New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LIFE IN CHINA.

natural shrewdness and sagacty thehaDlt OF prompt
and accurate perception, and remarkable gilt OF
expressing himself with unaffected ease and SIM
plicity. Making the city OF Fuhchau bis central
point Of comparison, lie presents copious descrp-
ton of the manners customs, and character Of the
Chinese, which is quite without prototype in En-
glish literature.
Fuhchau is the capital Of the province of Fuh-
ken, being situated between Annoy on the south
aud NingpO on the north, and about equally distant
from Canton and Shanghai. 1t is walled city,
With population including that Of the suburbs
which has been variously estimated between tOo,Ooo
and 600. Prior to the year 1853, II had very
little foreign trade. During that year II suddenly
rose to importance as a market for black teas,
chiefly through the enterprise OF the eminent Bos-
ton firm Of Russell & Co. In exchange for its tea,
which is the principal export TO foreign countries,
Il receives opium, cotton and wooden goods, silver
and few other comparatively unimportant articles
In 1863 the imports into Fuhchau amounted to over
elO,5OO,OOO.
The streets Of the city are narrow and III point OF
filth are scarcely surpassed by those OF New-i ORR
MANY Of them are not as wide as a common sized
sidewalk in American towns The shopkeepers
take M part of the street in front of their estab-
hshments with their movable sign-boards over
foot wide, making the street so narrow that two
sedans cannot pass each other. The caves of the
stores are SO arranged that in OF rain the water
falls down into the middle of the street. There are
no glass windows in the shops. The front is con-
structed of movable boards fitted into grooves,
which are taken down in the morning, and fastened
ct night on the inside. The streets are paved with
granite fagstones. In case of hill, tits ascended
by ght Of stone steps, so that no wheeled vehicle
could pass, even if the streets were wide enough.
Merchandise furniture, and other heavy loads are
carried by coolies The roads in the country are
narrow and do not admit of transportation in carts
or wagons. They arc often paved with granite, and
only wide enough for two or three to walk abreast.
travelling by land is performed on foot OF by sedan
chairs carried in ordinary eases, by two or three
men. Officers of certain rank may have four
bearers, the very highest, eight. Military officers
sometimes ride through the street on ponies, but
she common people never ride Oh horseback.
The Chinese at Fuhchau are shorter than the
generality of foreigners, mild in character,
Rnd timid in appearance. They are less turbulent
than the inhabitants Of some Of the more southern
portions of the empire They often scold and quar-
eel in the streets, but seldom come TO blows. They
ere proud and selfrehant, aud look with disdan on
foreigners, to whom they apply the mostderogatory
epthets. These they mig out in derisive and In
sulting tones. In regard 10 their dwellings they
have little TO boast Of over the uDceany tenement
houses of this city:
The houses Of the Chinese usually story high,
and built of wood. Few substantial brick DIV cling.
houses SEEN The coyeI!rgj is earthen tiles iurled
~ cd z1fuA he lTtRn
most houses fnOng the poorer classes 10 mace OF ee
snent composed Of clay sand and lime and rs ard hpt
smooth when properly prepared, OF IT IS simply IN
Earth Rounded down. The wooden floors even IN TN
better kind Of houses, are very poor uneven and u
planned. No CARPETS are used, and seldom is matti.
spread upon the flooring Oitenmes there IS no cell
fog overhead the room extending 10 the roof a lafg
number Of families live in boats about 20 or 23 feet long
aud about six or eight feet wide Here children an
born brought Up, marry, ard die. Dwelling house
usually have wooden widows, no glass beng use
even In wealthy families Sometimes windows havin,
kind Of semi-transparent shell ingenousy arranged
rows ore found. " hen light is needed. The w0OdeI
windows opened elther partially CT Wholly; They
also opened for purposes OF ventilation IN The sum
.ner The houses have apparatus for heaiii
them in the Winter. like tie freplaces furnaces uad
stoves of Western lands 1ne doors and windows are
poorly adapted 10 cold weather not being fitted tightly
The soil is very fertile and is kept in state Of
excellent tillage. On some low lands two crops OF
rice and one Of wheat are annually produced.
Other islds Weld crop Of nee and one crop OF
wheat. In many gardensst least six or eight crops
OF vegetables are raised year after year. Rice
wheat, and sweet potatoes are the most common
crops. Barley, tobacco, and beans ere grown in
considerable quantities. A kind Of sugar-cane,
making inferior brown sugar is cultivated exten.
sively. Fruits are abundant during all the year.
They are picked usually when green, and are not
well favored. Peaches, pluns, pears, and several
varieties Of orange common. There are no
lemons, cherries, or cuuaDts and not-a berry OF
any kind. Water-melons, squashes, onions and
grapes, turnps, carrots, cabbeges, lettuce, cucum-
bers, and variety Of vegetables peculiar to China
are produced in large quantities. There is lack
of materials for superb bill Of fare, though the
institution of chop-sdeks, it would seem, must
fepress the genial rage" of appetite
The Chinese at Fuhehau live principally on rice. fish,
and vegetables They never use bread at their meals
as people do in Western lands. Wheat -four If used for
making various kinds Of luncheon and cakes The most
common meats ere pork, the flesh Of the mountain goat
and the flesh Of the domestcated buffalo va,erOx
and the COW. ducks, geese chickens, and fish from salt
and from fresh water. There is never veal on nut
Ton in market. They never salt down beef or pork.
}uhchsu bacon ard hams are celebrated in Eastern and
Southern Asia. IL is considered q hardship and a
mark OF excessive poverty 10 eat potatoes except as
luncheon Immense quaItt es Of the sweet potato are
grated into slips nud dried In the sum- for
food among the poor In case nice cannot be procured
= his dried potato is called potato,riee. Oysters
abound in the Winter, and very cheap, the usual
p1ce OF clear oysters being between i've and SIX cents
per pound. shrimps, crabs, and clans are plentiful.
Little %hd game can be obtained at any season OF the
year In the Winter, phe9ssnts, In small numbers are
brought from the country to SELL having been shot or
sptrapped upon the hills.
The Chinese at their meals usually have several
email dishes Of vegetables, FISH, ETC.. prepared beside
large quantity Of boiled steamed rice out in a