The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-31
From the Land of Confucius.

ridge, who graduated from Midilehurl
College ia 1861. After Flushing hi.
theological course he went to Sam, where
The letter was dated at Swatow. China.
Jan % 1874, aud mailed at Hong Koug
Feb. 9th. We extract az follows:
When lett home [ was assigned 10
iuty" among the Chinese in Siam. We
we're in siam just four yesrs. We en-.
ioyed the work there and had ~ good
health "a II we had bocn in Vermont
1ha death of one Of gu, missionaries made
necessary our removal to this place, where
Se arrived pearly year ago, and where
we hope to spend our lives Swatow is
one OF the open ports OF China, about $50
niles northeast from Hong Kong. 1t is
the principal port Of the Tic Chin dis
riot, in the Kwau Tuog province, oil
which Canton is the capital city.
But perhaps canuot do better than
&c give you little account OF trip Of
tx days, from which ! returned this
week.
Inc object of the trip was to spend
Sunday with one Of our churches aud also
to visit the capital city OF this district,
[ chartered boat, manned by five men,
pay ing IS for the trip and allowing them
.ghteeu cents for each day that VIC we're
rot moving. This allowance was for rice
.ud was about 3 cents per day for each
nan. took with me three native as
'istants aud boy TO cook. Our course
Sas through level plain which lies north
| II Swallow.
This plain is about 30 miles long and
perhaps ten miles wide in the widest part
II is bounded on the cast By the sea, and
enclosed by an irregular stmi ore Of
rllls and mountains on tho north, west
nd south. 1t is naturally fertile and a.
cultivated by the Chinese, produces two
r three crops pear. THE north tropl-
al circle passes through this plain, 20 it
very seldom visited by even slight
| rost
Village" are scattered 'hickly over the
| lain. but there are Ucirher fences nni
edges. Low d kes separate Que fcld
rou another aud furnish pathways.
Farmer. were busy digging sweet pota.
ues aud kind ui tu'nip. Tne last rice
rop WAS gathered few week ago.
Nbeat was neatly full grove "a son,
i"'ds in others it was but n io .ch :
high.
iiome peas were in hlossofn, sari
)u- kinds Of Chinese vegetstl.- wei.
'uIly grown. In OF" feed | ,.w IN, IN
igging peanuts. The nu>t beautiful
light was the orange olchaid.. The trees
we're laden with iipo iiu,,, und covered
with dense foliage OF the darkest greco.
The special occupation Of the farmers ~
this season, is, gathering the sugar cuue.
This district produces the most dellciou.
oranges in the Empire, aud It ia Que Of
he principal sugar growing sec'ions.
Fiom one OF the cities, alton, 80 IN le-
ii>'ant. there is shipped Annually l3U..
100 picul- (,bout 81 tony. but that /,
uly small part VI the amount produce'
II the eutire district. | think it would
'e impossible to produce sugar with more
strict economy than is practiced BY th,
Ehiuese.
The sugar mills arc temporary she'd,
made with : Fam, @o'! poles covered
with thick thatch Of rice straw. Tive
granite rollers are set perpendicularly il
block. They have cogs at the upper
ends. A pole 8 or 10 feet long is fitted
to one Of the cylinders. To this eud o.
this pole bullock or buffalo is harnessed
These cylinders are the orushers. a maj
sits on the ground aud puts in three oil
four stalks OF the cane aud the juice rum
into tub set in the ground. The juice
is boiled 10 three boilers set in an arch
over a single FIRE. When sufficient,
boiled down it is put into conical earth
ern jars having small hole in the bot
-; tom through which the molasses drains
The fuel used is the crushed cane dr:e,
in the sun. and only part is needed
homes.
Tine fields are Immediately prepare
T Tor another crop. Pieces of tho cane
= few inches in length are preserved 10
setting out. They are kept in wafer un
Ill they sproui. La two mouths from tn
lime Of gathering one crop the fields ar
= planted again. There is but Que crop O
sugar cane in a year, hut there are ire
quenily three crops Of rice.
u a few years ago it would have bee
Unsafe for IA foreigner to take the tril
i which | took with perfect safety au
y comfort There is great deal Of cur
e osity manifested still, aud as the Chimes
q judge Of Il mans age by the length oi b
= card, was frequently a.ked il va
ity Years old. T,i wunIn three or lou
y years this district was Que OF the mo-
j. rui bnleut III China. refusing even TO "a
! lawful taxes Bur u geu,Isl war rel
Win Trgiiurui OF soldiers and b, burr
" lug 'ew villages aud cutting fl u yre'
p many head he hr"u.il ther, iniu I'll. J.,
II he should leave | am not suf. hur n
IL people you'd TALL into their old way
T. out they are wry civil now.