New-York tribune., 1875-03-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ruoNsoN,s MALACCA AND CHINA.

The experience of ten years travei ana adventure
In different parts of the great Chlnese empire anu
the neighboring countries has furnlshed 'he au'oi
=, ,h;s work with the materials for an interesting
narrative, although it makes no very important "u-
itons to the general stock of knowledge ON the SUD-
,oct Ue is lively, entertaining writer, with con-
siderable mower of description. taste for researches
An natural history, and q curious observer OF the
character and habits of the various strange speci-
mons Of humanity with which he came III contact
His impressions of China and its inhabitants are
even of more somber cast than those OF most TO
cant travellers but he brings an ample array OF facts
to confirm his statements in regard TO the depth OF
the prevailing ignorance and poverty.
One of his earliest visits was TO the B'iSh colohy
of Hong Kong in which, standing alone on the
verge of the great continent oil Eastern hs'a'
with its noble European edihces Its CHRISTIAN
churches. and Buddhist temples he takes a certain
harmless national pride as the key to higher civil
izaton in some of the dark corners Of the Flowery
Land The first appearance Of the town is pre-
possessing Some of the largest buildings are of
stone and of magnificent proportions, which wonid
not disgrace the most imposing quarters OF London
The most snowy OF the jewellers shops look like es-
tablishments in the heart of Bond Street. The
Chinese vie with each other in their display OF
costly articles, Canton silks. carved IVORY
porcelain paintings, and other dainty wares
Entering 'Sun-Sing's' Cantonese shop we are
welcomed by the proprietor himself. kwaugtune
gentleman speaking English. His attire Is jacket
of Shantung silk dark Grape breeches' White Ieg-
pines. and embroidered shoes and he displays all
The ponderosty and ease of prosperous Chlnaman'
His assistants are dressed with equal care, and stahd
bchind ebony counters and glass caSesthe latter OF
Kpotless polish and filed with curiosItles, anclen'
and modern. from Canton. One side or the shop Is
occupied with rolls of choice silks and samples OF
grass mating all labeled and priced The floor above
is taken ND with a cleverly-aTanged assortment OF
ancient bronzes porcelain aud ebony furniture ana
Iackered ware We invest in an ivory fan. and sun
Sing designs and engraves on it pretty Englsh
monogram. This shopkeeper. really fine specimen
of his race much respected by the European com
rnunity and scrupulousy fair in his dealings, viii
furnish one with the cheapest toy in his stock with as
great polteness and apparent satisfaction. as If re-
ceying an order for q shiplOad of embroidered silks"
The markets present lively spectacle, but Ii you
wish TO choose a dinner to your taste, you must get
I'D early as the chief business of the day Is con-
cluded BY seven o'clock in the morning. Inc
avenues are rendered picturesque by painted ana
yllded sicnboards. with Chinese and English char
acters. although the dealers are all Cinnamon
"Ah-Yct" and "Sam-Ching" announce that they
are prepared to furnish ships and families Win
poultry. beef vegetables, and groceries OF the DeSt
custom not unknown to the lOng-sunerng New
York paterfamilias who selects the chickens and
mutton for his own table, prevails of keeping mar
ket-bools for the purchasers, with each item and
its price iotted down, which settled at the end
OF the month. There is no lack of variety, OF oil
novel delcacies in the different stalls
Perhaps the most interesting OF them is the nshmon,
gers This establishment consists or an ufdhSeleut OF
tanLs or aquarums filed with clear running water:
and teeming with living sea or river nsh lor e most
ovcp Tho ts0E selects some finnv occupant which
takes his fancy and this is immediately caught ana
supplied HIM have never seen any or these Ircsh
wafer l,h Europe they reve in the most beautiful
fed striped spotted; and there are others pain ana
at butcher there sundry deeacies 10 he met
with unknown 70 European paiGtes Dut which tne ma
fvcs delight IN; rats strung up ny tne tals tenpns
plump. aud festOOns OF living rOgs aItened lOr lhe e
cure Some say that here and there We may see small
legs and ubs. undoubtedly canine, nut OF TINS am by
means certain have indeed, IN Gties purely ClI-
ever is not o common As rule, the Chinese are
moi very particular the kind OF food they eat but
they ceanly in thor modes OF preparing IT. aud we
might well learn valuable lessons from them in
Ihs branch OF domestic economy Thus they are skilled
odds and cuds and far less wastcfu and extraya-
CANT in the OF their food than we are
In the quarter Of The town frequented by seamen
of all nations find the usual concomants of such
favored localities. Spirits sold IN every second
shop. Bands Of common sailors are seen dancing TO
Il
sea-song in drunken chorus. The keepers of these
grog-shops might be mistaken for respectable mem
bcrs OF society but for their bulldog and battered
countenances, which exhibit the bruises and black
ewes received IN taking the change out of their Gus
TONERS. There are strange hotels in this quarter
besides music halls and lodgng-hOuses, the haunts
Of vagabonds well known to the police. There are
numerous women, but Of the lowest type
Among the largest music halls there one which
hal d a, q
typc OF the Attractive sorts in list OF about one
hundrcd and eighty similar establishments. The hall l
sneak Of stand. AT the eud OF Hollywood Road and
e1teu-iyey decorated externally with porcelain floral
ornaments. AZ the entfauce we hnd an altar crowned
ure, whose image surmOuuis the shrine 10 tDe right
ana left Of tins hHS scios on Wi,aen ntSn mora Pr
the place Halt dozen OF the most Iascluat-
ng the female singers are seated outside the gaze
Their robes are of rchlyembroidered SILK their faces
ere enameed. ana Their har bedeched with perIumed
Gowrs and dressed In some cases to resemble a teapot.
In OF hers a bird with spread wings poised upon the top
OF the head On the erOundOOr ali thc aVaaOIe space
one furnished apparently with Opumcouoh, ana all
paraphernaia for the use Of the drug Here there
sre girls in constant attendance some ready 10 prepare
aud charge the bowl of the pipe with the opium, aud
upon the lutte sing sweet melodies 10
watt the sleeper of into dreamand under the strangely
fascinating Influences which, long, Will make him
wholly their slave. on the first floor, which reached by
flight Of steps, there is deserted muslc-lal,
showing OF the reve Of the preceding night in the
faded garauds Which sun fesoon its carved aud glded
roof There two stories TO the edhoe, parti
toned of both OF them In the same way as the ground
floor.
Al another house we visited VIC found goodly com
MANY Ia the music saloon. Tue whole interior mad been
freshly deeked with flowers festooned from the ceiling
or suspended in baskets made OF waited twiRs while
mirror paint gliding and all the skill Of Kwangung
had been lavshly bestowed IN the more pernaneht
wadecOrations. At a table spread with the choicest
decacies aud the finest fruits sat merry throng OF
Cninamen-young middle aged. and old Hot wine In
FURNISHED pewter pots was passing freely round tne
board and The reyeers were PedgIs esoa 4ner fsc IN
aropped in anon I dinnerparty Where under the nfia
ence Of native wine, melon seeds and pretty women,