Page 311 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

297.

In 1835-36 Americans joined the English in venturing

elsewhere in China to distribute their pamphlets. They sailed

along the China coast on the merchant vessels that carried

imported cotton and woolen cloths. Most of these vessels

also engaged in the opium trade. A Prussian missionary Charles

Gutzlaff had seized the initiative in traveling along the coast

when English merchants first developed this branch of trade in

1
the early 1830 s. Gutzlaff thought voyages along the coast

a good opportunity for spreading the gospel to Chinese beyond
Canton. The merchants welcomed his presence for his ability

to understand several dialects of Chinese. Accompanying the

voyages on the pretext of distributing religious materials,

Gutzlaff actually interpreted for shipmasters and opium-dealers.

Gutzlaff retired from the opium trade in 1835 to replace the

deceased Robert Morrison as interpreter for English officials
21
at Canton. William H. Medhurst continued the coastal work

begun by Gutzlaff, although he did not actively participate in

the opium trade. Edwin Stevens was the first American to

pursue this method of serving the Chinese. The major partners

of Olyphant & Co., D.W.C. Olyphant and his nephew Charles

W. King, were also interested in such voyages.

21
su.mucl Wells Williams, The Middle Kingdom: A Survey
of the G12cqraphy, Government, Literature, Sociul Life, Arts, and
History of the Chinese Empire (2 vols.; New York, 1883), II, 329.
Gutzlaff, an eccentric Prussian missionary, was interested in
Chinese medicine, history, geography and languages besides his
missionary work. He lived and associated with the English at
Canton and eventually became involved in the opium trade. Fluent
in eight languages, including various Chinese dialects, Gutzlaff
was employed by English officials in interpreting for them in
negotiations with Chinese officials.