The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-07

liable assistance to the Chinese in Canton.
Beside the Lawn Tennis Club there is
the Cricket Club, which has the use Of the
unoulit portion Of the French concession.
and the Canton Rowing Club.
The iatter club is q thriving institution.
1t has just moved into new and com.
modious quarters. It possesses three
uouoies. Two Tours and at least dozen
single shells, canoes, and 90 on.
10 Hongkong or to Macao (the latter
place being an ancient Portuguese settle
ment and possession since the sixteenth
century, excellent steamers run daily. and
frequent trips are made in midsummer.
when the heat is most trying. Macao may
oe called the Mecca OF the summer pilgrim.
Hongkong, being on An island rising to
summit of l, 500 feet, to which . cable
tramway runs. offers an easy escape from
the most trying of our tropical weather.
Splendid hotels abound at the peak, and
there Is always q refreshing breeze.
Macao, the Portuguese city. and not 90
long ago OF greater commercial importance
than Hongkong, is on . peninsula. 1t
enjoys pleasant breezes, an excellent
beach and bathing facilities. and is spe-
ciaiiy noted at the present time for its
fan-tan tables, which are extensively pa
tronlxed by foreigners. Macao deserves
besides all this special mention for the in.
estlmabie boon it has been to the whole
OF China and Japan in furnishing an ex-
ceilent class of Portuguese clerks, who do
most of the clerical work in business
houses. They are famous for accuracy
c!ings to its mother tongue, but has long
since ceased to be Of pure race owing to
intermarriages with Chinese.
The Macao Portuguese hold an anom-
alous position. They do not associate
to any extent with the Chinese or with
other foreigners.
They are well paid for their excellent
service. but are never invited to partici-
pate In our pleasures.
They are for the most part Of insignifi-
cant build. At Macao, however, they are
athome, and consider themselves aristo-
cratic in the extreme.
There is another class Of clever Eura-
sian clerks. who unlike the Portuguese are
not content to remain in the subordinate
position for which they are most fitted.
Possessed of much shrewdness, unscrupu-
lousness and a kind OF superficial clever.
ness, they are pushing their way into
commanding positions. This tendency,
happily for trade in the East, has been
noticed and will undoubtedly be checked
before it has gained much ground.
Eastern trade, to be successful. must re-
main in the hands of gentlemen.
In the midst of ali that seems CAV in
China. to the globe trotter (our gaieties
are in reality only incidents of very busy
life) there is side of ones existence that
is intensely wrapped up in commercial
affairs. In China business hours are un-
known. mean by this We work when
work is to be done. no matter at what
hour. telegram may be received and
answered at midnight.
If the French, English or American
mail is in by the morning steamer, which,
owing to customs regulations is not al
lowed to reach its Canton wharf before s
O'Clock, all hands are in the Office, in paja-
mas, awaiting the mail boxes.
Important orders may be expected.
Every one is on the gus Vive. The mail is
carefully read and orders noted. We have
slips in Chinese characters which say that
Messrs. Rand or Messrs. Sand respectfully
desire to SEQ Cheong Loong, Chow Fong.
or Iut Shing. Immediately on important
business. A dozen coolies are called and
these slips are given out.
Chinese merchants come to us. We
rarely have to go into the city to see them,
except when q cargo in their pack houses
for shipment is ready for inspection.
Should goods aboard the morning
steamer be consigned to US, customs appii-
cations are made out and handed to the
compradore. who properly attends to the
matter.
After the mail has been disposed of
comes the bath-one's barber is always
waiting for one-then breakfast and q
stroll on the 'bund," and then one is
ready to talk business. execute orders, ETC.,
until l p. m, when tiffin is announced.
AT IL 80 o'clock it is customary, except
on mail days, for the boys to meet at the
club for a friendly half hours "chin chin"
and cooling beverage while resting under
the ''punkah."
After tiffin, which is over about 2:30, 1t
is the office again until the Hongkong