Encyclopædia Britannica, First Edition/Canton

CANTON, in geography, denotes a small country, or district, constituting a distinct government: such are the cantons of Switzerland.

Canton is also the name of a large, populous, and wealthy city and port-town of China, situated on the river Ta, about fifty miles from the Indian ocean: E. long. 112° 30′, N. lat. 23° 25′.

It is a fortified place, within the walls of which no Christians are permitted to enter, notwithstanding their great trade thither; it being from thence that they import all manner of Chinese goods, as china-ware, tea, cabinets, raw and wrought silks, gold-dust, &c.