Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/185

 ASIATIC NATIONS. 1 69 I have entered the more fully into this disquisi- tion, because it concerns a point of history of much interest, and tends to make us better acquainted with the real commercial character of all the par- ties concerned in it. The Chinese pretend to despise foreign trade ; they are, indeed, a jealous and unsocial people, and are far from having arrived at that point of civili- zation when men are prompted, by their passion for gain, to get rid of some share of their antipathy to strangers, and to perceive the benefits of a foreign intercourse. Their extensive empire extends over so many climes, containing necessarily such va- rious productions, easily distributed throughout by an extensive internal navigation, that they stand ap- parently in little need of foreign commerce. Other causes contribute. The sea- coast of China is small in proportion to the area of the country, and to the population ; it is dangerous to navigate ; the Chi- nese are timid and unskilful navigators, and, final- ly, they have no rich neighbours that are willing or anxious for a free intercourse with them. The government of China expresses, therefore, an avowed hostility to foreign commerce, and to- lerates it rather than protects it. The trade of all others that they are least jealous of, is that of the Indian islands. It brings them productions on which they put a real value, and the weakness of those with whom it is carried on disarms them of