The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-04-28
Chinese Farming.


The farmers in China, as class, are
highly respectable; but, as their farms
are all small, they are probably less
wealthy than ours. Each farm-hoase is
a little colony, consisting of some three
generatiohs-namely, the grandfather,
his children, and his children's children.
There tney live in peace and harmony
together; all who are able work on The
iarm, and if more labor is required, the
stranger is hired to assist them.
They live well, dress plainly, and are
industrious, without being in any way
oppressed. l doubt If there is happier
race anywhere than the Chinese farmer
and peasantry. Being well known in
this part OF the country, and having al
ways made it point to treat the people
well, was welcomed wherever went.
began to feel quite athome in, the farm.
ers' houses. Here the female members
of the family have much more liberty
than those OF a higher rank. g. tD
They have small feet as usual, but they
are not so confined to the house, on pre-
vented from looking on and speaking to
strangers, as the higher classes ere. Ii
stranger enters the court OF the house
UNEXPECTEDLY, he will see a number of
ladies, both old and young, sitting in
the verandah, all industriously employed
on some work--some spinning, some
sewing or embroidering, and one
probably engaged in culinary opera
tions; and ii the stranger be an I'M
known foreigner, the whole will
rise hufriedly and disappear
like covey Of partridges, oyerturning
wheels. stools, and anything else that
may be in their way. This was a ffe-
quent scene in my earlier visits, but it
1u xunra off ,vha, xuao fnund II
was civilized being like themselves.
These same ladies afterwards would
often ask ME to sit down, and even set a
chair tor me, and bring nae a cup of tea
with their own fair hands; anu while l
drank my tea, they would 60 on with
their work, laughing and chatting as
freely as Ii had been q thousand miles
away.
Near the center of the city, and in one
Of the principal streets; found a most
excellent market. For fully half mile
the street was literally crowded with ar.
ticles oftood. Fish, pork, fowls, ducks,
vegetables of many kinds, and the fruits
OF the season lined its sides. Mush-
rooms were abundant, and excellent, as
afterwards proved by having some
cooked. Frogs seemed much in demand.
They are brought to market in tubs
tuu UdShSg5, anu Buc f6uu6E
himself in skinning them as he sits max
ing sales. He is extremely expert at
this branch Of mis- business. Every now
and then the artist lays down his knife,
and takes UP his scales to weigh these
| animals for his customers and make
his sales. Everything in this civilized
country, whether IL be gold or silver
geese or frogs, is sold by weight.
Here TEA leaves--that is, just as they
| had been plueked from the bushes, and
unmanufactured-were also exposed for
sale in this market. They were sold al
from three farthings to five farthings "a
| pound; and it takes about four pounds
of raw leaves to make one pound OF tea
it follows that the price was az the rate
OF three pence to five pence pound, bu
TO this must be added the expense o
manipulation. In this manner the in
habitants of large towns in China, wht
have no tea farms OF their own, can bul
the raw leaves In the market, and manu-
tacture the beverage for themselves ant
in their own way. is..-te II,