tered-, that such a one, the son of such a one, of such a family, passed through this place, on such a day, in such a month, in such a year, and in such company.' And by these means they prevent any one from carrying off the money or effects of other persons, or their being lost; so that if any thing has been carried off unjustly, or the traveller dies on the road, they immediately know what has become of the things, and they are either restored to the claimant, or to the heirs."
Since the period referred to, a great change has been effected; to notice briefly, but correctly, the progress of which, with its causes and effects, would constitute an interesting discussion. The change in commercial transactions has, perhaps, to all parties, been a favourable one, and it might be made far more advantageous. But in personal privileges,—liberty, with just regulations and securities to all and for all, to tread thtliroughe earth, and breathe the air,—the change has been injurious alike to all: it has, we think, involved, and -I'estricted the inalienable rights of man. That all this is attributable to one party, we by no means aver. But we dismiss this, and pass on to notice other topics. Of the Emperor, taxes, public treasury, and revenues, the first traveller writes,
"The Emperor of China, never appears in public, but once in ten months; saying, that if he showed himself oftener to the people, they would lose the veneration they have for him. For he holds it as a maxim, that principalities cannot subsist but by force, and that the people know not what justice is; and that constraint and violence must be used to maintain, among them, the Majesty of Empire.
"They have no impost upon their lands, but are subject only to a poll tax, which is levied on men only, and that according to their condition and capacity. When any Arabs, or other strangers are in this country, the Chinese tax them in proportion to their substance. When any dearth makes necessaries very dear, then does the king open his storehouses, and sell all sorts of provisions much cheaper than they are to be had at market; and hence no dearth is of any long continuance among the Chinese.
"The sums that are gathered from the capitation tax, are laid up in the public treasury; and, I believe, that, from this tax, fifty thousand dinars are every day paid into the treasury of Canfu alone, although this city be none of the largest in China.
"The Emperor also reserves to himself the revenues which arise from the salt mines, and from a certain herb which they drink with hot water, and of which great quantities are sold in all the cities, to the amount of great sums. They call it sah, and it is a shrub more bushy than the pomegranate-tree, and of a more taking smelt, but it has a kind of bitterness with it. Their way is to boil water, which they pour upon this leaf, and this drink cures all sorts of diseases. Whatever sums are lodged in the treasury arise from the poll tax, and the duties upon salt, and upon this leaf."
The maxim is still held, that the people know not what justice is, and that constraint and violence must uphold the majesty of Empire. There is now an impost on lands, but the poll tax has been interdicted. No taxes are levied on foreigners, except by way of customs and duties on their merchandise. Store-houses or granaries are managed quite as in the Arab's day. The public revenues are made up from imposts on lands, duties on salt, tea, silk, and so forth.
