Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-08-04
Rs.Iaenee In China.


An Englishman named Powers has
written a book with the above title,
from which the following extracts are
taken:
TETUAN cAID ''RAIsINa THE WIND"
"He was by no means scrupulous in
his mode of acquiring wealth, and reg
ularly squeezed every individual under
his government. One ingenious plan of
extorting loan from an unwilling capi-
talist, was to tie his hands together, and
introduce a couple of wild cats into the
wide seat of his inexpressibles. This
was a way of bringing them to the
scratch, which never failed, and by de-
grees this excellent ruler grew to be
enormously rich. The emperor, think
ing at last that his sponge must be full,
sent f.r him to Fez, to have grand
squeeze.
"The wretched old victim was thrown
into prison and soundly bastinadoed,
process which relieved him of some of
his too plethoric wealth. Strips of cot
ton, dipped in turpentine, were tied
round his fingers and toes, and lighted,
which produced a grand haul. The
wild cats continued for half an hour to
produce revelations of fresh boards. A
knight templar or a Norman king could
scarcely have been more ingenious in
their financial experiments on misera-
BILE Jew. Renewed tortures produced
further discoveries of treasure, till the
old mans last doubloon and last breath
were yielded up together" ;"
Mr.. Powers estimate of the Chinese
is by no means fattering: a cowardly,
sensual, foolish set of barbarians, for
whom no interest but that of curiosity
can be excited:
THE VALUE OF AN OLD MAN IN CHINA.
"The reasonableness and placability
of the natives were, on one occasion,
evinced in rather a remarkable manner
at Chusan, while l was there. An En-
glishman had come across some wild
ducks in the canal inside the city, at
which he fired with ball, all his shot
having been previously expended. The
bullet missed the birds, and, glancing
from the water, killed an old Chinaman,
who was sitting at his own door, enjoy
ing his pipe.
"lhe unfortunate sportsman, horri-
fed at the result of his silly thought
lessness, hurried away to take counsel
with his friends, who recommended him
to try to settle the matter with the rela-
tives of the deceased, to prevent their
complaint from being laid formally be-
fore the authorities, who would be OBJ
liged to award heavy punishment for
such reckless carelessness. With this
view one of his friends was dispatched
to visit the family, to condole with them
for their loss, and to explain how thor
oughly it was the result of accident
He deplored the unhappy circumstance
which had deprived the family of so val
liable and so respectable member, and
pointed out the cheering fact that he was
very old, and, in the natural course Of
things, could not have been expected to
live much longer, and that pecuniary
recompense should be made to console
the family for the few months society
they might have anticipated enjoying
with him. They admitted that he was
old, very old, and as he could not have
lived long, they mentioned a hundred
dollars, as a sum likely to have good
effect in assuaging the bitterness of theil
aff1iction. The ambassador, delighted
at hearing demand so much more rea-
sonable than he had anticipated, but con
cealing his satisfaction, pointed out thai
the deceased was so old that he could
hardly have estimated his short rem
nant of existence at such a large sum
that he had died very quiet and easy
death, and that very likely he was wan
ted in the other world, so that the un
lucky bullet might be esteemed mes
senger despatched by the gods. HI
thought, therefore, that fifty dollars, tt
make feast and burn plenty of joss
stick and paper money, would be suffi
GENTLY satisfactory to the spirit of theil
departed ancestor. The matter was fl
nally settled to the satisfaction of all par
ties by the payment of seventy-fve dol
, lars; and l question whether one nigh
not have shot two-thirds of the old boy
of Ting-he at the same reasonable rate
Notwithstanding the veneration in whicl
age is held"
A WARRIOR IN DEFEAT.
GA curious instance of the utter inca
pacity of the Chinese to cope with Eu
ropeans occurred at Chapor, where tn
principal mandarin fed at the very frs
shot, and never stopped till he reaches
home, an example followed by the Who'll
of the troops with the greatest alacrity
t When he reached home it may be sup
S posed that the gallant mandarin packe'
a up his plate and jewels, and betook him
4 self with his family IN the safest spOt II