The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1818-04-08
Ml,CELLAN EoUo ARriCLLS.
AGRIcULrukE IN CHINA.

In the empire ot China which contains
nea'ly half the number of the human race,
no spot Of ground that is capable Of cuitiva.
tion, Is neglected, though ever so small or
diff ut of access. Roots and g. Gems a,e
the g the principal nouTishmeni Of the in
babi'anls--aod they spare no paios 10 procure
them IN the greatest variety md of the best
kinds. They have several kinds of rools
and edible herbs which arc no, known In Eu-
rope--Ind besides cultivating all their lands,
they obi ain crops from several aquatic plants
which are used as delicscios at the Chinese
tables--par,icuaiIy the water Chcsnut. This,
by he imperial order, ha, been cultivated in
al the iakcs ana marshes belonged to the
empire. All the canals, which water the
Emperour's garden, are cover ed with il.
Thc ponds and ditcnos cvc,y were are over.
spfjad with the nJwcrs and verdurs Of this
piac' (Which bears fruit enclosed in husk
like ehcsno,--and Of very palatsblc and
wholesome nature.
Ia u narrative Of Lord Macartney's emba,-
sy 10 China, IL is related, tina, his Lordship's
attend,nts, in passing through part OF lha,
empi,e, saw a man cultivating the side Of
prccipice--ihat, on examination, they found
that he had rope fastened round hrs middle,
which was secured al the top Of the noun
any part Of the ptscipicc, were few yards
OF feasible ground gave him encouragement
10 plant his vegetables and SOW his corn.---
The whole of the cultivated spots, which
we'o at somo distance from each other, ap.
pearcd to be no' more than half an acre--and
near the bottom Of the precipicc, on a hil-
lock, he Dad lit,le hut, where he supported
. wdessnd family IN this haza dous manner.'
Rv nj 4 M al ,ndu A ~, ,,f n
Ch,aese. together with their superior skill in
busoandry, and their simple modo of living,
almost eve nan 10 able TO support family
l--acco d,ngiy they mary young, and multi.
ply and c,ve' the earth like grasshoppef.
They are classed in the denomination Of Pa.
ran, oo, some Of their habit. aud customs |
ar h,ghly wo',hy Of the notice and imitation
Of Chrsiain people. r,
---oo----
# Ch,ness .Hnecdo, c --KyMHI Emperor of |
Ch,ns, WIS ,,ways ra etu, ~ rave his table |
served win European vines. Having one
day orde' ed a Mandarin, his nos, faithful ia
vouritc, 10 d INK with him, the p, ince got
drunk, and ,herwards tell into q profound |
elecp. The Mandarin, who dreaded The con.
sequences Of this ,ntcmpe rance, passed into
the iodgc Of tho ounuchs, aud told them |
g tina, the Empero, was d unk ,nat IL was to
be ielred he might con'ract the habit Of
to evce,s; that wine would still
mo,e i~i,atc his temper, which was already
toe violent I; and that, in this state, he would |
no, even spare his dearest favouritc. To
remedy SO great an evil" added the manda-
rim, "you nus, load me with chains, aud put
M ,n,oa dungeon, as ii the order camo from
Ihe Emperor"
The cunuchs approved Of his scheme, tor
hcu own Interest. The Prince sur ptised To
iod himself alone OF waking, asked waat be.
game Of his table companion. H. was an.
,we ed, thar having had the misfortune to
lispl.aso his MAjcs,y, he was led by his o..
hers, into . close prison, were he was TO bs
,u, TO death.
Tho Monarch appeared for some time lost
n thought, aud a, length gsvo orders for ,h-
dandscisn to DO brough, before him. He
ppesred, loaded with irons, and threw hin.
elf at his masters's feet, as o criminal wait:
ng the sentence Of his death.
"Was, bought thee into that condition
aid The Pr'nre 10 him. +" What crime has,
hou cosnm,, ed i"--" I am ignorsn9 of aoy
rmc," answered the Mandarin y"sli I know