The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-03-04
Chinese Implements of War.

A gentleman writing from China, under re-
cent date, gives the following description of the
Chinese implements of war, which may not
prove entirely uninteresting at this time when
there is strong probability of our having a
protracted war with the people, ourselves
War being the order of the day in China, a
sketch of their implements l presume will be
acceptable.
THE REGULAR CANNoN.-Of these, they have
some very large as well as smaller. These are
placed on frames, capable of elevation or de-
preston, and fired with match. They appear
nearest like our war instruments of any thing l
have seen them use of their own make.
SECOND RATE CANNoN.-These, called by for
egners jngalls," are carried each one by two
men. and eight or ten feet long, with ball
from one ounce to one pound weight, and fired
with match by one of the carriers off the 9th
er's shoulders.
SMALL. ARMS OR GUNs.--These are rather of
the musket kind, smooth bored, and discharged
with match-lock as the others. No flre-locks,
caps, or such modern improvements here.
These are very crude in appearance, loaded
with ramrod, the powder dropped in and ball
on top of it, and of course discharged with little
precision.
Bows AND ARRows-These, the most prm-
tive instruments of warfare thousands of years
ago, are still used here as one of the principal
part of their armory in hostile combat. The
bows are made of bamboo spliced with horn, the
strings of sinews and the arrows of light wood
feathered and steeled.
SHORT GUNS WITH LONG BARREIs.-The short
gun is loaded in the hand, let into the long bar
rel. which being on q pivot directs the course,
and is fred with match. We have nothing like
this.
SPEARS AND SwoRDs.-Spears with one, two
or three prongs, placed on long poles or bam-
| lxvf de fo,.
closer combats, some with two edges, some in
pairs. A sword in each hand they much ad-
mire and desire. t...
BAMBOO GuNs.-We have nothing like these
even in child play. They are simply thick
strong bamboo bound with rattan loaded with
powder and some kind of combustible, with
touchhole at the lower end. They are about
three feet long and only capable of one dis
charge and then, presume of little execution.
STINK PoT AND FIRE BALLs.-These are gene
rally used in boarding vessel This species OF
warfare presume. is carried on the polecat
principle adding fire balls to a strong smell
thereby sc0rching the feet as well as the nose
and causing the opponent to make himself
scarce
THEIR DEFENCE They have a bamboo hat to
ward off the sword and spear, aud bamboo
shield for their arm and body, from two to
three feet in diameter.
rRATAGEM.-They are much more inclined to
stratagem than to open fair field fighting. They
often endeavor to fire a feet by floating down a
fre-raft among them. By flourisEing their flags
they endeavor to intimidate. But their great
stratagem consists in catching the chaps at un-
awares, condemning them with little or no trial
tying their hands behind them, and cutting
off their heads with broad, heavy knife, made
for the purpose. The mandarins are best pleas
ed with this kind of warfare, provided they be
/ Al I Of
But upon the whole, Chinese army and bat
tie, taking their appearance equippage, man9u-
vring, fighting and running, altogether, compar-
ed with modern warriors and warfare among
American and European nations, are superla-
lively ridiculous. And in these respects hav-
ing great room for Improvement, much may be
expected in the new government anticipated.