It was with a feeling of national pride that we repeatedly saw the
Pacific Mail Company’s steamer “China,” Capt. Doane, thirty days from
San Francisco, come into the harbor promptly on the day she was due.
She is a noble ship of four thousand tons. Capt. Doane came on board
our ship, and invited us to inspect his vessel. It is one of the
principal events of the month with Americans to have the Pacific Mail
Steamers appear. All other steamers seem diminutive by the side of
them. It seemed strange to find on board these vessels five or six live
oxen and the appurtenances of a slaughter-house, bestowed, however, out
of sight.
We stayed in Hong Kong six months waiting for hemp to fall in Manila.
While the ship lay at anchor we enjoyed the privilege, by the favor of
Messrs. Augustine Heard & Co., of visiting several places in China and
the East Indies.