Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/674

 638 CHINA.

to 123,299,115 lbs., of the value of 9,007,598/. The other exports from China to Great Britain, insignificant in comparison with the staple export, comprise raw silk and various drugs. From 1863 to 1865, the exports included large quantities of raw cotton, but the supply ceased entirely after 1867. Manufactured cotton and woollen goods, the former of the value of 4,725,495/., and the latter of 1,366,092/. in the year 1869, constitute the bulk of the imports of British produce into the Chinese empire.

China is traversed in all directions by 20,000 imperial roads, and though most of them are badly kept, a vast internal trade is carried on over them, and by means of numerous canals and navigable rivers. It is stated that the most populous part of the empire is singularly well adapted for the construction of a network of railways. (' Reports of Journeys in China.' See below : Books of Reference — Official publications.)

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures, in ordinary use at the treaty ports, and in the intercourse with foreigners, are as follows : —

Monet.

The Tael=\0 Mace=\00 Candarcens = 1,000 Cash =

Average rate of exchange, 6s. Sd., or 3 Taels to 1/. sterling. „ Mexican Dollar. . . . = „ „ „ 4s. 2d.

There are no national gold and silver coins in China, and foreign coins are looked upon but as bullion. The chief medium of pay- ment in commercial transactions consists of whole and broken dollars by weight. In accounts between foreigners and Chinese merchants, Mexican dollars are mostly converted into taels, at the rate of 1,000 dollars for 720 taels. But payments in cash are usually weighed at 717 taels for 1,000 dollars.

Weights and Measuhes.

The Uang, or Tael „ Picid „ Catty „ Ckih „ Chang „ Lys, or Li

= \\ oz. avoirdupois. = 133 lbs.

= lf,.

= 14^ inches.

= 11| feet.

= 194 to a degree, or abont ^English mile.

In the tariff spttled by treaty between Great Britain and China, the Chili of 14 T V English inches has been adopted as the legal stan- dard. It is the only authorised measure of length at all the ports of trade, and its use is gradually spreading all over the empire.