Drawing by william alexander, draughtsman of the macartney embassy to china in 1793. A sea-faring chinese trading ship; on each bow is painted an eye, with the pupil turned forwards. Such vessels ventured as far as manila, japan, and batavia, with many of them being from eight hundred to a thousand tons burthen. Their century-old design was not changed after ships of various european nations started to arrive in canton during the 18th century. Image taken from the costume of china, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings, published in london in 1805. Date: circa 1800.
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