Page:A wandering student in the Far East vol.1 - Zetland.djvu/119

Rh these, and in addition to the usual native wares, the products of local looms were on sale in the shape of cotton cloth and grass cloth for summer wear, and a fair stock of yarn from the mills of Wuchang. "In the town of Wan Hsien there are about 1000 hand-looms. The weavers are paid by the piece—about 30 feet long and 16 inches broad; this it takes an average weaver two days to weave, working from daylight to 9 p.m., and for this he gets 100 to 120 cash (2½d. to 3d.), being provided with food which may cost about 40 cash a-day; so that a weaver's wages may be put at 900 cash (1s. 6d.) per week of six days, in which time he would produce 112½ square feet of cloth." When we take into consideration the difference in the price of labour between Manchester and Wan Hsien, and the heavy freights which Manchester goods are called upon to bear, to say nothing of the risks incurred, we see one of the reasons why the "millions of China," who are not infrequently held up by those whose too great enthusiasm