The Portland daily press., 1867-05-18
Terms Eight Dollars per annafan. f,s od,,o,,.,
Pigeon English.


1t is pretty well known that at Canton the
medium of communication between the ma
tives and British or Americans is a ba,barops
dialect, known as pigeon English The Chi
nese have printed vocabularies of it, and we
have even seen specimens of blank verse writ
ten in it. The latest contribution to its itera
ture Is the following from the Boston Tran
script
AcHISEsE-ENGIsH LETTER.
n cn"; o. m9 following may be worth publishing, as
;d;o1.i iosi9y and specimen of the Chinese
addressed rs y an NJ exact copy of friendly note
largo oil Boston shin then nj Ca,.ton NJ
ba ~ ~" WAS Chinese merchant with whom
ne WAS trading. Mr.. X. Ia son Of the Iata Al.
49, i.,onarus9n a;, Esq died in Boston. few
years slhce. Doctor Parker is now living in
this city, ON an ample fortune acnr;nn5 IA
long career OF usefulness at Can,o, ns = - - "
scan to the missionaries and to The 49,, PnJ
legation, and afterwards an acting commsion-
er of the United States.
QUANToNG, % Year, 8 Moon. 10th Dav
My GooD FRIEND: How fashion insi bah
got this morning? Hab catchee little moro
better? What thing DIR. Parker talkee long
you? He hab show you true what thing insi?
Ny thinkee spose any man show you catcbea
that gin go long that watir spose you wantee
catchee No. fine, that he talkee small chile
play pigeon. No got reason, all same one
fools.
Spose my all the same for you sick, my must
wantee too muchee chin chin, that large Josh
may thinkee, he can savee that pigeon more
bettir tor DIR. Parker little No 'casion you
talkee insi. So eh. Cause any man savvee,
nab got reason talkee. Have hear any news
come from that America 81? Too muchee
piece man she my hab got two piecee ships
taikee Don Juan go long that Paulina hab
begin long teem before walkee this side Just
now he no hab got Macao ST.
Don Juan have begin that No 15 day. that
M no ~, moon, Europe counter, and Paulina have
an the same fashion No. 10 day, anv man
thlnkee he must come to Macao directly Car
see, can savee That no my pigeon, that hab
Josh Pigeon. - '' -N"
just now must finishee, no got TEEN talkee
any more long you. My chin chm Won eatebaa
more better chop chop. So fashion talkee
Your good friend,
@. f. HowoUA.
f. A. Richardson, Esq, at Mees. RusseII g.
Co., Canton.
fTranslation.l
CANTON, May 10, 1S43.
My Coon FRIEND:-Vow are YOU what is
the state OF your insides) this morning? Have
you got little better? What does DR. Parker
say to you? He has (no doubt shown you
correctly (what is wrong inside) My opinion
IS, that If any man recommends you to take
gin ana water, to get perfectly well mo. l fne)
that he talks childish. He is as unreasonable
as a fool.
Suppose was as sick as you are? would
want very much to burn incense (chin chin) to
that great Josh 1.-THE idol). think he (Josll)
knows that business (what is the matter with
you) little better than Dr. Parker There
Is no occasion for you to doubt this talk (talk
inside) because any one will see talk rea-
sonably.
Have you heard any news from America
(shores.) Several men have told me that
there are two ships, named Don Juan (go long !
and Paulna starte to come here long since
They have not reached Macao (shore) The Don
Juan started the 10Th of January European
reckoning, and the Paulina the 18th, Same
reckoning. 1t is to be supposed they will arrive
soon; AS soon as We see, we shall know 1t is
JOsh's business, not mine.
must now close, as / have no time to write
any more to you. hope yon will get better
very soon. So write your good friend,
c. f. HowoUA
F. A. Richardson, Esq, at Msssrs. Russell s.
Co., Canton. +
sary.-"Pigeon" means business ssCatehee"
TO get, OF bring $50 long" with, or and. "Chin,
ehin,' good wishes, prayers. "Josh," tie IDOL or
| heather god "Chop, chop" very quick