Lorraine Knowles (Hong Kong)
In the eighteenth century trade with China became increasingly important to Britain. Silk, tea, opium and porcelain were all in demand, and much of this trade was handled by the East India Company. Considerable numbers of the Company’s staff, from clerks and administrators to senior managers, were Scotsmen. The Company’s trading base with China was at Canton (now Guangzhou), which soon became an international trade hub, visited by large numbers of trading vessels travelling between China and Europe. The trading ships around the panel are shown in the circular formation recorded for a china fleet travelling from Britain in 1710.
CN02 Companaidh nan Ìnnsean an Ear
Anns an ochdamh linn deug, bha malairt le Sìona a’ sìor fhàs cudromach do Bhreatainn. Bha iarrtas ann airson sìoda, teatha, sùgh-cadail, agus pòrsalan, agus bha mòran den mhalairt seo air a làimhseachadh le Companaidh nan Ìnnsean an Ear. B’ e Albannaich a bh’ ann an àireamh mhòr de luchd-obrach a’ Chompanaidh, bho chlàrcan gu rianadairean gu àrd-mhanaidsearan. Bha bunait malairt a’ Chompanaidh le Sìona stèidhichte ann an Canton (a-nis Guangzhou), a thàinig ann an ùine ghoirid gu bhith na mhòrionad malairt eadar-nàiseanta, air am biodh àireamh mhòr de shoithichean malairt eadar Sìona ’s an Roinn Eòrpa a’ tadhal.Tha na soithichean malairt timcheall a’ phannal ann an cruth cearcaill, a chaidh a chlàradh airson cabhlach òir-chriadh a’ siubhal à Breatainn ann an 1710.