CHINESE SCHOOL (19th Century )

pen, black ink, watercolour and bodycolour

27.30 cm wide   19.70 cm high

10.75 inches wide  7.76 inches high

Excellent

Twenty five miles up the Pearl River from the Bocca Tigris Forts lies the anchorage of Whampoa (Huangpu). Here, twelve miles short of Canton itself, the western traders would discharge their cargoes onto small ‘chop boats’. In order to establish the dues to be paid the Chinese customs would measure the vessels meticulously.
Sandbars, rocks and shallows were all too common in this area and for this reason coupled with the wish to keep all fortified vessels away from Canton, the Chinese clamped down on any vessels venturing closer to the City.

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