The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-16

Toe than the roof, and who seldom tread ex.
cept on the deck or boards Of their sampans
show to wha, an exten, the land iscrowd'
ed. and how inadequate it is 10 maintain
the cumbesers Of the soil. In the city OF
Canton alone Il Is estimated tina, 800 QUO
dwell upon the surface OF the river the
boats, sometimes twenty or thirty deer,cov-
~ some miles, and have their wants sup |
Piled by ambulatory statesmen, who wend
their way through every accessible pas
sage.
The immense variety Of boats which are
found in Chinese waters has never been
accurately described. Some are OF enoT-
nous size, and are used as magazines Tor
salt or rice others have all domestic accom-.
rnodaiions, and are employed for the trans
Ter Of whole families, with all their domestic
aiiendin, accommodations. from one place
10 another; some. called cenlipedes, from
their being supposed to have 100 rowers,
convey with extraordinary rapidiiy the more
valuable cargoes from the inner warehouses
to the foreign shipping in the Ports-all
these. fom the large and cumbrous junks,
which remind one Of Noah's ark, and which
represent the rude and coarse constructions
Of The remotest ags, to the fragile plank
upon which a solitary lepcr hangs uPor the
outskirts Of society - boats Of every form
and applied to every purpose exhibit an
incalculable amount Of population, which
may be called GmPhibiOus, il not aqualic.-
MOI only are land and wafer crowded with
Chinese. bu, many dwell on artificial is
lands which aoat upon the lakes, islands
with gardens and houses raised upon the
ralters which the Occupiers have bound to-
gether, and on which they cultivate what is
needlul for the supply Of lilc's daily wants.
They have their poultry and their vegeta-
bles for use - their flowers and their scrolls
or ornament - their household gods for
protection and worship. In all parts oil Chi
va to which we have access, we find that
not only is every foot Of ground cultivated
that is capable Of producing any thing, but
that, from The value Of land and the surplus
Of labor, cultivation it rather that Of GARDEN
ers than hustandmtn The sides Of hills,
in their natural declivity o0en unavailable,
re by succession Of artificial terraces,
turned 10 profitable account. Every little
biz OF soil, though il be but few Iect in
length and breadth is turned TO account:
and not only is the surface Of the land thus
cared for, but every device is employed for
the gathering together Of every article that
serves for manure. The art Of draining and
irisating, Of preserving, preparing and APP
plying manure in great variety oi shapes
-oi icrtilizing seeds - indeed all the do.
tails Of Chinese agriculture, are well deserv-
ing Of note, and all display evidence OF the
inadequate proportion which The produce Of
the soil bears tn the demands for the con-
sumption Of the people.
The Chinese, again have no prejudces
whatever, as regards food; they eat any
thing and everything from which they can
derive nutrition. Dogs, especially puppies,
ue habilually sold for food. Even to rats
and mice the Chiresc have no objection.
neither to the flesh OF monkeys aud snakes
the sea slug is an aTis,Oc'atical aud costly
delicacy which Is never waning, any more
Than Ito edible birds's nests, q, feast
where honor is intended to re done TO tho
guests. Unmatched ducks and chickens are
a fdvorI's dish; nor do The early stages create
any disgust; rotten eggs are by no means
condemned 10 Perdition fish is the more
acceptable when it has strong fragrance
and favor to give more gu,to to The rice.
As the food the Chinese eat is for the
most part hard, coarse, and of little cost, so
their beverages are singularly economical
Drunkenness is rare vice in China. and
iermented spirits or strong drinks are seldom
used. Tea may be said 10 b. the national,
aud universal beverage and though that
employed by The multitude does no, cos,
more than from Sd, 10 Gil, per h., an inlu-
sion Of less costly leaves is commonly em-
ployed, especially in localities remote from
the tea districts. Both in eating and drink
ing. the Chinese are temperate, and are
satisfied with two daily meals the morn
ing rice nj about 10 A. NJ, and the 'even-
ing rice at p. NJ. The only repuSnance
have observed ia China Is to the use OF
miik-an extraordinary prejudice, especially
considering the Tartar Influences which
have been long dominantin the land, but /
never saw or heard Of butter, cream. milk,
OF whey introduced at any native Chinese
table.
While so many elements Of vitality are in
a state Of activity for the reproduction and
sustenance Of the human race, there Is
probably no part Of The world in which the
harvosls Of mortality are more sweeping and
destructive than in China, producing voids
which require no ordinary appliances to GIL
up. Mullitudes perish absolutely from
want OF the means ofe ,istcGce-inundations
destroy town and village. aud all their in.
habitan,s; il would moi be easy to calculate
he loss Of life by typhoons or hurricanes
which visi, The coast OF China, in which
hoais and junk> are sometimes sacrificed by
hundreds and by thousands. The late civ
il wars in China, must have led 10 the loss
Of millions OF lives. The sacrifice ofhuman
beings by executions alone is frich,rul. Al
he momen, in which write, it Is believed
tina, from 400 to 500 victims fall daily BY
he hands Of the headsman in the province
nf Kwanctung alone. Reverence Tor lie
there is none. as life exists in superauOus
abundance. A dead body i an obiec, Of 50