The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-17

Sept z. 1853, it was taken by the Chinese rebels.
and in 1862 was menaced by the Tae- Pings. who
were driven back, however, by an allied force of
British. French and Chinese, commanded, if l
remember rightly, by that intrepid Christian
soldier, Chinese Gordon. whose subsequent fate
at khartoum is scathing commentary on vacil-
lation in statesmen and reminder that Per
fdous Albion" sometimes deserts its own.
We next find our steamer at Foo Chow. where
she arrived Oct. 81. There darkskinned natives
brought on board packages of labels, mats of ma
tive grass and tea consigned to Brown Brothers,
the Bank of Montreal and the Earrings, world
renowned bankers. Foo-Chow is large Chinese
city, having population of 500, 600. It's queer
streets, Strengthening pagodas, temples and
other buildings interest the traveller. 1t sends
out ships to every CLINE. laden with tea timber,
paper. bamboo, oranges and other fruits, copper,
corn and spices. 1t has 500 ovens constantly
making porcelain. It is within seventy miles of
the black tea district Annoy was reached on
Oct 20, whore the cargo of tea was increased.
The Annoy merchants are famous throughout
the Chinese empire for their wealth and enter
prise. It has great warehouses and an enormous
trade. Some of the buildings are of
extraordinary size. Annoy is on an island
of the same name, near the mainland OF
China. of which it is part. The city was cap
tured by the British in 184l. It's streets mar
row. dirty and gloomy The Fourth ward of
New York is cleanliness itself compared to some
Of the sickening thoroughfares of this strange
and far-off city On Nov. the large steamer
stopped at Singapore. 1t is for moment diff
cult to realize that this vessel which we see at
a South-street wharf, in familiar New York, has
actually traversed the waters of the antipodes,
vet only about two months ago this steamer was
in the region to which Milton gave the name of
the Golden Chersonese, a region which poetic
fancy might imagine land of unfailing delight
n ra fOr Of to
ministrations to the higher susceptibilities And
so it is, within certain limits. As for the island
of Singapore however, on which is the port
of the same name to which have referred,
it has its Inconvenience Tigers are more plen-
tiful than could be desired. The salubrity of the
climate is thus, in some sense, negative advan-
tage. The population of tigers is constantly re-
inforced by their striped brethren swimming
from the mainland, which, in some places, is
only quarter of mile distant, and these four
footed immigrants are source of no little I'M
easiness. They keep wholesome check on
moonlight strolls, and evening picnics. The
island of Singapore was purchased by the British
from the Sultan of lahore. in 1919. The port of
Singapore has risen rapidly into Importance. It
is one of the principal coalng stations for steam
ers in that region. 1t was mainly for the pur-
pose of replenishiEg its supply of coal that the
Benvenue stopped there. though 1t also took on
board about sixty bundles of rattans, as we'll as
some gum copal, the latter to be used in making
varnish.
Port Said is reached on Nov. g. This is q
seaport of Egypt at the Mediterranean entrance
of the Suez canal. and is coaling station for
steamers 1t is in the region traversed by Marco
Polo 600 years ago. when he told the wonderful
stories of the splendid Orient to skeptical
Western world. Malta, a British island. sixty
two miles southwest of Sicily. is made on Dec. 2.
The port is valuable commercial depot and
naval station. The island has been peopled in
its eventful past by Phenicians Greeks, Car
hoe; nA.Io ~ Co
acens. From the Saracens it passed to Sicily,
and was held by that country till 1922 when
Charles V granted it to the Order of st. John of
Jerusalem. In 1873 the grand master, Hompesch.
by Nelson. At length. on Dec
6, Gibraltar is reached, the port Nesting
under that frowning promontory. one of the
Pillars of Hercules. which the old Greeks and
Romans regarded as the western limits of the
world-a superstition which lived for centuries,
but which Columbus of course, destroyed. Be-
yond these awful pillars the gateway leading out
to the dark and the terrible to fierce tempests,
horrible serpents and unknown horrors, the
boldest dared not venture. After reaching a
certain point the convexity of the earth would
prevent the return of the navigator who should
defy the nameless terrors of exploration in the
unknown seas, and his fate would be "vast and
wandering grave" Nothing of this sort was en-
countered by the Benvenue. If any of the
crew had ever heard of the ancient superstition
it would. Of course. have raised laugh, or at
least a stare of incredulity from the
most ignorant. The steamer sailed west
ward from Gibraltar out into the ocean
ancien.ly peopled with the black. fearful, COM
fortress and horrible, and arrived at the great
mart of the new world on Dec. 25 Other great
steamers are constantly bringing tea to New
York. Twenty years ago this country imported
Sc, 200 600 worth in year; now the imports are
valued at 500. 000, 900. From 70, 00O, 900 to 75-
coo, 900 pounds are annually consumed in this
fhrno- 1orfor nf <ho
trade; it is not unusual to have supply in the
great warehouses of 20, 000, 900 pounds; one of
these stores on the East-river front sometimes
contains as many as 100000 chests l have
known as many as 1900 chests to be sold at
auction in New York in single day. 1t is an
interesting sight to see the brokers at their
circular. rotating tables sampling tea. taking it
in the Chinese fashion, without milk or sugar.
The part that tea played in the Revolution is
too familiar to require any more than a bare
mention. At first tea was denounced in Europe
as poison Two hundred years ago it was
luxury; it cost in England at first $50 pound
Pepys says in his diary. in 1867: Home, and
there find my wife making of tea, a drinking
which Mr.. Polling, the apothecary, tells me is
good for cold and defexions" Queen Anne in
dulged in the "best foreign Bohee." at Hampton
court, a.fact that inspired Pope's couplet:
Here, thou great Anne. whom three vast realms
obey,
Dost sometimes counsel take and sometimes tea"
Tea is adulterated with the leaves OF the will
low. hawthorne, elder, plane poplar and other
trees, besides exhausted fairgrounds soapstone,
turmeric, plumbago or black lead, gypsum. indi-
go, terra alba and Prussian blue. The best tea
cannot be brought to this country; il would fer
ment on the voyage. Most grocers greatly over
charge their customers for their tea. This is one
of the greatest abuses in the trade. o. w.R
WHY THEY ARE VAIN.
Little XanifieA Of Great Men aa Seen hv n