West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) to R. West [incomplete]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03836.01 Author/Creator: West, Lewis H. (b. 1829) Place Written: Foochow, China Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 November 1860 Pagination: 5 p. ; 20.3 x 12.8 cm. Order a Copy
Says he arrived in Foochow on 26 October after a 14 day voyage from Hong Kong. Ran into a northeast monsoon along the way. Says "Foochow is one of the few places I have never visited before on the coast of China." Goes on to describe the city, saying it only recently became an important city in the tea trade and that the Min River, which empties at Foochow, is very dangerous. Says the first thing he did upon arriving in port was a "regular house cleaning," and says the ship now looks like "a pretty girl rigged up for a ball, the handsomest craft, here!" Has taken on 200 tons of tea after removing the ballast and expects to take on 500 more. Says the ship only carries 1100-1200 pounds and that he will probably leave for New York in 10 or 12 days -- a trip which will take 100-110 days. Page marked 1B, which appears to be connected to the first four pages, says he has a fever, but not to worry.
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