Have a look at Sir Rand's China adventures. In the Dispatches
are exciting reports of action during the second Opium war, TaiPing Rebellion and more!Treaties, Ports and Most Favored Nations
Following the first Opium War in China, several ports were forced open to foreign trade and
commerce. Among these was Shuixia, a town along the central coast of China, at the outlet of
the Moukao canal. Instantly what had once been a sleepy fishing village was turned into a
center of international commerce. The colonial section of the city was under the direct
supervision of the British and French governments, through their appointed councils.
The American government had been offered the right to send council of their own, but the offer
was refused. But, while, the American government had no direct say in the running of the city
there was a large American presence, almost equal to either the British or the French.
The Native city fell to the Small Swords or Taiping rebels early in the decade of my first arrival to Shuixia. The Imperial government in Pekin spent much effort to dislodge the rebels but to little success. There was talk in some quarters that their efforts were more aimed at dislodging we "long noses" (as they called all westerners) rather than the Chinese rebels. I don't doubt this one bit. If the emperor could have done away with us at the same time as the long-hairs, he'd have been right glad to do it. Oh, Shuixia was a dangerous place, to be sure.
from My Life, the Short Version by
Sir Rand McNally,
Special Envoy to China 1850-1865
Have a look at Sir Rand's China adventures. In the Dispatches
are exciting reports of action during the second Opium war, TaiPing Rebellion and more!
There's also a short history of one of the (some would say *the*) premier city in China,
beautiful Shanghai!
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China, 1850-1865