Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-07-21

william S. Hall, formerly OF Stanstead, r O.,
now travelling In China, we are permitted to make
the following cxtracts1
CANTON, China, April 10, 1875
On approaching this vast city Of Canton
my organs of sight and hearing were liter
ally bewildered by the immense
NUMBERS or HUMAN BEINGS
who are collected around on all sides, many
of them apparently idle and unoccupied
No idea can be formed Of such teeming
population by any one who has only visited
the cities of Europe, or of any other coun.
try have yet seen. Square acres of boats
cover the river, each Of them crammed with
Chinese Of all sexes and conditions Most
Of these boats are not used as In other coun-
tries, where necessity alone requires them,
but are solely for the purpose Of dwellings,
being kept beautifully neat and clean, GOV.
cred with wood or mating and propelled
by long oar from the stern, skillfully
turned from side to side in other words, by
sculling. Canton has a population Of one
million five hundred thousand, and it is esti-
mated that two hundred and fifty thousand
of this number live on these river boats.
The number Of these sampan boats at Can
ton alone is said to be eighty-four thousand.
Allowing only three persons 10 each boat,
which is a low estimate, would give two
hundred and ffty-two thousand as
rnF FLOATING POPULATION
who live entirely on the water.
The Hower-boats are also a distinct feature
of Canton. They are simply large floating
restaurants, which are let on nuptial feasting
or dancing occasions. They have saloons
fitted up with great elegance and lighted at
night with splendid lamps-musie, dancing,
and supper being provided by the owner Of
the flower-boat at a stipulated sum accord
ing to the wishes of the hirer. They receive
their chief support from the fast young Chi
nese bloods, the jeunesse dOree of Canton.
The chief attraction TO the Cinnamon who
frequent them is undoubtedly the fact that
each nower-boat has in its staff of employees
from ten to thirty pretty young Chinese
waiter-grls Of rather questionable virtue.
THE STREETS OF CANTON
are very narrow, but tolerably clean, and the
only means Of locomotion is either on foot
or on the shoulders Of coolies In au Eng
lish catalogue, or directory Of the city, over
500 streets are enumerated. Among them
! noticed such odd names as dragon street, -
the d" Flying street" the Martial Dragon
street" the " Flower street" and the " Golden
Flower street" There are several long
streets, but most Of them are short and
crowded, varying in width from four to six.
teen generally, however only six or
eight feet wide, and everywhere well paved
with large stones, generally Of granite. At
= busy hour Of the day. toward noon, the
noise, and shouting, and loud talking OF
these swaying masses Of humanity through
these narrow lanes is indescribable. One sees
stout, half-naked coolies carrying every de
scription Of merchandise. Some of the bales
and burdens are Of enormous size and weight,
and always carried slung on pole, which
rests on the shoulders. And to all these
scenes the yelling Of the sedan-chair carriers,
warning people out of their way. and the
motley crowd Of loafers, and peddlers, and
beggars, and the noise, tumult, and confu
sion eau better be imagined than described
The most remarkable streets noticed are
those where are to be found the curiosity
shops aud the birds'nest pickers, u mean
the pickers which prepare the
BIRDS NESTS FOR sour.
These latter are very numerous and seem to
employ vast number Of men, who are con-
stantly separating, with great ability the
particles Of dirt and feathers from the nest,
in which occupation the length Of the finger
nails seems to be of considerable convent
ence. The sellers Of antiquities or curios
generally make a good harvest among strang-
ers, rating their demands according to the
dispositions Of the purchasers as they seem
to have a peculiar talent for scanning by the
face not only the depth Of the purse, but the
freedom with which its contents will be dis
bursed. Many of these shops are loaded
with rare curiosities that which seems to
be the most priced and which commands the
highest prices being green stone, like NAL
achite, called jade stone, of which material
small jars and figured cups frequently are
sold here at the absurdly high price of $500
and even 800 each might safely add in
this connection that refrained from invest.
ing in any of them at those figures. Rare
old China ware is exceeding scarce and ex.
ceeding dear. Here in the street markets
and shops at Canton, we have noticed fire.
quently sucking pigs, dogs, cats, rats and
even mice, alive and dead, offered for sale
and all intended to be eaten. So economical
and 50 poor are the Chinese that
NOTHING EDIBLE Is EvIR WASTED.
All those portions of fowls, and animals, and
fishes that would be thrown away by us are
here carefully saved and eaten. Sea slugs
as well as the fins, etc, of sharks and other
large fish, are highly relished by all classes
The peculiar manner in which they eat is
very amusing and they manage to carry
their food to their mouth by the aid of their
small chop sticks in the most skilful man
ner. In eating rice, which is here as else
where in Southern latihdes, the staple food
of the natives, they hold the bowl which
contains it close to their mouths and ac
tually push il in with the aid of their little
sticks, apparently never chewing it, but bolt
ing it in huge mouthfuls.
THE DRESS OF THE NATIVES