Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms, Volume 21

...miles of sea. There is only a levy of forty rudders referring to a tax based on the number of ships or "rudders" present for "guiding and inspection," yet no actual inspection is ever performed. Is this not the [lax] "good governance" of Liu and Luo, or the legacy of Qin and Xian? These likely refer to historical figures or specific local administrative precedents known for their leniency or systemic neglect.

Furthermore, there is even more to be said. Whenever the barbarians harbor crafty intentions, it is always due to the guidance and enticement of Han traitors original: "Hanjian"; here referring to Chinese locals who collaborated with foreign merchants. And the reason these traitors dare to incite and deceive is because of the extortion 侵漁 (qinyu): literally "preying like a fisherman," referring to official corruption and the stripping of resources from the people practiced by those in authority.

In the past, when foreign goods arrived, there were taxes, paper money duties, and regulations for imports and exports. There were classifications for various textiles and types of goods. For every crate, bale, piece of lacquerware, or timber, fees were collected according to "customary regulations" at every turn. Woolen fabrics 呢羽 (niyu): technical term for various European woolens like broadcloth and camlets and clocks were all sent as tribute to the Imperial Palace original: "Tongting," the vermilion-painted halls of the Emperor. This is what is taken by those in the high positions of power.

The ships of the security merchants the Co-hong, the guild of Chinese merchants authorized to trade with foreigners in Canton must pay customary fees. The volume of goods sold is taxed and commissioned. Once a ship enters Whampoa Huangpu, the deep-water anchorage for foreign ships near Canton, the instances of extortion by the boarding original: "bo-er-ding," a 19th-century transliteration of the English "boarding" (officers), referring to the customs runners who boarded ships officers and clerks are already numerous. In traveling between the provincial capital and Macao, the demands for permits and licenses are even more frequent.

The livelihoods of the petty officials and runners depend entirely upon the arrival of foreign ships. Even the daily necessities of vegetables and rice become exorbitantly expensive due to the compradors 買辦 (maiban): authorized intermediaries who procured supplies and managed domestic affairs for foreign merchants. This is what is taken by those in lower positions. Once they have taken...