Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1851-03-01
The Chinese i'm sam Fran
cisco.

j he number of Chinese in this city |
IS about two hundred, and they are
among the most respectable portion
OF the community,--industrious, Or
derly, good-natured, and very polite.
lhaye made the acquaintance Of quite
a number of them, and like them ex-
ceedingly.
i had always supposed the Chi
neSe were rather curious Deople,
cllnglng with great tenacity to the
ancient customs of their race; there
fore 1t was matter of no little sur
prise to perceive with what readi-
ness they adapt themselves to the
habits of the 'barbarians' with whom
they are thrown in contact.
In matters of dress they present
curious mixture Of Oak Hall and
the 'Flowery Empire A few days
since | saw one of them on horseback
dressed in short jacket over his sat-
IN robe, and gaiter pants strapped
over his large wooden shoes, to which
were attached a pair of Mexican
spurs as long as the shoes themselves.
He rode without saddle or bride,
and guided the animal he bestrode
by kicking him on either side of the
head.
A distinguished friend of mine, a
mandarin of three tails has become.
I Foo~, ir,vUiuirnapiy ierFeSuai. He
has adopted the Yankee costume
throughout-even cut off his three
iails,-and, but for his high cheek
bones and narrow eyes, you would
scarcely suspect his celestial origin.
They have a custom twice year
OF forming procession, and visiting
the graves of their coutrymen, where
they burn candles, have feast, etc.
| witnessed one of these occasions a
short time since, and unwillingly be-
came a participation in the solemni-
ties, if such they could be called.
On the day appointed, the China
men all assemble in one of the squares
of the city, dressed in their usual
robes of figured blue satin, wide trou-
sers of the same, reaching just below
the knee, bare legs and wooden shoes.
They were ali mounted; end as
scarcel y one of them l..~w how 10
ride, their appearance was sufficient
ly comical, and attracted much at
tention. They proceeded to the
graveyard-a dismal valley surroun-
ded with sand hills--about two miles
from the city, whittier followed
them.
Arrived there the first thing was 10
fire off about fifteen bushels of crack
ers at once, which made most dea-
fening roar.
They then placed two lighted can
dies at the head of each grave, with
bundle of some kind of fragrant ta-
pers; but so careless and inattentive
were they, that saw a thievish Mex
ican busy himself in blowing out the
candles and slipping them quietly iii
to his pocket.
The next proceeding was 10 set
out the feast. My friend the tailless
mandarin. spying me among the spec
tators, invited me TO join them; and,
it is needness to say, most willingly
did so.
The "tunerdl baked meats" upon
this occasion consisted of large hog
roasted whole, all kinds of fowl and
game, fruit in profusion, plenty of
wine and sea, seWed round i'm little
cups. They had also soups, which
were "feariulS and wonderfully"
made, and great variety of dishes
very delicate to the taste, OF the com
position ofwhich / could not form the
renotest conception.
They knelt upon little carpets,
with which they were provided, in
default of which spr.ad my hand
kerchief, and knelt in the midst Of
my celestial entertainers. r.fe
1t was indeed a strange scens--fhe
oldest picnic l had ever yet atten-
ded. Occasionally the thoI, Int would
rise 10 my mind, What are youall
doing at this moment at home i'm the
quiet New England villagel What
is such and such friend in the
States engaged about Just now,
while /, far away in California, here
in this dismal Chinese graveyard,
kneeling in the midst of tais outland-
Ish group, listening to un proEouncea-
ble largon, aud partaking ofindescri-
bable dishes2 4. slg
1t way here that / made my first
essay upon dish of rice, with a pair
of yeritable chop.sticks, aud the tiex.
terity with which l handled them,
DREW forth MANY grins of delight
from the adlniring spectators, a.ot
The company were very merry
and full of frohcS indeed, though the
whole affair, 1 did not discern the |