The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-06-29
LETTER FROM REV HILL.
SIN Flu, China, May J, 1894.

SIN Flu, China, May ]. 1894.
Dear DEMocRAT:--
Some of your readers may be interests
in an account of our journey up the Yangst
and our arrival in Sin Flu.
We left Shanghai the last day of the ole
year and arrived here on the Sth oil March
being on the river all the time excepting
few days each at Hankow, lchang an,
Chung King, the three largest cities OF
the river. Steamers run to Ichang SOI
miles inland. Hankow, with its neighboI
Muchang just across the river is one OF the
greatest centers of population in China
The tea trade OF this port amounts TO
about Sl5, ,0C0, 900 yearly, and thousands
of steamers are seen here at one time load
ing with this luxury for western ports.
Ichang is the last open port on the river.
aGd the government will not permit
foreigners to run steamers above this point
Here we took native boats for the last
thousand miles of our journey one thir
the way around the earth. The scenery on
the lower river is fat and uninteresting,
but above lchang there are series oI
magnificent gorges unsurpassed by any
river III the world.
The most interesting feature of the land.
scapes to foreigner is the large extan. of
soil under the highest state Of cultivation
the mountains are cultivated from the river
almost to the tops and little lodges, even in
the gorges where there was the least show
OF soil, have their little garden patch and
farmers huts. With the dense population
the average Chinaman has to rustic for his
rice. The mere problem of existence
occupies all his spare time. The China
man as specimen of the genus homo, in
one Of its phases of evolution is certainly a
most interesting study. He presents more
interesting characteristics probably than
any other nationality on the earth. You
see here most stable government of vast
empire Of four hundred millions, n civil.
ization complex and highly organized ex-
isting to-day as il did thousands of years
ago. One sees civilization here in the
germ. They are somewhat behind some
other nations to-day, hnt we see the begin
ings of about every thing the world knows,
and il may be said that all they have in
vented and discovered has been absolutely
original TO Chinese genius, during all the
centuries they have lived in isolation. But
started not to write OF this but TO tell you
how we got up the river. The native
hOuseboat Is curiosity. Our four room
boat was about 20 feet long los IL wide.
the front part Of the deck was open for the
ooatmen 10 manage the oars and sails and
ropes, a high mast stands in the center
which carries big sail. The middle Of
the boat is arranged for living and the
sieersman stands az the stern, the chief
motor power Is a string Of coolies who pull
the boat by small tougn bzmooo rope.
As high as fifty coolies are sometimes
taken on big freight junk and this num-
Der Is doubled at tie rapids These men
sleep on the front deck which is covered
with mats at night, their rice is cooked on
the deck, the traffic of the river Is immense.
Large quantities of cotton and consider
able foreign stuff is taken up the river.
think we were hardly ever out Of sigh, Of
from ten 10 thirty large freight junks
slowly making their way up the river.
The rocks are creased by tina ropes along
the shore and worn into a thousand holes
by the use Of pike poles The boa;men are
quite skiliful IN handling their rude Graf,
and clumsy sail and know how 10 take
advantage Of eddies and current. The
passage up Is attended with many danger,
from strong rapi1s where ropes are baoteu
and sBnken rocks which send many . beat
TO the bottom, wrecks are frequently seen.
Oar trip was attended by numerous scnsa-
tlonal incidents but We we're fortunate in
escaping any thing serious. Good winds
helped US up and our ,.ms was almost 4
record breaking one.
As we ascendel the river the country
improved. sychnan IL one Of the finest
provinces Of the empire. being mostly
mountainous and hiily, having a fertile
soIl and u population above the average IN
China for intelligence and thrift They
live IN good houses Of stone, brick or mud
walls plAsierei and tiled roofs. Temples
and public buildings are substantial and
imposing. The cities are finely walled and
the streets veil paved with stone. brick IS
abundan; in this province. The main
streets Of Sin eu are no; les thaa I5 fGes
wide and souse 70 or u feet
We ara living in large native h0as,
which with lI;sle repairs We tiui most
comfortable As for living we brought
lit;le foreign supplies with Us, yet We are
doing finely Of os the land, ls7ef ani nut
ton can ue mad and plenty of fowl. The
native isoar has psver heard Of the ROLLER
prooess" in grinding yet i: makes good
bread. vegetables are abundant and one
gets used 10 their somewhat different taste
Fruits are not laekIng. pears, peaches.
aprico,s and cherries no. greatly inferior ID
your own at home can be had. Forci cne-s
boi.le winter supplies, the native sugar
made from the cane Is usable. but wc pre-
fer shipping from Shanghai, native salt oi
fair quality is plentiful, noe Of course is
/, the great STAPLE
" e tind ourselves enjoying comforts and
convenience thai we dld not imagine could
be had here. Our mail IS just about tvs
months in coming and you may he sure j,
greatly appreciated in this far away land
/ The regular visits OF the DENocRAT helps
to keep US in touch with Alb.Aay and WI
read eagerly all news from home. Some
other time perhaps | may try - tell y1I
| something Of Chinese characteristics bat
this letter is already long enough. 1t ha;
not been possible rs yet TO seizure house a
! Luchou the city which We hope i to b
our work station The officials there an
/ opposed to foreigners settling, 50 we cont
on to Sin Flu one hundred miles ab0Y'
where our mission IS already established.
/ During the next few months from May
to September there is much hot wea;he
here ard We shall live in the summs
cottages of the mission which are beanti.
fully located ON high mountain near ih
city. Here we shall have fine opporIuniiie
for study and hope 10 settle in Luchou il
the fall. GRO w HILL.