CANTON. The trading and manufacturing features of this city are highly interesting.
The shops are commonly quite open towards the street, that is, those appropriated to Chi nese customers ; for the few streets devoted to European trade are rather on a different plan, the shops being of a closer structure, and less exposed to external observation. The several streets are commonly devoted to dis tinct trades. By the side of each shop is sus pended from on high a huge ornamental tab let of wood, varnished and gilded, on which are described the particular calling of the te nant and the goods in which he deals. Some of the shops, which are pretty richly supplied, are much exposed towards the street ; but the inhabitants of each division generally com bine into a system of watch and ward for com mon protection, and during the night the streets are closed at each end by doors, which are guarded by the regular police.
No inconsiderable part of the population lives upon the river, in the junks, barges, and small boats. The space opposite to Canton and its suburbs resembles a floating city. By far the largest part consists of boats which are generally not more than 10 or 12 feet long, about 6 broad, and so low that a person can scarcely stand up in them. Their covering consists of a bamboo or mat tilt, shaped like that of a waggon, which is very light, and serves tolerably as a defence against the wea ther. Whole families live in these boats, and are considered as a distinct part of the popu lation, being under a separate regulation, and not allowed to intermarry with those on shore.
The whole frontage of the buildings in which foreigners of all nations are shut up together for the prosecution of their trading business at Canton does not exceed between seven and eight hundred feet. Each front, of
which there are about thirteen, extends back wards a hundred and thirty yards into a long narrow lane, on each side of which, as well as over arches that cross it, are the confined abodes of the English, French, Dutch, Ameri cans, Parsees, and others.
The European factories are called by the Chinese lIongs, this word hong being always used by them to denote a commercial esta blishment or warehouse. Near the factories are the warehouses of the several Hong mer chants, all of them communicating with the river by wooden stairs, from which the tea and other goods are shipped. The shops, in stead of being set out with the showy and sometimes expensive front of an English or French shop, are closed in by gloorhy black shutters, and very ill lit by a small sky-light, or rather a hole in the roof.
Canton is one of the five ports of China, at which, according to the treaty with the Chinese of August 20, 1842, British subjects are per mitted to trade. The principal stipulations in that treaty have since been very fully carried into effect, under a series of general regula tions, subject to occasional interruptions.
By far the largest article of export from Canton is tea. The other chief exports consist of silver, silks, and china-ware. Exports have frequently exceeded 4,000,000/. annually. The imports consist of woollen goods, cotton, cot ton-yarn, long cloths, and various other articles of British manufacture.
Canton has few native manufactures or pro ducts suitable for deposit in the Great Exhibi tion of 1851 ; but its merchants have contri buted towards the subscribed funds.