The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-05-20
THE PRISONS OF CANTON, CHINA,

additional news relative to the progress of
the military or diplomatic operation, but
they throw strong flood of light on the
character Of tho Chinese rule-at least un-
der Governor Yeh. A more alrocious sys.
TEN of rule or II more brutal ruler could
scarcely be found in any country or any
ago Of the world. 1t seems that in the
space of two years this savage mandarin
caused no fewer than 10000 persons (reb-
els, or supposed rebels) to be executed in
tho Aceldama of Canton, and that the mode
of execution rivals in barbarity that of the
most degraded savages. The prisons of
Canton, too, seem to DO infinitely worse
than even the worst Of Naples, and the
treatment Of the prisoners indcscribably
horrible.
JA1Ls OF CANTON.
Lord Elgn and the commissioners hav-
ing made a tour of inspection to the jails
of Canton, the results of their experience.
have been set forth in the China Mail as
follows:
Each Of these establishments contains
several different prisons, and the description
Of one Of these will serve for tho whole.
1t was entered by an open ourt-yard about
fifteen yards long by six broad. This court
yard is paved with granite slabs, and tolera-
bly, clean and airy, thanks to the rain wind
and sun to which it is exposed F.; on each
side of the yard are three compartments or
dcns, arch about five yards long by four
broad, and separated from each other and
from the courtyard by double rows of
posts, similar to those used in barricadinc
the doors of the common Chinese houses
in Hong Kong, the posts Of one row fitting
between the posts Of tho other row, leaving
space barley for man to pass Ills hand
through. The doors Of five of these six
rooms were open all the prisoners in these
five dens thus having access to the open
yard. Inside arc boards and trcsscls, on
which the prisoners lie, tho floor being, as
far as could be judged from the filth with
which it was covered, as nature formed it
of earth the height of the rooms is ample
enough, and, on the whole, the prisoners
were far better than expected, and if prop
erly kept, would leave no cause for COM
plants.
On entering, the warning voice of the
turnkey drove tue poor wretches into their
dens but tap on the load soon siloncod
this officious parsonage, and the friendly
voice OF a foreigner telling them in Chinese
to como out SOON brought about seventy
living creatures OH their kneess before such
messengers of humanity as had never Le-
fore stood in that horrid place. The sight
OF these poor creatures was dreadful their
forms diseased and emacatod-their eyes
gazing in establishment with the vacant stare
OF lunatics-their filthy rags dropping from
them-their hair unshorn and uncombcd,
long and horribly stiff, black and abundant,
in awful contrast with their pale and ghaslly
features; there they knelt, trembling will,
cold, weakened by starvation, and in some
cases apparently callous even to the event
so strange and wonderful as it must have
been to them-which was then taking
place, of ap inquiry into their condition by
foreign occupants of the city. All the hor-
rors of an English prison, poorhousc and
unatic asylum were here accumulated
without single one Of the releeming fea-
lures which mark those establishments in
OUR own moro civilized country. Tho pris-
onars were ordered to stand up, and then
questioned, while some Of the visitors went
into the cells to examine them. MANY Of
the poor wretches were actually too weak
to come out Of their dens to thank their
deIverers, Foreigners, officers, and soldiers,)
in the courtyard of the prison. Length
enod suffering, Incarceration, and starvation
had produced that callousness which, with
excessive weakness, prevented them from
coming to see sight they had never before
witnessed. They were told to 20 outside,
and managed to raise their scarccrow fig-
nres. and stagger along in front of their
foreign visitors.
One poor child, a boy Of 10 years of
age, was also prisoner in this horrible
place. He was told to get up; but, with
an empty idiotic smile on his face, he merely
raised his eyes and shuffled few inches
along tho board on which be was sitting :;
l'e was prisoner for rebellion The poor
creature had not stregth enough to stand :;
his limbs wers frightful to look at-liter.
ally lie was living skeleton, and two of
the ADLER prisoners carried him out. The
FIVE dens were emptied, and while Mr..
Parkcs was talking with their late inmates
the other foreigners looked into the sixth,
den, the door Of which was closed.
1t is difficult to realize the horrible nature
OF the contents OF chat room. As tho door
opened, piteous, lamentablc cyy arose from