The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-26
T @ R E I G N
TIE MAILS OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
THE CIllNAMAN YEk AND HIS VOYAGE TO
CALCUTTA
Correspondence Of Tie london Timcs.)

In his personal appearance Yck is very stout
ana rather tall man. about five feet eleven with the
long thln Chinese mustache and beard, Il remarka-
p,y recedlng forehead, skull in which what the
phrenologists call generation" is much deyeloped
certain degree of rOtundity behind the ear, and a
moderate development of the back head Shorn
nearly 10 the crown, and very thnly covered with
halr IN that part where the Chinese mostly cultivate
their hair, our Mandarin offers every facility for
Chronological examination. His tail is very paltrv
very short and very thin. The smallest porkcr in
China has better tail than her highest Mandarin.
li1s lace Is heavy. There is more chin than YOU
usually see in Chinaman = more iowl and
jaw, Indicative of will and obstuacy. The nose
Is long and fat, the nOstrils forming one side
OF very obtuse angle. Seen in profile, the
nose is very remarkable and very uGly: in the
front face this, the most smial expression of thc
mans countenance, is mtigated. The eye-that
round slit MOngolian eyc-is the most expressive
feature of the man who is sitting opposite to me-
and looking rather suspciously at me as am now
writing. In his ordinary mood thcrei is only look of
shrewdneSs and quick cunning in this the only mobile
feature of his face but have seen him in the turn
ing moments of his life, when those eycballs elared
with terror and with fury. He has a large pro-
trudng mouth, thick lips, and very black teeth for
as he remarks sit never has been the custom Of his
family to use toothbrush" 1t is however, n very
common custom in some Chinese families, as any
one may see who walks the streets of Canton and
notices the Coolies and small traders at their ablu-
tOns
No habit of looking at Yek deadcns the feeling of
repulson which the expression of his huge face in
spires. The English public are by this time familiar
with his features. chiefly through profile skctched
by Maj. CrealOck at the moment when he was
brought in prisoner. The original sketch is the
most striking likeness ever saw.
There is strong will, there is dogmatic persever-
ance, there is immovable inert resistance but there
is no active courage in that face nor in that heart
When Capt Key seized him his vast carcass shook
with terror, and he completely lost all presence of
mind. Perhaps this is not to be much wondered at
Fifty blue jackets, with drawn swords and revolv-
erstwerc dancing round him like madmcn fourishing
their cutasses, throwing up their hats and cheer
ing at the top of their voices. He might well be-
lieve that his last moment come. But Il man
who had sent so many thousands to their great ac-
count might be expected to meet his own fate with
dignity.
lek was not equal to this. He shook, he made
gestures OF submission, he denied his identity, he
would have fallen had not Capt. Key held him up
In the 5ence of the Admirais his fright was ill
concealed by an assumption of impudence When
Capt Hall took him on board the nteXible he trem-
bled violently as he went up the ladder, and when
on board he eagerly inquired whether he was to he
put to death. As he had ascertained that it
was not our custom to kill our prisoners, he seemed
quite contented. As he had previously considered
his death certain, so he became convinced of
his absolute security.
At first he treated Mr.. Alabaster. the interpreter
appointed to attend him, with infinite rudeness and
contempt. He was magnificent and theatrical in
to him that he was to 90 to Calcutta He refused all
conversation, telling Mr.. Aabaster that he knew he
was spy put over him to report all he might say.
Mr. Alabaster, of course, replied that he not a
spy, but public servant; and that Y Iek. himself
great officer, must know that it was his duty to re-
port to his superiOrS.
In one of the earliest interviews I had with him
l was careful to make him understand the functions
which was discharging. Mr.. Alabaster exhibited
to him copy of the Times, at the size whereof he
seemed greatly astonished. ! told him that the
learned men of the western world were much per-
picked upon questions of Chinese Government and
philosophy, and that should consider myself fortu-
nate if he thought fit through me to inform them
upon these subjects. At this time his reply was
usually either Il grunt or grin; he answered my
appeal with grunt.
This uncomfortable state of suspicion gave way
under the judicious treatment of the high authori
ties. When he found that Lord Elgin took no no.
tice of him, unless to send curt messages inquirng
after his personal comfort-thcn he that, while
treating him with all respect and doing all he could
for his convenience, Capt. Brooker paid no atten-
ton to where he sat, or what he wore, or how he
demeaned himselt-when he discovered that no one
wished to make him sign any treaty, or to question
him upon topics which he declined to entor upon,
he gradually relaxed.
| think that before we left Hong Kong he had
recognized his true position, and had convinced
himself that the treatment he received was only
the respect accorded to prisoner of high rank
whose power for good or for evil had passed away.
with afiability upon indifferent Subjects preferred
request for daily ration of six pounds of fresh
pork presented portion of his stock of oranges to
the Ward-ro0m mess, and begged to be allowed to
send for full supply of Chinese tobacco.
Up to this time, the only occasions upon which he
manifested any vivacty were upon discussions to
his food. His Chinese cook was sent for and ar
rived Mt the last moment with great stores of Chi
nese cOmestibles. to his immense satisfaction. Nis
tors annoyed him. He was, or pretended to be
much shocked at the dress of an English lady. He
kept his eyes studiousy turned from her, and re-
marked aftcrward that her throat was not covered
Mr.. Alabaster showed him some portraits in H.
tustrdfed Aeics of ladies in ballroom dress. GcR
was scandalized; that women should wear bedgowns
was proper, but that they should be painted in their
bedgOwns was atrOcious.
Eek is in his private life very respectable ChiDa
man. He is entirely free from all suspicion of those
detestable habits common to his countrymen and
for which even the yirtuOus keying was but too no.
torious. lie smokes no opium; his ordinary drink
is only warm tea; he uses samsbu only a med
cine. He has sent his only wife, under the protec
tion of his father to his native village. He spoke
of his concubnes but as could not tell how far it
might be wrong in his eyes to show curiosity on
this topic, did not learn their number dcstina
tion He has no son, but has adopted q nephew
who is now "a years old, and is pursuing his studies
at Pekin.
He eats twice a day of four or five succuent
dishes. and he has the good sense to eat rice with
each dish, not resGrvng it for the end of the dinner
the Chinese do at their easts. He drinks nothing
while eating.
His devotions consist in sitting in the posture OF
Chinese idol, his legs crossed, and his face to the
east. He remains in distracted state for about
ten minutes and the act of devotion is accomplished
When he first came on board he retired into this
contcmplative state several times day. He after
ward became much more rcmiss and once day
appeared to suffice him. He used no idol, and when
asked whether he wished for any facilities for per
forming his devotions privately, replied that he
wanted nothing of the sort.
| imagined that this was an. act of devotion ac-
cordng to the custom of the higher sect of the Bud
dhists; but day, when he was in special good hu
NOR, he condescended to explain why he turned
himself to the east instead Of the west, which is The
birthplace of Buddha. lie said if he were praying
he should turn to the west; but he was not praying
He turns to the east because the east is the "sene
chthc principle of life, as the west is the princi
pie of death. He says that the four cardinal points
agree with the four seasOns-the north is the win
ter the south is the summe the east is the spring
and the west is the autumn. We asked him wha
Taoli this was, 'Confucian?" eyes" "Buddhist?
"4es. ''Taouist? :. Yes 1t is more ancien
even than CoIfucius. 1t is the ancient ceremonial
of China care the Taoli of Confucius and Bud
dha and Laotzu all subordinate to the ancient Taol
of China ?' ''Yes they all included in it. From
the time there was an east there this TaOli'
In the practice of that virtue which we Western
glad to rank next to godliness Yek is certainly
not conspicuous. A more undesirable messmate fol
the commander of a ship of war can scarcely b,
imagined. He spits, he smokes, he eructates, ant
he blows his nose with his fingers. Captain Brook
er has taught him the comfort of pocket-handker
chief but to it for this purpose. His daily
ablutions consist of slight rubbing of the face will
a towel moistened in hot water. He has a horror
of fresh air. and, while in Chinese waters, never
willingly went deck. lie loved to have the port
closed and the skylights down.
He wears thickly-padded stockings, the long
blue-sleeved, quilted cape, and blue pantaloons
tied at the ankle, common to all Cinnamon HI
boasts that he has worn his outer coat for tel
years. and its appearance amply justifes his asscr
tion; it is stiff with grease. When We drew neal
to- Singapore, within one degree of the line, tn
heat became frightfu His practice then was
while steamng from libations of hot tea, to stri
off his coat and sit in his long yellow grass clotl
shirt, wet and discolored-a most disgusting oh
ject.
Once, after six weeks confinement, he gravcly in
timated his intention of taking bath, and he wa
eagerly reminded of what he had been more thai
once informed, that there was most comfortable
| hat room on deck unite at his daily service Tha