The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-10-18

N. b. When the Committee on Farms
and Crops report it will be duly published.
From the Desert News.l /
Chinese ia CaIifc rnIa.
Extracts Of a letter from Elder yumes
Lewis to Elder George A. Smith, dated Pa
rowan. Iron county, Utah, June 3, 1854:
IA few reflections upon scenes and ideas
gathered in our lands may not come amiss.
In California there are about seventy-fve
Cinnamon, generally in San Fran
cisco and the mines. They are called the
best cooks, washers, and servants in that
country. They are capable Of performing
and enduring more labor and fatigue than
any other people in that island, and have no
spirit to retaliate for the many insults and
injuries they receive. They, like the Jews,
are distinct people, and work in squads
entirely by themselvesin the mines, and save
every farthing. Their living is brought
from China by their own merchants; and all
their trading IS done among themselves, and
they wear their own peculiar costume; few
adopt the dress of this country. .'
"In San Francisco whole streets are oc-
cupied by them. They have their own ho-
tel keepers, wholesale and retail merchants,
grJcers, and physicians. In fact they do
their own business independent Of Others
After obtaining sufficient to make them in
dependent at home, they usually RETURN
They take little or no notice of strangers,
only when for their interest; are greatly ad-
dicted to gambling, and have gaming estab-
lishments and houses of prostitution pub
licly open day and night like their neigh
bors. Thousands of women are brought
from China to this market, hired by the
more wealthy of their own countrymen, for
ten, and often three, dollars per head for
each year. On any money advanced for
outfit or passage, if not paid the first year, it
doubles the second on principal and inter-
est. Young females offrom fourteen to six
teen, as well as children, are bought in Chi
na at from thirty to fifty dollars each, and
brought to California to swell the already
enormous amount Of crime prostitution, de-
gradation, and corruption.
Thousands Of laborers, are hired in Chi
ma for the wages of that country, Ga few
cents per day,) and their passage paid; and
they work in the mines their term of service,
generally for years,) after which they are
sent home; thus one class preys upon anoth.
er to enrich themselves | was informed
that thousands are thus in bondage, under
their different overseers, sent out for this
purpose.
"In California there are already large and
extensive establishments for the sale of the
fine and costly fabrics, as we'll as many man.
ufactured articles, and paintings of rare
workmanship and of exceeding fine finish,
which find their why into the houses, or are
worn by the wealthy.
81 visited many of their leading men to
ascertain, If possible, the situation Of their
country, and gather books to forward the
work in which was engaged; but found
they were not disposed to give any informa.
ton, and seemed surprised that we were de.
sirous OF knowing anything about them
though few could speak the English SO as
to be understood. They require d high price
for information, and carry their distinctness
to a great length. In their dealing with
others they are very INSCRIPTIONS.
"I found the Chinese in California with {
prejudice Of feeling caused by their ILL.,
treatment from its citizens, which is not con
| fined to miners, but includes their lagsla
tors. They are traduced, vilifed, and abus
ed on every hand; yet they thrive, increase
particularly relating to trade They are
controlled by men Of intelligence, and are
far from being what Christians call them
for their ideas of the Supreme Being thei
Father, their government, the laws and OBJ
legations they are under to each other, will
their code of morals, are in advance Of the
sectarian world, and have their peculiarties
which seem trul strange to US. .r 81
'"'They are rapidly increasing, as man,
of the barriers are being broken dowi
which have so long deprived them OF asso
ciating with other and neighboring nations
Undoubtedly upon their return to their owl
land, they will carry more liberal principles
which, with the extension of the spirit o
liberty and reform pervading almost ever,
land, will shortly, under the directing ham
of the Almighty, who has said by his ser
wants that when the Gospel, the reorganiza
ton Of his kingdom in the last days, shouI
commence, then his work shouldbegin anon,
all nations. This is truly the case witt
that people. 1f 1l.h..
"After completing our arrangements, W
left San Francisco in the bark San Val
Hoome, March 8, and arrived at Hong Kon
after passage of forty-nine days"