Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-07-20
DRAGON BOAT DAY.
"A CHINESE HOLIDAY RESEM
q, BLING FOURTH OF JULY.
Origin of the Festival-The Dragon
Boat Races at CantOn-Great
s. Crowds of Chinese in
Holiday Attire.

that a great gala day in China is the
Dragon Boat festival, or the feast of the
fifth day of the fifth moon. 1t resembles
our Fourth of July more than any Other
holiday of the Chinese, and has many
features of interest in connection with ii
which are we'll worth describing.
The origin of the festival dates back
to the year 450 B. G. At that time there
lived statesman, Kuh Yuen, who was
celebrated for his virtues and his in
tegrity. He had the courage to urge
some reforms upon his liege, which were
not at all pleasing to the monarch. An
enemy took advantage of his loss of favor
and accused him of plotting to usurp
the throne. Kuh Yuen was degraded
and banished from court. This unjust
punishment wore upon him until life
became unbearable, and after composing
an ode recounting his mistortunes and
his devotion to his prince, he rowed to
the middle of the Mihlo river in a small
boat, and before his friends could reach
him had thrown himself overheard and
was drowned. The way in which his
friends rowed to the spot to try to
rescue him, each anxious to be the first,
is commemorated by a procession of
boats, and the races between the different
boats are the chief features of the day.
On this day offerings of rice, wrapped
in bamboo leaves and tied with withes,
are thrown into the water to feed his
spirit, and gifts of these same rice balls
are exchanged among friends.
At Canton, where the river and canals
give ample water room for the boa to
race and parade, the festival is seen at
its best, and the day is long looked for
ward To with great antlcipations ofpleas-
nre, for the Chinese take especial delight
in gorgeous pageants and professions.
The dragon boat is long, narrow boat,
sometimes sixty to a hundred feet in
length with a projecting PROV shaped
like the mythical dragons head, and a
stern representing his tail. The rowers
use paddles only, and are all seated in a
row down each side of the boat facing
the bow, and when it is impossible for
the boat to turn, at given signal each
man reverses in his seat and the dragon
nayigates tail first. In the centre of the
boat is huge drum and gong on which
a continual beating is kept up, and with
which the rowers keep time. At inter
vals between the centre and the ends are
banners, embroidered standards, smaller
gongs, with handsomely clad men stand
ing by them, who shout and wave flags
Or large fans and jump up and down in
time with the beat of the drum, while
occasionally a conch- shell blower adds
mis- efforts to the din. The dragon boats
h1,
guilds or villages, and there is great ri
galry between them. Weeks before the
day arrives the distant sound of the drum
can be heard from the creeks running
into the river where some boat is prac
ticing for the race. On the day itself
every one comes out in his bright
est clothes, and the banks of the
river and canals are crowded
with an ever-increasing throng,
all eagerly watching for the first arrival
of the boats. When the sound of the
drum and gong and the shouts can be
heard in the distance, the phlegmatic
Chinamen lose for ONCE their sedatencss,
and when the long boat with its hand
some silk banners, embroidered flags,
gayly -attired boatmen and band comes
into view, shout goes up from the
crowd, frecrackers are discharged il
sslvos, and the pleasure of the day com
mences. The boatmen respond to the
welcome by redoubled shouts and row il
quicker time To make the excitement
greater another boat appears, perhap
from some district WHICH was the WHINE
last year. Then the greatest fun OF thC
day is witnessed. "a race" is the cry
the first boat allows its rival to get ever
with it, and then, amid the cries anc
cheers of the populace, the rowers swift.
ply their paddles, the long, grotesqu'
dragon-head shoots over the water, tn.
banner bearers jump up and down il
unison with the stroke, while the drum
and gong add an unearthly clamor to thu
air already fraught with the report of tn,
lirecrackers and the noise of the crowd
So fierce is the rivalry that the par
tisans of each clan. who usually follow
the boats in smaller ones, often carry
stones and weapons to use with mercles
effect if their boat should be defeated
These attendant boats supply substitute
covers in case, as it very often happens,
any of the rowers should be overcome by
the heat. They also take charge of thu
gifts of wine and roast pig which ar
sent out to the boats by the shopkeeper
before whose buildings they pass Th.
pig exchange at Canton is situated nea
the opening of the canal, which divides
the English concession from the Chimes
city. 1t is always liberal in its gifts
consequently the canal is alive the Who'll
day with dragon boats, and the writer
who lived next door to the exchange
used to look forward with the sam
eagerness as the Chinese childien to th'
fifth day of the fifth moon, and tn
pageant made lasting impression ol
the mind. We used to invite our Chimes
friends to witness the parade from ou
windows, from which ii view of th
canal for half mile could be had, wit
the confused mass of humanity on bot
sides of it, for on this day the gates t,
the English concession were thrown ope
to any we'll dressed Chinese AS almos
every one was attired in their best an
gayest clothes, the mingled coors o
orange red, green, purple and blue in a.
shades made the crowd present the mos
brilliant and variegated appearance
sort ST crazy Chinese pattern.
SO elaborate are the preparations a
Canton that one day does not suffice 70
the boats to make the round of calls o
their patrons, and the festival ofte
continues till the third day. Some year
in consequence of some parti ularl
fierce encounter the year before, ii
authorities forbid the boats to parad,
and then dire is the grief of the sma
boy and of many larger boys. I'll
Chinese work so hard all the time that
is a pleasant sight to see them give then
selves to the enjoyment of the day wit
ouch a childlike abandon, and were