The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-12-22
GEORGE STEUNENBERG GIVES
HIS IMPRESSION OF CHINA.

Japanese instructors for the army
and discharged all the Germans A
sentinel on post showed us his rife
which was of German make and ap-
parently a Mauser. We attempted
to enter the palace of the King of
Canton but two sentinels at the gate
halted US and turned us back.
The guide next took us to the GEM
etery for the rich. This was stone
enclosure containing some hundreds
of small rooms; in each room was
coffin which resembled large black
log which in reality it was, but was
polished and vanished until it shone
like a mirror; the guide showed us
where the lid was set on but we
could not distinguish any joint. He
said that some of them cost as much
as $500, which is quite a respecta-
BILE fortune in China. AT the head
of each coffin was cup of tea which
is renewed each day and twice year
they add a plate of rice. A certain
amount of rent must be paid each
year for vault so it is only rich
people who can afford one.
From here we went to the Jail
where we saw a number of prison
ers wearing wooden table-tops
around their neeks They all clam
-ored for money. We had heard
stories of cruel and barbarous pun
ishments in these prisons but II
there are any they are kept sup
pressed, for the guide assured u'
there were none.
Right near here are the courts Of
justice and the guide explained how
trials are conducted; if the accused
confesses, well and good, but If HI
does not they proceed to torture hin
until he does. Several instrument
of torture were conveniently at han'
and the guide said that they wer
used openly almost daily. One ia
vorite method of bringing about
confession is by fiogging with BAN
boos; another is to have the accuse
kneel, then lay a pole across hi
knee joints and have several me
stand on it. We happened to visi
the place when there were no case
on trial and so missed this Interest
ing spectacle.
We next visited the place of exc
cution which is simply one of tn
narrow alleys; the ground was CO.
cred with blood stains and the guiC
informed us that hardly wee
passes that they do not cut man
head oil. Sometimes visitors reac
this spot just in time to see half
dozen heads fall A short time b
fore we were there they had execute
a notorious criminal and, to mai
the punishment more severe TIT
had buried his body and put his hei
on exhibition in cage.
Passing along through the city '
suddenly came upon great proct
sion. There was not room TO pa
them so we alighted from the chat
and attempted to work our W
through on foot. They continued
rush past us, thousands of bal
headed, fanatical looking Gilman
and, as the stream was apparen
endless, we gave them tho right
way and turned back in anotf
street. We realized now how he
less we would have been without
guide for we never could have fou
our way back to the steamer; or.
we had known the way we wo'
have hesitated to go alone.
On our way back to the steam
the guide took us through the b
street in Canton. 1t is a couple
wider than the others and III
sunshine was struggling dc
through the signs and banners.
stopped at picture store that is
by Christian family, whom
guide said were not popular with
other Chinese. Here they showed
the photograph of Chinese
mans naked foot and 1t certa
was a disgusting object; the 4,