The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-26

up masses Of the Whitecl mountains.
Engaging guide we proceeded to the
city, first entering the markets on the
banks OF the river. Here we see great
variety Of fruit, fsh fowl and other game,
among which we see the Carcasses OF rats,
cats and dogs exposed for sale. Cat meat
is esteemed an especial delicacy. The
atmosphere Is not more offensive than
that Of Billingsgate, Notwithstanding the
bad odor Of the Chinese.
The streets OF Canton are very narrow,
seldom over six or eight feet in width,
and very crooked. They are covered in
places with bamboo awnings and perpen.
dlcular signs OF painted cloth floating 20
thiCkly overhead that we cannot tell the
style Ol-frChilccture Of the houses, which
appear to be but one story in height.
The fronts Of the houses are all open, and
we can see the interior Of shops, filled
with costly goods, and the artisans ply
ing their various vocations-b laCksmiths,
carpenters, cabinet.lnakers, weaVers, bra.
ziers, gOldsmiths-all ut work in sitting
posture, with hardly space sufficient to
use their arms.
There appears to be no large factories
or community Of labor, each individual
working independently. Their great
specialtieS are wood carving, silk en-.
broideries and lacguered ware, the shops
Of several OF which ! visited. Thei.
silk embroideries are marvellously fine.
1t is astonishing how true to nature they
can be in some things wllisC 80 grOtesque
and hideous in others. Their birds and
flowers are perfect in Colors and proper
ton.
We visited few OF their many TEN.
pies, all having grotesQue figures stand
ing in front and colossal bronze statues
within, some Of them Of considerable
beauty. In the temple OF the five hundred
Genii, represented by that many figures,
one is that Of Portuguese sailor dressed
in the ordinary sailor costume.
In the temple Of Confucius is colossal
sitting statue Of that philosopher, sur
rounded by affairs dedicated to the wise
men Of China. In one temple was a pa
CODA representing heaven, the various
stories deuoting the various degrees OF
felicity to be enjoyed according to the
merit Of the individual. From my guide,
very intelligent Chinaman, | learned
that nearly all the deities they worship
we're human beings possessing the divine
attributes, virtue and wisdom. One build
ing called the Temple OF Horrors is prob
ably dedicated to justice, representing
their various modes Of punishment, saw
ing the criminals asunder, boiling them
in oil, and many other equally hideous
and horrible tortures.
Our mode Of conveyance WA in chairp,
suspended between two long poea, and
supported at each end on the shoulders OF
coolies, who trotted along very briskly,
uttering loud cries from time 10 time 10
warn foOtmcn 10 get out OF the way.
When two chairs would meet there was
barely room 10 pass, ard coolies car
ryiRg loads were squeezed into the
corners. The morosc Cinnamon APP
reared to look upon us as intrudCrs
but generally assumed look OF stolid
indifference The only persons who
made any demonstrations we're the chill
dren who were continually shouting
Fan kiveN foreign devil), and the dogi,
Of which there were great numbers,
rushed out at us, barking furiously.
We ascended the walls Of the city and
passed along them for some distance.
They are sixty feet in height with battle.
ments and towers, and are broad enough
on top for carriages 10 pass. Night COM
ing upon uS, after numerous meanderings
through the narrow dimly lighted streets,
the coolies from time to time breaking the
silence with their cultural cry, we found
ourselves again on the bank Of the river.
We rowed past the gaudily decked
2ower boats whGr the gay and ies-
tive celcstials resort TO drink tea. with
painted waiting girls singing their
screaming songs and grinding their
screNking instruments.
From the balcony OF our hotel on the
opposite bank OF the river we watched
the lights cleaning on the waters, and
heard the lar of hum Of the swarming
millions. The sounds OF the laundering
gong, the whining tom tom, the screaking
fiddle and the Clashing cymbals are
mellOwCd into music by the distance. As
they float and TALL upon the waters they
seem to reach our ear from the shores Of
an unknown world.
have formed much more favorable
opinion Of the Chinese from my visit to
Canton. was much struck by their in.
dustry. hardly saw an idle person in
all my travels about the city. The tales
Of Chinese filth and stencil have no ioun.
dation ii applied to Canton. Consider.
ing the numbers OF people croaded to.
gether it is by far the cleanest city in the
world. half Of the number OF Europef
crowded into the same space would breed
q pestilenCe. Like many other people,
the Chinese are we'll enough at home but
they leave their manners and morals be.
hind them on leaving their native coup.
try.
The Chinese appear to me to be im.
measurably superior to the Japanese
both rs regards physique and strength and
Independence Of mind. They are now
slightly relaxing their exclusiyeness and
their hordes are pouring out in all direc.
tions, reaching the Pacific coast " North
and South America, Australia and New
Zealand, and the advanced guard has
already entered India. 1t needs but a
war with England 10 discipline and teach
them their strength when they NAV sweer
the Indian empire from the face OF the
earth, and their countless millions viii
rule supreme throughout Asia. 7.