and Austria. There are also a great many shops stocking foreign piece-goods—a little American sheeting and a great deal of English shirting and black and coloured Italians, besides prints and a few other varieties,—proving the prosperous condition of the salt industry; for it is only those who are well-to-do who can afford to invest in foreign cloths. In one shop I was told by the owner that he could sell foreign piece goods to the value of 5000 or 6000 strings of cash in the year—i.e., £500 or £600. I have already warned the reader of the incurable antipathy of the Chinese for accuracy. Let me warn him again. An acquaintance told Dr Smith that two men had spent 200 strings of cash on a theatrical exhibition, adding a moment later, "It was 173 strings, but that is the same as 200—is it not?"[1] A large crowd accompanied me during my inspection of the town, and made comments of varying interest and intelligence whenever I stopped to examine the contents on sale at any shop. At one stall where I was
- ↑ 'Chinese Characteristics,' p. 54.
