Journal of three voyages along the coast of China, in 1831, 1832, & 1833, with notices of Siam, Corea, and the Loo-Choo Islands.

Contents

PAGE

Brief Notice of China and Siam, and the Labours of Protestant Missionaries in these and the adjacent Countries i — xciii

Introduction

, Exclusive System unnatural and unjust — Exclusion of Christianity — Prejudice against Foreigners, and its Causes — Early Civilization of China — Population — Literature — Disputes with Foreigners — Foreign Embassies to China — False Estimate of the Government, ' and of the Morals of the People — Catholic Missions —

The Grounds of Hope for China 1

JOURNAL OF THE FIRST VOYAGE.

CHAP. I. — Missionary Labours in Siam — Encouragements and Obstacles — Royal Family — Native Christians— Chinese Residents — Peguans — Burman Slaves

— Malays — Moors — Laos — Cambojans — Cochin- China — Catholic Missions — Trade — Chinese J unks — Idolatrous Rites — Missions to China 22

IV

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAP. II. — Departure from Bankok — Passengers — Voyage — Teen-fung — Hainan — Namoh — Amoy — Formosa — Ting-hae — Temple of Ma-tsoo-po — Leto — Chinese Notions of Europe — River Pei-ho — Ta-koo 67

CHAP. III. — Teen-tsin — Residence there — Medical Practice — T rade — Government — People — D epar ture from Teen-tsin — Kin-chow — Voyage to Macao . . 127

JOURNAL OF THE SECOND VOYAGE.

CHAP. I. — Objects of the Expedition- — Departure from Macao — Priest of Budha — Ma-kung — Bay of Kea-tsze — War-junks — Salt Works — Shin-tseuen — Kang-lae — Emigration — Ting-hae — Liberality of Emigrants — Nan-aou — Pirates 153

CHAP. II. — Amoy — Destruction of Female Children — Difficulties — Imperial Edict — Treatment of the friendly Natives — Conference — People — Pang-hoo Islands 173

CHAP. III. — Formosa — Dutch Missions — Wan-gan — Chin- tan — Harbour of Fuli-chow — City — Books sent to the Emperor — War -junks — Mohammedans — Medical Labours — Rice — Native Christians — Departure from Fuh-chow 201

CHAP. IV. — Fishermen — Arrival at Ning-po — Prohibition of Trade — Conferences with Mandarins — Departure— Kin-tang 238

CONTENTS.

V

PAGE

CHAP. V. — The Yang-tsze-keang River — Shang-hae

— Forts — Army and Navy — Tsung-ming — Return

to Shang-hae — Lew-kung-taou 256

CHAP. VI. — Corea — General Sketch — First Meeting with Natives — Their Barbarism — Gan-keang — Further Intercourse with Natives — Books and Presents to the King — Mandarins from the Court — Refusal of Permission to Trade — Ouelpoert 316

CHAP. VII. — Loo-choo — Napa-keang — Mandarins — Language — Japanese Junk — Distribution of Books — Reverence for the Dead — Loo-choo Physician — Manners of the People — Return to Macao 357

RELIGIONS OF CHINA.

Patriarchal Religion — Confucius — Taouism — Budhism

— Grand Lama — Festivals — Worship of the Dead —

Condition of the Females — General Apathy — Misrepresentations of certain Writers — Jews — Mohammedans 370

CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA.

Nestorians — Mongul Conquests — Catholic Missions —

J esuits — Xavier — Ricci — F emale Proselytes — Quarrels between the Catholic Orders — Schaal — Tartar Conquests — Verbiest — Disputes between Jesuits and Dominicans — Death of Kang-he — Persecutions by succeeding Emperors — Taou-kwang — Protestant Missions 389

VI

CONTENTS.

JOURNAL OF THE THIRD VOYAGE.

PAGE

Welcome from the Chinese — Character of Fuhkeen Fishermen — Prospects of Usefulness — Striking of the Vessel — Severity of Frost — Rescue of Shipwrecked Chinese — Urgent Demand for Books — Description of Chapoo — Intercourse with the Chinese — Extent of Education — Prevalence of Ophthalmia — Intercourse with the Priests — Visit to a Temple of Budha — State of Priesthood — Their Application for Books — Description of Shih-poo 4-11

AND THE LABOURS OF PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES IN THESE AND THE ADJACENT COUNTRIES.

Between five and six hundred years have elapsed since the publication of the travels of Marco Polo made the nations of Europe acquainted with the northern portion of the empire of China. Two hundred years afterwards, the Portuguese, impelled by the spirit of maritime enterprise, for which they were then so distinguished, pushing their adventurous way along the African shore, passed the Cape of Good Hope, and discovered the highway by sea to the East Indies. Under the direction of the celebrated Albuquerque, they visited Malacca, Siam, Pegu, and Canton, and made the countries b of south-eastern Asia known to the inhabitants of the western world.

In 1516, the Portuguese commenced their traffic at Canton; but it was not until 1614,* that the servants of the English East India Company sought the trade of China. In 1637, the Company’s ships anchored off Macao, and afterwards proceeded up the river towards Canton, to open a direct trade with the Chinese ; but they were obliged to abandon the project, and were treated as enemies. Their commercial intercourse with this singular nation commenced in 1683; — this intercourse, though attended with many difficulties at first, wras afterwards firmly established, and has been maintained with few interruptions ever since. “ The English,” as Mr.Auber observes, “when they first adventured in the China trade, presented themselves to the notice of the Chinese necessarily under the double disadvantage of being foreigners and merchants: nevertheless, since they have been invested with the character of representatives and servants of a great Company, enjoying the declared and immediate protection of the sovereign of their nation, they have succeeded, by

* Auber’s Analysis of the Constitution of the East India Company, p. 148.

CHINA AND SIAM. iii

sure though gradual advances, in raising the British trade to a pitch of prosperity, and themselves personally to a degree of respectability in the estimation of the Chinese, which the most sanguine expectations, under a due knowledge of the circumstances of the case, would hardly have anticipated ; securing at the same time to the revenues of Great Britain an annual sum, exceeding 3,500,000/. without any charge of collection.”* The justness of the above remark will further appear, when we consider that, according to the statement of Dr. Morrison, the Chinese rank in the scale by which they estimate the several classes of society, — the cultivators of the mind in the first class ; the cultivators of the land next; in the third place are ranked the operators on the earth’s produce, or the artizans and mechanics ; and finally, the trader or merchant. j~

During the greater part of the period since 1683, our commerce with China has been progressively increasing and prosperous. The finest ships which British industry and skill have constructed, and which British wealth and enterprise have employed in varied and extending commerce, have traversed half the circuit of the f Analysis, p. 151. f Chinese Miscellany, p. 43.

b2

IV globe to the market of China, and have returned freighted with its merchandize. Of this merchandize, the only port which the unparalleled jealousy of the Chinese government allows foreigners to visit, has for some time past exported to England one single commodity, — namely, tea, to such an extent, that the annual sale in England, including what is exported to the continent of Europe, amounts nearly to 30,000,000 pounds weight. The annual sale of this article, in 1825, produced a gross return of upwards of 7,000,000/. sterling, with a net revenue to the government of three millions and a half; besides a stock kept on hand, in the warehouses, equal in value to the above.

Two hundred years ago, its use was unknown in England ; but since that period it has been imported to an extent that has entirely changed the domestic habits, not only of our own country, but of many parts of Europe. The gratification of the taste thus acquired, has made us dependent on our traffic with China for much of the comfort of a large portion of every class of society. That this, besides being a source of immense riches to individuals, and of revenue to the government, has been highly beneficial in improving the moral character, and

CHINA AND SIAM.

V promoting the domestic habits of the nation, cannot be doubted ; but notwithstanding these, and other considerations scarcely less interesting and important, we are still in a great measure unacquainted with the inhabitants of China, and comparatively uninterested in their circumstances.

Some objects attract attention by the number and diversity of their several parts, — the rarities and excellences they exhibit, — the skill and power by which they are combined, — and the character and extent of their influence ; others attract attention from the remoteness of their situation, — their number and magnitude, — the dignity they assume, — the power with which they are invested, — the antiquity they claim, — the changes they have undergone, or of which they may yet be susceptible,— and the subjects of strong and lasting interest which they supply. All these combine to invite our attention to China, and some of them exist in a degree far surpassing that in which they are found in any other nation of the earth.

Whatever interest may be derived from remoteness of situation, belongs to China. This is heightened, in some measure, by the repulsive policy of its government, which has peremptorily and steadily interdicted all intercourse with foreigners. This studied seclusion has a

VI natural tendency to excite curiosity, and stimulate desire to explore a country, the remoteness of whose situation, and the prohibitions of whose inhabitants, render it to us comparatively an unknown world.

No country presents greater diversities in its physical geography and natural history than this extensive territory, whether we regard its verdant and cultivated plains, or its sterile and solitary deserts — its mountains and its valleys — its gigantic rivers — its cities teeming with intelligent and civilized inhabitants, — or its mountain fastnesses and its forests, the abodes of wild beasts or marauding banditti. Its frontier barrier, and its principal channel of inland navigation, are justly regarded, from their magnitude and antiquity, as among the wonders of the world. The former, their immense wall, carried across rivers and over mountains, extending to the amazing length of 1500 miles, has been built about 2000 years. Its foundation consists of large blocks of stone laid in mortar; but all the rest is of brick. When carried over steep rocks, where no horse can pass, it is about 15 or 20 • feet high ; but when running through a valley, or crossing a river, it is about 30 feet high, with square towers and embrasures at equal distances.

CHINA AND SIAM. vii

Mr. Barrow, in his account of this most astonishing production of human labour, remarks, that if to its prodigious length of 1500 miles be assumed as true the probable conjecture, that its dimensions throughout are nearly the same as where it was crossed by the British embassy, it contains materials more than sufficient to erect all the dwelling-houses in England and Scotland, even admitting their number to be 1,800,000, and each to contain 2000 feet of masonry. In this calculation, the huge projecting masses of stone, called towers, are not included, which of themselves would erect a city as large as London.

To assist the conceptions of the reader still further respecting this singular and stupendous fabric, it is observed, that were its materials converted into a wall 12 feet high and 4 feet thick, it would possess sufficient length to surround the globe, at its equatorial circumference.

The great canal is on the same immense scale, and presents an inland navigation of such extent and magnitude, as to stand unrivalled : its vast channel of water flows with scarcely any interruption for a space of 600 miles. According to Dr. Morrison, 170,000 men were employed in its construction.

vill

The mariner’s compass, the art of printing, the manufacture of gunpowder, were in use in China before discovered in Europe ; and, according to Barrow, — “ When the king of France introduced the luxury of silk stockings, the peasantry of the middle provinces of China were clothed in silks from head to foot ; and when the nobility of England were sleeping on straw, a peasant of China had his mat and his pillow, and the man in office enjoyed his silken mattress.”

Its climate presents every variety of temperature, from the snows of Siberia to the heat of the torrid zone, on its southern borders. Its population, though less varied perhaps than any inhabiting an equal extent of territory in some parts of the globe, presents considerable diversity, from the rude Cossack in the north, to the polished mandarin of the centre and south ; comprising among its chief nations, the Chinese, Manchous, Mongolians, Kalmuks, Tartars, and Thibetians.

Its history presents many who have attained pre-eminence among their contemporaries, and have displayed in a variety of ways a high order of intellect ; — many whose progress in the several departments of learning, considering them utterly excluded from the influence of advancing literature and science in other parts

CHINA AND SIAM.

IX of the world, is truly astonishing. As a nation, unacquainted with those models of benevolence and kindness which the Bible presents, and those motives to peace on earth and good-will among men which it implants in the heart, they exhibit an urbanity of manners and a courtesy of behaviour, highly commendable ; and in some respects a degree of refinement and civilization, beyond what has been attained by the most intelligent and powerful nations of the earth.

“ The Chinese teach contempt of the rude instead of fighting with them ; and the man who unreasonably insults another, has public opinion against him ; whilst he who bears and despises the affront is esteemed. Even the government is at the utmost pains to make it appear to the people, that its conduct is reasonable and benevolent on all occasions. They have found, by the experience of many ages, that this is necessary. To make out the argument, they are not nice about a strict adherence to truth ; nor are their reasons or premises such that Europeans would generally admit: but granting them their own premises and statement of facts, they never fail to prove that those whom they oppose are completely in the wrong. A Chinese would stand and reason with a man, b 3

X when an Englishman would knock him down, or an Italian stab him. It is needless to say, which is the more rational mode of proceeding.”

The Chinese system of government, as singular and exclusive as it is organized and complete, has subjected to its influence, or controlled by its power, a larger number of human beings, during a longer period of time, than that of any other nation. Its laws, though based, in many respects, on maxims of wise policy, are often despotic and sanguinary, and executed with great harshness and cruelty. Its form is an absolute hereditary monarchy. The supreme power is vested solely in the emperor ; by him the viceroys of provinces are appointed and removed at pleasure, and to him they are responsible for their conduct, though viceroyalties sometimes include upwards of thirty millions of inhabitants. The stability of the Chinese government, and the few changes that have been made in its institutions for such a number of ages ; the vast extent of empire and immense population, forming one society, guided by the same laws, and governed by the will of a single individual, offers, as Mr. Barrow observes, in reference to the account of the embassy to which he belonged, “ the grandest

CHINA AND SIAM.

XI collective object that can be presented ‘ for contemplation or research,’ : — the customs, habits, manners, religious notions, of the most ancient society and most populous empire existing amongst men, are without doubt a most interesting subject,” while at least its commercial influence is felt more or less in every part of the civilized world. These are peculiarities which render China, to the philosopher, the scholar, the politician, the merchant and the traveller, an object of no common interest.

Travellers state, that there are no ancient palaces, nor other public edifices ; no paintings, nor pieces of sculpture, to arrest the attention of the stranger. In travelling over the continent of Europe, and more especially on the classic ground of Italy and Greece, every city, mountain, river, and ruin, are rendered interesting, by something on record which concerns them, — the theme of some poet, the seat of some philosopher or lawgiver, or the scene of some memorable action ; and the conclusion has been drawn, that because to Europe the history of China has furnished no materials for the sensation which the classic scenes of Europe excite, the country itself is incapable of communicating such impressions. This may be in part accounted for, from the

Xll very limited information which many are satisfied with respecting this extensive empire.

On this subject, though the affairs of Europe are of comparatively no importance whatever to China; and on the other hand, the affairs of China do not much concern Europeans, Dr. Morrison observes : — “ The Greeks and Romans were the ancestors of Europeans. The scenes of their battles; — the situation and antiquities of their cities ; — the birth-place of their poets, historians, legislators, and orators, — all possess an acquired interest in the minds of those whose education has led them to an early acquaintance with them : but it would be difficult for a Chinese, of the best talents and education, to acquire in the years of manhood a similar interest.

“ The Chinese also can point out the scenes of battles where thousands fought and died ; the situation of splendid courts ; the tombs of monarchs ; the abodes of historians, moralists, and poets, whose memory is dear to them, and which interest their hearts in the antiquities of their fathers. But what they look upon with interest and pleasure can certainly have few charms for a foreigner, who is excluded from their families, and passed from Pekin to Canton in a boat under military escort; — still from

CHINA And SIAM.

Xlll this to deny that the country possesses any of the charms of Europe, does not seem a fair conclusion. If the reality of things is to be judged by the feelings of the inhabitants of a country, every region of the world, and every state of society, would in its turn assume the place of high superiority.”

The antiquity of China renders it an object of great interest to the reflecting mind. Without giving the native chronologers credit for all they claim in this respect, — that nation cannot be viewed with indifference which possessed an organized government, an army, a written language, historians, and other literati, in a period so remote as to be coeval with the immediate successors of the inspired historian of Creation, and the lawgiver of the ancient people of God among whom the writings of sages, who lived 600 years before the Christian era, are still extant, and which, while the dynasties of Egypt and contemporary nations have ceased from among men, and others more powerful and celebrated have risen and sunk into oblivion, — has continued, extending, and consolidating its greatness and its power ; and whose markets were the resorts of foreign merchants before the Romans invaded Britain.

XIV

According to Pinkerton, it may now be considered as extending from those parts of the Pacific Ocean, called the Chinese and Japanese Seas, to the river Sarason, or Sihon, in the west, — a space of eighty-one degrees, equal to 4200 geographical, or 4900 British miles. From north to south, it stretches from the Uralian mountains, in north latitude 50°, to the southern border, about latitude 21°, being twenty -nine degrees of latitude, 1740 geographical, or nearly 2300 British miles.

The written language of China, alike unique and ancient, is, from the singularity of its structure, and the extent to which it is employed, one of the most remarkable that has been used amongst mankind.- The knotted cords, originally employed as the record of events by them as well as many other nations, in the first stages of their social existence, were superseded, at an early period in their history, by symbolic records. The founder of letters lived about 1100 years before the Christian era, and the art of printing has been in use among them for 800 years.

Whatever defects may attach to the Chinese character, — and their defects are of no common order, — they are not without traits of excellence, among which their general attention to

CHINA AND SIAM.

XV education is most conspicuous. According to NieuhofF and Kircher, quoted by Mr. Fisher, in the “ Gentleman’s Magazine,” who states that the Chinese have evidently been for centuries in advance of the nations of Europe, — education is more general, and, in some respects, better conducted in China than it was when the account was written (1669), or is now in any other country. Means were provided, by the head of every family, for the instruction of its members in reading and writing, either by the parent, or hired itinerant teachers. Hence it has followed that the arts of reading and writing are understood and practised to a greater extent than among the inhabitants of any other country. The proportion of the educated to the uneducated men is said to be as four to one. This proportion is much larger than that given by Dr. Morrison, who states, that though there is a great number of teachers, and the rudiments of learning may be obtained at so low a rate as two dollars a year, not more than one half of the community is able to read. The government supports schoolmasters for the soldiery, but not for the children of the poor generally.'* It

* Horae Sinicae, p. 3.

XVI is, however, stated, that the government encourages education, not only by the bestowment of offices, but of literary rank, with badges of distinction. Commissioners or inspectors travel through the provinces, to inquire into the state of education, and examine candidates for literary honours. Besides this, there are other examinations, held triennially, in which the highest literary rewards are distributed. One is held in the public halls of the cities of the empire, and the other only in the imperial city. This has created such a general competition for literary distinction, that the public reading of essays, prepared for this purpose by those by whom they are read, is an exhibition of almost constant occurrence, and takes place at least twice in every month in all the principal towns in China. All their legal inquiries are also pursued by writing, and their decisions formed on documentary evidence. The writings of some of their most distinguished sages are directed to the encouragement of the pursuit of letters; the advantages of which are set forth, and motives to diligence enforced, by striking examples. Among the latter, the following, from a small book, on the utility and honour of learning, which, though the author is not known,

CHINA AND SIAM.

XVII is considered as ancient and excellent of its kind, will not be uninteresting : —

“ Che-yin, when a boy, being poor, read his book by the light of a glow-worm, which he confined. And Sun-kang, in winter, read his book by the light reflected from the snow. Though their families were poor, they studied incessantly.

“ Chu-mai-chin, though he subsisted by carrying fire-wood round the town to sell, yet carefully read his book. At last he became capable of, and filled a public office.

“ Limie, whilst watching his cattle in the field, always had his book at hand, suspended to the horn of a cow.

“ Sun-king suspended his head by its hair to the beam of the house, to prevent his sleeping over his books.”*

The literati appear to have been, for a long time past, a numerous class in the community, and to have exercised great influence. Their writings, though inferior to that of other nations in which literature has been cultivated to any extent, and, from a peculiarity of circumstances scarcely admitting of a comparison, are, perhaps,

* Horse Sinicae, ppt 15, 16.

more abundant than that of any other nation. The Chinese press, according to Dr. Morrison, has been prolific, and the accumulation is vast. Their historians have preserved an account, in many respects analogous with that which Moses has given of the general deluge. They place this event about 2200 years before Christ ; but their tradition, of one of their ancestors, Neu-wo-che, who melted stones, and repaired the heavens, carries them back to a period between 3114 and 3254 before the Christian era.*

They possess also ancient and modern literature in great abundance, an unlicensed press, and cheap' books suited to their taste ; with poetry and music of elegant composition, and native ancient classics. They have copious histories of their own part of the world, with antiquities and topographical illustrations, dramatic compositions, — delineations of men and manners in works of fiction, tales of battles and of murders, and the tortuous stratagems of protracted and bloody civil wars. With all these, and with mythological legends for the superstitious, the Chinese, and kindred nations, are by the press most abundantly supplied. Nor

* Morrison’s View of China for Philological Purposes, pp. 58, 59.

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XIX is their literature destitute of theories of nature, and descriptions of her various productions, the processes of the pharmacopolist, and the history and practice of medicine.

There is also a large portion of the gentry of China devoted to letters, in order to qualify themselves to fill the offices of magistracy ; and such learning as government has deemed proper for that end is encouraged and rewarded, either by honorary rank, or by actual office. It is also stated, that candidates for public offices are examined in poetry, on the ground that poetry leads to an acquaintance with the passions of men.

Besides these, they have what are deemed sacred writings, being a compilation of the works of ancient authors of the age of Confucius. The following is the character given of these books by Dr. Morrison : —

“ These consist of the writings or compilations of the ancient moral philosophers of the age of Confucius (b. c. 500), with numerous notes and comments, and paraphrases on the original text, with controversies concerning its genuineness, the order of particular words or phrases, and the meaning of obscure passages. The text of the Woo-king, which name denotes

XX five sacred books, and of the Sze-shoo, or four books, which are compiled by four of the disciples of Confucius, contain the doctrines or precepts which their master, Confucius, approved and communicated to them. In respect of external form, the five books (Woo-king) of the Chinese, correspond to the Pentateuch of Moses, and the four books (Sze-shoo), in respect of being a record of the sayings of a master, compiled by four disciples, have a slight resemblance to the four Gospels. But the contents— how different ! With the exception of a few passages, in the most ancient part of the Woo-king, which retain seemingly something of the knowledge which Noah must have communicated to his children, the rest appears a godless system of personal, domestic, and political moralities, drawn only from the pride of the human heart, the love of fame, or present expediency. The sanctions of the Eternal and Almighty God, arrayed with every natural and moral perfection, wise and good, just and merciful, and the fears and hopes of immortality, and the grace of a Saviour, are wholly wanting in these ancient Chinese works.”

The religion and mythology of the Chinese is a dark and cheerless system, blending, with

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XXI anomalous incongruity, atheism, and the lowest kinds of polytheism ; presenting one of the most affecting spectacles in the universe, of the extent and completeness of the calamity, by which the entrance of sin has been attended to our race, shewing millions of mankind joined in one social compact, passing through a long, uninterrupted series of ages, untaught of life to come, unsanctified, unsaved ; following the delusions of their own vain imaginations, or “ worshipping the creature rather than the Creator,” who hath “ not left himself without witness among them, in that he did them good, gave them rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness.” Their creed presents no proper object of reverence, hope, confidence, and love ; affords no balm for the troubles of the mind ; no support under the ills of life ; no hope for the future : their highest prospect is annihilation, or a change by transmigration to the body of some other being in creation. In the language of Dr. Morrison, China is full of dumb idols, is estranged from the true God, and hates and persecutes the name of Jesus; and well may he exclaim, " China, the wonder and the pity of Christians ! ”

Neither the one nor the other of these

XXII emotions will be diminished, by a consideration of the extent to which the language in which this “ atheistical, pantheistical system,” is preserved, disseminated, and inculcated, is understood. In his exceedingly interesting philological work, the “ Chinese Miscellany,” Dr. Morrison states, that the “ Chinese language is now read by a population of different nations, amounting to a large proportion of the human race, and over a very extensive geographical space, — from the borders of Russia on the north, throughout Chinese Tartary on the west, and in the east as far as Kamschatka; and downwards through Corea and Japan, in the Loo Choo Islands, Cochin China, and the islands of that Archipelago, on most of which are Chinese settlers, till you come down to the equinoctial line at Penang, Malacca, Singapore, and even beyond it on Java. Throughout all these regions, however dialects may differ, and oral languages be confounded, the Chinese written language is understood by all. The voyager and the merchant, the traveller and the Christian missionary, if he can write Chinese, may make himself understood throughout the whole of eastern Asia.”*