Srartstics of trade for so short a period as three months afford an uncertain basi of comparison; the arrival of a ship! just within or without the quarter, the decurrence of early or late crops, and various other circumstances, may great ly affect the figures, and cause an apparent increase or decrease which is not renl as regards the whole season's operations. Still, the information given in the quarterly Customs Gazettes has great value; and we follow our usual practise of summarising some of the loading features of the July-September volume which has just been issued.
Commencing with the most Northern port, we find a large increase in the impartof manufactured goods, as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1869, but as great a falling off in metals and sugar, and in the staple export, pulse. Grey Shirtings figure for 40,000 pieces against 26,000, and T-Cloths for 37,900 pieces against 9,700. Only 3,500, and 3,600 pecals of nailrod and bar iron were imported against 17,000 and 12,000 respectively, and 10,000 peculs of sugar against 31,000. Opium fell off by 150 chests. Only 347,000 peculs of pulse were exported against 540,000, and only 180,000 pieces of cake against 565,000; the export of oil, however, reached 36, 100 peculs against 5000. Theremarksapponded by the Commissioner to his report tend to explain these variations; butit is of course impossible to reproduce them within the limits of our article. As usual, no transit passes were applied for, the in~ Innd taxation being too light in Manchuria to make it worth while to nse them. Ihe revenue was Tls. 24,000 Jess than in 1869. The chief features in the trade of Tientsin are an increase of 37,000 pieces over the corresponding quarter in the import of Grey SI ings, and w decrease of 67,000 pieces in T-Cloths. The import of Drills and Jeans nearly doubled, that of Sheetings and Lustres fell off one-half. The import of opium shews a decrease of 320 chests. The Commissioner explains that it suffered from the feeling of insecurity prevailing. With largo bodies of troops in the province, its safe transport could not be depended ov. The revenue shows a decrease of Ts. pared with 1869. ngs figure for 176,000 pieces Against85,000, T-Cloths 161,000 against 127,000, Jeans 12,800 against 2,200, Lustres' 6,300 against 3,800. The ioner surmises that native dealers, anticipating a temporary suspension of trade at Lientsin, bought in excess of their actual requirements, trusting that purchasers from the interim or would resort to Chefoo for supplies. The import of opium, too, wearly doubled; and that of sugar largely increased; nailrod and bar iron both fell off; lead stands nearly at the same figure.
The export of beancake was double that of 1 and that of bean-oil sextuple peas, on the other hand, increase is also show a falling off of 32,000 pecals. Ann increase inthe export of yellow silk, from 22 to 321 pecals, is noteworthy, though the quantity is. still small. There were no transit passes applied for cither here or at Tientsin. The revenue shows an increase of Tls. 19,000 over 1869. Itis worthy of notice that, at the end of September, the Chentai of Tangchow visited the port, under ins rections frum the Go-¥ernor, to report upon the state of the defences and the accommodation for troops, and to obtain information natives and foreigners. This, no doubt, was one of the incidents which bad the effect of encouraging the hostile feeling shown against Missionaries at Tangchow.
The trade of Hankow shows an increase, notwithstanding that it suffered di the quarter from the most serious flood which has occurred since the port was opened to foreign commerce. Grey Shirtings figure for 283,000 pieces against 240,000, T-Cloths for 205,000 against 47,000, Drills 108,009 against 78,000, Lustres and Orleans 26,000 against 15,000 crease is observable 3 articles except Long Elis, show a falling off of 10,000 pieces. 8,090 pecols of iron were imported: vei 1,699, and 17,000 peculs of lead 3,700. Opium shows an inc chests,; cotton 16,000 pecals against $45; sugar 92,000 peculs against 58,000. The export of black tea stands nearly at the same figure as in 1869; that of brick tea fell off; tha of green increased. Wood oil shows an increase ut 5,000 peculs. White wax shows an increase of only 53 pecals. The quantity of goods conveyed inland under transit pass shows in most cases te a very large increase; that of T-Cloths nearly trebled, and that of Grey Shirtings is greater by one-third than in 1869. An increase from 5,000 to 13,000 square feet of window glass tuo, is note worthy, as showing agrowingincl nation for evvilised comforts on the part of the people. 1t will be remembered that we had to note a similar reman uble increase in the quantity sent injund from Ningpo during the previous quarter, though that port has not si-milerly distinguished itself during the three months ander review. Altogether 1,618 transit passes were carried ayainst of these for Siangtan, which mart seems to monopolise the piece goods trade, The revenue shows a fal-10,000 from 1 missioner accounts for the i for imports by the destraction wrought to the crops in the up river districts. the high! i lands suffered from dron others, on! the plains, were literally hed awag. Even ning was put a stop to in some places from the mines being flooded.
The Report for Kiukiang also si nabses an ing important m
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.