1788. deed the face of the country, after we arrive in Macao Roads; but
by the time we reach the Bocca Tigris,, the profpeft brightens:
from thence to Canton the river aflumes a ferpentine form, and
every turn prefents to your view a different branch of the river,
many of which are natural, and others the effeds of labour and
art. Numerous villages are feen in thefe different viftos, and they
abound with a pleafing variety of . beautiful landfcapes, agreeably
diverfified with plains, and gently rifing grounds.:. the- fummits of
the hills are adorned with lofty Pagodas-, the rifing grounds are-
ornamented with trees of various forts, whofe verdure is. in con-
ftant fuoceflion, and refembles an. everlafting fpring, whilft the-
plains afford large quantities of fugar-cane.and rice.
Yet with all thefe combined advantages of nature and'art, thefe-
profpefts, fo truly pleafmg at a diftance, lofe much of their effedt: on
a nearer approach. The foil is generally of a loofe fandy nature, and
the furface of the earth is far from poflefling that- beautiful verdure
for which the Britilh plains are fo remarkable, and feems but
ill adapted either for pafturage, or the cultivation of grain in general.
The villages, though numerous, and extremely populous, are
with fome few exceptions, oppreffed with poverty and want; and,I
believe the quantity of rice produced here, is quite infufficient for
the confumptionof the inhabitants,, great quantities, being yearly
imported from Manilla, and the Eaft Indies..
The climate at Wampo is extremely unhealthful, and fuch
great and fudden variations are there in the temperature of the
air, that I have frequently known the thermometer to change from
41 deg. to 86 deg. in twenty-four hours. The country to the
North Eaft is low. and marftiy, and the heavy damp fogs exhaled
from, thence, frequently bring on agues, intermitting fevers, and
a fluxes i
N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T OF AME R I C A .
fluxes; though probably this laft diforder is accelerated by the
quantity of arrack which the failors frequently drink to excefs.
1; 88.
February.
Wampo, as I have already obferved, is,the rendezvous for fhips
o f all nations, trading to China. Here you fee Englilh, French,
Dutch, Danes, Swedes, Italians, and Pruflians: the Americans,
too, have, it feems, overcome their diftafte againft tea, and have
opened a trade for that commodity with the Chinefe. Till thefe
few years the Germans had a factory at Canton, but at prelent the
Imperial Company is infolvent, and they dare not fend any veflels
to China, for fear of having them feized in part of payment for the
debt already incurred.
I greatly queftion, whether the trade carried on by our Eaft India
Company to China, is not bf more confequence, than that of all
other nations .put together, if indeed we except that Carried on by
the Chinefe Merchants to Manilla and Batavia, which is very exten-
five.
The Captains of fhips, during their ftay here, hire temporary
warehoufes of the Chinefe, fituated near the river fide, for the
purpofe of landing their ftores or cargo, whilft their veflels are repairing,
or carrying on any employment that can be done more
conveniently here than on board : in this relpeft, the French have
greatly the advantage over us, for their warehoufes are fituated on
a dry comfortable ifland, where they have not only every convenience
for carrying on their, refpe&ive employments, but have like-
wife a comfortable hofpital for the reception of their lick; whereas
the Englifh warehoufes, being chiefly on the low marlhy ground
before-lnentioned, are in feme meafure precluded from thefe advantages.
K Canton