清代航船“西瓜扁”与广州对外贸易的转运系统

“Chop Boat” in Qing Dynasty and the Transport System of Foreign Trade in Guangzhou

西瓜扁是清代广州口岸开放后出现的一种中型运货船,因形似剖开一半的西瓜而得名。外国文献称之为"官印船",认为这是唯一具有官方执照的货物驳接船。根据《广州番鬼录》等资料的记载,西瓜扁的载重量约在50吨左右。西瓜扁的主要航线为黄埔与广州城十三行商馆、广州与澳门之间的珠江水道。其主要功能是在洋船与商馆之间驳接转运货物,也在两地之间接送外国人。西瓜扁是黄埔港口与广州城之间运输进出口商品、澳门与广州之间运载外国商人的主要船只,在清代广州对外贸易的转运系统中发挥了重要的作用。

Chop boat is a medium-sized ship on the Pearl River, which appeared in the Qing Dynasty. It so named because of the shape of cut half of watermelon. Foreign literature is also called ＂chop ship＂, and think this is the only official license connected with cargo ship. According to the ＂Guangzhou time＂ Guilu data records, chop boat load of about 50 tons. The main route of chop boat was Pearl River waterway between Whampoa port and Thirteen-Trades Monopoly, Pearl River waterway between Guangzhou and Macao. Its main function is between the ocean ship with business hall connecting transit goods, also shuttle between Guangzhou city and foreigners in two. Chop boat is mainly flat ship on the transportation of import and export commodities between Whampoa port and the city of Guangzhou, also on carrying foreign businessmen between Macao and Guangzhou. It play an important role in the transfer system of foreign trade in Guangzhou in the Qing dynasty.