St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-08-04
A cnlNAMAN.s BOOK.


WA.s us Thought or Matters and TAings
is the Wssssra World.
In the later part of tho last century
Chinaman. Ong-Tae-Hao by name.
made an extended tour through Por-
tions OF Eur,Ps. On returning to his
native country. in the year 1871. hc
set forth the results OF his obscrva-
lions in book which he called Tho
Chinaman Abroad" This curious
work. which was translated into En-
glish. il now scarce. It contains many
amusing descriptions Of European Gus
toms From tic preface tho follow.
ing Is extracted:
European countries arc originally
on the outside verge Of civilization.
and their being now assimilated to
tho villages Of our inner land is en-.
tirely owing to the v;rtuous influe noes
OF our augus. government which
transforms those distant and unknown
regions by tho innat forcc Of its ma.
jcsty."
In his account OF the diff erent na.
tons visited by him the author says:
'sThe Dutch inhabit the northwest
corner of tho ocean. They have high
noses and red hair. white faces and
gray eyes. They do not allow their
boards to grow. Their coats are clean
and neat with short bodies and mar
row sleeves. while their gait is light
and nimblc."
OF tn. French he remarks: 'Their
dispositions are violent and bolster.
GUS Whenever tho Dutch
arc insultcd by the English they de-
pend ON the French for assistance.
The kingdom Of France is largo and
the population numerous. 50 that the
English are somewhat afraid Of them.
'The English are denominatcd by
the Chimes. Ang-mo (red-haircd poo
p!e); they also Il well in the northwest
corner of the ocean. very near 10 tho
Dutch. whom they much resemble ie
person and dress. but their language
and writing are different"
Referring To customs and Europeans,
he writes: Every seven days there
is ceremony dav or Sabbath. wheR
from nine 10 eleven In the morning
they go to the places Of worship to
recitc prayers and humble charms.
tho hearers hanging down their heads
and weeping as il thcro was some.
thing very affecting in 1t all. but aftct
half an hour abber they arc allowed
to dispcrs,. and away they go 10 feast
in their garlcn houses. and spend tho
whole day in delight. without attend.
ing 10 business.
''When Europeans make an enter.
tainment they set out long table. at
which scores Of people sit down. which
is called feas'. or fiesta. and. when
tho stringcd instruments play up
men and women stand opposite each
other aid dance. which is called
dancing. or tandak.
''When q young woman is marriage.
able she is allowed to select her own
partner. who is called her lover or
sooka. II they arc fond Of each other
they dance together in order to settle
tho match
wives uIC Cstiicst ulssA VI uIStICSSs
and the men arc very much afraid Of
them; the atf ,ir; of the family are all
under their control"
Ong.Tae-uae was also an observing
naturalist as well rs q philosopher
and politician. rs tho following de.
scription. taken from this interesting
book. will show:
"1hc ink monkey is common in the
northern regions. and is about four OF
five inches long. It is endowed with
an unusual instinct Its eyes are like
stones. and its hair is jet
black. sleek and flexible. as soft as
pillow. 1t is very fond of eating
thick Chimes. ink. and whenever peO-
pie write. it sits with folded hands
and crossed legs. waiting till the writ
ing is finished. when it drinks up the
of the ink; which done. it
squats down rs before. and does not
frisk about unnecessarily. Ong-Tae-
Haze used TO keep one at the head Of
his ink stone or in tho middle Of his
seal box ~ y Prcsa