The New York herald., 1869-06-12
CHINA.

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Junk Travelling ON the Great Chinese River
Departure from Shaughae-Chin Kians-
The Approaches TO Nankin-An Interview
with tho Chinese Authoritics-Au Omciai
Opinion Of Newspapers-The City Of Nnn-
kin and Its Attractions-Kiu Kiang-The
Celebrated Porcelain Manufactories-The
Great Lake Region-HankOw.
ON THE YANGTsE KIANG, April 0, 1869.
The navigation Of the Yangtse by foreign vessels
was conceded by the Chinese government at the
close Of the war with the British and French In ls5s
but on account Of the existence OF the TAPPING rebel
Hon. which ragged along tho country bordering on
this river until the fall Of Nankin in 1854, the
foreign trade of the Yangtse can only be computed
from that time.
Able Hue says in his interesting book Of travels
In China, that 'in Europe, at the present day. pas
sengers are forwarded by railroads and steamboats,
just like bales Of merchandise Henceforward," he
says, "Those who wish to make travelling plea
sure and luxury win be obliged to come to China
and get mandarin junk, in which they may glide
gently rom province to province the rivers and
canals by which the empire Is traversed." Accord
ingly small party OF Americans, embracing some
ofhcials, who could hoist the national ensign by
authority, procured q mandarin junk at Shanghae
and furnished 1t for voyage up the Yangtse. The
boat had galley, two state rooms, accommodations
for two persons on sofas In the saloon and space for
o number of Chinese servants In the hold.
AS an indication OF the luxury Of its appoint
ments we were informed that the boat had cost
5000 taels about $12oOo), and II she was lost we
should be expected to hand the receiver OF the
owner twho had failed, Of course) check for that
small amount; but as there was very little proba-
oty that If the boat was lost the passengers would
be saved, this alarming amount did not deter US
from setting out upon our voyage up the Yangtse.
1t would be somewhat difncult to determine where
the Yangtse ends and the begins, the river
is sixty miles wide where we enter It, The name
is translated child OF the 1t s naviga
bic for 1900 miles, and vessels Of 1000 tons ascend
as far as Hankow, 67e statute miles from Shanghae.
Anoat upon the Yangtse In our little junk we felt
quite independent We could 60 by the grand canal
and make q visit to his Imperial Majesty
at Pekin, could take the southern intersection Of
canals and make visit to the city Of Canton. We
could continue up the Yangtse until reached the
mountains Of Tnibet and perhaps ind passage to
the head waters Of rivers which empty into the In
dian Oce an; but these long voyages have been rem
dered irksOme by the rapidty Of transit at home
and we find life embraced In too short span for
'junketmg" In China, as recommended by Abbe
Hue
The transportation by steam upon the Yangtse Is
exclusively in the hands Of q company organized in
China as the "Shanghae Steam Navigation COM
pany." The service Is performed at present by six
large river steamers, such as run upon Lake Erie or
Long Island Sound, and the trade must be very
lucrative, as they have been able in very few
years to pay for tho steamers, declare a stock dvi
dend Of fifty per cent and earn annually about
$1,000, 900 on o capital Of but little over that
sum invested in steamboats,. wharf property,
&c. The business is conducted in the liberal
style which prevails among foreign merchants In
CHINA, and we had frequent occasion to be thankful
for the presence OF steamboats, on the Yangtse.
When the wind was unfayorable and our skipper
could make no headway we had only to throw
passing steamer line to be taken in tow and be con-
vtnced Of the superiority Of steam even IN the remote
The first port open to foreign trade above shang-
hae is Chin Kiang, distant by water 1855 nautical
from its location near the mouth OF the grand canal
connecting the Yangtse and the southern provinces
with the capital OF Pekn by uniting with the
waters of the Peiho at T1entsn.
The customs returns Of trade for last year ex-
hibit:-
Foreign goods imported. d.................3 6lS
Chinese goods imported .2os4 256
Total trade. d, 500 500
thing that / Know OF except trade. The scenery is
an Improvement on Shanghae. the mountains In the
%srd Is mo ali you mud IN n
islands In the river AFFORD nne deer ana pheasant
shooting. AS we were at anchor near the mouth OF
the grand canal O cannonade was heard from the
Chinese forts and gunboats along the river. and
three Chinese steam Gunboats came bearing down,
ing OF the great men OF China comparatively as
great In China as Wellington In England Grant
General Of provinces commonly called . viceroy.
He Is an old and faithful servant OF the government
and rose into great power and honor upon the fan
OF Nankin and suppression OF the TAPPING rebel
lion IN 1854. He was then appointed viceroy
a. Sankn X the most mporans provnca
fore the public In recent manifesto or
secret memorial to the throne, giving h opinion on
Commanded attention. wherever Cbtne,e affairs are
discussed. copy was obtained by the use OF all
Ses a on
promoted 1t may be, TO the government OF the inpe
rial province OF Chile, 30 called from the imperial
city OF Pekin being embraced within its boundaries
We dipped the American nag at the peak OF our
little funk as the great man passed by and received
the same courtesy from the dragon flag dying upon
1t Is about forty miles from the mouth OF the grand
canal to the mouth of the Inlet which leads to Nam
kin, for the old capital not located Immediately
upon the banks OF the Iangtse, but 1ve miles dis
tant canal, however, leads from the river nearly
all the way around the CITY walls furnishing trans.
portation In peace and forming moat In case
OF siege. Tho walls OF Nankin extend about
twenty miles, are In some places fifty feet high
and average thirty feet wide. ana being surrounded
by water, with very little exception, would appear
haa 70 attack hn aad any dsenaer @ we
leading to the southwestern gate OF the city when
we were stopped by an Official who politely III
to foreign trade and we could not proceed without
permission. We politely told him that We were
not traders but officials Of the United states and
had important business with the viceroy at Nam
Kin anu must proceed on our voyage without In
possible making our way through the innumerable
boats and junks which line the canal.
AT the southwestern gate We found a landing at
the stone steps In front OF the Chinese Custom
House and brought our little junk to anchor a.
proudly as n sue had been man-of-war.
Two governor generals or viccroys are OF present
In Nankin. General Ma the successor OF rsengquo-
lau as Governor Geneal or Vlceroy OF the kiang
provinces, OF which Nankiu IL the provincial capi.
tai and General III, the Governor General or viceroy
OF the Hoo Provinces OF which Iiankow Is the pro-
vncial capital Having signi1ed desire 10 have
an audience OF their Exceencies according to the
Formally OF the book OF rites, the next day after
our arrival was appointed for the interview. We
were carried IN sedan chairs from our boat through
| the not very clean streets OF Nankn for about a
mile and half TO the Yalncn olicial residence OF
the vceroys General Ii Is temporary guest Of the