The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-10-28
The Real China Land.

THE London Times says: Mr.. Thomas
Ferguson, the writer of the following let
ter, is the principal merchant at ChefoO,
and is also the Belgian Consul at that
port:
"WEEHYEN, SHANTUNG, China, May 30 1873
Il arrived here on the 21th inst. after
most interesting journey of 20C
miles through the province of Shantung
| | had no idea of what the real China land
| is until now, or rather my idea Of it was
incOmpletc; and now | have seen this ad-
mirable country 50 closely | feel that it is
most wonderful place in many ways.
From the time left ChefoO until | came
here the fields Of wheat extend on both
sides of the road as far as the eye reaches
LuXuriant crops they were, and they be
token great wealth in the land. For the
| first seventy miles the road is over hilly
country, not steep but undulating, and
with the greatest height of 21j feet This
portion of the journey ended at Wang
hyen, and after that the road traverses a
vast plain, over which numerous villages
are spread, about one or two miles apart.
| All the villages are inclosed by mud walls
and at distance look solid, but when
seen close they are miserably defended by
such walls, the greater part Of them being
out of repair. The population of this
province is quite up to the estimate OF
3S,000,0 600, if one can judge of it from the
inhabitants of the plain | came across.
| passed the large city of Lai-
chutoo, with high walls of stone, and
another, city of Chang-yi, with very fine
/ stone walls, and theplace where am now
! is IA vast city Of about 25O,O00 inhabitants,
| with magnificent stone walls about seven
| ty feet high, with battlements, and most
grand in appearance. | went to the coal
mines, about twelve miles distant, and
was much struck with the helplessness OF
the Chinese to work those mines properly.
1t was a curious feeling to find myself and
Il missionary gentleman diving here
among crowd of Chinese miners, about
800 men keeping a ring around us as we
advanced, looking at us with astOniShment
and concern, but with no hostile feeling or
a word expressive of dislike, and there
was the appearance Of respect arising out
of the feeling. These foreigners can
help us to get the water out of our mines
and allow us to work them and gain our
bread This is what they seemed TO be
saying to themselves all the while. 1t was
a strange sight as | stood in the midst OF
the crowd with an umbrella over my head
and the people staring at me and good
naturedlv walking with me to the coal
pits | have had visits from several peO,
pie, to whom have shown how to work
these mines, and | have visited one
of the most ancient and wealthy fam
lilies of the city. Chin is the fam
lily name (his visiting card is Chin Ghiai
SeeO. His house is remarkable-the first !
have seen in China. The reception-roOm
is furnished with ancient arm-chairs al
least three feet wide in the seat, like
thrones The place of honor had beau
tiful drawing Of a bamboo grove in the
wall We never saw such a thing in Chi
na Before it large porcelain plate on t
stand 700 years old. On one side is 8
bronze vase of the Chen dynasty Of
800 years before Christ The old man in
troduced his grandson, a charming boy
and on our request to see some old curios
tiles he went to his room and brought {
sacrificial bronze cup on three legs which
belonged to noble family LOO years be
fore Christ, just the same as one see:
printed in the books of the ancient Chi
nesc classics. 1t was most curious, and i
seemed to say: | show yol thing whicl
was used by my ancestors in their worship
nearly 1900 years ago In fact this cul
was contemporary with Solomon's TEN
pie, and was made before Rome was built
He only showed us that, as if all the res
was too modern for our admiration. Ii
his grand room, where he received us, wa
his library of books, in beautiful ceda
cases, and his family banners of silk
with gold letters on them, which ar
borne before their cof1ins at their inter
ments."