Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-06-15
"A CHINESE IuNK VILLAGE.


AhhkAoms
A curious feature of life in China Il
the immense floating population which
is found on the iunks and small craft in
the rivers ana haiDors q the Celestial
Emplre-a population which, It is said,
has never been included IN the census,
as It is constantly on the move, here to
day. there tomorrow, carrying its home
and Its belongings up and down the
great waterways wherever the necessi-
ties OF trade may dictate. In the har-
Dor OF Hong Kong alone there are more
than thirty thousand people who are
always aloat earning their daily snbsis-
tence by fishing or attending upon the
ships lying at anchor. A vessel on en-
tering the harbor engages boat to wait
upon it during its soiourn in port. It
serves as lighter, carrying and bring
ing freight, the boatmen are seryiceable
IN many ways, and the women do wash
ing for the captain and officers Of the
ship. It is an interesting fact that an
act OF dishonesty towards their employ
ers is almost unknown among these
simple people.
The legend among the Chinese con.
cerning this floating population ID that
centuries ago, no one knows when. q
terrible inundation drove vast numbers
Of people to take refuge in boats. So
long were they compelled to live on the
water that they lost all trace Of their
homes, and the people on shore became
strangers to them, and resisted all their
attempts to resume life on land. Ger
tain it is that from forgotten generations
these people have lived afloat, the boat
their only dwelling. Whole families are
born, live and die on the water but il Is
q singular fact that the dead ara alvsys
taken on shore for burial.
The life Of these people is very sim.
pie. Many Of the boats are entirely
open, an awning Of straw mating being
the only protection against sun and
rain and heavy dews. A small portable
furnace which is moved about the boat
at pleasure, makes a kitchen wherever
it happens to stand. On this furnace
large Kettle is placed, In which hodge
podge OF meat-rat, cat, or anything
easily obtsined-and vegetables is al
ways bubbling. The kettle is covered
Dy steamer containing rice. This,
with fruit and tea, is the family menu
year In, year out. But the people are
happy In their simple way. The babies
splash about in the water and learn to
swim almost as soon as they can walk,
and generation after generation lives
and dies content, making no effort to
change either habits or home.
These water folk are very shrewd
observers OF the weather. The terrible
typhoons which at certain seasons visit
these waters are foreseen with great
accuracy by these native sailors, and in
~ haats sa,s.;as $50 go. 80 !, ~, sAIaa. 'aAAs
hid M i ~ shalt..aa aosS -. ~ Ia .llISl 49,,
an.;, I AZ - .s-s:a s.se.sU Ds'S anu in'e,s
-. ''a A'' O'o"A is0el'
80.
Inc men N tnese Doats are hardy,
Dronzeo ieiiows, with strength and
aaring ior anything their manner OF
NE may require Inc women are often
sraceo WIN consiaeraDie Deauty. Inelr
pnysicai development Is much superior
70 tnat OF the women on shore. Their
leet are never distorted and rendered
dlmlnutlve by tight bandaging, and
Their lie In the open air and their con-