The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-11-18
RECOLLECTIONs OF CHINA.

the following extract:
China is half peopled with what the stat
e ute calls "rogues found loitering," sturdy
beggars." fire eaters, BONES, and iuggiers.
eJugglers perform surprising feats, which
am inclined to inscribe to diabolical aid.
They will plant you a mango twig in the
ground, moisten it with blood, and in few
! minutes under their incantations, the twig
becomes tree, covered with flowers or
bending with fruit | have not seen such
/ rapid vegetation even in Ohio. Their feats
, OF balancing, seem to defy the principle of
5 gravltaton; | should suppose that bird
could hardly perch where | have seen a
dance. Another of their performances is
TO have ribbon an hundred feet long at
tached, like lash, to a twelve inch rod,
t which they so whisk about, that the ribbon
is never tangled, and yet is always in the
ar. 80 perfectly can they do this, that
while the lash is floating in the air, it de-
scrlbes many fanciful and regular figures.
! The mountebanks of the east are renown-
ed for their skill in posing. They will roll,
by balancing large jar over the arms, and
spin round plates on the fingers or on sticks,
as 1t they were wheels with axles | have
seen one of these magi, fasten three sticks
as plvots to each boot, and then on six 9TH
er sticks he would spin like whrlgigs as
many plates, which, while spinning, he trans
ferred to the sticks in his boots, where they
continued still to spin. The operator then
set In motion three other plates, in his hand,
SO that he had nine going at once.
The first emotion of an American when
he sees, for the first time. Chinese, is to
laugh at him. His dresseif judged by our
standard, is ridiculous, and in a Mandarin,
a stately gravity sets it off for double de-
rlslon. The trousers are couple of meal
bags, reaching just below the knee-his
shoes are huge machines turned up at the
toe, his cap is fantastic, and his head is
shaven expect on the crown, whence there
hangs down streamer of hair, as long as
a spaniels tall This appendage is one of
honor, and cherished with care. A long
streamer at Canton is as much a distinction
as beard that covers the girdle at lspa-
han. As the Emperor of Persia has the
{ best beard in his dominions, so he of China
has the longest tail. No Mandarin pre-
sumes to rival by half an ell the queue of
the Emperor.
When l was at Canton, his Majesty of
China was younger son of old KEN Long,
so well known at the time of the embassies
! KEN Long had rather more than common
sense, which for an Emperor was prodi-
gious. Like old King Cole he had fond
ness for the bowl, and actually composed
an ode on tea. Like you and me he had
his fallings, but was as good man as some
who think themselves better. Like the
Monarch of Britain he could not resist the
| light of dark eye in woman. He, there
fore, has some domestic troubles. His en-
press hung herself for jealousy, and his son
died of an imperial kick for wearing mourn
ing for his mother. But Ken Long was as
good as other kings, and abdicated in favor
of his fifteenth son, after which his life was
short, for deposed or abdicating prince
seldom survives his power. The Emperors
of China, like Augustus, cover their power
with specious names. His government is
supposed to be paternal, and like Charles
II, he is called the father of his people. He
is also called the father and sometimes the
mother, of his country, which is as bold
figure as "Father of Chemistry, and Broth
er of the Earl of Cork"
He is accountable for his actions to no
created being, and his paternal relation
gives him the right of chastisement. He
inhicts death for disobedience, and minor
penalties for less enormous crimes. China
is his farm and his subjects are tenants by
sufferance, paying rents in kind. On the
north his farm is enclosed by stone wall,
and as Johnson said, it is an honorable dis
tinction to be grandson to man who has
seen that wall.
Men are said to be under the government
of the cuGgel in Russia in China they are
governed by the bamboo. 1t is too common
thing to be disgracefnl, and it is but a
sort of fine that all men may receive. 1t is
a very simple method of obtaining evidence.
If witness fails to testify as he is desired,
the testimony is fogged out of him. In our
courts he is only screwed. The bamboo
makes him comfortable, but when the wit
ness is fogged, the accused is in danger.
The lesser punshments are inflicted un-
der the inspection of the judge, which is,
no doubt, gratifying, when the Judge is the
complainant. The culprit sometimes pro-
cures substitute, which may be had for a
round sum, except in capital cases. The
, executioner too is willing to deal at fair
: prices; for a moderate compensation, he
!, will strike lightly and somewhat aside.
6 This. however, is a great risk to run for
n benevolence, for if detected, he would suffer
f twice what he merits, in his own person.
n Justice, such as she is, is administered
= gratis in China and it is some comfort to
# the Chinese, among all their grievances,
o that they are free from lawyers.
s No offence is punished with less than five
n lashes, and fifty are often given. The man
n ner Of fogging is this: the great man has
t three attendants-the culprit is PROSTATE
: on his belly, one attendant sits astride on
S his shoulder 10 keep him down, another
s draws his legs out by cord around the
e heels and third applies the bamboo. The
! sufferer boards no malice, but goes off like
: one oc my scholars after " correction" with
|" increased veneraton for his master.
: There is an instrument in common use,
/ IN the nature of movable pillory, but /