Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-05
JOHN
First Installment Of Asla6c Laborsrs for the
South.
{ .riosity Of our People in Regard to the
"cslestials."
An Ching, 0 lin and | Lang MaititudinOusIy
interviewed.

The tidal wave Of Asiatic labor has
at last reached the Mississippi Valley.
We have been confronted with the China
man. The contest between the MOngO-
liam and the African is about to COM
aence. Tho first installment Of Chinese
laborers, to compete with the negro, and
to force that unreliable being TO more
constant and steady effort, has reached
Memphis, and ere this issue reaches the
readers Of the APPEAL, they are far on
their way to their final destination-Gal-
weston, Texas. Asia, Europe, Africa and
America were yesterday TO be seen in
close contact. Irishmen and Germans,
negroes, Yankees and Chinese yesterday
intermingled at our landing, each dis
PLAYING the characteristics of their native
land, and each excited by an unwonted
curiosity as to the differing points of the
other.
The Mississippi had not fairly ma de
fast before she was boarded by a crowd of
curiosity hunters, all eager to get a
glimpse of the strangers from the Far
East. C~lambering over mules, hogs, piles
of freight, etc, a small party made their
way an TO the deekrOom OF the boat, d
here found the objects of their trip TO he
levee. Collected in little knots Of from
four to a dozen, the ChinOis We're scat
tered wherever there was space for them
~ EAAAsAA16F 1919 49,
ing, some eating, and others chatting and
laughing. The gamblers seemed to be
most numerous, and the queer game that
decided whether Fe Fun or Hi jim raked
in the stack of perforated bronze coins
appeared to "outside barbarians" a primi-
tive sort Of dOminOes. A well known
epicure who made one of the party
of visitors looked on in admi-
ration at the dexterity with which
those eating conveyed little balls Cf
saItdsh-and-riee hash into their capaciOus
mouths; and the evident relish with
which the curious compound was " histed
in " did cur friend infinite good. "Ani'
he says, !" these chaps never banker for
broiled bird on toast and a small bOttle!''
In a large bag was contained a portion OF
the provisions for one of the messes. The
Epicure wanted to see what it consisted
Of; a C~hinaman. speaking tOlerable Eng
lish, said SuppOssee wantee some,
takee," and, like going into a grabbing at
a ladies' fair, down went our friends
hand and arm. The haul consisted Of:
one dried crOaker; three pieces green GIN
ger; a dried oyster; two bits of orange
peel; a shred of dried sharks fin; and 9
jerked frog. The lucky drawer carefully
packed his prize in his handkerchief
vowing he'd have one square CHINESE
meal anyhow,
n iNh VI bnRog On hJ0AN tOal0 Span
enough English to make themselves un-
derstood. but were not very communities
tive. AL appeared to be in high spirits
and not at all t~raveI-wsary. Their cos
tune was mainly Chinese, though E few
were dressed as ordinary ls6orers. They
are strong and hardy in their appearance
and give token or being able to do a gOoC
days work, despite their somewhat short
ened stature. The curiosity of their visi
tors did not seem to give them any an
noyance, except when some impertinen'
fellow tried 20 play pranks with them
which they qulTAly resented by angry eX
pressions. Theinterpreter accompanying
them is asquiet, u-nassumiug Cbinanan
evidently a person Of some social import
ance a. home.
a good many negroes "calledon them
and expressed their contempt for tn
'"yaller ~niggers" in no stinted terms. !
is beginning to creep through Mr.. Sambo'
wool that if he won't work for wages
somebody viii be found who will, an
yesterday he saw for the first time tn
representatives of race that will crow
him to the wall before the expiration {
five years.
1t was late in the afternoon before tn
Mongolians were left to chew their rae
ginger, and take in their snails n drle
frogs, in peace. May the next steamboa
load be consigned to Memphis.