The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-06-20
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The surplus population Of China, instead
OF making an exodus from their native land
as Europeans are wont to do, take to the
water, and spend their lives ON boats. The
number Of those who are thus born and
reared on rivers and canals and in the har-
bors OF China. is very great indeed. Boats
moOred together, and used for every assign
able purpose, good and bad, may be ,measur-
ed by the acre. Some are the residences of
families: some the workshops of mechanists;
some are dedicated to amusement, and some
to vice. The boat population are provided
with all the necessaries of life by hawkers
and pedlars, who are constantly perambula-
ting the fleets. So the craft employed in
river and canal navigation frequently serve
as the houses Of families. The members Of
the family are born on them, marry on them
and die on them in old age, without ever
having known any other habitation. An in
finite number of trades is carried on in these
hoatlng workshops, and in ascending or de-
scendmg rivers and canals it is no unusual
thing to meet the blacksmiths forge and the
carpenters yard amid fotilla Of fishermen
and fowiers. The amount of river craft en-
ployed by the government alone in the COL
lection OF taxes III kind, is sufficient to afford
much employm ment. Ten thousand barges
ply up and down the imperial canal and it's
lateral branches, receiving and depositine in
the public granaries the rice and grain due
70 the exchequer. The salt trade, = govern
ment monopoly, requires nearly as many;
q nm hor 10 alc :cl sv>~
as well as the lighter, or more luxurious ar
tlces OF commerce which pay tithes-cotton,
silks &C., raw and manufactured. n. .f
To her rivers, indeed China is chiefly in
debted for her vast population and general
fertility. The employment and resources
afforded by them to the water population,
are among the causes Of the general indis-
position Of the Chinese, until very recent
period to emlgrate. The habitsble area Of
the country is nearly doubled; the land, not
overourthened by occupants, is left free for
tlllage, and some of the inconveniences of .
dense population are avoided by the facility
OF moving easily from place to place. As
IS usual, the great rivers attract towns and
cities to their banks. Towards the central
parts OF the country, near the points where
Hong-ho and the Yang -tse-K -Kiang intersects
the great canal, the shores on either side are
covered with cities, towns, and villages,
which seem almost to form one uninterrupt-
ed avenue of streets. As the activity
and wealth of China are most advantage
ously seen at the point where its two great
rivers intersect the canal, so this is probably
Just the point where an enemy could strike
China most effectively. 1t is by no means
inaccessible, either, to English steamers and
gunboats. But it must be remembered,
too, that land 30 permeated by navigablo
waters, If easy to be attacked, is also easy
to be defended. Across every canal, every
river and its tributaries, bonn, . chain, or
strong breastwo,k Of boats may be drawn,
and succession Of tedious, If not very for
midable. obstacles erected against an inva-
der; and the Hanks and rear of an advan-
cling armament might be harassed in num-
Der OF ways. However Indifferent Chinese
naval gunnery may be, it is not innocuous;
and its inefectiveness might in some meas
ure be compensated for by overwhelming
numbers. If all China is leavened with
that hatred and jealousy of foreigners SO
evident In the mob of Canton, they are Ca
pable Of war to the knife; and as they are
individually brave enough, and proverbially
industrious, persevering and ingenious, it
may well be questioned whether the claims
of the Western World are SO easily to DO
presented in the heart OF the empire.
China is a country SO imperfectly known
that it is impossible accurately to estimate
all it's natural or artificial defences, but it
undoubtedly combines the physical advan-
tages Of mountain region, with the native
resources Of fen land. 1t is said that in
the long line of internal navigation between
Canton and Pekin, the traveller encounters
every variety of surface. For many days
his course will be through an unbroken
plain, stretching on all sides to the horizon,
and diversified only by tall pagodas, or by
the artificial mounds where the dead repose.
For as many days he will be encircled by
lofty and barren rocks, and descend through
their passes upon lakes, swamps and mOras-
ses. 1t is doubtful whether these regions
be densely populated. Tes,i nony varies
both as to the inhabitants and tie produc-
tions of the soil; ut it is evident enough
that such country is easily defended, pro-
vided the inhabitants be averse TO change
and well affected towards their rulers. Ev-
cry mountain pass, every dyke and morsss,
may be rendered formidable barrier. True,
that twice since the Christian era the Tar
tars have changed the dynasty Of this coun-
try, in spite of its natural defences. But the
rartars did little more than change the ru-
lers. The form Of government remained
unchanged; and SO did the customs and en-
ployments of the people, whose opinions
and prejudices were largely shared by the
allied races Of Chinese Tartary.
The case Of European enemies is widely
different from that of these Tartars. The
PROPOSE ions about being forced on the author
tiles of Pekin will conflict with the deepest
rooted sentiments of the whole nation, and
break up long settled practices and customs.
They are of . kind which will be keenly felt
by Chinameh everywhere, and which the
people may actively or passively resist long
after the Chinese armies have been scattered
to the wind, and even the Chinese govern
ment brought to terms. Were it possible
for Great Britain to hold every port in Chi
ma, the capitol OF the empire, and the point
giving her permanent military advantage,
she might still be utterly foiled by the obsti-
macy OF the people, and their refusal to hold
intercourse with the foreigners. All her VIC
tories might end in placing barren sceptre
in her gripe, no kind Of advantage succeeding
to her AsIatic embroglios arc very apt to as
sumo chronic form; and it takes years to
accomplish on that continent what months
or weeks even may effect elsewhere. The
experience OF Great Britain in India might
teach her to be cautious about intermeddling
with the densely populated regions Of South
ern Asia, and dispose Europeans generally to
caution. The Chinese, intimidated by the
appearance of squadrons bearing the flags of
SO many nations in their waters, NAV appar-
emily yield to the demands made upon them;
but their concessions may not be more sincere
than those extorted by the opium war, and
may possibly lead to result no more satisfac-
tory.
A GENTEEL THIEY.-A New Hampshire
editor, while recently travelling, had his wal
let abstracted from his pocket by an adro,t
pick-pocket, while indulging in short nap.
1t contained only q few short paragraphs tor
bis paper, and a grocer's bill Of some six
months standing, requiring immediate pay
ment, or else. Humph Nufced about
that. r;o .,-.rf..t pam
The thief was 40 diaousted With the re-