The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-03-10
gggs gGrapeCCet:
L He C HIN { 5 E
AT CANTON.

@AN - - n I've
The Homes fort upon the river, and
reach hundreds Of yards back into the ci-
ty suburbs. The visitor viii form some
idea of the tea trade when he visits one
Hong after another, filled with tea, and
sees cooleys bringing in chops, and sort
ing cargoes, packing, making leaden can
listers, filling choP-boats, and labelling the
chests. These Hongs are Of one story,
in some places open to the sky, and so
long inat at the end Of one of them the
human form diminishes, and we see be-
ings engaged i'll occupation, and hear no
noise, and they steal along like shadows.
Here are immense scales fot weighing
tea; here are tables placed for superinden-
dants, where the light falls in through the
roof; far from these again are. foreigners
inspecting newly arranged chop; at the
extreme end is the little apartment where
the tea merchant receives men upon busi-
ness; and through that high door beyond
we see the lively river and d chop boat
waiting ready for the cargo. In one part
Of the building second story is added,
for immense suits Of beautiful rooms, fur
n;shed with costly elegance, and adorned
with rarities and articles Of virtu. We
wonder what all these chambers are
meant for where no one appears, and we
learn thai they are merely for show and
the occasional reception Of guests. Here
is door that leads out on TO the roof
Below US Is the river, with It's myriads of
beings and boats; on our right the public
square with the standards of America,
England and France; opposite Is the ver-
dant island of IIonam, with its villages,
Its canals and its great temple. On our
left is another vista of river life, the fort
OF Duich Folly, and behind usjthe dense
city. We descend and find in one Of the
pretty rooms that a servanthas placed tea
for us on table. Then, as we arc about
70 depart, in come a gentleman of lively
busting appearance, who hopes that we
are we'll, and is so very polite that we
can scarcely get away from him. This
is Shinqua, the Chesterfield Of the Chi
nese, whose pack-house we have visited,
and this is mere sketch of single one
of the immense buildings that form the
Hongs OF Canton. 1t is always the Gus
tom after three o'clock in the day, to Of
fer tea to strangers at all the Hongs, and
perhaps the merchant wishes to make a
good impression, and trusts that foreigners
will be induced to purchase from him.
Clumsy as are the cargo boats in their
appearance, they approach a ship very
nicely, and il is quite amusing to see on
the stern Of the boat a whole family,
sometimes three generations, the females
employed in cooking, while the men are
employed in putting tie cargo in the ship.
Each chest is marked and bound with rat
tans, and through these are passed two
sticks colored red on the ends, one Of
these is taken out when the chest leaves
the chop-boat, and the other by hand
when il reaches the deck.
As soon as one hundred chests are
passed in, the sticks are counted, and
thus serve as tallies. The steYedores are
very expeditions in loading ships, and cal
culaie very nicely the number Of chests
required for any vessel. Some of the
East Indiamcn have the appearance Of
large men of war; many Of them run be-
tween Bombay and China manned by las
cars. Three or four chop boats may
sometimes be seen together bg ships
side, and the toe runs so strongly that
they always start for Canton or Wham-
boa al the top of high water, and usually
reach the ship or the Hong before the
current turns against them.
The old Hong system, whereby all bu-
siness transactions in regard Ito staples,
such as ;ca and silks, were obliged TO be
entrusted to body of merchants, is now
broken up, and the purchaser may deal
with any one whom he fancles.
The Cohon or body corporate Of mer-
chants consisted Of twelve or thirteen
men, who were all bound FOR the debts of
any one member, and at the head Of this
company was the celebrated Honqua.-
Distinguished for his ENORMOUS wealth,
his iberaiiiy, and his many kindnesses
80 foreigners, ne attained gsfat age, and
died two o. three years sinss, sincerely