JNTEnCOLONIAL COIMMERCE. 297 remote. This trade, much more extensive than that between China and Great Britain itself, constitutes by far the most valuable branch of the foreign trade of China. The shipping in which it is carried on frequently touch at the ports of the Archipelago ; and, in this manner, some of the productions of the latter are conveyed to China. The extensive trade of the Portug^uese from Ben- gal, which is, in fact, conducted with British capi- tal, protected by our laws, conveys, also, a consider- able share. The East India Company's ships going to China direct, being nearly empty, are still more available ; and a considerable part of the produc- tions of the islands, or, as they are technically de- nominated, " Straits produce,'* find their way to China in the private investments of the officers. The most considerable colonial trade carried on between the Indian islands and China at present is that from the Philippines. A number of colonial vessels, under Portuguese colours, constantly trade between Manilla and Macao, which is, in some re- spects, a Portuguese establishment. These supply the China market with the usual articles of the produce of the islands, and bring back supplies for the Philippines, and commodities for the more distant trade of South America. A sketch of the intercourse of Europeans with Japan is, unfortunately, more a matter of curiosi- ty than utility. Marco Polo mentions Japan under
