3H A V O Y A G E . T O T H E
1788. ter. The hogs are o f .a peculiar breed, remarkably fat, and their
February, frequently fweep the ground. The poultry are greatly inferior
to the Englilh.
Every thing in China is fold by weight, which is diftinguilhed
by caddies and pekels, the caddy , weighing near twenty ounces'and'
a quarter Englilh, and one hundred caddies make a pekel. The
Compradors, who, as I before obferved, furnilh the different Ihips
here, weigh every thing alive, and make ufe of every art to make
their hogs, geefe, ducks, &c. weigh heavy. They often cram
them .with Hones, and give them fait and water to make them
thirfty, and in Ihort ufe every method in their power to defraud
and over-reach their employers. And I lhall conclude this imperfect
account of the Chinefe, by obfervihg, that a fharping, cheating
difpofition, with fame very, few exceptions, is generally prevalent
among!!: them.
I am juft now furnilhed with a very particular account of the
Fur Trade, which lhall be the fubjeCt of my next. Meanwhile,
helieve me to be lincerely thine, &c.
W. B.
O f f M acao, t
* Feb. 16th.. i
L E T -
N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T O F AME R I C A . 315
1788.
February.
L E T T E R XLVT.
WHILST Captain Dixon was at Canton, a Gentleman, re-
fident there, very obligingly favoured him with a particular
account of every tranfaction in the Fur Trade lince its
commencement. As. thou art a commercial man, anything relating
to that fubjeCt mull be peculiarly interefting to thee ; fo
that I lhall here furnilh thee with this account as I have collected
it from our Captain’s minute.s.
King George’s Sound being pointed out by the late Captain
Cook, as the molt eligible fpot where a valuable cargo of furs
might be collected, the firft velfel which engaged in this new employ
was deftinec for that place; She was a brig of fixty tons
and thirty men, commanded by James Hanna. Captain Hanna
left the Typa in April, 1785, and arrived at King George’s Sound
the Auguft following. Here, in about five weeks, he precured
five hundred and fixty fea-otter fkins. He left the coaft in September,
and arrived at Macao in December the fame year.