The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-06-16
From a Canton paper.

| A'o"S ~ N~HtVb OupCTs
CRUEL TORTURE. A country Magistrate
named Chow-teen-tseo, in the Province of
Ganhwuy, has been accused to the Empe-
ror of having fastened up two criminals to
boards by nails, driven through the palms
| OF their hands. One of the men struggled
till the hands tore loose, and the magistrate
nailed him up again, with larger nails, under
which operation he expired. This Chinese
lnquisitor had beds of iron, and red hot
spikes; boiling water to scald the bodies
OF his prisoners and knives with which he
cut Oft their toes, or severed the tendon
! achilles. By these tortures he had manned
upwards of hundred people and more
than twenty had died under their sufferings
Chow-teen-tseo's conduct has been in
CURED into by commission of his brother
Magistrates, and their report to His Mai
esty is, that although there is some cause
for the accusations, they. were greatly ex-
aggerated. The man Tsaou- tseih, said to
have died IN consequence of spike nails
having been driven through his hands, had
committed seven robberies and one rape.
On his trial he was insolent, and specious
IN his defence, on which account a little
additional torture was administered, and he
died afterwards in prison. The other cul-
prlt Le-kln in consequence of robbng with
concealed weapons, was fastened to a long
iron bar by rings round his neck and leg.
He cO2trived to saw off the iron nail or pin
at the top of the bar, on which account the
magistrate drove it into the palm of his
hand. However,, on his crying bitterly u4Id-
promising to repent, the lictor dessted.
The only thing that the commission blame
in the conduct of Chow-teen-tseo, is cutting
the tendon achilles of a man whom he was
sending for trial to another court, lest he
should run away, as he had before wrench
ed off his letters. For this offence the
commission under the Governor of Keang-
nan, recommended that the Magistrate
should be subjected to Court of inquiry at
Pekin. The Governor, however, saws that
Chow loved the people as his own children.
and hated bad men, as he did enemies and
little severity of torture is suitable TO that
part of the country. The Emperor there
fore winds up the Document by SAYING
" Such a Magistrate as this, who is not in
tlmldated by the suspicious and resentments
of others. is very difficult to find: and since
the culprits were wicked and abandoned
vagabonds, there was not cruelty inflicted
~ the magistrate. 1t is no. necessary to
subject him to the Inquiry. Respect this"
A SAD MISTAKE. The man who thinks that
library neither adds to his farm, to his stock.
nor to his merchandise, nor ministers to his ap.
petite, and therefore il is useless 10 procure it,
IS sadly mistaken. Though the perusal OF
books will not add DIRECTLY to the increase of
these objects, 1t may INDIRECTLY. Some au-
thors give direction as to the best mode of in
creasing wealth Others show the best way of
avoiding loss IN worldly affairs. Books Of a
more refined kind enlighten the mind-give en-
iarged views of things-make men acquainted
with the wOrld-with literary subiects-wilh
| themselvss-with God the Creator Of all things;
and with what he requires. Through the Pc
rnsal of them, persons of both sexes take the
most efficient way TO promote temporal pros
perlty, and personal happiness. They will also
prepare themselves by reading, to be useful cit
liens of their country, they will obtain knowl-
edge Of the design of the Supreme Being in
their creation, and may help to prepare the way
for their eternal felicity. The man therefore
who thinks every other object must be obtained
before he obtains a small library of books, sadly
mistakes his best interests.
Charleston Herald.
Tho following extract from Mungo Park
shows that the ambition of mothers is about the
same all the world over, merely varying in its
forms, according to popular whms:
J With the Moors, corpulence and beauty
mean the same thing. A woman of moderate
pretensions must be one who cannot walk with.
out assistance, and perfect belle is a load for
a camel. In consequence of this prevalent
taste for unwicldiness Of bulk, the Moorish la.
dies take great pains to acquire it early in life
For this purpose many of the young girls are
compelled by their mothers to devour great
quantity ofkouskous, Qndian meal cakes steam.
ed over meat, while it is stewing,) and drink a
large bowl Of camels milk every morning. II
is OF no consequence whether the girl has an
appetite or not /; the kouskous and milk must
be swallowed, and obedience is frequently en-
forced by blows. have seen poor girl sill
crying, with the bowl at her lips, for more Than
an hour, and her mother, with Il stick in hel
hand, watching her all the while, and using the
stick without mercy, whenever she observed
her daughter was not swallowing.
This singular practice, instead of producing
indigestion and disease, soon covers the young
lady with that degree of plumpness which the
Moors consider perfection"
"What letter is that % said village peda
gogue TO ono Of his disciples, pointing at tn
same time to the first character on the alphabet
: " That sir don't know that letter." was tn
the answer. at is A, said the teacher. an
gracious" replied the boy, looking up, Will
every lineament of his face seemed ready I
burst with wonder, is that .7--Ghi7