New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-24
slavery in China.
Correspondence OF the Journal of Commerce.

Correspondence OF the Journal OF Commerce
CANTON. Jan. lsi6.
OF all the men on the face of the globe, and
have soiourned among several nations in my me-
have never seen any equal 10 Inc Chinese IN Tie
love of money Il is said this people have many
idols and so !hey i1rc but they are a.! worsh;ped
as means to an end and their worship appears to
be narrowed down TO that one great ultimate end
riches and the enjoyment ct riches Every city
and every street nay. crsrv house of every street
az fa-as [ have seen has a niche on the side toward
the street dedicated 10 the god who brings riches
And impious would that man be esteemed. VINO
neglected TO light taper and burn three incense
sticks every evening before that all-adored Idol
Even now do my ears ring with the exclamation OF
horror which burst from my landlord, some lew
nights ago when taking possession OF the premises
his incense pot was thrown into the street IhA iAhu
lord now, Of his accord comes almost every eve
ming 10 ny study join in reading the Bible and unit
ing in prayer To the true God with the disciples
The prominent position which the subject OF slavery
il occupying the minds of Christians nj home led me
tonour into its existence in this great provincis CITY
-Cnnten |, seems that among tbs one million nhnbit'
ants which it said this city contains there are estsa
ted 10 be about 100 900 slaves all OF which are einaes
that 10 saw the number Of male bondmen Is not com
puted 10 be beyond one hundred. The reason 81 this
disparity CT numbers is the following the male slaves
in China chiefly employed in agricultural pursuits
and therefore not found in Cities whereas the Jfndt
slaves chiefly employed IN swelling the hareu' Oh
the rich II hgGi In China 10 have moro than one
wife though it is legal 10 have many concubipes as
one can manaiD The former invariably mdHidtFs her
superiority the other inmates OF the inner apart
nens not decmng that her rights and privileges are at
all invaded by the number Of the females who look TO
her husband for support. The number and beauty oil
these limited only by the ability Of the owner
to support them. | was in house the other Day tue
owner OF which has from IL 10 II slaves besides his
wife Some them very pretty, and enc OF them COST
her owner 81 600 The general average price oil slave
whether male or female, s from $500 10 s5Oo cach-
When old and unable work these slaves are made 10
act either door keepers TO the houses OF the rich or
like horses in the streets OF New iorS they
are turned out OF doors TO beg ana ole Ana ss IN one
case SO in the other the former owners are not regard
ed as deserving or notice for such abandon
snesking from such sources the following: A debt
or hard pushed By his creditor will sometimes seH his
wife or children. even himself (having no fsmllyO
into slavery to pay his debts Orphan children left des
tute are often sold into slavery merely TO procure their
support Parents guardians will often sell those un
der their either get rid OF the charge or To make
a little money There came very decent woman 70 my
house not long since very anxious 10 se ne "hat she
said was her grandchid q years old) tor the sum
of 6 or : dollars Very large numbers OF slaves are
those who in infancy. or too young to remember were
kidnapped from their friends For many make II ousi.
ness 10 procure young children aud maintain them I'LL
adult age either sell or make them minister 10 tee
carual Appetites Of the people.
= Chinese slaves TO be distinguished IN color Of
the SKIN dress in any other particular from Tree
except that when quite young female slaves gen
orally have their braid OF hair wound win string some
or 9 inches from the he,d. while free srs have the
braid tied close TO the head The former general
" have large feet while the latter except ihn boat wo-
and the very lowest order OF Respectable "oiiien
have the feet cramped in infancy
Female infantcide in China, abou! which have read
So much in American papers in books China, very
rarely ever occurs in Canton. Not only have never
seen a case myself but have not seen an intelligent
Chinaman VINO tells me from his oicH personal! know
ledge OF case OF the kind. Indeed, suppose lniansi-
eide a, Canton does not exist not because the peo
Die are any better than tey formerly ~ere-ou' simply
because il is not in the nature of Chinsman to throw
away any thing which can be turned into money, and
they nil know ina: child male female, will bring
from 10 to 80 dollars according 10 s health and beauty
have often thought in connection with this subject
what miserable lives those persons would lead VINO
should come NJ missionaries this country resolved
That they nd neither touch taste nor handle anything
tina, was the product of slavery Not only does very
great portion of the tea and silks exported 10 the United
States come from the hands OF slaves but Ia like man
rer that consumed here well perhaps four ntns OF
the food offered for sale passes through the hands OF
those who are In the strongest sense OF the
term For be- IL understood tina, TIE children 10 the
far,hss generations Of slave. likewise slaves until
they are bought liberated rom their desporc masters
EARTHQUAKE IL THE WEST lSDrEs-by way
Of Havana NO have received sdvces from the town OF
Cuba. On the 23t utino. al u 10 the morning aies
calm sultry night low rumbliGg sounds were heard.
Suddenly the ground ahooE violently causing the
creates, CONSERVATION The people rushed into the
street for safety The hrst shock lasted one or TWO
minutes and after lapse OF nVe minutes the ground
was again violently shaken II Was solemn moment
in every direction the atfien'ec INHABITANTS might be
seen on their knees calling God 10 save them. eN-
pect:nc every moment swallowed up Several
lighter shocks eE durlns the forenoon, but y is
believed 70 lives we're lost. Several buildings
thrown down and very many cracked Ia Tue evening
mass was said in all the churches FOR their telversnce
D71 W-dp a-fav