The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-01

IHe NsnSpe 2fnpk-Snacking ,ch Joss-Ch-
sese 1himbk Riggrs-Co ,movant Fishing-De-
soy Daeks-MissiOnayyL abors and their Fruits
ane Tea 1rade-2He City of Pirates-Amoy--
Formosa-Sd'at Peters First Episae TO the Coo
tes, &c, &c.
was Ia the Ningpo temple when you last were
win me, contemplating the artistic workmanship Of
thy stone work opposite the figures of Budha and the
mfie gazed upon the complicated chiselling the
more was astoidshed at the genius Of this singular
people. the paper cash which gave the old priest
made him more attentive, and he was much amused
10 zee me eat several oranges from the little in
the lap OF the No. l joss. That distinguished
individual did not appear fond Of the delicacies
plated before him. and did not see the harm in doing
his iuty-whch, instead of offending highly pleased
the Cninamen with us-and when gave chinchin
to Iudha, and made my bow to Joss No. 9, was
from that time popular man among them.
htAe temple yard were several bands of gam
bels, one OF which was much excited apparently at
some foui play. One batch played game with six
dice, another had cards, while third was doing an
approved Kind OF thimble rig, and still another lot
Of boys were throwing up cash-none Of which
gam's were easy for stranger to learn. Notwith
standing the sacredness of the day-Sunday-I could
not resist the temptation of making few throws Of
the box but whether won or not it was difficult to
tell 4 any rate, gave them some fifty cash, which
greatly raised me in their opinion. From the gam
Cling table we went to the celebrated flower boat, 80
faniastcaIy ornamented and sngularly built, where
several young ladies' frail as they were fair (f not
more so) were enthusiastically discussing the dis.
tinguisded travellers that had come down to visit
their footing habitaton.
Some # them were beautifully dressed in wide
pantalets md coquettishly ornamented robes and
II their hai had not resembled horses tail stretch
ed over brhr bush, aud their faces been unnatu.
rally red withpaint, they would have been quite at
tractve.
! was not half so much pleased with this national
sight as at the unique appearance of the comorant
nshing boats. had read of this strange practice,
but you have to witness it with your own eyes to ap-
preciate anything which is ridiculously absurd.
Large numbes of river fish are taken in this way.
The fisherman when the tide is right, may be seen
near the bridge, his little bamboo raft with the
birds perched u about him like so many sentinels;
but the momentEhe fish appears down goes the cor
morant, and up ctmes the prey, the little ring abont
the neck Of the bill keeping him from swallowing
the fish. The man hen gives them shrimp to en-
courage them on. and down they dive again, never
failing to add to the isheman's prizes in the boat
In this way these poor birds are kept hard at it, by
always having laen appetite which shrimps fail to
satate, till the tide has turned and the boat is we'll
stocked with the tnny game, so fairly earned, but
unkindly deprived of.
These Chinamm have also most original way of
catching ducks. An expert swimmer enters the
water near the dick retreats his head enoased in
pumpkin goun, with holes cut for eyes, nose and
mouth, and in this way floats gradually down to
where the ducks are taking their refreshment
Such floating objects on the water being nothing
unusual, the ducks are perfectly innocent of the
enemy in their midst; and when they ee their CON-
panons one after the other, disappearing below the
water they never for instant mistrust the motive
power that Trims their ranks one dive would show
them well filled sportsman's belt; but the birds are
100 numerous to be missed and hence this strikngly
interesting manner of bringing down the game
taking them by the feet and pulling them under
been inclined to doubt this singular custom of the
Celestials. While coming home from the fishing
ground, saw white mans face, in O small hall
just off the narrow lane we were in; and as every
thing odd attracts you on such occasions at once
Curiosity took me in; and it was we'll for l again
bad opportunity of seeing the Christian mission
ary at his post. Reckoning us to approach, the
services having ceased for the time, we made our
selves known to each other, and | was pleased to
ind q fellow countryman, from Pennsylvania, who
tells me he has been seven years in this dismal
place. and what was very strange, he had not made
single converts and he was sanguine that the seed
was planted and the good time coming. Here, be-
ieve, was good man, daily going over the same mo-
noton0us routine Of talking Scrptura things to these
priest beridden natives who only visit the lecture
room out of wonder, and leave it, no doubt. with pity
that the minister they were listening to had never
been converted to the No. faith Of their own true
joss. Intelligent Cinnamon oftentimes ask, when
leaving missionary preaching at the city gate,
what language he was speaking, thus showing how
little many Of the missionaries succeed in making
themselves understood.
The next morning, early, trudged off over the
hills and burial grounds in the OF the foreigners
residences to the Mount Of Olves-where nature
was gaiiy represented in orange trees and fiche
groves, olive plantations banyans and forests ofspen
did foliage. Returning, we overlooked the immense
city ofhouscs in the submissive saw the pagodas in
the distance towering over the trees-the walled
city, with the teemng population-the thousands Of
booths of every description, on both sides of the
island, but few above the bridge-far and near
something attractive met the eye-tle river could
be traced far up in the mountains-and take away
the strange dwellings of the people, nature does
look unlike the mountain beauties of West Point.
The Min for several hundred miles waters the rice
fields throughout the black tea country. and on its
fertile banks there are twentythree walled Cities
Europeans have been up some $50 miles, but the tea
purchases Of the interior are entirely in the hands
Of that man of all work, the major domo Of the mer
chant, his con,prodoae. Now, these teas have to
be advanced upon before the producer gives them
up, treasure and opium must be sent up in the
c0untry-a risk greater than the merchants &C
kuowledged profits will warrant for to say nothing
ofthe dangerous rapid sending your silver to the bot
tom of the Min, the temptation to the robbers on
it, banks is to, great for it to always pass without
q ransom. Already one or two of the houses have
suffered and / should not be astonshed any time
to hear more accidents Of the kind. Then, again.
the teas, when collected inland may be destroyed
bI fire, thus encountering three undesirable
sks. Ipresume the merchants will say opinions
formed during three days observation are very
crude. Perhaps they may be-. but sometimes we
see more, as a stranger in short time than the
residents of longer period. With establishments at
Canton and Shangbae it would seem foolhardy to
make another start at Foochow; for if the man
darins say the word, when matters get settled, the
teas can all go to Canton again, thus giving them
what they already miss much, the inland ira net.
1t Is well known that this ia the port for black
teas, and black teas only, but no green-they are
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