Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-21
THH CHINESE I'm TEXAS.
Sambo's Successor Arrives, Makes
himself at Home, and Goes to
work." Clean, DoeiIe ana Indus.
frkOus /"

From the Galveston News. January H.
Regarding the two hundred aud forty
Chinese who arrived here yesterday ss
pioneers of an immigration from the
Flowery Kingdom, upon which we must
depend hereafter for plantation hands
aud house servants, they are entitled to
more than a passing notice.
| This lot OF Ceiestials were employed by
General J. G Walker to work on the ex-
tension of the Central railroad. They
have been engaged for three years at the
rate of twenty dollars specie per month,
and their rations. Transportation and
rations while en- route are also furnished
by their employer. There is an inter-
prefer who receives one hundred dollars
per month, and three foremen who are
paid forty dollars per month. They bring
with them Q supply Of Chinese commod-
tiles sufficient to last until they can re-
ceive additional stocks by way of Psna-
ma
The Cinnamon Of California regard
this consignment as an experiment, and
to get them it was necessary to pay more
than an average amount, and the gentle
man who managed the negotiation thinks
it will he an easy matter, during the com
ing spring and summer, to engage labor
ers in California on better terms than
this lot was engaged for. Being regarded
as pioneers, it was necessary to pay
them extra for their boldness in coming
to an unknown country. The officers of
the boat that brought them from ST l. ouis
to New Orleans say they we're exceeding
docile and well-behaved, and gave no
trouble whatever. Quarrels and SQUAD.
bles among themselves were easily set
tied, and they frequently offered their as
sistance to the crew, and seemed to take
pleasure in working.
General Walker denies the statement
that difficulty was apprehended from the
negroes at Memphis. He is OF the
opinion that Chinese labsr will not be at
once available for agricultural work in
the South, but thinks that, after they
have been introduced as railroad and
levee leborers, they will bs wiling to
contract with planters on fair terms.
Even now the price of their labor is
coming down, and they can be had in
California at $l9 to $40 and found, or
$28 to $50 and they find themselves.
Considering the length of time those
who passed through yesterday had been
cooped up on the deck of vessel, they
were much cleaner and nester in their
clothing end persons than could have
been expected. Though small in stature,
they were robustly formed, and, from the
ease with which they handled heavy
packages of plumber, they are both strong
and active.
The general dress was blue cotton
blouse aud pantaloons of the sane mate
rial, but of more emple dimensions than
fashionable gent would like to be en-
cased in. Their shoes were made after
the fashion of canoe, turning up sharply
at the toes, and their hats resembled in
verted wash.bowls. A number of them,
however, wore boots aud loose overcoats,
and ell appeared to be comfortably clad.
Each man was provided with a bed and
mat, bowl, and the inevitable chop-sticks
Their language seemed harsh, and sp-
peared to consist entirely Of short words
If th saw anything new or unexpected
in Galveston, they did not manifest it
by word or sign neither did they ap-
pear conscious Of being the center of at
TRACTION for crowds of strange people.
After their arrival at the depot pre-
parasions we're made for cooking break
fast. Fires were lighted, kettles we're
brought ont, 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
thep placed small pieces Of pork that had
been Drowned TO a crisp over the tops of
their pans of rice. The chop-sticks we're
the only instruments used ia carrying
their food to their mouths, the sticks be-
ing held in the right hand, with the thumb
Eud first and third fingers, the second
one passing between the sticks, which
they Used as tongs fog picking up their
food. After breakfast vas oyer We no-
Ecsi tha, most Of them took good big |
drink of the bot yater in which the rice |
! a bseR boiled. 6arefelly putting sside |
ibs he wood ,-sssk FeBained stter the eook- |
iDg was done, they " Nss sss. al, ne,s
and ohop.sticks, packed away >. s'
etc. lighted their pipes, aud enjoyed
smoke with as much philosophical com
posure as the most devoted lover of the
Reed amongst the outside barbarians
,ould have done. Several Of them spoke
Epglish iudifferently well, but did not
svince any disposition to be communica-
i've.
There was bot one woman in the lot.
She was small in size, and by no means
attractive in personal appearance, having
Undergone the usual process for render
Dg the feet disproportionAieiy small; her
Talk was anything but graceful, her gait
sing a sort Of indescribable cross be-
ween the double infiiciion Of Alexan-
rian limp and Grscian bend. Each man
I'D been shaved from where the hair
{, rts out on the forehead to the crown,
nd for broad space al the way around
be head above the ear, leaving only the
ueue or pig-tail, which, when s,hsugs