The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-11
MIERks,lsG Fasn INDIA AND CHINA.



DiItmms- Maceo-Hs Eormsr Magnlfcence and
Present Desoiats Aspect Ca,,oens-Coolis
Store Hcxses-Chinsse Sense Of Commercial
Hoaos-Ine Bogae Forts Canton The Foreign
Ceaa4yy-1rads at Hong Kong. &C., &c.
We duly arrived a. Hong Kong in two and half
days from Yoo-chow, in time to see the Siamese tri-
butte chip, call upen several of the merchants,
write chapter on Hong Kong-which mailed by
the Madras and take our passage ia the Spark for
this port. We started, but it was only start
the miserable little screw boat reminded me OF the
time that I made myself martyr to humanity and
The underwriters, when taking off the shipwrecked
Grew of the Boston clipper Whistler, Kings Island
last JuHe-ior che was bad enough in smooth
weather, and being out of order was bound over
to repair her rotten machinery. We had not been
out an hour and q half before it began to blow q
small typhoon, and the motion Of our boat was
neither horizontal nor perpendicular, bnt when the
two were given to find the base and hypotenuse-i
may use proolcmatieal comparison-it soon be-
came evident that we must anchor, and at twelve
O'Clock, midnight, we made fast under the shade OF
3he piratical island OF Lantoa. Here was predi
cament-a Ice shore, pirate village, an approach.
ing typhoon and boat leaking-I don't know no y
many hundred strokes the hour. At this unsatsfac-
tory point the steward atone door informed us that
our grub locker empty, gust as the engineer en-
tered at the other to cay that the coal was nearly
out; while the captain discovered that we had
host cur tiller. Pleasant, wasn't il?
Our position was by no means safe-for the wind
was blowing wild cats and the anchorage none too
good-shortly after two o'clock i. was calmer, which
justified the captain in making another start, kut
only to return again in two hours time, the pumps
all the time going at full speed and the steamer in
the greatest possible danger One Of our party, not
one of the reformed, asked for glass of water
there was none; are there any blankets? for the
cabin was very cold Move must make the most
of the night as we best could AT last got to sleep
and there came such succession Of strange unac
eoantable noises ! positively think the Internal
boat was haunted, for no one could find from
whence they came. Could any one have told me
whether the boat would 60 up or down, it would
have been satisfactory, but the glorious uncer
tainty was particularly unpleasant. In the morning
two suspicious looking jnnks anchored just off the
island-shortly another and before noon two more,
all apparently waiting for the boat to go ashore
for the news Of a disabled craft goes like prairie
fire over the robber haunts. In the afternoon the
weather moderated, and by the blessing Of Prov
dence we managed to get the crippled boat back to
Hong Kong. This is the well known boat that has
made during the past year or two, lac OF dollars
for the owner, whose bon hOmme, hailfelow style OF
doing things has made him many friends. But now,
"a the steamer has done so well, think the "spark
should be extinguished.
The next morning, with calm sea, we were more
successful, and at three o'clock P. M. reached onr
landing place on the Praya Grande, the celebrated
promenade to the quaint old settlement Of the early
Portuguese kiDgs-Macao.
Once the most important maritime port in East
ern Asia-one hundred and fifty to two hundred
years ago. the richest settlement in this part Of the
world, even during the English war-Macao was the
chief port Of trade for the merchants of all nations.
It's present population will not exceed 10000, about
sixth Of which only are Portuguese the others are
half castles and natives Of China. At present Their
are few English and other officials in the town
DR.. Parker among the rest-but, save these few
the place to re was more cherries than an Egyp
tian desert. In company with our party wandered
about this ancient relic Of gaiety and splendor
now a disj ointed collection Of deserted palaces
haggard boat women, whose beauty disappeared
with their youth-ugly danes, Of Portuguese descent
their faces hid in that most unbecoming garment
(not mantilla, but / forget its proper name,)
. calico handkerchief pinned under the chin, giving
them a monkish sulkiness. None had any preten-
siors to beauty. Long, narrow alleys, dark and
gloomy; decayiDg cathedrals and public buildings
dropping away but one old church, the front of
which only was standing, was very beautiful-a
noble relic of the architecture Of earlier days. Forts
with bristling cannon on every side, that one war
steamer could blow in the air walks, parades, gar
dens, all defaced under ttD corrodng hand of time
/ saw all these and more, that told Of what had
been, but not what is. The exiled poets last home
was my next resort-the banished scholar, who
made himself immortal in his banishment-for who
can read that beautiful composition, the "Luciad,"
without being reminded Of the romantic history OF
Camoens
To me the old palace garden covering SO many
acres of still blooming flowers and foliage with
paths winding through quaint arbors and huge stone
cayes-more solid than the artificial grons Of Bolton
Abbey, at Chatsworth-was the most interesting
part of my tour. was never tired Of roaming over
the grounds, but did not remain soliloquizing long
over the iron-walled monument of the poet, who
lived and died before Shakspere's time. did not ex
pect to find such old magnfcence; but ruins of ages
past do not at such distance from Christian lands, in
crease my love decay From the top Of one Of the
mammoth stone arbors we have fine view Of the
old town, the inner and the outer harbor-the former
stocked with junks and lorchas belonging to the
place; the yearly incom of the latter, in freights
alone, is said to be $4,000. We saw the islands
round about-our steamer coaling from the quay
and were glad to witness scenery romantic as it
was novel. Looking down upon the Chinese part Of
the town, saw q lar, castclated building, the
courtyard of which was crowded with human
beings, dressed in white. My curiosity was excited.
Was it hospital9 No. A lunatic asylum? No.
What could it be-a Jail, charity school, or what?
No one could tell. We searched and searched, but
could not make the people understand our wants. first
on one side then the other, and finally got boat,
and rowed round to the portcus, but even there
there was 10 admttance, Inquiry only made US
more curious but not more successful till at last
friend in need relieved of suspense, and told US
that of course no one was permitted to enter-t
was private institution-being nothing. more than
the place where prncey merchant here slows
kl,nvv0 aunl,k sS &l,o