The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-08-04
OUR PARIS LETTER.
The State Of Affairs Between
France and China.
Conditions OF the Canal Business Dull
COnmsrciai Ventures fabOOel.
The PSrt Bretsn L isI-Lubpr ""d APPre"-
Lices-fhs LauAIic A-yIums.
FRANCE AND CHINA.

FRANCE AND CHLSA.
Enthusiasm for ToukIn has wonderfully di-
minished since 1t has become possible the Black
Pirates would have the Chinese at their backs,
aud a war with China and closing her ports
might involve complications with other nations.
Then again it is felt thu Foreign Minister has
not stated the whole case. that he has been pre-
cipitate in rspudiatiug tue negotiations, and an
nouncing his intention to annex AMMAN. The
extreme left taking advantage of the altered cur
rent Of opinion intend to provoke Il grand Ton
kin debate. This will be useless, unless a yell
low book be published. France will, since she
must, avenge the massacre of Riviere aud his
garrison: that accomplished, Toukin will be
abandoned as heretofore. France on reflection
| cannot see the adv tntages for spending millions
of money and sacrificing hundreds of lives.
Though the government withholds the publ
cation Of the dispatches, ii is accepted that Com
mandant IRiviere did not fall IN a sortie, but
that he was defeated while ndeavoring to march
into the bowels of the land, when the AnnamItes
were able to select their moment OF attack. The
natives display no desire to be annexed, but to
continue tributary to China, As the latter claims
they have been since 1900 years. In Pallee's
work on the A~unamites, he states the men never
have boards till 80 AMI flr from resembling the
pard, such is limited 10 II few hairs on the upper
lip and chin. The women and men dress
nearly alike, blouse aai pantaloons; the latter
when in four color5 is preferred by coquettes.
The ladies have a childish beauty, and in addi-
ton to the usual parts of the body for wearing
jewelry, exhibit such on their toes. The inhab-
itants display more care on their sepulchres
which are painted in lilac aud rose, than on
their homes which are sombre. But then they
pass a good deal of their life in gondolas,
TUE
The Aunamites love gambling, dislike COM
merce, and only cultivate the ground to meet
home wants. They are not naturally warlike,
but if one of their chiefs be slain, they open his
body, extract the heart, and devour it warm and
palpitating to inherit his courage. Crime is not
extensive; the most terrible is against the en-
peror. The accused for this is cut up into an
hundred morsels, the fragments put into a jar,
and placed before his own door. Marriage aud
death are the two important events in the life of
the people; then the poorest is at liberty to wear
silks, fancy patterns, and long robes, like a
mandarin, and if the latter encounters a we'd
ding or funeral procession, be descends from his
elephant or horse, as a mark of respect. 1t is
in the villages national life concentrates; only
the Emperor, or by his order, can any per-
son forcibly enter a cottage, constructed of
dwarf palms. In the contrary case the women
are free 10 lynch the intruders.
THE NEW sUEz CANAL.
am informed that the accord between the
Suez company aud the English Government is
not rs rose-colored IS NJ. de Lesseps lately de-
pictad it. The English Cabinet is not prepared
to dispute de Lessep's concession to cut canals
across the isthmus, but it claims for the Khe-
dive the right to declare when a second canal is
necessary, to compel de Lessep5 to make it with
in 4 fixed date, and following conditions in ac-
cordance with the spirit of the times. These
latter imply cheaper tariffs and an exclusive ad-
miuistration. Failing compliance, the Khedive
can make the canal III his own name. NJ. de
Lesseps wants the canal to always possess a
French trademark so as to perpetuate the glory
of his country. In all combinations he insists
on France having the casting vote ut the coun-
ell board. In the way Of concession, the nego-
tiatos offer to make him President for his
life. Many shrewd people think the solution
lies in buying up the company Commercially,
that in the end would pay.
coMTE DE cHAMBoRD.
. Only think of the Comte lie Chambord being
interviewed by a red-hot republican, of the EUe-
nement, who paid a visit to Froshdorf on his
return from Moscow. The result leaves a favor
able impression of Henri V, who leads anything
but a regal life. The house is full of invaluable
royal souvenirs, such as the famous helmet and
black plumes, for he employed that color as we'll
as white, of Henri "; the portrait of Marie An
toinette, by Nine Lebrun. tue best existing, and
bearing the marks of bayonet thrusts and balls
of the revolutionists of 1880. The Comte is
small rather in statue, corpuIent and with little
legs: he has a Byron halt. His bust is very ell
egant, his manners most pleasing AMI gay. His
hair commences to turn gray. He Is a veritable
Nimrod, rents an extensive tract of country aud
never hunts the sans gains a second time in the
same season.
NJ. DE GREYY.