Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-07-08

tongues, and indulging in the cheap luxury
of slang and abuse of the most complicated
nature. What a babel of sounds what
confusion Here is long street of flower
boats, moored broadside to the current
What fine mass they form, so compact,
uniform and secure. Good humor and mirth
seem to reign everywhere, and their inhabi-
tants seem never tired of sitting on their
hams, smoking and screaming, and enjoying
themselves in the most enviable manner,
with, and at the expense of the ever varying
throng.
There are number of naked children on
the platforms, of all sizes and ages, nclu-
ding little ones that can just tottle about
There's wee one, and sitting on the very
edge of the platform, but there is no danger
they are born and brought up in these
boats, and there, for aught / know, they die.
One frequently sees children scarcely able
to turn about, standing up with their moth
ers at the oar, getting their hands in, and
making believe to row. To see them, at
the age of five or six, tugging manfully at
their little oars, is quite common. Should
they chance to fall into the water, there is
not much danger, for they each have gourd
slung around them, which would support
them till they could be saved, which would
not be long in SO crowded place. Their
parents seem to be very fond of them, and
are continually holding them up to look at
the Fdn-quies as they pass, not unfrequently
prompted to such movements in the hope
of receiving the coveted cumSha.
The crime of infantcde with which the
Chinese are charged, is, believe, calum-
ny. | have seen many corpses floating a
bout in the rivers during my residence here /;
but never those of infants. Nor should
have been surprised if had, for where
there is such population on the waters a.
bout Canton, which is estimated by some
to be two hundred and fifty thousand 1T
would not be strange if some few of the ma
ny children should meet death by drowning.
Then, again, if | am not mistaken, it is not
unfrequent for persons who are too poor to
bury their dead, to cast them upon the wat
er, so there is no proof that infants which
have been seen floating about, came to their
end intentionally. l think that so unfavor-
able conclusion must have been jumped
at, without reason, by some quick-witted
traveller, who thought himself safe in making
positive assertions upon a subject, of which
nothing decisive could be learned.
Here comes log boat, with single in
mate, who is dressed like Joseph, in a coat
of many colors, and who propels his solita-
ry and isolated home, with a small paddle.
Mark those tangled masses of dark hair as
they lift in wild disorder to the passing
breeze, they discover brow and face, whose
chalky whiteness forms strange contrast
to the sun-browned features of his country
men. His fantastic head-gear, his long beard
streaming down over his breast, and his fine
ly outlined form are in admirable pictur-
esqueness and keeping. He is perfect pic
ture, and sight of him would send thrill
of pleasure to the heart of painter :--im-
pressive and noble, though clothed in rags
and misery.
But, away, " Room-for-the-leper, for he
is one of that unfortunate class, upon whom
pitiless mankind hath set its mark There
seems to me the melancholy of despair in
his glance, and he looks like one, as Willis
says, "whose heart is with an iron nerve
put down." He drags out his existence in
solitude, and is doomed to living death,
for that boat is his home, and will be his
coffin. They subsist upon charity, which
seems to be given them willingly. Many Of
these unfortunate outcasts are seen upon the
rivers. One charitable person gives them a
| little food another a few cash. and so they
spend their days-in the midst of their fell
low creatures who avoid all contact with
them; and in the midst of hustle and en-
ctement, from which they are denied all
participation.
see several flower boats in advance Of
us, which are dropping down with the tide
we will go near them, so that if there are
any women there, we may catch glance Of
them. Look in at the window as we pass
There is party on board, and men, womer
and children are moving about with consd
cradle hustle, while ever and anon the SHARP
impatient squeaking of fiddle is heard, &C
companed by few snatches of songs, pre-
paratory symptoms of coming enjoyment
Tables and seats, upon which are vases o
flowers, are ranged about the cabins over
head, and hung from the ceiling are foreign
lamps, interspered with Chinese lanterns
while foreign clock adorns side table
In the after-cabin of this immense craft, are
several of the frail daughters of Eve, ano
votaries of pleasure. Some of them are
exceedingly pretty
| came up the river the other day In q
sail-boat, and as we came along side one o
these boats we let down part of the sail, as
if accidentally, and so we were obliged to
hold on to the craft until we could make
sail, to prevent being carried down stream
by the current; we got very good view
not only of the boat, but also of its inmates
Some of the women were painted very light
", and had their hair dressed with white
flowers, and all seemed to be clothed in their
gala dresses. They generally possessed
straight noses, fine arched brows, and con-
siderable regularity of features, while one
or two of them were so attractive that they
would be called beautiful anywhere. AS far
as l am able to Judge, our standard OF beau
ty and that of the Chinese here seem to be
pretty much the same. A China woman
that we would call handsome, is handsome
to them and a Chinaman said to me, of q
beautiful lady who once lived here, "my
truly thank-ee Cinema no have got so hand,
some"
do not know that small foot is consid
cred as a beauty, though it is generally sup
posed to be. 1t is, however, an honor ano
is generally desired. 1t is the ambition o
every family to have one of its members witt
small feet why it is SO, know not, unless
it be to make it appear that they are capable
of suDportinp one who is in a great measur,