The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-16

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had lain its lazy length along the shores Of Chin
land sucked in whole fowery harvests of tea. The
equatorial sun flashed through the strong wicker
prisons, bursting with banapas and Dectarean fruits
that eschew the temperate zone. Steams Of cam
kpbor of sandal wood, from the hold. Sailors
chanting cabalistic strains, that had 70 my ear
shiill and monotonous pathos, Ike the uniform
rising and falling OF an autumn wind, tnrned
cranks that lifted the bales, and boxes, and crates
and swung them ashore. Bat to my mind the spell
o. their singing raised the grant freight and not
the crank. Madagascar and Ceylon appeared at the
mystic bidding Of the song. The placid sun
shine Of the docks was perfumed with India. The
universal calm Of southern seas poured from the
bosom Of the ship, over the quiet half decaying old
northern port. Long after the confusion Of unload
ing was over and the ship lay a. II all voyages we
ended, dared to creep timorously along the ed. .
Of the dock and at great risk OF falling in the blaas
water Of Its huge shadow placed my aand upon the
hot hulk, and 80 established mystic and exquisite
connection with Pacific islands, with palm groves
ard all the passionate beauties they embower, with
Of Chinese es toSchod %sis ths Csps 81
Good Hope, and the Happy Islsnds. would not
believe that the heat felt was Of our northern sun
TO my finer sympathy II burned with equatorial
ferv0Ts.
The freight was piled in the old stores. believe
that many Of them remain, bat they have lost their
character. When l knew them not only was
younger, but partial decay had overtaken the
town; at least the bulk Of its India trade
uou hUitSFu W fNtW IOTk uuu DOsbOus ~
the appliances remained. There was no throng II
busy trafcksrs but after school, In the afternoon
stroHed by and gazed into the solemn interiors.
Silence reigned wfthin-silcncc, dimness and piles
Of foreign treasure. Vast coils of cable like tame
boa constrictors served seass for men with large
ssomachs, and heavy watch seals, and nankeen
trouse, who eat looking ont Of the door toward the
shpe with ttle other sign OF life than an occasional
v3Aning ~ II in their slcep Huge hogsheads per
spffDg brown sugar and coming slow molasses a. IL
nothing tropical could be kept within bounds, but
must continually expand, and exude, and overflow,
stood against the walls and had an architectural
Significance for they darkly reminded me Of Egyp-
taD prints, and in the duskiness Of the low vamted
store seemed cyclopean columns incomplete.
Strange festo0ns and heaps Of bags square piles of
square boxes cased In mats, bales Of airy summer
stn6s, which, even in winter, scofcd 1t cold, and
sbamed IL by andscious assumption Of eternal sun,
little specimen boxes Of precious dyes, that even
now shine through my memory, like whole Venetian
schools unpainted-thcse wce all there In rich con-
fusion. The stores had . twilight Of dimness, the
air was spicy with scores Of mingled odoss. liked
10 look suddenly In from the glnrc Of sunlight out
sldc, and then The cool sweet dimne@ was like the
palpabe breath Of the FAR on sland groves end II
only some parrot or macaw, hung within, would
naunt with elistenipg plumsge in his cage, and a.
the gay hue flashed in a chance sunbeam, call in
hs hard, shrill voice, a. IL thrustpg sharp sounds
upop rIisserire wire frrm nrtfhat grateful gio,m,
thea shs enchaDtnent WA completes. and without
uSyirS, was cTcamnsyigatirg the Clobe.