Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-01-27
(Continued.)
Sun Poo, April 18th.

town at $50 a. m. yesterday the 18th
and after long ride Of 25 miles or so
through the mountains per sedan
chairs arrived at the village of Sun
Poo. Now we are getting into the
heart, so to speak, of the Hakka peo-
pie; they are so hospitable, generous,
courteous, and kind to me, and such
a happy people. Their women never
had the nefarious habit of binding
their feet, so that accounts somewhat
for everybody young and old being so
healthy and happy. One can't bind
and pinch and cripple ones feet with
out the result showing in ones dispo-
sition, character, ETC.
Here, as in the other Hakka towns
| have visited, the women and girls
do all the coolie and farm work. Five
dear women carried our baggage that
25 miles from Kaying Chow to Sun
Poo, and they appeared fresh and hap
by at this end of their journey, and
quietly awaited their wages which
was $3.50 including "kumsha" (tip)
for the five women. This $3.50 Mex,
into u S. Gold would be about $500,
as we paid in small coin and it takes
$1.10 small coins to make $1.00 Mex.
Just think of it each of those women
carried about 120 lbs. each over the
mountains up and down steep precipi-
tous places for 25 miles, and was ex-
tremelv glad to get her 40 cents gold.
How would women folks like to work
like that? Not much Ell? This was
a demonstration SO to speak of the
power of mind over matter These
dear old women coolies know nothing
else but work and consequently love
it. They wouldn't be happy without
it | have interviewed several, and
this is what they all say. If they
thought they would get tired and sick
and weak over this extremely hard
work, why they undoubtedly would,
but being happy and cheerful through
it all, and loving their duties and OPP
portunities to help the family purse
along, they work with cheerful hearts
and remain healthy women.
Our representative shop here is
new, big, and clean. | have a third
door back room-no, you can't call it
a room but a long store room or go
down, for the place from front to back
is lined with boxes and merchandise.
There is door opening up on the rear
Of the property, SO that | get a de-
lightful mountain breeze all evening
long. 1t has been very hot for the
past three days, so | appreciate the
cooling zephyrs that watt their way
into my room at night. AS | said be-
fore we got here last night at $50.
Today being Sunday, l took things
easy, reading, sleeping, and looking
about the town. Last Sunday [ was
comfortably situated in big paper
boat en- route for Hing Ling from Sa
Heung. How the time passes; have
been away from Swallow now just two
weeks from tomorrow. Tomorrow
at 500 a. m. we go north again per
boat to Chen Ping, getting there barr
ing accidents, at $50 o. m. or so. All
my meals today have been Chinese. I
have lots of fun now as | am at home
at their table and can get along we'll
IN my "lingo." Au Revoir for to-
night.
Sun Poo, April 18th.
On the 18th, Last Monday, at Sis
a m. we left by long shallow draft
boat for Chen Ping ten miles north
on the Sio Ho River AS we were
going up stream, and the channel is
a very shallow one, we did not get to
Chen Ping until $50 p. n. could have
taken chairs and reached there by
aoon, but as this is not time killing
rip, and as want to see all the diff
eulties that our transhipments meet
anroute to their various destinations
n this mountainous country. l chose
the river route.
Got all my business transacted at
Chen Ping before dark, so ordered
chairs for the next day, and coolies
FOR our baggage, to take US up to E
Pah at 500 a. m. About four miles
out of Chen Ping we got into the pref
lest mountain scenery; precipitcus
lifts falling perpendicular to the riv-
RS edge; large pines thickly growing
IN mountain tops and sides; rocky
gorges, and swift and numberless rap
DIS, some actually being in the class
IF falls, not rapids; hundreds of noun
tainriver boats plying up and down
his beautiful and dangerous little
mountain stream; many and countless
cafts of logs floating and shooting
lown the rapids, handled and success
FULLY guided by experienced men, one
each end of the raft A slip of the
| foot, broken oar or pole and raft or
BOAT would be smashed completely,
md undoubtedly the occupants of
| BOAT or raft would meet thesame fate
| Us we return to Chen Ping by boat I'll
| mention a little of that trip later. /
| rot tired of sitting in chair, so walked
line miles in the sun letting my ''boy-
| ,ook" take NV chair