China from a medical point of view in 1860 and 1861 : to which is added a chapter on Nagasaki as a sanitarium / by Charles Alexander Gordon.

  • Gordon, C. A. (Charles Alexander), Sir, 1821-1899.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: China from a medical point of view in 1860 and 1861 : to which is added a chapter on Nagasaki as a sanitarium / by Charles Alexander Gordon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

    31/522 (page 17)
    Ilurdwarto Aspacfira^ in Tliibct^ and at a later period Buddhisin was probably introdueed into Cbina partly by it. We, moreover, find that in process of time the communication, which at first had been of a peaceful nature, underwent an unfavorable change, armies being led by the roads along which merchants had for generations brought their wares from China; thus, in the history of Arabia, we learn that Hareth ul Rayesh, the twenty-first monarch of that country in descent from Hamyar (the founder of the dynasty named after the latter monarch is believed to have been contemporary with Moses). Of this dynasty, which is said to have lasted two thousand years, one monarch, namely, Abu Kurrub Tobbaa, is said to have combated with the Tartars; and he, for the first time, for an Arab prince, heard of China. He afterwards, about b.c. 465, led an army to Thibet and China, through Bokhara Modern Travel,^ p. 25). We become aware, from many sources, that about the commencement of the Christian era constant com- mercial intercourse was carried on between this country, India, and even Ceylon. We know that for a long time maritime trade with India was monopolised by Egypt, and thus the extension eastward of the emblems and beliefs of that country by this means is easily accounted for. Compared to the dates just given, the communication between this country and China is of to-day. We learn from an exami- nation of this intercourse, that misunderstandings, and blood- shed, hold a position in these annals, fully as prominent as do the records of the mercantile transactions. If we recount a few of the chief incidents connected with our intercourse with that country, we learn that in 1596 an unsuccessful attempt was made by Queen Elizabeth to open commerce with it, by despatching a letter addressed to the emperor. In 1605 Sir E. Michelbourne, who had a patent for trading to the eastern seas, not only seized the ships of any nation with which he met, 1)ut he also plundered several valuable Chinese junks. In 1637 an English vessel commanded by Captain Weddel, reached the Bocca Tigris, and being fired upon there by the Chinese, he demolished the forts guarding the passage of the river, landed a hundred men, and planted the English flag on the spot. Trade at Canton was for a short time opened after this. It was 2