Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-03

: from Hop Land All places were
not so uncomfortable, but in Hop
vile. as in other things, there are
various stages. from poverty to lux
! ury. We went into one of the high
er class hotels, catering to the ma
I tives, and in one room We heard a fe-
male singing in her native tongue.
On looking into the place the music
came from, we saw a Chinaman, evil
IDENTIFY of the higher class, lying on q
sofa and smoking bis pipe. One fair
damsel was preparing the opium, an
other was apparently unoccupied,
and the third female produced music
both vocal and Instrumental; SO that
was opium smoking in luxury.
Here the women propel the boats.
Sculling is the method. as rule, and
the majority have babies fastened to
their backs, something after the
manner of the Indian papOose. With
every stroke of the oar, the baby $
head would jerk violently to one side,
then to the opposite, accordingly as
the mother would scull, The young
ster's head would jerk with such
force it would seem as though its
neck would be broken, but they live
through it all. They ought to be
good sailors, for the jarring they get
must be equal to the tossing of the
toughest sea. Whole families live
on one small uncovered boat. On it
is done the cooking and not infre-
quently chickens and other fowl have
a place thereon, even pigs find a
home on these water craft. Rains
during the night do not disturb the
slumbe.s of the people for they 60
into the cockpit, pull the cover over
and there they are out of the rain
and snug as bug in a rug. With
five to seven persons squeezed into
such small sleeping space as they
have, you may be sure there are
places more sweet-smelling and
agreeable in which to spend a night.
The boat dwellers form a class by
themselves and marriage with shore
dwellers is frowned upon. Often
whole families are born, grow up.
wed and die without one of them 60
ing ashore. The doctor, as well as
the merchants, minister to their
needs from boat. Each one has its
fixed location just as our houses. SO it
is no trouble in finding home, even
though you stay out late at night.
In order that the little children may
not be drowned when they fall over
board, cord is fastened around
their waist tied secured to the boat,
SO when splash and cry is heard
all the mother has TO do is pull the
string and back on the boat comes
the youngster. So you see each boat
is equipped with life-saving appara-
tus.
Previous to our arrival in China,
we were informed there might be
trouble if we visited Canton, and at
one time changing our route was Sc
riously considered, but the threat
ened danger did not make us aban-
don the trip as originally planned.
Three of us on Chriftmas Eve, went
from Hong Kong to Canton, as we
had been advised that a public exc.
cution would take place on the fol-
lowing day in Canton, but we were
too late as the prisoners had been de-
capitated the day before. However
some of our party saw their bodies
lying on the ground as is the custom
to leave them subject to the public
gaze for twenty-four hours after the
execution. There were six men and
one woman, and piracy was the OF.
fense. The method followed was to
make the men kneel down, hands be.
hind their backs and head bent over.
One quick blow of a sharp two-edged
sword and the deed is done. The ex-
ecutioner has for twenty-five years
held the executioner's post, and sell
dom does he fail to take the head of
with one stroke. The woman was
strangled, and all OF the bodies, just
as the executioner left them, were to
be seen on the execution grounds.
The latter is a triangular piece OF
ground opening from the street. and
little children were gazing on the
bodies as unconcerned as possible,
but then it is a common occurrence,
for never a week passed without the
executioner having assisted several
into the other world. One of the
peculiar things they tell of China is
that the penalty is given, as
a rule. for stealing. but il you lave
three or four hundred dollars you get
free of punishment for murder. The
exceptions. however, is murder OF
parents, as filial respect and love is
a strong charteristic of the Chinese
and those who forge it are severely
dealt with.
Canton is one of the large cities.
Her population is between three and
four millions. How many it is un-
known, as no census has been, or can
be. taken. Those who wish to see
China as IL was in tho lOnU aUO nan1