The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-08-17

> Editorial Correspondence Of the y. Y Tribune
! CANTON, China, Thursday, Sept. s, 1853
.. The steamer in which | left Maco or
Monday last, did not reach here unit
day ybreak, the next morning. Consequent
ly, whatever there may be Of the pictur-
esque or striking in the approach to Can.
ton, was lost to me. As the rapid dawn
of the South frightened into sunrise, |
found that we anchored in the middle of
the stream between the foreign Factories
and the famous temple of Honan. The
Pearl River, at this place, is not more
than quarter of mile wide, and thick
ly studded with junks, flower boats, and
those crowded hulks which contain the
floating population"-an important item
in the census of the city. What little
can be seen of the native part of Canton
from this point is low and mean, unre-
lieved by a single pagoda. The foreign
Factories on the contrary, inclosing a
parallciosram Of three or four acres, which
extends down to the river, are substan-
tial blocks of buildings, four stories in
hight. The open space has been turned
into a Botanical Garden, which is kept
in excellent order, as it affords, the resi-
dents their only chance for agreeable ex-
ercise, except that of boating on the river.
In this garden four lofty flag stats, plant
ed al regular intervals, display the colors
of america, France, England, and Den
mark, and in the centre great Gothic
Chapel stands on the sight of old Hog
Lane, renowned during the troubles of
IS4I The factories are divided into
different "hongs"-English, American,
Danish, &c, but the foreign community
is crowded into narrow bounds, hemmed
in on all sides by the jealousy of the ma
tive authorities, and five minutes walk,
will embrace its utmost limits.
Adjacent to the factories are the streets
occupied by the Chinese "hong gmerchants,"
whose dealings are almost wholly with
foreigners, and the markets and shops of
mechanics, which depend on foreign Gus
tom. The most noted thoroughfares are
Old and New China streets, and Looking
Glass and Spectacle streets, which in their
qutrnt forms and brilliant coloring, their
gay, busting and lively aspect, resemble
the bazaars of Oriental cities. They are
narrow, the houses two stories in hight,
with projecting roofs, the fronts Of dark
blue or green color, with a mixture of
bright red, and still further relieved by
the gilded hieroglyphics which cover the
vertical swinging signs. In Old and
New China streets there are also English
signs which inform you that A-Kow or
Uu-ping deals in silks, or porcelain or
lacquered ware, or ivory, or mother-of-
pearl, or sandal wood, or silver. The
predominant talent of the Chinese is their
faculty of imitation, and since their in
tercourse with foreigners has become less
restricted they have been obliged to a
bandon many of their former grotesque
models and accept others more consonant
with civilized taste. This is shown in
the patterns in silk, the form and style in
their articles of silver and ivory, and their
furniture. The display in their shops is
tempting to a stranger, but purchases are
ruinous at the present crisis, when money
commands fifty per cent. premium here,
and seventy-fve per cent at Shanghai.
Whoever first invented the "pigeon
English" as it is called-tbe jargon used
by foreigners in their intercourse with
an Immortality Of rid
icule. The jargon has now become so
fixed, that it will take several generations
to eradicate it. The Chinaman requires
as much practice to learn it as he would
to learn correct English, while the Eng
lishman in his turn, must pick it up as
he would new language. Fancy, for
instance, a man going into one of the sill
yer ware shops in New China streets, and
saying "My wantye two peice snuff box:
can sccure!' when his meaning is simply
Il want two snuff boxes; can you get
them!' To which A-Wing grayely an
swers: can secure" Or, another declar-
ing; "My no savey that pigeon"-which
signifies in English; Il don't under
stand that business" If you make in-
quirics at hotel you must ask: "what
man have got top-side?" (who are up
SIdilN. anu the NLiiECSN C(A ' dilio VIII
make answer: "Two peice captain, enc
peice joss-man have got. (There are
two captains and clergyman.} 1t was
sometime before | could bring myself to
make use of this absurd and barbarous
lingo, and it is even yet very unpleasant
to hear ii spoken by lady.
As far as sight seeing is concerned,
Canton has very little to offer the travel
er, and ] am so thoroughly surfeited with
China that / have made no effort to see
more than the most prominent Objects
Mr. Wells, Williams and Rev. Mr.. Bonney
we're kind enough to accompany me yes
terday through the temple of Honan, on
the opposite side of the river. This is a
place of great sanctity, embracing within
its bounds a well-endowed college of
Boodhist priests. There are number of
temples, or rather shrines of the gods,
standing within enclosed courts, which
are shaded by large and venerable trees:
We first passed through portal, placed
in adVauce like tho pvlon of an E,TYD-