The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-10-01
Written for The CoMMoxwEALrH.1
A LETTER FROM CHINA.
TWO MILLION GRAVES IN ONE
CEMETERY,
Other Observations.

We are at Annoy now, and it is
very large city. 1t is one among tn
oldest cities In China. All the Euro
peans live on one side of the harbor
which is an island about three mile:
square. 1t is not very safe to g
through the old city of Annoy, unles
you have good guide. The street:
are very narrow, so narrow that tw<
people can hardly pass each other
Whenever we visited these places, We
we're objects of curiosity to the natives
This place has very large population
crowded IN very close quarters. There
are many sights to be seen in and
around Annoy. There were two mer-
chant sailors killed In the old city Of
Annoy while we we're there by the Chi
nese but no clue or satisfaction could
be obtained.
Next we come to Chinkiang, China
and it is one of the largest rice ports
in the world, but it is only a small
town and is situated on the Yangtse
Kiang river. It has an extensive back
country. The most of this rice Is
brought down the river in China junks
as they call the China boats. You can
see thousands of these boats on the riv-
er at one time. The Chinese all have
their families on board and live on the
water. When going up this river you
can see nothing but rice farms as far
as the eye can reach. There are canals
cut from this>river all through the
country. 1 appreciated my visit here,
for 1t was something new to me, seeing
the beautiful temples and the idols
which the Chinese worship.
We come to Wu-Hu, China, which
is situated on the same river about
three hundred miles from Chinkiang.
Quite number of Missionaries reside
here and they are doing good work.
We are now at Nlngpoo, China. This
village is situated on the Young river
about ninety miles south of Shanghai.
The inhabitants are about 100000 ma
tives, and 165 foreigners most of whom
are missionaries and custom house Of
fcers. The United States and England
are the only countries that are repre-
sented by Consulate here. Nlngpoo
is the seat of large native trade, but
its exports are small, the main staple
being the varnish. The city proper is
situated in the centre of what might
be called national cemetery. As far
as you can see, there is nothing but
graves and the scent of the air is ter
rible. Chinese are sent from all parts
of the world to be buried here. It has
more than two million of graves. They
are all buried above and even with the
surface. Heavy rains often wash the
bodies up and float them away. The
hogs arc often seen chewing on the
dead bodies. This is very sickly
place and there are many lepers among
the natives. The land is very fertile.
The Cinnamon eat but very little meat.
They live principally upon rice and
fish.
The next place is Chefoo, China.
This is the summer resort of China
and is always cool and healthy. 1t is
one of the most northern treaty ports
In China and is situated at the mouth
of the Ple-Ho river which leads from
Tinst-Sin to Peklng. It was OF special
importance to both the Chinese and
japanese during the war. There is a
large industrial school carried on by
the missionaries here. The chief pro-
duction is silk and it is very cheap.
At the time OF my visit there, saw
ninety five men-of-war in the harbor.
am on my way to Nankin, China,
now and will write you on my arrival.
c. T. CURR1E.