Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-07-09

ion." Ladies Nat. HdgdziHe
Correspondence Of The Journal of Commerce.
Slavery in China.
OF all the men on the face of the globe, land
have soonrned among several nations IN my life,)
have never seen any equal the Chinese in the love
Of money. 1t Is said this people have many idols,
and so they hare but they all worshlpped as
means to an end. and their worship appears to be
narrowed down to that one great ultimate end
riches, and the enjoyment Of riches Every city
aud every street may, erery house OF every street.
as far as have seen has niche on the side toward
the street dedicated 10 the god who brings riches
And impious would that man be esteemed who neg
lected light taper and burn three incense sticks
every evening before tha, all adored idol. Even
do my ears ring with the exclamation Of hor-
ror which burst from my landlord, some iew nights
ago, when, on taking possession Of the premises,
his incense pot was thrown into the street. That
landlord now of his accord, comes almost
every evening TO my study to join IN reading the
Bible, and uniting in prayer TO the true God with
the disciples.
The prominent position which the subject Of sla-
very is occupying IN the minds OF Christians at
home, led me to enquire into its existence in this
great provincial city-Canton. 1t seems that among
the one million of inhabitants which it is said this
city contains there are estimated to be about 100,
600 slaves all of which females; that is TO say
the number of male bondmen is not computed to be
beyond one hundred. The reason of this disparity
of numbers, is the following the male slaves in
China chiefly employed in agricultural pursuits,
and therefore not found in cities whereas the
female slaves chiefly employed in swelling the
harems fthe rich 1t is not legal in China TO have
more than one rife though it is legal to have as
many concnbines one can maintain. The for
mer invariably maintains her superiority over the
other inmates of the inner apartments, not deeming
that her rights and privileges at all invaded by
the number Of the females who look to her hus-
band for support. The number and beauty Of these
slaves are limited only by the ability Of the owner
to support them. | was in house the other day,
the Of which has from IL to II female slaves,
besides his wife. Some OF them are very pretty,
and one Of them cost her owner $4,000 The gen
eral average price of slave, whether male or ie.
male is from 1900 to $500 each When old and
unable TO work, these slaves made either TO act
door-keepers to the houses Of the rich or lire
wornout horses in the streets Of New York. they
are turned out Of doors to beg and die And as
in one case ia the other, The former owners are
not regarded deserving censure or notice for such
Abandonment
The supply Of slaves to meet tn, demand is, gen,
orally speaking from such sources as the following
A debtor, hard pushed by his CREDITOR will some
times sell his wife children, even himself
(having no family) into slavery, to pay his debs.-
Orphan children left destitute are often sold into
slavery, merely to procure their support Parents
or guardians will often sell those under their care
either to get rid of the charge, or TO make little
money. There came very decent woman to my
house not long since, very anxious TO sell me (wha
she said was) her own grandchild e years old) fol
the Of or 3 dollars. Very large numbers o
slaves are those who in infancy, or too young tc
remember, We're kidnapped from their friends Fol
many make II business to procure y0ung children
and maintain them ill adult age, either TO SELL q
make them minister TO the carnal appetites OF thC
people.
Chinese slaves are not to be distinguished in colo
ofthe skin, in dress, any other particular, from
ireemen; except that when young, female slaves
generally have their braid of hair wound with
string some or inches from the head while
free girls have their braid tied close to the head
The former, too, generally have large feet while
the latter except the boat women and the very low
est order of respectable women, have the fee
cramped in infancy.
Female infanticide in China about which hav,
read SO much in American papers or in books oil
China, very rarely if ever occurs in Canton. No
only have never myself, but | hav'
not seen an intelligent Chnaman who tells me iron
his own personal knowledge of Of the kind
Indeed | suppose infanticide at Canton does no
now exist, not because the people are any Deuc
than they formerly were, but simply because il il
not in the nature of Chnaman 10 throw ava
anything which can be turned into money, aud the
all know that child, male or female, will brn
from 10 10 30 dollars, according to its health an
| beauty.
have often thought, in connection with thi
subject, what miserable lives those persons wou
lead, who should come as missionaries to this coun
| ny, resolved that they would neither touch taste
nor handle, anything that was he product of slave
! ry. Not only does very great portion of the te
and silks exported to the United States come lror
the hands Of slaves but in like manner that con
food offered for sale, passes through the hands q
those who are slaves. in the very strongest sens
Of the term. For, be il understood that the Chi
dren to the farthest generations, of slave, like
wise slaves until they are bought, or liberated ifor
their despotic masters.
Acootdn0 IN The last census tbsre in all th