Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-12-09
CHINA The Religion of the Rebels
Correspondence of the n. Y Tribune

Cnlna---Tne hellgl0n OF inc heDelS
Correspondence of the n Trbune]
SHANGHAI, China, Aug %, 1853.
gave you by the last mail description
of what l saw among the patriots, and ar
account of the way reached them. II
that letter left myself new and unex
pected arrival in the midst of d" long haired
"mcn" who crowded about me in
great numbers and with eager curiosity tt
learn where l came from, who was ant
what brought me. To these inquiries
replied that l was from Shanghai, that
was an American, and my name was Tay
lor. With reference to my business there
| requested to be conducted to their high
est officer in that city-Chin- kiang foo
to whom l would make known my object
in visiting them. Being very anxious tc
have me tell them at once, they showed
me the way into well furnished hall and
had tea brought for me, having first desired
me to be seated in one of the many cush.
ioncd chairs ranged along in two rows
facing each other, up and down the middle
of the large apartment. Alternating with
the chairs were what we call here tedpoy,
they are small square or oblong stands
for holding cups of tea and refreshments.
While was sitting here slipping my tea,
and the object of strange interest to these
wild looking men and boys, who had never
before seen foreigner, one who seemed
to be a subordinate officer, came and seat
ing himself by my side, again asked for
what | bad come. Fearing if | should
tell him, that having once satisfied their
own curiosity, they would not take me to
the commandant, resolutely refused to
answer any questions on that subject, till
| was conducted to his presence. Seeing
my determination they furnished me with
guide and an escort of two or three SOL
dicrs, all armed with long spears and
swords. The man who in the first instance
came down the hill for my carpet-bag, still
kept possession of it, and followed on.
Our path lay along on the narrow ridge
l~~~.:s.d iu my last Icrrer, WITHIN the
stockades, which were being taken down
and replaced by a substantial briol, wall,
three or four feet thick, furnished with
parapets and portfolios, through which can
non Of various caliber were poking their
ugly noses. The soldier-artisans were
working like bees on the unfinished por-
lonesome bringing brick, some laying
them and some making mortar. My guides
were frequently asked as We passed along,
who was that stranger, and their invariablc
answer was, Yang shoony dee ; l. e., "For-
eign brother term Of civility and affec-
ton never before applied to foreigners in
China.
We soon came the northeastern gate of
the city. 1t had been completely filed up
with heavy stone masonry, and the only
access was by a narrow flight of stone steps
to the top of the wall. Through narrow
door in the parapet we entered, and here
were again surrounded by multitudes of
astonished spectators, who stared at me
till their eyes seemed ready to leap at ME
from their sockets like so many bullets.
Their curiosity being little, and but
little, abated by the answer of my escort =
for many of them spoke dialects which l
did not understand-we proceeded on thro'
the stone-paved streets, now entirely de-
serted, but which, when | was here year
ago, disguised as a native, were tocming
with a busy, thriving population. The
inhabitants had all fled at the approach of
the patriot forces, leaving their shops and
dwellings, and most of their furniture,
goods, and effects Of various kinds. The
buildings were for the most part left stand
ing, but without doors and shutters-these
all having been taken, as before stated, to
assist in the construction Of stockades on
the hill, and along the river bank fronting
the city. Tables, chairs, trunks, boxes,
bedsteads, cooking utensils, etc, lay strewn
about in the houses or piled up together
in confused masses, with straw, ashes, bits
of paper and rubbish of every conceivable
description. The contrast with the appear
ance of things here year ago was truly
painful, and | could but breathe prayer
that the former inhabitants of this once
populous city might be restored to their
homes again, in the possession Of Christi
anity and its blessings to such an extent
as to far more than compensate for their
present losses and forlorness. As We pass
cd along, saw several very aged men and
women, who we're probably too old and
infirm to flee, and perhaps considering
they had not long to live, at any rate,
thought they might as we'll die then, as
to drag out few more days Of miserable,
homeless existence. But, probably quite
contrary to their expectations, their lives
| - II. ,...od b,,t <bov vvaro fur