Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-09-29
BOAT JEWELLERS.
HONG KON0's IMMENSE RIVER
POPULATION.

muuicfpdi hc8uiation7 subway
forced ON the Waters-How These
Dweilers Thrive.
One of the most interesting sights
around Hong Kong is the river population
and its city of boats. This floating city
is estimated to number some 300, 600
people who recognize no other home than
these boats, and whose lives are spent
from birth upon the river; in fact, they
are not permitted to know any other
habitation. These boat homes are OF
different sizes and various shapes, the
larger number being sampans or slipper
boats about twenty feet long, with NOV
able telescope roofs of bamboo covering
them for about one-half of their length.
AS small as these boats are they not only
accommodate one family, but frequently,
according to the Philadelphia Ledger,
that of one OF the sons, space being
economical in the most ingenious man.
ner. and in decided contrast to dwellings
on shore, they are kept scrupulously
clean.
A great majority of the men go on
shore during the day for employment,
leaving their wives and children to work
the oars and ply the trade of boatmen,
and it must be said they do it with great
satisfaction to those VINO have the need
of water carriage. The mother OF the
family is found frequently rowing with
one baby strapped to her back, while
alongside of her is the next in age, learn
ing to row and preparing to add to the
resources of the family. The children of
the family, many of whom are babies,
a.. % n q
though they were in nursery on shore,
and to prevent accident from drowning
among the very young boys they have a
float attached to their waists, in the
shape of small piece of bamboo, so
that if they fall over and drop into the
river they may be easily fished out again.
SIEGE girl babies are not considered OF
very much importance in China, it is
rather a matter of. indifference as to
whether they drown or not.
The boats composing this floating city
are all moored closely together, each with
its appointed anchorage, forming long
water lanes of streets, through which the
traffic of the community takes place
They have their municipal regulations,
which are strictly enforced by river
police, as must necessarily be the case
with such large population, and every
condition of life on shore has similar
condition on the water. To supply the
necessities of life they have floating stores
and II arket boats for the sale of meat,
fish and vegetables, and almost everything
that household requires is brought from
boat to boat in these water streets by
| peddlers and tradesmen. Then there arc
| floating kitchens connected with other
boats known as flower boats, which are
not floating Conservatives, as their name
might imply, but restaurants or dining
halls, gorgeously fitted up with gilded
ornaments of many kinds, handsome
wood carvings, embroidered silk hang
ings, and brilliant Examinations. These
are for the purpose of giving dinner
parties and are used by the weather
Cinnamon to entertain their friends
During the interval between the courses
the guests are RECALLED with the perform
ances of number of handsomely attireo
''sing- girls the professional lyric
artists of China, who delight the ears OF
the Chinese guests, but to European
the sounds given out by these sirens are
torturing in the extreme.
Shooting in among these river lanes is
the river doctor, in his small bat, and
calling attention to his whereabouts b,
ringing bell, so that those requiring hi
services can readily find him, and in lik'
manner travels the barber, who has
busy vocation, his services being in con
tinual demand. The priests are not ever
left out in this community, for, although
there is little space usually allotted il
each boat for shrine, there is quite al
amount of public whorship necessitatin.
the service of a priest, such as marriag
ceremonies, burials, etc, consequent.
they have church boats fitted up with al
the paraphernalia of their faith
But of all the odd boats in this motlc,
group, perhaps the most singular ar
those in which they rear ducks ant
geese, many of them containing as man,
as several hundred in one boat. TIL
ducks are sent out usually twice a day t
feed along the marshes and mud field
by the shore, and they are recalled by
signal from whistle. At this sound tn
feeding instantly ceases, and they return
TO their respective boats with prompt
ness that il simply astonishing. TIL
latest arrival is always taken up an
given a beating with the bamboo, and o
the next recall that duck is invariably tn
, first to come on board, thus showing tn
wonderful efficiency of the bamboo i
intoxicating punctuality.
In the midst of this gay life may b
, seen the funeral boat passing silently by
crowded with mourners; in the cente
the coffin, covered with a heavy pa
and trimmed with green branches. Thi
is one occasion when a member of thi
} colony takes to the land. During lif
they may have no home on shore, bu
they cannot be refused a grave on earth
$ In almost every way the land and rive
. population are utterly distinct, the form
y er looks down upon the latter as an allie
D caste, and marriage between the tw
, classes is unknown. Nevertheless, i
Q spite of their peculiar surroundings, thes
Q many thousands live and thrive comfort
4 bly,.
A Gigantic Irrigation Scheme.