Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-27
FOREIGNERS IN CHINA

EOhEltTN EftD IN lIIANA |
One-third Of the whole human race
is gathered within the bounds of the
empire of China. Their manners, Gus
toms, religion, habits, proclivities and
practices are all apart from the rest
OF mankind so entirely so that it is
doubtful if anything in common could |
be specified between them and other
nations. Even in the matters of boil |
ing rice and sleeping tea, they are
peculiar.
For ages the Chinese have pursued
a policy OF seclusion and seliishness.
They have not sought commercial in
tercourse with other nations; they
have never been known to make war
on their neighbors; their mercantile
marine has been made up merely of
coasting junks; and despite all at
tempts, but one "outside barbarian"
NJ. Hue, the celebrated Jesuit father
and indefatigable traveller, has ever
succeeded in traversing the country.
The great wall, built along the north
ern border TO keep out the Mantchoo
and Kalmuc Tartar, one of the most
stupendous achievements Of man, and
fifty placed among the "seven wonders
of the world" is only an exemplitica-
ton Of the national desire to be let
alone.
Unfortunately for them the wealth
and wonders Of Far Cathay and the
glories Of Prester John, as far back as
the eleventh century, attracted the
attention of the venturesome Euro
pean. The Church was the pioneer
explorer Of the fanciful realm, and in
1916 Giovanni Carpini, Franciscan
friar, got as far to the eastward as the
court Of Batu Kahn, the grandson of
Zenghis Kahn, to be presently fol-
lowed by other zealots, who penetrated
the wilds of the Hindu-Koosh, by land.
On both the eastern and western
slopes of the Snowy mountains great
stores OF gold abound; silver and cop
per are in greater profusion than any
where else in the world; diamonds,
rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and other
gems are found; and this was known
20 the European, not as theory, but
as a fact. 1t was the invasion of Zen
ghis Kahn that introduced the knowl-
edge. Except the electric telegraph
there is scarcely any great invention
OF modern times which has not been
in use among the Chinese for centu-
ries; their silks, worries, precious met
ais, articles of necessity and luxury
are marvels to the civilized Aryan
even today; and it is not to be won
dered at that the greedy, grasping
spirit OF the predatory Europeans, ex
cited by the tales of lavish wealth
which came from the distant land
should have early turned the prows Of
their trading ships, polite for pirates
toward the Chinese store.
The voyage around the Cape o.
Good Hope was long and dangerous
But neither distance nor danger ap
palled the stout heart Of the adven
turer. The Portuguese we're the first
European visitors TO the coast Of China
and with their idea OF superiority II
blood and religion, and their super
cilious habit Of regarding all races blu
their own as creatures instead Of be
ings, they took instead Of traded
Every port they visited, every landin
they made, was the scene Of outrage
robbery and bloodshed; and 1t is no
TO be wondered at that the whole en-
pire was soon filed with fearful tale
of the doings of 1.-THE foreign devils.
In 1904 the Dutch sent three vessel
to China, but they were denied entry
In 1922 they tried to force their wa
beyond the seacoast but were defeated