Year: 1879

upon the steamer City OF Toxic has
caused considerable comment in various
places east and west of the Rocky
mountains. Those who know compare


lively nothing in regard to the true tea-
lures of the matter have concocted
various stories in reference to it. The
arrival was a remarkable one, as no
steamer for many years past has brought
to California such large number of
Chinese at this season of the year. The
usual number of arrivals during this
season for years past has rarely exceeded
100, the City of Toxic bringing the
largest number-125-in June or July,
1878. A Chronicle reporter called upon
Colonel F. A. Rec, the consul of the
Chinese empire at this port, and from
him ob5sined an explanation of the
recent arrivals. Consul Bee stated that
in Hong Kong and the districts in China
from which the Celestials in this country
have principally come, the progress of
the recent bill in relation to the Chinese
before the national legislature was cares
fully watched. They knew the pro-
visions in reference to restricting any
one vessel from bringing more than fif-
teen; and as there are hundreds there
who have been in and in tend to return
to this country, they waited for the news
of its rejection or passage with great in
terest. When the bill passed both
houses, Reuters agents telegraphed the
fact around the world, and the Chinese
believed the bill had become a law,
They knew nothing in regard to the
presidents veto, but thought that the
bill had been finally settled by its pass
sage through both houses.


Convinced that only fifteen could
come at one time after the 4th of July,
the large number who wanted to return
to this country made up their minds to
come at once, thereby running no risk
of paying increased rates of passage or
of struggling for an indefinite time to be
one OF the fortunate fifteen that should
secure passage on boats arriving here
after July 4. Consul Bee stated that he
visited the Toxic on her arrival here,
and recognized many of those who came
as men who had been for years in Cali.
fornis and who had gone on visit to
China. From inquiries made by him,
he ascertained that fully seventy per
cent. of the 1000 had been in the cern.
try before. Many of them brought their
families with them, they having gone
home for that purpose. Of those who
did come there were a number who did
not intend to return until next winter.
OF the remainder, the largest number
are destined for Honolulu, to which
place many of them held through tickets.
The sugar planters of the Sandwich
islands are anxious to obtain Chinese
field hands. They find some difficulty
in getting them from California because
the wsges they are willing to pay are
lower than are paid here. They, there>
lore, have to resort to Hong Kong, but
there they meet with another difficulty
Hong Kong is crown colony of England,
and English dependencies in Australia
desiring to obtain Chinese laborers, it is
said that Pope Henessy, governor of
Hong Kong, discourages immigration to
Honolulu and California, in order to
turn the stream toward English colonies.


South Australia wants the Chinese to
settle in its northern territory, while the
sugar planters of the FIJI islands want
them for the same work that the plants
ers of the Sandwich islands do. These
facts render it difficult for the Chinese
to leave direct from Hong Kong to Homo.
lulu. A German bark was recently laid
on at Hong Kong, and large number of
Chinese had taken passage by her, but
her departure was in some way pre-
vented. This state of affairs renders it
necessary for Chinese who desire to reach
Honolulu, to come to this city first.
The City of Peking on her last trip
brought ninety of them who had through
tickets to Honolulu, and among the
1000 that came by the Toxic there were
many destined to the same port. Those
who paid their transportation were also
under the impression that not more than
fifteen could come on any steamer after
July4 hence the large number of arriv-
ais. Consul Bee was Of the opinion that
there will be no further arrivals of this
character for some time. Some of those
arrived had gone after their families and
were afraid to delay their return until
next winter, as they first proposed, be-
cause they thought they could not
secure transportation on the steamers,
there being 80 many who wanted to
return. There is at present an unusual
demand for Chinese labor ON the planta.
tions of the Sandwich islands, but a
very small one on this coast. Owing to
the difficulty of obtaining shipping from
Hong Kong direct to Honolulu, it is
probable that the Chinese who will be
brought to supply this demand will be
taken by way of this city, but their
numbers will be comparatively small.


A Musical Trick of Chopin's. ]