The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-10-18
ONE OF THE FIRST CAUcASlANS TIC
PENETRATE TO THE INTERIOR
OF CHINA

The following extract of an interesting
letter from Vel hyen, in the province Of
Shantung, appears in the London Times
Mr.. Thomas Ferguson, the writer of the
letter; is the principal merchant in Chetoo,
aud is also the Belgian consul at that port:
WEi-HYEN, Chanting, China, May ~,
1871 arrived here on the 9th in t., at
ter a most interesting journey OF two hun
dred mled through the province of Shant
ung: and, though | have had u deal of ia
tigue, owing 10 the bad roads and wretched
inns feel much better in health than
when left Chetoo on the 10th inst. have
travelled III my large consular chair, with
four be lrers and four more to change, so,
in all had eight men ut my service also
have cart for my servan', my trunk, provi-
sions, ana cooking utensils, and my bed.
for in the inns there are only eggs anu
chickens, and in some places fresh fish,
generally started ut 5 o'clock in the morn
lug and Travelled till l., then had good
meal, and started again at :. aud reached
my evening resting place at 6 or {, when |
] had supper and weus TO sleep. Ths sitting
| in the chair so long every day was firing.
but the novelty OF the journey. and the In :
teres,ing country through which passed.
4 made me feel ii less than | fear | shall do
on my return. when the novelty OF the al
fair will exist no longer. | had no idea Of
what the real China land is until now or
| rather my idea OF Ii was incomplete; and
| now | have seen this admirable country so
| closely, feel that il is most wonderful
place in many ways. From the time lei'
| Chefoo until this place the fields Of whca
| extend on both sides Of the road az far u,
the eye reaches. Luxuriint crops they
were, and they betoken great wealth in TIA,
land For the first seventy miles the roa,
is over hiily country. not steep, bui un.
dula,ing, anu Win the greatest height 2
275 feet !. mis- portion Of the journe,
ended al Wanghyen. and after thai The roa.
traverses a vast plain, over which nnmer
Gus syill.ge are spread. about one 10 w,
miles apgrt. All the villages are inclose'
! by mud walls, and al distance look solid
but when seen close they are miserably de
tended by such walls, the greater part 9
them being out OF repair. The population
Of tuis province IL quite up to The es;imai
OF 30, Uuu,Uvu. if one can judge Of il frof
the inhabitants Of the plain l came across
passed the large city vi ..ai chn foo, wit
usgn walls OF stone, and another city
Chang Vi with very fine stone walls, An
/
$4,000 inhabitants. with magnificent ston
walls about 10 feet high, with battlemeit'
: and most grand in appearance had n
surveying barometer with me IN the char
i and, BY iis help. have been able 10 get u
! pfuhie Of this whole country NJ can
/ alsng with the exact height Of each RI!
D and the level above the SEA Of every plae
lhrouxn which passed. went 10 Il
\ coal mines, about twelve miles distant, ar
Z was much struck with the helpiessness
e The chinese TO work those mines properl
' Ii was curious feeling TO find myself n
Il : missionary gentleman living here) amor
z . crowd VI Chinese miners, about five hui
q dred men keeping ring round US -
il advance i, looking NJ rs with asionishme
= and concern, but with no hostile feeling
Ie sword expressive Of desire, and there W
= the appearance Of respect arising out Of q
10 feei,ng. ..Tnese foreigners can help %
lie keep the water out OF our mines and alla
Of Us 10 wo.k them and gain our bread III
3 IS what they seemed TO be saying TO ihei
ri selves all the while. II WAS a strange sig
'. IS stood in the midst Of the crowd, VI
le an umbrella over my head, and the peol
r starting It me and good naturally Walk
on with me to tn coal pits have had
o. its from several people to whom ! na
ed shown how 10 work these mines, and ha
IL visited one Of the most ancient and weaif
ID families Of the City. Chin il the fam
&c name, (his visiting card j. "Chin On
Of see,.l. md / IN 10 dine with him to d
- His house u remarkable-ahe hrst b
- seen IN China The reception-room j. (
.. nished with ancient-arm chairs = 4
d three fset vide il the ssat, Like throI