New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-05

would BE- requisite to insure even partial prosec
| ton to the revenue.
A very important step has at length been taken
by the British Government in authorizing the In
PRODUCTION of Chinese coolies to the West Indian
COLONIES, and q Government agent has arrived in
HONG. Kong for the purpose of experimenting the
enlistment of laborers. 1t il proposed to engage
the men for term Of FIVE or seven years, ut liked
pay per month, giving them free passage to the
colony, with food and clothing en- route, together
with n premium TO such as shall take with them
their wives and children. Despite the atrocities
that have been perpetrated by tho French, Portu-
euese, and, am sorry 10 add, Americans, IN KID
mapping and maltreatiDg the unfortunate coolies
heretofore engaged, the oyernswing population Of
China will still afford an abundant supply of labor
if the system be properly Organized, and the men
receive guarantees or demonstrations that they are
TO be honestly dealt with. few months since, the
wdest notions were current regarding the destiDa-
ton OF the coolies shipped beyond sea. manda-
rim Of considerable intelligence assured me, as fact
beyond dispute, that his countrymen were kid.
mapped under pretenses of extraordinary pay, and
on arriving at certain islands belonging TO the ma
tons of the Western Ocean, were thrown into tanks
filed with Holsters and crawfsh, who fattened on
the living bodies of The unfortunate coolies. Even
now have my doubts whether the explanation of
the cody system, which was volunteered and ac-
cepted, sank very deeply into the worthy officers
understanding. One cannot argue with Chinese;
he disarms all logic by agreeing with his adversary
from politenees-and then asserting, at the second
cup Of tea, the same opinions which one had i'm
aeined oyerthrown with the last yellow drops of
the first. .
Proclamations, however, have been issued by the
Allied Commanders at Canton, warning the people
against the "pig-brokers," as the kdnappers are
popularity called, and explaining the objects OF the
Cover nments DESTROYS Of engaging ceoly labor. On
perceiying that there is really guaranty OF good
faith in The matter, have no doubt that labOrers
willing to emigrate will be found in sufficient mum.
bers, to the great advantage of the British and
French colonies. The coolies to British colonies
are all TO be carried under the British Gag but it is
very probable that American shipping may be em-
pIoyed by the French importers of labor, In which
ease some more stringent regulations than are now
in force should be adopted by the United States
Government for the maintenance OF the honor oil
its flag.
We have finally taken leave of Summer the
northeast monsoon setting in having brought US
the bracing although still warm weather of South
ern Autumn. In few weeks, the expeditions into
various parts of the surrounding country, as well
for purposes of exploration for those OF striking
into the hearts of the villages sautary awe, will
be undertaken; but in the mean while, the foreign
ers stationary in Canton amuse themselves by ex-
White Cloud BILLS on the southeast, or the plains
on the north of the city. Life Il DOW as safe In and
around Canton as in the hestregulated city in the
Unicn; while year ago, solitary foreigner issu-
ing from the walls, would have stood but a small
chance of returning with his head in its proper
place. have but just reached my quarters again,
after an excursion to the hills with couple of COM
pani0ns and Chinese servants, and chair-bearers,
The spurs of the White Cloud reach to within mile
or two of the eastern wall of the city, and rise In
gentle unduations to the summit Of the range, some
$500 feet above the level of the sea. The nterven-
ing valleys are dotted with pleasant villages, with
their dependent paddy fields, now gradually turn
ing from their vivid green to sickiy elbow,
and with bamboo plantations Of considerah. extent.
The slopes are covered with myriads Of graves,
among the memorial stones of which the sportsman
is rewarded with constant occupation, as the
country abounds in game, while, in the rice fields,
snpe are exceedingly common. In the course OF
our late excursion we passed through number OF
villages many of them picturesquely situated, and
reminding one strangely, when gazed at from
hight, of the rural scenes Of New-Hampshire and
Maine, the dark masses of the bamboo now and
then forming an excellent substitute for the pine
woods ofthose familiar States. In no instance did
we meet with aught but civiGty and readiness to
oblige-a striking instance Of the friendly and inof
fenfiye nature Of the Chinese peasantry
A strange excitement provided in Canton week
or two since caused by a mysterious disappearance
of feathers from the fowls, which nearly every in
habtant of the city keeps in greater or less number
In one night the poultry in (as am assured) hum
dreds of houses disappeared no trace being left of
the manner in which the catastrophe was accom-
plished. The disaster, however, was OF course
attributed by the supersttous popuaee to the inter-
yentop of evil spirits, and many apprehended the
approach of some great calamity IN consequence.
The mutilated fowls were at once slaughtered, and
rrost ou,pbars ere offered in the temples or given
10 the DOOR, Public notifications were also posted
up Offering rewards for the discovery of the means
by which the mutilation took place, but no result
has been arrived at. IT. as has been suggested, it
was the work of the Buddhist priests, for the pur
pose of obtaining offerings and perhaps Of drawing
auguriee from the occurrences, it has certainly sue
ceeded well, and is proof of the power of secret
action possessed by this great organization.
The longer one observes this extraordinary sect,
whoee adherents are the most numerous OF any ex-
listing creed the more forciby and frequently one is
struck by the curious and frequently inexphca6le
resemblance to the Roman Catholic religion. Not
only are many of the doctrines strikingly similar,
but the minutae Of worship, monastic discipline,
&C., are in numerous cases Identical. While IN
Buddhist monastery the other day, was introduced
TO the abbot venerable man. whose state gar
ments are purple, and resembling those of q Roman
Catholic digntary, while bis staf of Office is almost
identical with the crozier of the Christian Church.
need not mention the institution Of female deyo-
tees, answering in most particulars 20 that OF the
nuns Of the Roinansts 10 carry on the parallel In
the temples, genuhexions, silent alteration Of i'm
ages, counting of beads, burning Of incense, repe
ttiOn Of prayers in tongue unknown even 10 the
oficating priest and countless minor resemblance
force themselves upon the attention of even care
less observer, end point rresistibly to the concu.
sion that either both systems are derived from