The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-25
TIE CHINAMAN IN TEXAS.
He Arrives, Makes Himself at Home. and
Goes tO Work.

He Arrives, Makes Himself at Home, and
Goes tO Work.
The Galveston Nelos of q recent date says:--
Two hundred and forty Chinese arrived yes
terday as pioneers of an immigration from the
Flowery Kingdom upon which we must depend
hereafter for plantation hands and house-ser-
wants. This lot of Celestials we're employed by
General j. g. Walker to work on the extension
of the Central Railroad. They have been en-
gagged for three years at the rate of $50 specie
per month, and their rations. Transportation
and ratlons while en- route are also furnished by
their employer. There is an interpreter who
receives 500 per month, and three foremen who
are paid $40 per month. They bring with them
supply of Chinese commodities sufficient to
last until they can receive additional stocks by
The officers of the boat that brought them
from st. Louis to New Orleans say that they
were exceedingly docilo and well-behaved, and
gave no trouble whatever. Quarrels and squab-
bles among themselves were easily settled, and
they frequently offered their assistance to the
crew, and seemed to take pleasure in working.
General Walker denies the statement that diff
iculty was apprehended from the negroes at
Memphis. He is of the opinion that Chinese
labor will not be at once available for agrcul-
tural work in the South, but thinks that, after
they have been introduced as railroad and levee
laborers they will be willing to contract with plan
ters on fair terms. Even now the price of their
labor is coming down, and they can be had in
California at $18 to $40 and found, or $28 to $50
and they find themselves
NO0blQeTlDR luC lSu8LH Vi IlIuC LuO5C WHO
passed through yesterday had been cooped up
on the deck of the vessel, they were much
cleaner and neater in their clothing and persons
than could have been expected. Though small
in stature they were robustly formed, and, from
the ease with which they handled heavy pack
ages of plunder, they are both strong and
active.
The general dress was a blue cotton blouse
and pantaloons of the same material, but of
more ample dimensions than q fashionable gent
would like to be incased in. Their shoes were
made after the fashion of canoe, turning up
sharp at the toes, and their hats resembled in
verted wash bowls. number of them, how
ever, wore boots and loose overcoats, and all APP
peared to be comfortably clad. Each man was
provided with bed and mat, bowl, and the in
evitable chopsticks. Their language seemed
harsh, and appeared to consist entirely of short
words. If they saw anything new or unexpected
in Galveston, they did not manifest it by word
or sign; neither did they appear conscious OF
being the centre of attraction for crowds OF
strange people.
After their arrival at the depot preparations
were made for cooking breakfast. Fires were
lighted, kettles were brought out, pans and
bowls were placed in the hands of each, and
everything was conducted systematically and
decorously. The principal ingredient of the
cuisine was rice, though we noticed that some
of them placed small pieces of pork that had
been Drowned to a crisp over the tops of theil
| pans of rice. The chop-stcks were the only in
| struments used in carrying their food to theil
mouths the sticks being held in the right hand
| with the thumb and first and third fingers the
second one passing between the sticks, which
they used as tongs for picking up their food
| After breakfast was over most of them took
| good big drink of the hot water in which the
| rice had been boiled Carefully putting aside
| the wood which remained after the cooking wai
| done, they washed their bowls and chop-stcks
| packed away their pots ETC., lighted their pipes
| and enjoyed smoke with as much philosophical
composure as the most devoted lover of th
| weed amongst the outside barbarians could hav,
done. Several of them spoke English indiffe
rently WELL but did not evince any disposition Il
| be communicative. There was but one woman
in the lot; she was small in size and by no mean
| attractive in personal appearance.