278

THE  CHINESE  EMPIRE

Tls.

Tonnage  dues  calculated  according  to  measurement ­
  of  length  and  breadth
Loss  in  converting  into  bullion
Shroffage
Official  gratuity
Hoppo’s  “  fee  for  opening  the  barrier  ”  ..
Transport  to  Peking  and  weighing  in  Government ­
  scales
To  the  Superintendent  of  the  Treasury
Add  ItV  per  cent,  converting  into  bullion

842-285
75-806
15161
810-691
480420
150145
116424
i  212

Difference  in  weights  between  Canton
Peking,  7  per  cent.*  ..

and

2,492212
174455

Total  ..  Tls.2,666-667

equivalent  at  the  ordinary  exchange  of  the  day  to  about
¿900,  but  evidently  not  including  “  all  the  old  charges  of
measurement,  entrance,  and  port-clearance  fees,  daily  and
monthly  fees,  etfc,”  which,  according  to  the  special  Regulation ­
  of  July  1843,  “  are  to  be  abolished.”  Under  present
regulations,  which  have  been  in  force  since  1858,  the  total
sum  payable  on  the  above  account  for  this  ship  of  420  tons
is  Tls.168,  equivalent  at  to-day's  exchange  to  £25.  When
the  ship  arrived  at  Whampoa,  she  continued  to  be  a  source
of  minor  profit  to  the  ship's  comprador,  to  the  officials
from  daily  and  monthly  fees,  from  payments  to  subordinates,
and  from  some  uncertain  gratuities  to  expedite  her  departure. ­
  Her  agent  in  Canton  took  her  manifest,  giving
full  particulars  of  the  cargo,  and  handed  it  to  that  member
of  the  Co-Hong  who  was  responsible,  and  the  Co-Hong
took  all  the  necessary  steps  and  paid  all  the  necessary
sums  to  have  the  cargo  discharged  into  privileged  (monopoly)
lighters  and  brought  to  the  factory.  The  specie,  which
formed  a  great  part  of  the  inward  lading,  was  then  de-*
  The  actual  difference  in  weights  is  under  1  per  cent.,  but  the
other  way  around,  the  Canton,  scale  being  the  heavier.