The importance of this trade will appear from the following
table.
table of ex- Table of exportation and importation at Kiachta,
portation and
togoiMuoa. in the year 17 7 7 . '
Cuftom-houfe duties*
Rbles. Cop.
481,460. 59j.
Importation of Chinefe goods* to
the value of 1*466,497. 3f.
Of gold and filver 1 1 ,2 15 .
Total of Importation- 1,484,712. 3f -
Exportation of-Ruffian commodities i ,3 ï 3,62I. 3Ss-
From this table it appears, that the
total fum of1 export; and import a-
mounts to- . 2r>^6'8,333.
In this calculation however the contraband trade-is
net included, which'is very large; and as the year
t7 7 7 was not fo favourable to this traffic as the preceding
ones*,, we may venture to eftimate the grofs
amount
* In the year 1770, 1 7 7 1 , 1772, the cuftom-houfe duties at Kiachta
(according to Mr. Pallas, P. III. p. 154-7 produced 55°>o°° roub]^
amount of the average trade to China at near 4,000,000
Roubles.
By taking therefore the medium between that fum and 481,46b, the
amount o f the duties in 1777, the average fum o f the duties will be
S I5>73° > ancl as the duties in 1777 make nearly a fixth o f the whole
fum o f exportation and importation, by multiplying 515,730 by 6, we
have the grofs amount of the average exports and imports at 3,094,380.
But as- feveral goods pay no duty, and as the contraband trade according
to the loweft valuation is eftimated at the fifth part o f the exports and
im p o r t s th e .grofs amount o f the average trade to China may be fairly
computed at near 4,000,000. the fum ftated above.
j i a C H A P.