The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-05-20
CHINA AND THE CHINESE.

Our foreign files contain much interesting
information in relation to China and the Chi
nese. The town of Canton Is said 10 be nine
miles IN circumference. 1t is the residence
of yicsroy, and is divided by walls, into
the Chinese and Tarler towns. The popula-
tiou is reckoned at 400 900; it is calculated
that 1000 persons live in the boats, aud
about 5000 in The immediate vicinity
Each trade or calling has its especial street,
so that in one there IS nothing but crockery
and glass; in another, silks, &c. Between
the bouses small temples arc often seen, but
they do moi differ from the surrounding build
ings. The gods, too, occupy the ground floor,
the upper stores being inhabited by simple
mortals. A traveller who sometime since Wis.
tied Canton, gives this sketch:
The hustle in the streets was astonishing,
especially 10 those set apart for the sale OF
provisions. Women and girls of the lower
glasses went about with their purchasers, just
ks ln .EuS FPS. They wSfe all unysiled, apld
Some of ihem waddled like geese, in conss-
quence of their crippled feet, which, as be.
fore observed, extends 10 all ranks. The
crowd was considerably increased by the
number Of poflers, with large baskets of pro-
visions on their shoulders, running along, and
praising in loud voice their stock in trade,
and warning the people TO make way fol
them. AT other times the whole breadth oil
the street will be taken up, and the busy
stream of human beings completely stopped
By the litter of some rich or noble parsonage
proceeding TO his place of business. Bul
worse tnsR all were the numerous porters we
met at every slep we look, carrying large
baskets of unsavory matter
After threading our way for at least two
miles through a succession Of narrow streets
we al length emerged into the open space
where we obtained full view of the city
walls, and from the summit Of small hill
which was situated near them, tolerably
extensive one over The town itself. The city
walls are about 60 feet high, and for mos
part, so overgrown with grass, creeping
plants, and underwood, that they resemble
magnlfceu, mass OF living vegeiaiio n. The
town resembles chaos of small house, with
new and then solitary tree, but We saw
neither fine streets nor squares, nor any re-
markable buildings, temples, or pasodas-
A single pagoda; 6vo stories high, reminded
Us of the peculiar character Of Chinese arch
itecture. as f- ...r...,.t
The Chinese have many peculiari;iss
They begin their wiring at the right hand oi
the page. The men wear loose dress, and
carry a fan. The erandfathers often walk on
stills, and amuse themselves by lying paper
kites, while the boy s look gravely on. The
following frous- the writer already quoted,
will be read with interest
When we had nearly reached the end Of
our excursion, we met funeral. A horrible
kind of MUSIC gave Us warning that some
thing extraordinary was approaching, and we
had hardly time to look up and step on one
side, before the procession came flying past
US at full sped. First came the worthy mus
lc,ans, followed by afew Chinese, next TWO
empty liitsrs carried by porters, and then the
hollow truuk Of Tree, representing the oof-
fin, hanging TO long pole, and carried in .
similar manner; last of all were some priests
and q crowd Of people. <,<o-I g eer
A few days later visited tea faciory,-
The proprietor conducted me himself over
the workshops, which consisted Of large
halls, in which six hundred people, includ-
ing great many old women and children,
were at work. My entrance occasionsd .
perfect revolt; old and young rose from
work, the elder potion hitting up The younger
members Of the community 10 their armsand
pointing a.,me with thsir fingers. The whole
mass then pressed close upon me and raised
30 horrible cry lhatI began 10 be alarm
ed. Tho proprietor end his ovsrsser had q
difficult task to keep off the crowd, aud
begged me TO content myself with hssiy
glance at the different objects. and then quit
the building az soon n posabls.oi4l 81
In consequence of this, Icould only man.
sge 10 observe that the lesvesof the plant are