CANTON, a large, populous, and wealthy city of China, capital of the province of that name, stands on the banks of the river Tsa, or great river, which, near the city, is wide and spacious. The wall of the city is pretty high, and about six or seven miles in circumference, though not more than one-third of the ground is occupied by buildings, the other parts being appropriated to pleasure grounds or to fish ponds. The country is extremely pleasant, and towards the east hilly, so as to command a beautiful prospect of the city and suburbs, the compass of which, together, is about ten miles.
The buildings of Canton are in general low, consisting of one story and a ground floor, which is covered with earth or red tiles in order to keep it cool; but the houses
Canton. of the most respectable merchants and mandarins are comparatively lofty and well built. In different parts of the city and suburbs are joss houses or temples, in which are placed the images worshipped by the Chinese; before whom are placed, at particular seasons, a vast variety of sweetmeats, oranges, great plenty of food ready dressed, and also incense, which is kept perpetually burning.
The streets of Canton are long and narrow, paved with flint stones, adorned at intervals with triumphal arches, which have a pleasing effect, and much crowded with people. On both sides are shops as in London, appropriated to the sale of different commodities; and a kind of awning is extended from house to house, which prevents the sun's rays from incommoding either inhabitants or passengers. At the end of every street is a barrier, which, with the gates of the city, are shut in the evening. In China Street, which is pretty long and considerably wider than the rest, reside merchants; whose trade, so far as respects China, lackered ware, fans, &c. is wholly confined to Europeans. Most of them speak the foreign languages tolerably well, or at least sufficiently intelligible to transact business. Besides these merchants, there is a company of twelve or thirteen, called the Cohong; who have an exclusive right by appointment from authority to purchase the cargoes from the different ships, and also to supply them with teas, raw silks, &c. in return. The establishment of the Cohong, though injurious to private trade, is admirably well adapted for the security of the different companies with which they traffic; because each individual becomes a guarantee for the whole; so that if one fail, the others consider themselves as responsible.
In Canton there are no carriages; all burdens are carried by porters across their shoulders on bamboos; as are also the principal people in sedan chairs, and the ladies always. The streets of Canton may be traversed from morning till evening without seeing a woman, those excepted who are Tartars, and even these but very seldom.
On the wharf of the river, which is commodious and pleasant, stand the factories of the different European nations, viz. the Dutch, French, Swedes, Danes, English, &c. In those reside the supercargoes belonging to their respective companies, who are appointed to dispose of the cargoes brought to market; to supply the ships with others for Europe in return; and, during their absence, to contract with the merchants for such articles as may be judged necessary for the next fleet. Between the residents of the factories the most perfect cordiality subsists; in each a common and splendid table is kept at the company's expense, and visits are reciprocally exchanged; so that nothing is wanting to make residence at Canton agreeable to an European, but the pleasure naturally resulting from the society of women.
The side of the river next the city is covered with boats, which form a kind of town or streets, in which live the poorer sort of the Chinese, or rather the descendants of the Tartars. Some of the men come on shore in the morning to their respective employments, and in those sampans or boats which are not stationary, the women and also the men carry passengers from place to place in the same manner as is done by
wherries on the Thames. On this river live many thousand souls who never were permitted to come on shore; whose only habitation is their boat; in which they eat, drink, sleep, carry on many occupations, keep ducks, &c. and occasionally a hog.
The manufactures of Canton are principally carried on in the suburbs; though it has been frequently supposed that they were confined to the city; and this, by some writers, has been given as a reason why Europeans are not permitted to enter within the gates. But this is a mistake; and perhaps the true reason for this very singular restraint is, that the houses in which they keep their women are chiefly within the city.
At Wampo, a large commodious place for anchorage, and which is about 12 or 14 miles from Canton, the European vessels lie and unload their cargoes, which are transmitted by lighters to the factories; and by the same conveyance receive their respective freights. Between this place and the city are three sloppos, or custom-houses, at which the boats passing and repassing are obliged to stop, and undergo with its passengers an examination, in order to prevent smuggling. The lighters just mentioned, and also the captain's pinnace, are, however, excepted; the former having proper officers on board for the purpose, and the latter being narrowly watched and examined at the landing.
The weather at Canton is, in summer, extremely hot; and in the months of December, January, and February, cold: the country is nevertheless pleasant, and healthful, abounding with all the necessaries and delicacies of life, which may be procured on terms much cheaper than in Europe. The number of inhabitants has been estimated at one million; but later calculations have made the number considerably less. N. Lat. 23. 30. E. Long. 113. 20.