Travels in China : containing descriptions, observations, and comparisons, made and collected in the course of a short residence at the imperial palace of Yuen-Min-Yuen, and on a subsequent journey through the country from Pekin to Canton

In 1792, a British embassy headed by Earl Macartney travelled from Peking (Beijing), China, to Canton (Guangzou) with the aim of improving trade with China. The complete account of the mission was recorded by the Earl's private secretary, Sir John Barrow, in Travels in China (1804), a work intended to 'shew this extraordinary people in their proper colours' as well as to 'divest the court of the tinsel and tawdry varish' which Barrow thought that missionary accounts promoted. Both a paean to British imperial ambitions and a compelling example of early nineteenth-century travel literature, Travels in China presents an account of Chinese government, trade, industry, and cultural and religious practices through the eyes of one of England's most ardent expansionists. Barrow would go on to write an account of the mutiny on H.M.S. Bounty (1831), but Travels in China remained by far the more significant work in his lifetime. Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 8 Contents......Page 12 LIST OF PLATES......Page 18 ADVERTISEMENT......Page 19 CHAP. I - PRELIMINARY MATTER......Page 20 CHAP. II - Occurrences and Obfervations in the Navigation of the Yellow Sea, and the Paffage up the Pei-ho, or White River......Page 44 CHAP. III - Journey through the Capital to a Country Villa of the Emperor. Return to Pekin. The Imperial Palace and Gardens of Yuen-min-yuen, and the Parks of Gehol......Page 106 CHAP. IV - Sketch of the State of Society in China.---Manners, Cuftoms, Sentiments, and Moral Character of the People......Page 157 CHAP. V - Manners and Amufements of the Court---Reception of Embaffadors.---Character and private Life of the Emperor---His Eunuchs and Women......Page 210 CHAP. VI - Language.---Literature, and the fine Arts.---Sciences.---Mechanics, and Medicine......Page 255 CHAP. VII - Government---Laws---Tenures of Land and Taxes---Revenues---Civil and Military Ranks, and Eftablifhments......Page 376 CHAP. VIII - Conjectures on the Origin of the Chinefe.---Their Religious Sects,---Tenets,---and Ceremonies......Page 437 CHAP. IX - Journey from Tong-choo-foo to the Province of Canton.---Face of the Country, and its Productions.---Buildings and other Public Works.---Condition of the People.---State of Agriculture.---Population......Page 507 CHAP. X - Journey through the Province of Canton.---Situation of Foreigners trading to this Port.---Conclufion......Page 610 CONCLUSION......Page 640 INDEX......Page 642 Cover 1 Frontmatter 8 Contents 12 LIST OF PLATES 18 ADVERTISEMENT 19 CHAP. I - PRELIMINARY MATTER 20 CHAP. II - Occurrences and Obfervations in the Navigation of the Yellow Sea, and the Paffage up the Pei-ho, or White River 44 CHAP. III - Journey through the Capital to a Country Villa of the Emperor. Return to Pekin. The Imperial Palace and Gardens of Yuen-min-yuen, and the Parks of Gehol 106 CHAP. IV - Sketch of the State of Society in China.---Manners, Cuftoms, Sentiments, and Moral Character of the People 157 CHAP. V - Manners and Amufements of the Court---Reception of Embaffadors.---Character and private Life of the Emperor---His Eunuchs and Women 210 CHAP. VI - Language.---Literature, and the fine Arts.---Sciences.---Mechanics, and Medicine 255 CHAP. VII - Government---Laws---Tenures of Land and Taxes---Revenues---Civil and Military Ranks, and Eftablifhments 376 CHAP. VIII - Conjectures on the Origin of the Chinefe.---Their Religious Sects,---Tenets,---and Ceremonies 437 CHAP. IX - Journey from Tong-choo-foo to the Province of Canton.---Face of the Country, and its Productions.---Buildings and other Public Works.---Condition of the People.---State of Agriculture.---Population 507 CHAP. X - Journey through the Province of Canton.---Situation of Foreigners trading to this Port.---Conclufion 610 CONCLUSION 640 INDEX 642 9781108013628 Cambridge Library Collection - Travel and Exploration