Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1846-02-26

towns hnrd the banks, and everything
denoted the approach 10 city ofsomc
size and importance. IL was a delight
iul summer evening the 23rd Of June,
when ] approached Tint far famed
town. The moon vas up, and with
fair light bryce my little boat was
scuddlng swiftly. IFS mhsts and sails
reflected in thc clear water Of the ca
nal tho boats ihIckcncd as we went n
long, the houses became more crowded
and larger, lanterns were moving IN
great numbers on the bridges and sides
OF the canal, aud in few minutes
more we were safely moored, with
some hundreds Of others, under the
walls of this celebrated city. Having
taken all the precautions IN our, pow
or against another nightly visitor, my
servant, the boalman, and myself, were
soon fast asleep. '''''''-'''''''
With the first dawn Of morning |
was mp, aud dressed with very great
cnre, by my Chinese servant, whom
then despatched to find ont the nursery
garden IN the city, in order 10 procure
the plants | wanted. When he had
Obtained this information he returned
and we proceeded together INTO the CT
", III order to make my selections. !
procured several new and valuable
! plants, although the number and cx-
tent of these gardens was considerable
less than had been led TO believe by
my Chinese friends, at Shanghai.
Dwarf trcSS, are here in great mum
beers, and some of them very curious
and old, two properties To which the
Chinese attach far greater importance
than we do in England.
The city Of Soo-chou. foo, in its'gcn-
cral features, IS much the same rs the
other cities IN the north. but evidently
the seat of luxury and wealth, and has
none OF those signs of dclapldntIon and
decay which one secs in such towns
as Ningpo. A noble canal, having all
the appearance of the river Thames at
Richmond or Twickenham, runs par
aiIcl with the city walls, and acts as n
moat rs we'll as for commercial purpo-
scS. Here, as at tading and Tn-tsong-
tscn. large number Of invalid junks
are moorcd, and doubtless make good
Chinese dwelling houses, particularly
to a people so fond of living on the wa
ter rs the Chinese are. This same
canal is carried through arches into
the city where 1t raniicS in all dircc.
tons, sometimes narrow and dirty, and
ut other places expanding into lakes OF
considerable beauty thus enabling the
: inhabitants 10 convey their nicrehen-
die 10 their houses from the most dis
tant parts of the country. Junks and
boats of all sizes are plying on this
wide and beautiful canal, and the
whole place has II cheerful and flour
iShIng aspect, which one does not Of
ten see IN the other towns III China,
If we except Canton and Shanghai
The walls and rampartS are high, and
IN excellent repair, having consdcrn.
bic resemblance 10 those of Ningpo
. but Of course in much better order
The cast wall, along the side ofwlich
went all the way, is not more than
mile in length, but suspect the
uo"N and south are much LONGER. tliu>
making .l city a. n''cDsram
That part OF the city near the cast
gate, by which | entered IS ANYTHING
but hnc-thc streets are narrow and
dirty, aud the population seems of tho
lowest order, but towards the west the
/ buildings and streets are much finer
the shops are large, and everything de
notes this 10 be the rich and aristocrat.
/ ic part Of the town The city gate,
seem to be well guarded with Chinese
soldiers, and all the streets and lanes
/ inside are inlcrsccicd at intervals with
gates winch are closed al nine or ten
o'clock at night The GWcrnor Gen.
eral oi the province resides here, and
keeps those under his control III excel
lent order.
The ladies here are considered by
the Chinese TO be the most beautiful ~
the country, and, Judging from the
specimen which | had an opportunity
of seeing they certainly deserve then
high character. Their dresses are o
the richest material, made in style a
once graceful and elegant, and the on
" faults could find with them, wer,
their small dcformed feet, and tn,
mode they have Of painting or whiten
ing their faces with n kind Of powe
made for the purpose. But whit seem
cd faults in my eyes, are beauties II
those Of n Chnamnn, aud hence ia,
prevalence OF the custom.
500 -cheu foo seems 10 be the grea
emporium of the central provinces o
China. for which ltIs peculiarly wei
fitted by lis favorable situation. Thu
trade of \inppo. IaupchOu. and Shan