Ginseng root. The Oriental belief in ginseng as an unexcelled aphrodisiac and panacea springs from the roofs humanoid shape. Photo courtesy of Philip Chadwick Foster Smith.

To further expedite their venture, on 29 November 1785 the subscribers decided "that Mr. Alsop, Mr. Verplanck, & Mr. Stewart be a Committee to wait upon the Governor & Foreign Minister, to obtain from them such Certificates as may be beneficial in the prosecution of our Voyage." In this they were following the example of the promoters of the previous American voyage to China, although any documents which may have been issued seem not to have survived. ²⁷

On 18 December 1785, the Experiment slipped away from Murray's Dock on the East River in New York.  ²⁸ Contemporaries paid little attention to this departure: not one of the city's newspapers reported the sailing. Stewart Dean commandeed the sloop, with John Whetten as his first mate, Isaac Seaman as second mate, and a crew of five men and two boys. William Stewart sailed as supercargo. One crew member, who shipped aboard on 24 November, was listed as "Black boy Prince" and clearly was not a slave, since he was paid £2 per month and earned £34.1.4 during the voyage. ²⁹ They made a port- call at St. Iago in the Cape Verde Islands on 21 January 1786 for supplies, purchasing three pigs, two sheep, two goats, "Fowles for Stores," and "Greens for ships use."

The sloop arrived at Canton on 13 June 1786, having sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, across the Indian Ocean,

Dean's instructions continued:

On your arrival You are to dispose Your Cargo to the best advantage, should You be the first American Vessel in Port, the Sale of your Ginseng is most particularly to be attended to. In that case it will be adviseable to embrace the first Offer which You think sufficiently advantageous to the concerned.

The proceeds of your Cargo are to be invested in the Articles enumerated in the List which will be furnished You: And should there be a deficiency in the proceeds to purchase all the Articles enumerated, You are to divide proportionally from such Articles as You Judge the least profittable, and should there be a surplus You are to make additional purchases of those Articles which You think will turn the best Account ....

If after compleating your Cargo You find yourself in a Situation to receive any Goods upon Freight, You are empowered to receive valuable piece Goods if consigned to the Owners. The freight to be paid there and invested in Goods. Before Your Departure you are to sign three Copies of your Invoice and Bill of Lading, and send Them by different Vessels to the Concerned, one by way of London, the other two direct to America, that there may be proof of Interest in case of Misfortune.