“In the spring of 1845, in defiance of existing regulations, Medhurst journeyed from Shanghai into the interior of China for seven weeks, visiting the ‘silk and green tea countries’.” He made considerable efforts to adopt local customs to the point of shaving his hair and having a Chinese-style cue fitted, and strongly advises anybody who wants to follow in his footsteps to do the same. The book is in fact a comprehensive introduction to Chinese etiquette, modes of travelling, the process of choosing the right clothes and footwear, as well as the instructions for the barber to fit the cue. “In partaking of food, also, great care must be taken to eat as others do. Not only is it necessary to eat with chopsticks, but to handle them in such a way, that the instrument may appear to be in the hand of an adept […] It would not be worth while for the stranger to feel fastidious about eating out of the same basin with his Chinese friends; as it is not uncommon for them to use their own chopsticks, and to take out one of the nicest pieces of meat or fish they can find, and place it in the stranger’s own basin. Lest he should complain, however, of the chopsticks not being sufficiently clean, the host previously draws them very carefully through his own lips, and gives them a good suck before the operation.” (p. 12).
Medhurst goes on to provide a comprehensive description of the various stages in silk production, an introduction on the Imperial tax system based on Chinese sources, notes on expenditure for the transport of rice, as well as the distribution of funds between the governor, officers and attendants, the literary chancellor, the commissioner of finance, as well as charitable purposes. “April 29: Having thanked our kind host, who accompanied us part of the way, we set off this afternoon for Gno-tan-chin, or Goose-egg village, where the brother of my guide resided. We put up for the night at his shop, in which the combined business of apothecary, grocer, pork-butcher, dyer and pulse-jelly-maker was carried out.” (p. 173).
The illustrations and maps are reproductions from Chinese gazetteers and other publications. Prefixed to the narrative is a note by the editor, apologising for the poor paper-quality “owing to non-arrival of supplies from Canton”. The main narrative is written in the form of a diary detailing the author’s adventures together with a lengthy description on silk production.
There is a strong question in my mind as to whether this rare account of travels in Zhejiang province is written by Medhurst the Elder or the Younger. The consensus seems to be on the Elder, however, it very much feels like a young man’s narrative and there is no mention of any missionary activity which would have preoccupied the Elder, who had arrived in Shanghai in 1842.
Lust 380; Cordier 2117-18.
