The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-11
MORE OF CANTON
Foreign Settlement Fortified With
Wall And Gates.
VISIT To BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Public Execution Ground Exposed
To View-Manufactur of
Brocade.
VISIT TO BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Especial Correspondence.

EDITOR P. G. A.:-Each time we
enter or leave the Foreign Settlement
of Shameen, we pass through iron
gates, opened for us by a policeman.
In the Station House near by were
displayed some pixies and blunder-
busses. There are only about $50 resi-
dent foreigners, and it would be no
difficult matter for an organized band
of marauders to loot the settlement.
Indeed, the history of the incoming
and settling of foreigners in China is
a history of fire and bloodshed.
We started out early this morning
to take in the sights of the city. We
had planned to remain till Monday
morning, and then take the boat to
Macao. But the boat is in the dry
dock, and we had to return to Hong
Kong by the afternoon boat today.
ed to the service as the day boats,
fitted with ample rooms, electric lights
and all the modern conveniences.
We had visited a Buddhist temple
with much gilded carving, but with
little else to give evidence of the hold
Buddhist worship has on the masses
of the people, The Chinaman econo-
mics time and effort in attending
to his religious duties, has his
| CIT o1y Ii,,fu 700
on the corner of the street. In the
Temple of the Five Hundred Disciples,
however, there is displayed a sight
that attracts every tourist. At the
head of the 500 disciples of Buddha,
gilt wooden images begrimed with the
dust of ages, stands the image of some
foreigner, whom the guide introduced
to us as Marco Polo," the celebrated
traveller from Europe in the Middle
Ages. There is temple also that bears
his name in one Of the suburbs of the
city A wooden effigy of Chinese En-
peror occupies a conspicuous place;
and a many lowered pagoda of white
marble in miniature.
We were taken to the highest ram
part on the Wall, whence we had a
wonderful view of the city, enclosed
within the six miles of walls 1t seemed
only one vast conglomerateon of sheds
with only two or three green trees
above the square miles of roofing. On
the walls were basteons, pierced for ar
tillery service We found there weather
beaten cast iron cannon, Of about the
size of those on Punchbowl, and about
as serviceable Just outside of the
walls were several tombs in Chinese
style, of horse shoe shape, with bench
running around the inner circle, all
cemented We visited the so-called
"City of the Dead" where rich people
hire a room to lay away their friends,
till propitiOus day is found for in
terment. Mistakes are sometimes made
as we saw in one room a coffin that
had been buried twelve years and
then exhumed, because it's burial had
brought bad luck in many successive
deaths in the family. Wealth will
show it's "superfluity of naughtiness,"
or extravaganza of haughtiness, even
in DEATH We saw the coffin of the
second wife Of the Viceroy, which has
cost $4,000. 1t has been lacquered
and lacquered. till the varnish is about
three inches thick. The drip of the
lacquer on the bench that upheld the
coffin confirmed part of the guides
account The collins are cylindrical,
with three bullying heads. Before the
curtain that hid the coffin of young
wife and mother, we saw the effigies !
of the servants, in the gayest robes of |
office, waiting upon her, as in life, |
with tobacco, tea flowers, and so on.
The Examination Hall with it's thou
sand cells was not open. In these |
close rooms thousands of students |
have been immured for two days, or
till they prepare their papers to pass
as of the first, second, or third degree;
and in proportion to their literary |.
skill and ability, secure some govern
ment appointment. Six or seven died
as usual under ahe ordeal this year
The Hong Kong police arrested peo-
pie for hawking about the streets the
names of the successful candidates. It
seems that one firm of Chinese gam
bling is to give a prize of $500 to the
person whose list contains the most
names Of successful contestants. All
gambling is strictly forbidden by
law: but it is said that the
most notorious gambling houses are
close to the houses of magistrates.
We were taken to the Execution
Ground. 1 had expected to see some
enclosure where some proprieties would
be observed on so significant an oc-
casion. Instead, we were led along
side of some pottery rubbish, till of a
sudden our guide stopped, and said,
This is the spot" A long bamboo
pole with a shorter one across it near
he top, leaned against the wall Near
It's foot was a spot Redeemed with
blood where the day before a woman
had been beheaded for poisoning
some person. A man standing near
picked up the woman's head and show
t to us. 1t is to be sent to the country