Sullivan I procured two sample-bottles of it, which I have brought home with me for analysis, as it seems to me to bid fair to enter the market, though at present no purchasers are reported. I quote a few remarks on the oil by Messrs. Bevan, Coll, and Harris :— “It is very unlike the Rangoon earth-oil from India, or the rock-oil from America, and more like resin oil. From competent parties, to whom we have shown the samples, we have obtained the opinion that the value would not exceed 15l. per ton; but to test its properties accurately a few small casks ought to be sent home for trial, in which case great care should be taken to prevent leakage, as judging from its appearance it will force its way through the best package. The cold weather has a great effect upon it; and during the last few days it has become perfectly chilled in the bottles; but the stoppers being in when it began to be liquid, the expansion was so sudden or great as to burst the bottles, although not one-third full.”
Import Trade.—The imports consist mainly of Chinese produce from the ports of Ningpo, Foochow, Chinchew, and Amoy; and through the same channel foreign goods have found their way, but the demand is small. The staple import, as everywhere throughout China, is opium; and to supply the 3,000,000 Chinese colonists of Formosa with this almost necessary of life a large flow is required. Many of the aborigines, I am told, have also learned to smoke it; but they seldom manage to get more than the refuse of the pipe.
Unfortunately for the foreign commercial career in Formosa, soon after the opening of Tamsuy to British trade a rebellion broke out, to which several of the chief authorities of the island fell victims. This at first placed the newly-arrived foreigners in rather a critical position; but the worst, I trust, has now passed. Since my departure I learn that additional merchants have arrived at Tamsuy, and that the foreign customs’ inspectorate has taken the port under the shadow of its wings.[1] The evangelical missions are beginning to send missionaries to the new field. All bids fair for Tamsuy becoming in a few years a flourishing little port; and if the naval authorities would lessen the danger of navigation, and the consequent number of wrecks, by giving us a good survey of the coast, we should have cause to be more than ever grateful to Lord Elgin’s treaty, in having thrown open to British enterprise such an island as Formosa.
- ↑ Lieutenant Pack, of H.M. gunboat Snap, just returned to England, tells me that last winter he bad charge of the customs of Tamsuy for three weeks, and in that time collected 9000 dollars for dues and duties.—December, 1863.
