The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-01-12
a Look at the Ce1estials.

| As everything pertaining to the advent of the
Chinese amongst US is read with avidity, make the
subjoined extract from the St. Louis Republican Of
the 29h This first installment of Chinese arrived in
| St. Louis on the 28th The Republican states that
these have been several years in California, talk
English tolerably and assisted to build the Central
Pacific Railroad For working plantations in the South
| as many Chinese laborers needed can be had
from ten twelve dollars per month in the currency
of the country. By contract with the Americans they
have abandoned their supersttous notion that re-
qured their bodies death to be transported to their
native country The party left San Francisco on Sun
day, the 10th, at 10 O'clock AN, 800 strong. On the
way about seven Of the number grew fanthearted,
and persuaded by of their friends they remained
behind but the complement made up by the addi-
ton of eighteen Others who volunteered and joined
the emgrants The following is the extract spoken of
At late hour the train arrised at the depot and
the Chinese thronged out on the platform. They ap-
peared be quite small in stature, their ages being
from 25 to 80. There were q few quite young boys,
and some three or four men over 40 years old Most
of them carried long sticks, which used for carry
ing their baggage, the stick being balanced on the
shoulder, and the baggage being divided and sus-
pended in front and the rear. They have the
cases cured about their hats and wore loose blouse
but with few exceptions the whole attire like that
worn by ordinary laborerS But the dark, almond
shaped eyes and olive colored countenance whtish
hue, tinged with orange and vermillion showed the
peculiar characteristics of the Chinese race
On the platform commenced a violent clamor when
the baggage was claimed, and the scene almost beg
gars description. The confusion like bedam
broke loose The entire party clustered about the
door of the baggage car and continued for long
time to pull shove and squeeze each other; and chat
teriug, scoding and swearing in broken English, max
ing din that was heard several blocks away. 1t was
like the scramble of unruy children, or the quarreng
among Indians when dividing their rations. The po-
lice hovered around, but when told that this the
manner of the Celestial they thought best not to in
terfere At length two of the leading with strong
voices ascended the top of the car, and command
ing some sort of attention, the baggage was showed
up to them from the door, when they tossed it into the
crowd and after each package tossed about like
ball for time, it at length found One
of the in charge said that similar scene occurred
on the route at each transfer of baggage. He said
at Ogden, two men had hold of pan which each
claimed, and they pulled and hauled until they tore it
to pieces The party then marched down to the
steamer Mississippi, commanded by Capt. Nat Green,
where they went aboard The steamer will leave this
evening for New Orleans
A little before u O'clock these Chinamen 247 all
t DID, began to arrive at the boat In appearance by
tCTCnIlgDt, tnelT features seemed Oh cross
tw cen the Indian and Mexican than anything else.
,st of them queues or "pig tails and with one
two exceptions they wound around their heads.
Sol ne of them wore common black wool hats. while
9th the regular Chinese straw hat, which very
much resembles an old Dutch straw breadbasket.
Each of them carried bunde--some of them two-in
which done up their wearing apparel, bedding,
1t is not assuming too much to say that many of
these bundles would weigh from $50 to 800 pounds,
yet they trotted along under this weight with more
ease than "barbarians las they call us would under
twenty five pounds. Their bundles were all wrapped
up in kind of matting-the same kind as that which
comes around tea chests or cinnamon bales. As soon
as they arrived on board the boat they shown
back the quarters assigned them they prepared for
sleep. Their bundles unroled and the mating
spread for their beds The inner part of the bun
dies, of whatever made up, served as pillows while
coarse blankets and their coats served covering.
Their rice kettles, pots, and what few other primi-
tive utensils they possess carry with them, were
scattered around promiscuousy, and amid bales and
boxes and barrels, and hog or two, they disposed
themselves to sumber dreams and rest. u in all,
they queer-looking set of people-queer in their
ways, queer in their habits, queer in their language,
and may work queer revolution in the labor of this
country, the test of which is being made in the
West and with these Two hundred and forty even,
soon to be tested in the South.