Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-10
THE ORIENT.


The Pacific Mail steamship City Of Peking
arrived at San Francisco Thursday, bringing
sdvices from Hongkong to October 4.h and
from Yokohama to October Goth.
CHINA.
1.-THE Foochow arsenal at Psgods anchor
age" says the North China Herald lis pre-
senting buster appearance at the present
time than it is ever remembered to have done,
every department being active. The iron.
plated vessel which was launched few
months ago is rapidly approaching compile
tion and is certainly q splendid vessel"
Advices from Hongkong and Shanghai are
to October 4th. The native journsls of Hong
kong have been indulging in very bellicose
utterances against Europeans generally, in
duced probably BY the French action in
Anam and the unfortunate affair at Canton.
Several cases of cholera were found on
board the steamer Afghan, which arrived at
Hongkong from Swatow en- route for Sings-
pore, September 18th, and siHce then all YES.
sells hailing from the infected port have been
put in quarantine. One European and ten
Chinese belonging to the steamer died from
the disease.
The Chinese have it that an association has
been formed in Canton, the members of which
have pledged themselves to take the lives of
three foreigners in reveI &c for the Chinese
lives which they allege have been taken by
foreigners.
North China DAILY Nelcs: 1t is. we be.
lieve an open secret that the Consul-Gen-
eral for the United States has again copsid-
cred it necessary to ADDRESS the Department
through the Minister of Pekipg on the sub.
ject of certain serious irregularities alleged
to have been committed by Chester Hol-
combe, Secretary of Legation. This time it
is for a violation of law in the purchase and
shipment of dutisble merchandise. curios,
etc., to the United States without Consular
invoices. 1t seems that instead Of the duly
authenticated invoices, which the United
States law prescribes, the goods have been
accompanied by anondescript certificate made
out before Mr.. Holcombe himself using the
seal and title of the Legation in his illegal
action and in fraud of the revenues of the
public treasury. 1t is alleged that this dis
reputable business has been carried on for
some time by Mr.. Holcombe. There is good
reason to believe that come very interesting
reading may be looked for when all the facts
of the business are brought to light
A correspondent Of the China Mail says
The Chinese are credited with cannibalism.
according to a writer in the China Mail
quoted in your columns; and his statement
is apparently indorsed by your high author
ity, and is likely to find credence in the
West, and in some future work on China to
be solemnly asserted as true. Now, l very
much doubt the whole thing. That various
portions of the human body are used medi-
cinally is we'll known; also that, sctusted
by flisl piety, son or daughter will. in a
last extremity, cut q piece of flesh eff his
or her own body with which to nour-
ish sick parent. l have myself seen
not few cases of this practice; but
this surely cannot be styled csnnibslism.
The particular case referred to, viz the
catching of decapitated criminals blood to
be drunk, is apparently misunderstood by
the writer. The practice have witnessed,
and it consists in saturating piece of bread
with the blood of criminals with the idea that
such blood is useful incidentally in the cure
of cases Of inability to swallow. whether this
affection arises from structure of the gullet or
cancer of the stomach. never heard of the
heart and liver being eaten and considered
| delicacies.
There is an undercurrent of feeling among
the riffrsff of Canton decidedly hostile to
! foreigners. Threats are constantly being
made, and fires are frequent, supposed to be
of incendiary origin.
JAPAN.
According to the latest census, the popula-
tion of Japan is sc, 700. lis, of whom Is 59S,.
09S are males, Is, 102 020 females.
Good reports continue to arrive from the
interior respecting the probable rice harvest.
| All other cereal crops have turned out very
satisfactorily.
| The Governor Of Kanawagu, in paper on
the municipal government of Yokohama,
says concerning the sale of liquors The
question of licenses for taverns is one with
which we cannot now deal. The disgraceful
condition of the liquor traffic in Yokohama is
not denied, nor apparently can it be con-
| trolled in the absence of such regulation as o
legally constituted municipality alone can
enforce"
The condition of Jspan's international
commerce is depressed and improbable.
Tea, the second staple export, has suffered SO
much in quality consequent upon the eager
ness Of producers to secure quantity, thai
prices have fallen very nearly 80 per cent. on
those ruling last year.
The Japanese journals observe with graft
fcation the increasing taste and demand in
the United States for Japanese manufactured
goods.
The Mail (Yokohams) says that if the re-
strictions imposed upon the use OF foreign
vessels were removed Japan might sell rice to
a large amount.
A murder was committed at Nsgssaki on
the 18th of September by Japanese police
man. The victim was a Chinamsn, and the
affair has created great excitement among
the Chinese residents of the place. Several
other persons were cut and stabbed by
the same man. A meeting of the Consuls
was to be held the next day, as it is believed
that the murder was the natural consequence
of allowing the police to wear swords while
on duty.