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The
Empress of China Arriving at Whampoa
The first American ship in China,
1784
As the first ship from a new country to
arrive for trade with China, "The Empress of China"
was given an honorary escort down the harbor at Whampoa by
two war junks and a customary gun salute from ships of the
other nations.
On the left a French East Indiaman fires
her salute, and on the far right the East Indiamen of the
Dutch, British, Swedes and Danes also salute the new United
States' flag.
The war junk in the lead is colored in Fujian
Green - indicating her origin, and is being used by a Mandarin
to inspect the Fan-Kwae (foreign devils) ships and give the
chops [licenses]. The quarterdeck of the Empress of China
is attracting a sizable delegation from neighboring ships
eager to assist the newcomer in a strange land.
21 x 24 in. lithograph - 840 edition
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