1788; Canton is fituated on the Tigris, about four leagues from«
February. W ampo. Here the different nations who trade with the Chinefe.
have factories for the refidence of their Confuls or Supercargoes.
Thefe form a tolerably handfome range of buildings,' fituated on a
kind of quay, near the river-fide, about a quarter of a mile in
length; but that belonging to the Englifh is incomparably the
molt elegant and commodious. None of thefe Factors are allowed
to flay at Canton after the fhips leave the country, but
always go in the laft veifel to. Macao,, where they refide till, the;
fhipping returns next feafon.
Adjoining, to thefe public f a f to r ie s - a r e a number of private
ones, which are occupied by the Captains of different veffels, who.
hire them during their flay here from the Hong-Merchants," as
they generally refide at Canton for the greater conveniency of
tranfa&ing their bufmefs. with the Supercargoes,. or any private;
concerns o f their own-
Behind thefe factories, are the city and fuburbs of Canton. Of :
the city I can form but very.little idea, as no ftranger is admitted,
within its-gates. The ftreets of. the fuburbs in general are exceedingly
narrow and. inconvenient,. but are tolerably clean, being
paved with broad flag-ftones. They confift entirely of the
fhops and warehoufes of different trades and manufactures carried;
on here, which are fometimes very extenfive, but feldom confifL
of more than one:flory..
Canton is extremely populous ; but nothing can better, fhew.
how difficult it is to form a competent idea of the number of its,
inhabitants, than the different opinions of various authors who,
have profeffedly wrote on the fubjeft, fome reckoning. more than
j, a. million,
3- million,, and others again eighty thoufand. Without taking
notice of fuch abfurd- difproportions, I fhall juft obferve, that
the calculation made by Captain King, is, in my humble opinion,
by far neareft to the truth: he computes the number of inhabitants
to be one hundred and fifty thoufand, which, is certainly
a very moderate calculation.,
Befides thefe, there are an amazing number of people who
live altogether on the water, in boats, called fampans, and
amount, according to the. loweft calculation, to forty thoufand;.
but I am inclined to think they confiderably exceed that number.
The greater part o f: thefe poor wretches obtain a precarious livelihood
by-fifhing, and perhaps feme trivial employments occa-
fionally picked up on the river. Others again ply as conftant
paffage-boats- from place to place, after the manner of, our watermen:
for two dollars you. may hire a handfome fampan, with,
good accommodations for eight or ten people, to take you from.
Wampo to Canton. Thefe boats are fitted up in the infide al-
moft like a parlour, with a table and chairs for the paffengers.
They have lattices made of pearl, and .covered with a neat arched
roof of- bamboo.
The lower: kind of people live entirely on;rice, with perhaps a
little fifh, barely fufficient to give it a relifh, whilft the Mandarines,
February.
and in fhort all thofe whofe circumftances will afford i t ,,
pamper themfelves with-every kind of luxury, and are remarkably
fond of relifhing fauces and highly feafoned difhes.
The common-produce of the kitchen-garden, fuch as cabbages,-,
carrots, greens,, turnips, potatoes,. &c. are. in great plenty here,
and: