The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-07-15
CYRUS W. FIELD IN THE ORIENT.
Some Interesting Experiences and Observation

1870
Eytracts Of an Intsrviep Nth Mr.. Cyrus W
Field IN The N. Y. Mail.
ais the discomfort Of travel greater In the
East than In American"
al do not know that II Is, except Is the re-
sult Of climate. Certainly there was no ui'-
usual discomfort about railway travel In
India. Railway management there Is Of
high order, and rs TO expenses Of operating
exceeds anything TO be found In the United
States. But about thity-thrce per cent. OF
the receipts Of India railways are required 70
meet the expense Of operation. What one
of our railways can report Is favorably as
that? The trains and the steamers one
takes 10 travel around the world are most Of
them very comfortable.
aDuring my trip was passenger on one
Japanese, one Chinese, two French and seven
English steamers, but nowhere did ! travel
by ship carrying the United States nag. IL
Is dreary for an American 10 visit SO many
parts of the globe and not find more vessels
carrying his country's flag. IL was not 81
thiity-two years ago, when made my nrst
trip 10 Europe. Then the United States nag
was TO be seen everywhere"
swell, would free ships help us?"
aCetainly. We must be allowed to buy
sbips In whatever market they are the cheap
est, and give them an American register, and
place them under the United States flag. II
is time for something TO be done to restore
the merchant marine to Its former rank.
When Americans travel upon the ocean they
ought 10 see their own flag as often rs Eng
lands, or oftener."
TEA FROM A GOLDEN TEAKETTLE.
aThe Japanese are as agreeable . people
Is you saw, are they notp"
aPerhaps so. Do you know that they are
one of the cleanliest people on earth, per-
sonally? But as much cannot be said OF
them morally. II is the custom of the whole
nation to battle daily; but II may shock you
10 know that until recently men and women
bathed together perfectly naked. The Gov.
ernment has established law against pho.
miscuous bathing, and the bathing houses
are now made with partition 10 separate the
men and the women, but II IL not very high
A few years ago II was very common thing
10 see men and women stark naked taking
bath In front OF their houses but things are
done In Asia without any question, which III
America would create great scandal. The
relation of the sexes In Japan are unfortu-
tunate, but no worse than elsewhere In Asia
The most refined Japanese are extremely
courteous and agreeable people. We were
invited TO visit q Japanese merchant with
whom was much pleased. Seated In itnriki
shas, stout, very easy, two-wheeied vehicles
each drawn by hardy Jap, we proceeded to
tile house Of our host, where our reception
was as curious as 1t was cordial. We had To
remove our shoes at the door and enter and
make our visit In our stocking feet. Oul
host introduced us TO three OF bis wives. 4
do not know how many more he had. !,
will give you some idea of the elegance oi
our entertainment II tell you that the tea
we drank was made before us In golden tea
KETTLE
BEAUTY OF ORIENTAL scEEERY.
ais not the scenery of Japan and mos
other countries of the East unattractivep"
aNo; much of 1t Is very beautiful. Ths
hills, mountains and volcanoes Of Japan ars
exceedingly beautiful. The groves which
occupy SO much space In Japanese cities arr
very attractive. The inland ses upon which
we crossed to Nagasaki is as beautiful as an!
water ever sailed upon. Many OF the citie
ofAsia are surrounded by very fine scenery
CELESTIAL WONDERS.
awhat was your first impression Of tn
greatest Chinese city you visitedp"
fsl nj ht Ar
upon the water. In Japan many people ob
tain their whole subsistence from the water
and vast number live upon II altogether
but at Canton the river was literally coyere'
with boats OF every conceivable shape. IL ]
about seventy -fve,miles from the sea up TN
Pearl river TO Canton, and when you up
proach the city the number of boats Is In
credible. Why, Il 10 said that as many q
100. 900 people live upon the water at Canton
A vast multitude or the people remain Il
their boats all their lives, eating and sleep
Ing In them, and many children are born \
them. My chief impression OF Canton, how
ever. Il wonder at The cleanliness Of the city
Il has more than million of people, and ye
Il has no sewers. But the filth Is collecte
very regularly, and laborers bear II away o
their backs every morning TO be used as
fertilizer. That great city Of dark, ding
~
wide. IA much cleaner and healthier tha
New York. III Canton can be kept clea
without sewers, what possible excuse CO
there be for the filthy condition OF Ne
York, which ID situated on m island, IN
has two tides every twenty-four hours
sweep the filth into the seap"
CUT OFF From HOME BUT ONCE.
ain what part OF the world was comml
nication with homo most Interruptedf"
aThcre was not IN hour that spent
any country OF the East that / could M
send cable message TO New York, exec
when In the city Of Canton. For about fv'
days there was mot within reach Of the Tel
graph. Elsewhere during my journey, g
cept when on the sea, could always ind
telegraph Office from which could send
message directly home. II 10 one OF q
East, that the telegraph and the railway .
being eutroduccd there. The telegraph
contributing much to the intelligence
Asia. The telegraph Offices ere the centr
Of information throughout the Orient, ~
Americans and Europeans residing the
would regard the loss Of the telegraph {
most uncomfortable"
ORIENTAL BUILDINGS.
NIhtnA ms not % many nne ouituinSs
the countries nearer the equator, has she
The dwellings or the natives are pc
everywhere In Asia. The only fine privu
< buildings are those Of foreign residents. II
pazodns Of the great cities Of China are co
spicus above the hut-like houses Of the ps
pie, and they are very much inferior TO q
mosques and temples Of India. Az We 81
ed from the ports Of China the pagodas w
the last object, and . We approached SIM
pore, tbs scuthernmost point Of Asia q
passed through the Straits OF MAlacca 20
nang. the temples OF heather deities w
the FIRST objects 70 attract our attention.
itwas 1t every Asiatic port We entered.
We sailed up tho Bay Of Bengal to Rangos
The Capital OF British Burmah, twenty a
miles within the mouth Of the great Irawl
dy, the greatest psgoda in the world RAID
up IL great golden dome imposingly befi
4 RAJAH's HOSPITALITY.
aAre the best Inhabitants or Benares
tslligent and agreeable people1"
.yery. had m excellent opportunity
ascertain them TO be 90. The Rsjah u