The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-10-17
EBENsBURG, THURSDAY, OCTOBER II, 1850.

eve, .'and I'll tell the folks at old Salem"
While he was walking about, seeing into
everything, he was unexpectedly saluted
by shower of stones from a parcel of
children, with their hair sticking up be-
hind like two horns. Jonathan thought
this tarnation ungenieei; but he prudently
suppressed his anger, considering he was
IN strange country, ard was come to try
his fortune.
''May be buttered," guoth Jonathan,
as he approached Canton, and saw the
countless boats moored in streets on The
river, Or fitting about in every direction
"may l be bu,tered, if here isn't a city all
afOat. This beats all mater ~
And sure enough, here was a scene that
might have made one of our Indians won
der. The whole world seemed on the
water. Junks, with two eyes staring at
the bows-canal boats, flower boats, plea
sure boats, and boats of all sizes and des-
cripuons, filled with all sorts of people,
lay moored iii regular streets, or were
moving about, TO and fro, in every direc-
ton, painted in all the coiors of the rain
bow, and ornamented with gold leaf and
grlnning monsters having no prototypes
in nature, or anywhere else but in the
groiesque Imagination of The artists of the
Celestial Empire.
The busy activity Of some of these
boats was singularly contrasted with the
luxurious ease of others. in which might
be seen couple of Chinese dandies re-
clining on mats and resting their heads on
bamboo pillows, with pipes in their mouths
either lIstlessly contemplating the scene
before them, or gazing with lack-lustre eye
on the picture OF some favoriie beauty with
penciled eyebrows, nails like tiger, and
feet almost invisible. Others were per-
forming the ceremony of chin-chin-jos,
which consists in throwing bits of burning
paper into the water, while the din of in
Vulnerable gOngs contributed a species of
music TO the scene that made honest iona
than stop his ears in reverential dismay.
When our adventurer moored his sloop
at Whampoa, in the midst of feet of
vast ships, of almost all the nations of
Europe they did not know what to make
of her. All he could say failed in convin-
cling them that he had come from such
long distance, in such a vessel, navigated
by such a crew Besides, what could
have brought him to Canton? He had
neither money 10 purchase, nor cargo TO
exchange for Chinese commodities except
il might be his river horse, his ourang out
ang, and his monkeys.
Jonathan kept his own secret. He had
heard that the Chinese were as sharp
as the little end of nothing whitfield down
and determined to be as sharp as the best
of them. Accordingly nothing could be
got out of him, except that he had come
on his own bottom, and meant 10 turn q
penny some how or other. He said moth
ing about his ginseng, which he had, as |
had before stated, slowed away in a secret
locker.
The story of the strange man and the
strange vessel that had been navigated
from the new world by a man and a dog,
made great noise, and thousands flocked
to see them. The gentleman who offici-
ated as American consul, without, howev-
er having a regular appointment, behaved
i'll the most kind and friendly manner to
Jonathan, and introduced him TO d hong,
or as our hero called him, ham G. merchant
who undertook to do his business for him
that is, if he had any to do, which seemed
rather doubtful.
Il chin-chin you,'' said Fat-qua, the
hongman.
'.You DONE now, do you!" quo;h Jona-
than. "Well then, chin-chin you, and
so we are even guess
Fat-qua was very anxious to know all
about Jonathan's business; but the Chi
nese we've such plaguy slippery fellows,
he was afraid TO trust them with his Sc
cret. He therefore, very gravely, and
with infinite simplicity, commended to him
his cargo of live stock, begged he would
dispose OF them 10 the best advantage, and
invest the proceeds in cargo OF notions.
Fat-qua did not know whether to laugh or
be angry-however ne concluded by laugh.
ing, and promising to do his best.
The trifle which Jonathan brought with
him had been all expended in maintaining
himself and his dog, and Fat-qua did not
feel inclined TO advance any on the securi-
ty of his live stock This being the case,
jonathan one day brought pound or two
of his ginseng, and asked him carelessly
what it might be likely worth in these
parts!
"Hi yah" exclaimed the hong merchant
IN establishment. mo, have go, some
more of hi yah!''
"Some small matter-not much?' said
Jonathan who was of the opinion if
displayed the whole parcel at once, it
might lower the price and injure specula-
lion.
Fat-qua disposed of the two pounds of