Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-09-07
TAKING THEM ON BOARD.

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boats are termed sampdns, and are ca
pablo Of carrying from thirty to one
hundred men besides the rowers. A
woman sits usually in the stern to
steer, and sometimes TO scull the boat,
while therowers, unlike our own, stand
on planksprojected over the side
The Coolies mounted the side one
aflcr another, most Of them naked to
the waist, wearing only the loose
coolie trowcers and broad brimmed
straw hats Slung at the belt were
pouch and purse, and little case for
the chop.sticks. A few wero 10 good
hhmer, but most were sullen or des-
ponding They all tailed over the
gangway like so many bales of cot
ton, mustered in rows upon the deck,
and their baggage and persons search
ed for opium or weapons. When all
were on board q Government official
came ostensibly to sec that none were
unwilling emigrants. A public an
nouncement was made that any one
who was on board against his will
should step forward Only one had
the hardihood TO do so, they knowing
full well the improbability Of getting
nearer the homes than the dreaded
barracoon. The man who came for
ward was Immediately set ashore, and
as the wind promised fair all hands of
the crew we're turned 10 getting
ready for sea The whole number of
Coolies received was one thousand
thirty-seven, and each was slowed
away as rapidly as the confusion and
hustle incident to such a barbarous
gathering would admit The embar-
kation consumed the greater part of
two days. Besides the Coolies there
were several lady passengers and
children returning by the way of Gu
ba TO their homes in the United
States. They occupied part Of the
cabin protected by the barricade.
WEIGHING ANCHOR.
II was evening ere the anchors
were weighed, the sails loosed, and
the ship under way, yet every one
worked with energetic zeal, st,mula-
ted by thcprospect Of returning home,
and none but those who have been
long separated from home and friends
can appreciate the exhilarant feeling
that fills the breast Of sailor as the
ship flies along on her homeward voy-
age There were two interpreters on
board who had came from Havana,
whose experience in the trade had
been as varied as extensive They
were sort Of half Cinnamon, half
Portuguese, and were in nowise friend
~ TO the mass of Coolies on board -
Warned by their representation Of the
treacherous nature Of barbarous
freight guards were stationed at all
necessary points, a police force ap.
pointed, and indeed every precantion
taken to subdue any disaiicction that
might arise. The necessity for pre-.
caution may be appreciated il the
comparatively small number of our
crew sixty all told be considered
The barburions moreover were con.
stantly quarreling, and within the very
first twcnty.iuur hours several were
brought up ana fogged after the old
approved navy style. One or two sui.
cides occurred, and one man was
found strangled, whether by his own
hands or some one Of his companions
was never ascertained.
now THEY PASSED THEIR TINE.
A word or two regarding the way
in which these Coolies passed their
time and deporled themselves gencr-
ally may not be uninteresting. They
were not usually unclean in their hab.
it's, but, on the contrary, were fond
Of dabbling in water like children,
and some Of them wore around their
nccks pieces of mnslin to use as tow.
els. Many had tooth brushes, and lit
tie pieces Of bone used for scraping
the tlngue-a habit, strange enough,
which they roligiously observed. They
had but two meals daily, principally
of rice and salt fish, with, az noon, or
about eleven o'clock, bowl OF tea
Their rice was boiled at the gallcys
on deck in baskets, and the whole
number Of Coolies being divided into
mcssos, the portion for each was serv.
cd aud carried below in other baskets.
They then sat around on the deck,
and helping each to a quantity in a
small china bowl fell TO a rapid dem
olilion of the contents with their
chopsticks. Much Of their time was
spent in gambling, almost always
with dominoes, and when not cngag
cd at this they were either quarrel
ing or playing on musical instruments
OF which they had a great number
Their barbarous music would hardly
strike the ear ofan American virtuoso
as melodious. II was an ingeniously
discordant variation from the tum.
tum.ti.tilly ofa ono string violin to
the hoarse uproar produced By enor
nous clarionets without KEYS, flutes
six feet long, symbols, gongs, drums
and marine trumpets. Occasionally,
bat more particularly toward the end
Of the voyage, they will attempt a
rough sort Of theatrical play to while
away the dreary hours, yet in point
ofsconery or incident the most absurd.
TUE DEPARTURE.
But TO proceed to our departure
ffom Macao; The Coolies were al
lowed perfect freedom, in limited
Numbers, on the forward part Of the
upper deck, and their carefully pre-.
pared aud served Had il not
been for a providcntial mischance on
The evening OF the third day out the
terrific incidents that followed would
have come upon US totally unprepar.
cd. A not unusual quarrel had oc-
cured on the lower deck, the shout
Ing aud alteration soon running TO
blows. The police, some OF whom it
may be remarked wcro Coolies, were
quickly on the spot, and alter great
difficulty succeeded in qucling the ri
OF; not, however, in time to prevent
one man being cut down with a cleav-
o. This man. puifc seriously wnun-