American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-10-01


Hong Kong is only small island Sc
cured to England by the treaty of Nan
king, after the war of 1912. In a few
wears the coloniZing genius of Great
Britain had established there an impor-
tant city, and created the port Victoria.
This island is situated at the mouth of
the Canton River, and sixty miles only
separate it from the Portuguese city of
Macao, built on the other shore.
Passepartout. with his hands in his
pockets, sauntered toward the port We
toria, looking at the palanquins. the
curtained carriages still in favor in the
Celestial Empire, and all the crowd of
Chinese, Japanese and Europeans hur-
rying along in the streets
Passepartout arrived at Victoria port.
Walking along. he noticed certain
number of natives dressed in yellow, all
of quite advance age. Having gone
into a Chinese BARRIERS to be shaved
"a Ia Chinese" he learned from Figaro
in the shop, who spoke pretty good En-
glish. that these ancient men were at
least eighty years old, and that at this
age they had the privilege of wearing
yellow, the Imperial color. Passepar-
tout found this very funny. without
knowing exactly why.
His beard shaved, he repaired to the
wharf from which the Carnatic would
leave, and there he perceived Fix walk
ing up and down, at which he was not
at all astonished. But the detective
showed upon his face the marks of great
disappointment.
..Goodr' SAID Passepartout to HIM
self; that will be bad for the gentle
men of the Reform Clubr'
And he accosted Fix with his merry
smile, without seeming to notice the
vexed air of his companion.
Now, the detective had good reasons
to fret about the Internal luck which
was pursuing him. No warrant! 1t
was evident that the warrant was run
ming after him, and that it could reach
him only if he stopped some days in
this city. Now, Hong Kong being the
last English territory on the route.
this MIR. Fogg would escape him finally
if he did not succeed in OBTAINING him
there.
"Well, Monsieur Fix. have you de-
cided to come with us as far az Ameri-
CAP" asked Passepartout.
| c16ss e &rf sre,r1E enlied Fix. between his
"Well, thenr' cried Passcpartout,
shouting with laughter. Il knew very
| well that you could not separate your
berth, GOMEZ"
And both entered the ticket office
and engaged cabins for four persons.
But the clerk told them that the re-
pairs of the Carnatic being completed,
the steamer would leave ut eight O'clock
in the evening, and not the next morn
ing, rs had been announced.
Very goodr' replied Passepartout,
THAT will suit my master. / am going
to inform him."
At this moment Fix took an extreme
| step. He determined to tell Passepar-
tout everything. 1t was the onl, means,
perhaps. that he had of retaining
Phiieas Fogg for few days in Hong
Kong.
Leaving the Office, Fix offered to
treat his companion in tavern. Passe-
partout had the time. He accepted Fix s
invitation.
A tavern opened on the quay. It had
an inviting appearance: Both entered
1t was a large room, finely decorated,
ut the back of which was stretched a
camp bed, furnished with cushions.
Upon this bed were lying certain num-
Der of sleepers.
room occupied small tables of plated
beer, ale or porter, others jugs of alco-
holic liquors, gin or brandy. Besides,
the most of them were smoking long,
red-clay pipes, stuffed with. little balls
of opium, mixed with essence of rose.
Then, from time to time, some smoker.
overcome, would fall down under the
table, and the walters of the establish
ment. taking him by the head and feet,
carried him on to the campbell, along
side of another. Twenty of these were
laid aside in the last stage of BRITISH
ness.
Fix and Passepartout understood that
they had entered smoking house
haunted by those wretched, stupefied.
lean. idiotic creatures, to whom mer-
camille England sells annually ten mill
ion four hundred thousand pounds
worth of the fatal drug called opium.
Sad millions are these, levied on one of
the most destructive vices of human ma
turc.
The Chinese Government has tried
hard to remedy such Al abuse by severe
laws, but in vain. From the rich class.
to whom the use of opium was at first
formally reserved, it has descended to
the lower classes, and its ravages can
no longer be arrested. Opium is smoked
everywhere and always in the Middle
Empire. Men and women give them
selves up to this deplorable passion, and
when they are accustomed to inhaling
the fumes they can no longer do with
out it. except by suffering terrible
cramps in the stomach. A great smoker
can smoke as many as eight pipes day,
but he dies in five years.
Now, it was one of the numerous
smoking houses of this kind. which
swarm even in Hong Kong, that Fix
and Passepartout had entered with the
intention of refreshing themselves.
Passepartout had no money. but he ac-
copied willingly the "politeness of
mis- companion, ready TO return it to
him at the proper time and place.
They called for two bottles of port,
to which the Frenchman did full
justice, whilst Fix, more reserved, OBJ
served his companion with the closest
attention. They talked of one thing
and another. and especially of the ex-
cellent idea that Fix had of taking pas
sage on the Carnatic. The bottles now
being empty, Passepartout rose to in
form his master that the steamer would
leave several hours in advance of the
time announced.
Fix detained him.
Zone moment" he said
"What do you wish, Monsieur FixP''
81 have some serious matters to talk
to you about
'.Serious matters?" cried Passepar-
tout, emptying the few drops of wine
remaining in the bottom OF his glass.