CHAPTER V

My voyage to Macao--General appearance of the port--Gambling propensities of the Chinese--Compulsory emigration--Cruel treatment of coolies on board ship--Disaster on the Paracelses reefs--The _Baracouns_--The grotto of Camoens--The _Lusiads_--Contrast between Chinese and Japanese--Origin of the yellow races: their appearance and language--Relation of the dwellers in the Arctic regions to the people of China--Russian and Dutch intercourse with the Celestials--East India Company's monopoly of trade--Disputes on the opium question--Expiration of charter--Death of Lord Napier of a broken heart--Lin-Tseh-Hsu as Governor of the Kwang provinces--The result of his measures to suppress trade in opium--Treaty of Nanking--War of 1856-1858--Treaty of Tien-tsin and Convention of Pekin--Immense increase in exports and imports resulting from them 97