The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-07-08
CANTON.

CANTON.
From HamHton's East India Gazetteer.
This city stands on the eastern bank of the
Pe-kiang river, which flows from the intc-
rior in navigable stream of 500 miles to this
town where it is rather broader than the
Thames at London bridge, and from hence
falls after an additional course of so miles
in the southern sea of China, near its juno
rion, with which it takes among foreigners
the name Of Bocca Tigris. The town is sur
rounded by walls about five miles in circum-
ference, OH which few cannon are mounted;
but the whole ofits Notifications, with view
to defence, are in every respect despicablc,
and only serve to prevent the intrusion of
Europeans.
Although Canton is situtcd nearly in the
same parallel of latitude with Calcutta, yet
there is considerable difference in their
temperature; the former being much the
coolest, and requiring fires during the winter
months. The suburbs may be frequentcd
by Europeans; but they are rot permitted
to enter the gates of the Tarter city, which,
however, in its building and exterior APP
pcarence, entirely resembles the suburbcs.
The streets of Canton are very narrow, paw
ed with little round stones, and Tagged close
to the sides of the houses. The front of
every house is shop, and those ofparticular
streets are laid out for the supply of stran-
gers China-strect (named by the seamen
Hog-lane) being appropriated to Europeans,
and here the production of almost ever part
of the globe are to be found. One of the
shopkeepers is always to be seen setting on
the counter writing with acamel's hair brush,
or calculating with his swan-pan, on which
instrument a Chinese will perform Opera
tons in numbers with as much celebrity as the
most expert European arithmetician. This
part o. Canton being much frequeuted by the
seamen, every artiGce is used by the Chinese
retailers to attract their attention, each of
them having an English name for himself,
painted OIL the outside of his shop, besides
4 number of advertisements, composed for
them by the sailors in their peculiar idiom
The latter, it may be supposed, are often
duped by their Chinese friends, who have, in
general, picked up few sea phrases, by
which they are enticcd to enter the shops !;
but they suit extremely we'll together, as the
Chinese dealers possess command of tenn
per not to be provoked, and humour the sea-
men in all their sallies.
The foreign factories extend for a con-
siderable way along the banks of the river, at
the distance of about 100 yards. They arc
named by the Chinese, hongs, and resemble
long courts, or closes, without a thorough
fare, which generally contain four or five
separate houses. They are built on fine
quay, and have broad parade in front. This
promenade is rallied in, and is generally cal
led the respondcntia walk; and here the
European merchants, commanders, and of
ficers of ships meet after dinncr, and enjo,
the cool of the evening. The English hong
/. or factory, far surpasses the others in ele
gance and extent, and before each the na
tional flag is seen flying. The neighbour
hood of the factories is occupied with ware
houses for the reception of European goods
Or Of Chinese productions, until they ar,
shipped.
For the space of four or Ave miles opposit,
to Canton, the river resembles an extensiv,
floating city, consisting of boats and vessel
ranged parallel to each other, leaving a mar
row passage for vessels to pass and re
pass In these the owners reside witt
their families. The Chinese junks th,
trade to Batavia and the Eastern Islands, Ii
in the centre of the river, moorcd head an
stern, many of them exceeding coo tor
in burthen. A Chinese ship, or junk, is Sc
dom the property of one man. Sometime
40 or so, or even 100 different merchan
purchase vessel, and divide it into as m;
ny compartments as there are partners,
Illdt SdSh kHoWS Hlo OWil pdfliCulir part
the ship, which he is at liberty to fit up Al
secure as he plcases. The bulk heads, |
which these divisions are formed, consi
of stout planks, so we'll caulked as to be con
pletely water tight. A ship thus forme
may strike on rock and yet sustain no S
rious injury; leak springing in one divi
ion of the hold, will not be attended with al
damage to articles placed in another, a,
from her hrmness she is qualified to resist
more than ordinary shock. A considerab
loss in stowage is of course sustained; b,
the Chinese exports generally contain a Coz
siderable value in small bulk. Some
these ships are not less than 1000 tons bu
then, having crew of 500 men, owners
goods and seamen, besides other passenger
who leave their country to better their fo
tunes at Batavia, Monilla, and among t
Eastern Islands. The Chinese coasting We
sells are usually divided into Is distinct cor
partments, well caulked and water-tight.