The New York herald., 1868-05-29
CHINA AND THE CHINESE.

and Precious StOnes-POlicy of the Emperor
as to the Developments Of These Resources
Commercial Staples and Population.
The mineral resources Of the great empire of the
Mongoan race have never been adequately deve.-
oped. 1t has extensive copper Mines which are
rather rudey worked but which, owing to the policy
OF the government, have never been scientifically
developed The same remark holds true to greater
extent OF the gold mines Of the kingdom, which
have been hitherto comparatively neglected, the
Emperor being impressed with the idea that the dig
glng OF wealth from the repositories of the earth
might have tendency to sacken the habits of in
dustry which are everywhere peculiar to the
people. OF the copper mines a sufficient number
have been worked TO supply the ordinary wants Of
the people, though copper has not hitherto been
reckoned among the exports Of the list. All the
small coins Of the natives are manufactured from
native copper, and considerable quantities are
wrought into household utensils but, beyond these
uses, the mines have never been made of any com.
mercial utility Most OF this neglect, so far as the
copper mines are concerned, has, however, been due
to the fact that with the limited appliances at hand
they cannot be prOitably wrought for the purposes
Of export for that the natives not averse
mercial profits may be argued from the fact that the
opening Of foreign market has rendered tea
the first great agricultural product Of the
cOuntry-One Of the commercial cOmmOd
ties of the world. In the case OF the
gold mines, on the other hand, their working
has been very generally discouraged, though for
different reason-the Emperor arguing that an un-
common return for industry was not conducive to
the developing of habits OF economy and thrift among
his subjects In certain there is more Of
reason in this opinion than might be supposed at
first glance. The gold of her South American and
Mexican colonies worked the decentralization and
subsequent downfall of Spain; at least so generally
attest philosophical historians. 1t must be remem-
bered however, that this was during period when
the relation OF gold to wealth, practically considered
was very little understood, and when gold was
something ideal In its nature and value, and
not something merely representative or symbOlical
For ne want tSereoe D o nrsca al knowsga now NJ
political economy on the part Of the Spaniarls
wrought the decentralization which followed the dis
covery OF gold in Mexico and South America, and
not for the that the diversion OF industry in
the direction of the working of gold mines as
legitimate business, aflOrding legitimate business
profit. II was the mania for speculation that ruined
Spain and not the influx of gold which was conse.
quent upon It's discovery. Tne same remarks are
applicable to California in the first stages Of the gold
gold fever in 1S4s when the spirit OF adventure and
speculation was rife an epidemic throughout the
country when by 1t the ordinary relations Of industry
to wealth unsettled and the whole country babe
fair to suffer more in its industrial interests
from the discovery Of gold In California than It could
mines TO the national resources. few years, how
ever, effected the needed reformation. The COM
paratively small deposits easily worked by single
man were soon eXhausted and then it was that the
lesson was learned that 1t was great law that profit
was the wages of industry and capital and that gold
mining exception to the general rule. This
law learned, the fever ceased, and gold mining be-
came regular business to be carried on with ade-
quate industry and capital and yielding fixed and
cOmpensating percentage OF profit This law
knowedged, gold may be said to have been added
to the national resources Of the United States while
In the Irregularities that for several years followed
its discovery in lS4S II distracted more from the
onal aggregate Of industry than it was worth TO the
nation as source Of wealth.
II may be seen from these remarks, however. that
the aversion Of the Emperor 10 the working OF the
resources OF the empire in this respect has certain
foundation in historical precedent and IL not wholly
so shortsighted as at first glance 1t might seem,
though that this aversion will be abated in the
OF a few years may be predicted with tolerabe cer
tainty. The resources OF the empire in coal have
already received the attention Of the government,
aud VIII undoubtedly be developed In the OF
the next ten years. at least to limited extent. In
precious stones, the other hand some feeble at
country, though these attempts have been by no
means adequate, as every student Of the topO-
graphy OF the Middle Kingdom is aware. In diff
Ierent parts OF the empire, in fact, almost every
precious stone except the diamond has been found
One mine OF rubes has been opened which produces
line gems, though they small in
size: sapphres are found with considerable peni-
tude: eneralds Of occasional occurrence and Of
other lrst class gems specimens nave been exhibited
In secondary ana i'm semi-transucent stones, on the
other hand, the empire abounds frecly-laps lazuli
being found in sufficient quantities to justify its
the country: and though tea has hitherto been
esteemed the great commodity Of the country 1t is
quite certain that with the application OF Western
mercia resources hardly second TO tea IN their i'm
porance as clements Of wealth.
OF the wealth OF the country in precious stones,
however, no Judgment can be formed, except from
the slender data afforded by travellers, from the
natural afnity of the country in scenery general
confguration TO the countries wheI gems are known
to abound, and from the further fact that some few
mines have been opened and are at present worked,
Va trad nf fhnrl
Upon the question OF the existence OF gold In large
quantities more reasons exist for unanmity OF
opinion. II Is found and sifted from the sands
washed downwards from the mountains, is found in
pacers and in almost every form and mode Of dstr
button which can be stated OF California; and thai
pre IL soon to be diverted IN this direction admits OF
no doubt.
The great vegetable products of the country are
tea end rice the formef OF which forms the great
staple for export while the latter constitutes the
principal article of diet. Ihe former has been cultl-
provinces, and was formerly supposed 10 consist Of
two varieties, the green and black, though recent
experiments have developed the fact that the differ
cnce In color and flavor is owing to difference I'm
the method OF curing and not to any inherent dlicr
ence IN the constitution @ OF ,ne p,an m IN aSl, n mas
same single plant with different modes OF treat
ment--a fact which has been developed after
considerable panstaking by an English expert
mentaist in tea culture. It is now generally
conceded also that, though several vareties-as, for
Instance the thea bohea ana tnea vlridisEappear'
hcations OF which have been developed 10y culture.
That the plant indigenous TO the country, that IL,
was first found growing wild there, has also been
established beyond doubt, though by several
learned authors IL has been contended that the plant
ana lis culture were introduced from Corea in the
latter part Of the tenth century. Fhis position IL,
however, controvcrted by the fact that native an
nasts mention It's culture az common at least hall
century previous Introduction IRON Corea, a.
alleged. and 10y the further fact that all ma
uVe writers agree in tracing lis origin
TO the slopes OF Gu-he Bohea) mountains, where even
a the present day II thryes with very little culture
Antali"tS specify another variety as having had IT'S
ol9n IN the Singto mountains: but all agree that
Mas nrs found growing wild IN mountainous dis
tl'cIs oi this primitive plant the thea Cantonensis
y undoubtedly descendant. as are all the varieties
az present cultivated. The finest tea IN the Kingdom
y SUI Eathefed however, from the Bohea district
VIII, tIt pant u supposed to have been originally
found and whence II has spread. The cost of tea
raislnp, inclusive " gathering and curing is rcck-
oucu upoh me best attainabe statistics to he from
hNe losiN cents PEI pound ony with the present
ClnrS hces'orcNrlng: aud that with a more Sci
entnc y SUM " turng thc cost per pOund might be
. l,,