Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms, Vol. 12

Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 23

...the climate is extremely hot. People must sit or lie in the water, immersing themselves up to their necks original: 浸至口 (jin zhi kou); literally "soaking to the mouth" just to find relief. Furthermore, there is absolutely no fresh water; even a single spoonful must be transported by ship from across the sea. Such is the hardship of this place. However, because the land is situated at the center of the three great continents—Asia, Europe, and Libya original: 利未亞 (Liweiya); the historical name used here for Africa—wealthy merchants and great traders from all over the world gather here. Goods of every variety are piled high, and the population is as dense as spokes at the hub of a wheel. Any rare or precious treasure from across the seas that is otherwise difficult to obtain can always be found here. As a certain traveler likely referring to a Western source or Jesuit account once remarked: "If the world were a ring, this place would be the jewel set within it."

The General Treatise on Trade states: The various islands of the West Indies are located within the sea and are colonial dependencies belonging to the Netherlands, France, Spain, and England. The people who till the fields there are all "black-faced" referring to enslaved Africans brought to the Caribbean; they are the slaves of the landowners. Other nations frequently purchase or hire them for labor. The region produces white sugar, coffee, cotton, tobacco, spirits likely rum, and ginger, similar to the products of the South Seas. Among these islands is Cuba, which is a territory of Spain. In the eighth year of Daoguang 1828 AD; the Daoguang Emperor reigned from 1820 to 1850, the goods...