Connecticut western news., 1871-10-20
C0rromp0zaSlemce.

A letter to Mrs. Geo. G. Crowell, from lady friend in Hong Kong, China, was handed us by Mir. Crowell who granted permission to publish it. This lady, Mr.
 Crowell informs us, is afflicted with some nervous disease. and her physician advises a constant life on the ocean, and on sailing vessels, as absolutely necessary for her re- covery. Extracts from this rather lengthy letter giving description of those coun- tries on the other side of the globe, also | more or less, of the manners and customs of the inhabitants, cannot fail ot heing or interest to our readers, and more particular ly so, as the lady was formerly resident of Salisbury.
 "The world seems small now compared with what it used to when was school girl. We anchored here July l7th, after passage of 56 days from San Francisco.
 The mild Pacific proved very charming this time across; (about latitude 2l' 22".) Sea and sky beautifully blue, with strong, steady N E trades and hardly wave touched for weeks together. Not monot- onously smooth but just restless and spark ling enough to be bewi,ching. The gen. eral appearance of the Sandwich Islands surprised me. l had fancied them attrac- tive, fresh and green, and covered with luxurient foliage, but it is the reverse ot this. A succession of hills, high rocky scenery, desolate and treeless. This is Oakee. as seen from the sea- A few sickly, stunted cocoa palms on the beach, streets narrow and hot. A longer stay might have revealed pleasant places but l was Ill and glad to get back to my own floating quiet home. Native females wear what should call yoked night.dress of calico: Some are bright pink others yellow, brown which
 was the common color; short hair mostly string of beads around their neck and bare feet. I went into shop or two, called on all American gentleman and was cordially invited to remain ashore. Our stay here is indefinite. Hemp has gone up beyond the usual limits, and that Is cargo they prefer and will have eventually, if the vessels remain out years longer, (there are four of them, they have already been away three years. Hong Kong Peak 1900 feet high, is only one of numberless naked towering hills of rock, without grass or trees, but some of them covered with queer messy substance, that rather subdues their roughness but which would not afford nourishment even for goat. The harbor seems to be Q basin entirely shut in, and the town of Victoria, or Hong Kong, as 1t is generally, called is built on the side of this loftiest peak. The first street is along by the water edge, then Queens road, where are both European and Chinese business houses. Curiosities of every description,
 in the way of carving and embroidery, in which the Celes,ials excel; boxes, fans, tables and exquisite jewelry of shell, tiger claws, birds beak and gold. That made of the birds beak is exceedingly delicate. It is very pale straw color, sometimes tinted in spots with crimson. The tortoise shell, and sea shell, is generally set in filigree work of gold, and tho whole wonderfully wrought into various devices. Old bronzes,
 vases and bells, lacquered tables, and tea caddies, china and porcelain. They are queer people, living, dressing, carving, and in all respects doing just as their ancestors did centuries and centuries ago. No i'm provcments, no imagination, no refine.
 mcnt: A confusion of sounds is to them | music, and the shadows in @ picture a defect. They can initiate anything from cutting and making dress, Gf they have d pattern) carving hundred leaved rose, or painting your portrait: love money and make it when Yankee would starve; but are SO self satisfied and immovable. The streets running up the hill are awfully steep, but Sedan chairs and human donkeys make an t,asy and pleasant conveyance. From windows on one side of building, you can throw a ball against the solid rock that lifts itself SO far towards the clouds, (and often enveloped by them.) From others, look down on the roofs and varan- dahs, of neighbors in the street below. The public gardens are terraced of course, and being very high, command fine view of the bay,-I cannot say country, be- cause you are shut in by these hills every way and everywhere. There is one level spot called Happy valley" This is kept as race course and one side of it is used as cemeteries by both Catholic and Protes- tent. Chinese bury always on the side of a hill. The tombs are of the same pattern ]; large semicircle, faced with stones. Bod ies arc allowed to remain in earth only specified time, when the bones are taken out and placed in earthen jars, and left in the open air. Relatives of the deceased take them with them from place to place, as they change their residence. On board the steamer last January, coming up from Singapore, and not far from my windows, was tue dead body of Chinaman. It seemed to be enclose in several collins, the outer one being very large, with handle about midway of the cover. To this, at tached by string, was handsome white rooster. Friends had charge of the mortal remains, but this bird had the spirit and was taking it back to its former home. used to feed the pretty fellow every day, and he became quite accustomed to my fattery. Have seen often, large jars of ''potted ancestry" (not here, but across the harbor in China proper.) They will hold ten gallons perhaps, and are covered with small earthen vessel just turned over it. The boat population interest me. Probably you are not aware that thousands of these people have no other homes. Families of six, eight, and even more. Here they marry and bring forth children, and live and die. This is considered the lowest class. Men and women wear the same articles of dress a loose kind of trousers, and an upper gar