The Georgetown news., 1855-09-13
Life and Incidents in the Far East.

!
ed in the Sacramento Union:
Java belongs now to the Dutch, which
7 government purchased it from the English.
1t is matter Of history that Lord Castle
reagh was imposed upon by the English
Governor desirOus Of conSumating the bar
gain, and would never have given his sigma
tUre to the transfer, had he been acquaint-
ed with the true facts upon which the nego-
tiations were based. His tragical death, it
is said, was hastened if not caused through
modification and disappointment, resulting
from It's circumstances
To no country has there been a greater
immigration Of Chinese than Java. In Ba-
tavia, there are immense numbers Of them,
and they generally sustain a good character.
At one time the JavaneSe becoming Jealous
of the Chinese, orders were given for their
extirpation, and in the short space of twen-
ty-four hours thereafter, no less than thirty
thousand of them were put to DEATH
Borneo was next adverted upon. On this
island there are also many Chinese, who
have established for themselves a republi-
can form Of government, not unlike, in its
general characteristics, to that of the Unit
ed States
Siam, lying between the Maylayan Pen
insula and China, was represented by the
speaker as being an excessively hot country,
although healthy. The heat is so intense
that one cannot place ones hand upon
board exposed to the sun 5 rays. The speak
er here detailed an incident which occurred
between a British officer and the King of
Siam. The former after eXpatiating on the
wonderful advances in science and the arts
IN his own country of railroads, steam en-
glnes, telegraphs, and various important in
ventiOns and discoveries, was interrupted
by his Siamese Majesty with the query
"IS 1t warm in your country" John Bull
then explained to the King that it was so
cold in England that water at times became
solidified. This astounding declaration so
staggered the Monarch's credulity, that he
informed the EnglShman that, although he
had believed all his previous conversation.
yet the statement last made was so prepos-
ferrous, that now he was convinced he had
uttered none but untruths from the very
commencement Of their interview.
In Siam there are the enormous number
Of four hundred thousand Chinese, who bear
the reputation of industrious and peacable
citizens.
After dwelling further upon scenes and
incidents in this quarter of the Chinese Sea,
the reverend lecturer next alluded to Macao.
which he described as a very beautiful city.
combining oriental with the foreign in it's
appearance. 1t is under Portuguese and
Chinese rule, conformity.
During the conversation at the Govern
Ors, that parsonage stated that it was lis
duty to forbid the speaker from further
prosecution Of his missionary calling in that
city. At last the Governor and speaker
concluded compromise by the terms of
which the latter was permitted to preach at
his own dwelling, but never to engage ac-
lively in his ministerial duties on the public
thOroughfares.
From that time forth the speaker was
unmOlested. In fact, an order, not long af-
terward, came out from Portugal, author
izing the registration of names Of mission
aries.
The Mandarins Of Macao are very igno-
rant and very superStitious. One Of their
number, however, came to the speaker to be
Instructed in the true religion, was convert
ed and afterwards baptized. The lecturer
remarked that he was the first to administer
the rite Of baptism in Macao, the first to
preach in the Chinese language, and under
his supervision the first Chinese chapel was
erected.
The reverend speaker next recounted
very interesting incident connected with the
baptism Of Capt. Rogers, commanding at
that time 1842) of fine ship lying in the
harbor, and now Baptist preacher at Bor-
dentown, IN. J.) The long boat was used
as baptistry, and the ceremony was per-
formed most successfully in the presence of
a large number of spectators.
At HOngkong, the speaker erected two
Chinese ChapelS and baptised a number of
native converts who afterwards became
preachers.
Canton, says the speaker, is city of one
million OF inhabitants, and stretches along
the river for a distance of seven miles,
There are on the stream no fewer than
elghty-four thousand boats, and on an aver
age each is occupied by three persons. A
singular and noticeable feature of this class
OF the population is, that they are not per-
mltted to inter-marry with the inhabitants
who dwell on the land.
Canton differs from many of the Oriental
cities. The houses are mostly of one story,
the streets so narrow that a person in some
Of them may touch the buildings on either
side without changing his position. The
buildings are generally erected of brick.
On ascending the river and approaching
near to the city, the eye of the stranger IS
directed towards very many bundles float
ing down the stream, which turn out to be
bodies of dead infants. Female infanticide
prevails to an alarming extent all over the
country. One woman boasted that she had
with her own hands destroyed no less than