure it, a
small quantity of pork. Their implements of agriculture are
rude, but they manage them with ingenuity, and are skilful
in manuring and irrigating their land. Their cottages are
generally built of bamboo. The peasantry are considered
morally superior to the inhabitants of towns, the former
being an artless race, the latter given to indulgence and licen-
tiousness. We now come to notice the two principal cities.