+
January 23, 1905.]
which in the nature of things few people are fortunate enough to find. In China people live on the whole fairly comfortably, and have a life which is not incompatible with considerable intellectual enjoyment and activity; and even in the æstbetic direction life is far more enjoyable in the Far East than in many other places, and even at Home to very large classes, whose positions in life give them little leisure for cultivating the Arts, and who in many cases have in this respect to "starve in the midst of plenty." In these days of ready inter- communication there are no places where at times artists of the highest European re- putation do not occasionally appear, and though these visits may be few, there is this essential difference, as compared with Home, that people out here are able to hear them, whereas at Home their leisure and means are often too moderate to permit very much .in this direction. There are, however, many subjects for intellectual exercise constantly before us quite enough to prevent minds with anything like individual initiative from becoming cramped or limited, if people will only take the trouble to look round and see what is around them and take an interest in what is actually under their eyes. At present indeed the subjects which are of special in-
terest out here happen to be those which are engrossing the attention of the whole world; but even in normal times there is enough to keep people's intellect on the alert, and no one need want subjects for interesting study in the Far East in these days. We can't of course have picture galleries and grand specimens of architecture such as are to be seen in every large city in Europe; but on the other hand there are many things even in this direction locally, which are well worthy of attention and study, if regarded in some more serious light than as mere passing curiosities.
Taken altogether, the life in these parts may be considered as one which on the whole compares favourably with life in very many other parts, and even in many ways with the ordinary life of people in Europe. We are apt to overlook the fact that at Home, though surrounded by objects cou- ducive to intellectual culture, the oppor tunities of seeing them-much more of studying them critically-are comparatively rare to anyone engaged in active pursuits. It thus happens that many who return from the East are disappointed at what they find; and discover that in looking back on Home as well as in looking away from it, distance may lend enchantment to the view; and not a few would like to have the old life in China again, and recall many advantages which were taken as of little account while they were within reach. There is, of course, always the climate to take into considera- Lion but after all, most countries have climates, and some of them very unpleasant ones-such
London fogs; 118
buc with moderate care and reasonable mode of life
the climate at most places where Europeans reside in China need not create any great alarm. Taken altogether, life in these parts may be quite as full, both physically and intellectually, as in other places, if we avoid the mistake of under-estimating its advantage, and over-estimating those in other places, chiefly from the fact that for the nonce they are unattainable..
The work of dred ing Yokohama harbour, which has been in progress some time, is now completed, and vessels with a draught of 35 feet can now be easily accommodated. The Chamber of Commerce Report adds: The Minnesota of the Great Northern B. S. Co. of America which is expected shortly, will find ample room for anchorage.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CHINESE IN SOUTH AFRICA,
(Daily Press 17th January) The discussion of the supply of cheap Chinese labour to the mines of South Africa is by no means over. Having served its turn at by-elections, and lasted during the proverbial period of a newspaper wonder, this question, ousted temporarily by more absorbing topics, still keeps cropping up. Both sides, pro and anti, are responsible for fresh sticks of fuel thrown on to the smouldering fire. Lord MILNER has told us that the introduction of every seven coolies to the Rand increases the number of white workmen by one. In a letter report- ing the effect of the arrival of seven thousand Chinese, Lord MILNER Wrote :-
"The introduction of 7,000 Chinese has led to the increase of 1,000 white workmen. Of these, on the average, half married. Assuming 500 are
500
un married, with an average of five per family, this means 3000 white people living in prosperous conditions who were previously out of work or not in the country at all. But this is not the whole story. Every thousand white men engaged in the mines involves a popalatiqu of equal number, and probably considerably more in subsidiary industries as artisans, traders, &c. Of these men ยย even larger proportion are married than is the case with the miners. All
Bre
married and
told, there are at least 8 000 to 10,00) white people who have found employment and means of livelihood as a direct result of the importation of 7.000 Chinese."
All those assumptions are rather bold as coming from an official, and we should be inclined to put the number of married colonists of the kind referrel to at much less than half, while the average of five is much too high to assess the families of the " rolling stones" who have mestly gone to spy out the land, with an eye to quick returns and large pro- fits. On the other hand, one of the most bitter and least scrupulous opponeu's of the scheme tells us that the coolies are sorry they went. They find, he says, the regulations of their new home very oppres sive. The newspapers, we are told, with some apparent exaggeration, teem with reports of riot, refusal to work, and murders. The South Africau Constabulary has had to ride dowu, it is reported, a mob of Chinese, and several Chinese overseers were, it is alleged, killed. Several Chinamen have been sentenced to be flogged, and many others have, it is further stated, gone to jail for refusing to work, The British employes are finding it necessary to carry revolvers. On Nov, 24th, a fight between Kaffirs and coolies at the New Kleinfontein mine was so violent that the police had to charze with fixed bayonets. Now why should we be troubled with all these contradictory statements; and why should men be so heated by a simple commercial proposition that their truth telling capacity should, as it were, become fuse-1, and run to waste? The Chinese coolies who left these shores are not the sort of men to force any white man to carry a revolver. Ou the transports, the doctors went amongst them entirely unarmed; and these alleged desperadoes, when some of their dirtier companions, were put into the stocks and received compulsory ablutions at the nozzle of the ship's hose pipe, laughed like children. Children thy are, in many ways, and if the South African Police had to resort to arms, it would not be their fault. They want to go and earn
money. They can, even under the scheme so much decried, do better for themselves than they can in theircongested an 1 officially
The mine impoverished home districts. owners want them, and pay for them. The work they are to do is not the work that the white man wants. The pother may be
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set down to political needs; the lies to which we are treated need a lot of explain. ing. So long as we realize that the partisan statements being male are absolutely un. reliable, not much harm is done; but we do not always remember the need for the pinch of salt. These later tales of terrible doings in South Africa should not be taken too seriously, any more than the enthusiastic economics of Lord MILNER.
LITIGATION IN CHINA.
0:
(Daily Press, 18th January.) One of the latest items of news from the mainland will not please the good people at Home who are subscribing for the propaga. tion of the gospel in China. It will possibly give rise to considerable doubt as to how far the glowing accounts of progress sent by the missionaries are trustworthy. It is that many Chinese are becoming Christians bectuse they have discovered that the pro- vincial magistrates, in disputes between Christians and non-Christians, incline to favour the former. Of course, prior to 1900, it was all the other way. The magistrates, swayed by a natural prejudice, almost in- variably gave verdic s against the converts, and thereby provoked much discontent, numerous complaints, and frequent emo- barrassing interference by the "missionaries. Their sympathies still would incline them to favour those litigants who have remained loyal to the old faiths, particularly if the suitable and usual inducements were forth- coming; but they have learned in the last five years the aptitude of the Christians for making plenty bobbery," and consequent trouble for themselves. The Tientsin Times observes that in certain districts "it is to be feared the followers of a certain church have brought undue pressure to bear, and that the fear of international complications has been in some instances worked upon to coerce favourable judgments from the weaker officials. That the more ignorant provincial officials are thus placed at times in positions of extreme difficulty is very probable." There is, therefore, small matter or sur- prise that personal convenience has out- weighed the magisterial devotion to national prejudices. It is also far from unnaturae that many of their constituents, seeing the material advantages to be gained thereby, should have enrolled their names among those of the genuine converts who may be assumed to exist. The Chinese Government, having receive a memorial from a Censor com- plaining of the fear-inspired partiality of the magistrates, has, we notice, ordered the Board of Punishments and the Board of Commerce to draw up regulations for the settlement of all disputes likely to arise between the converts and the unconverted, the said regulations to be circulated amongst all Viceroys, Governors, and Magistrates for study, and strict observance. Our con- temporary thinks that "if the proposed regulations are framed on broad and prac- tical lines they may be of great service," but therein lies the difficulty. Broad such regulations might be, but practicality is quite another affair. How any conceivable set of regulations can achieve the object aimed at, it is difficult to imagine; and they are much more likely to emphasise the trouble, than to diminish it. Common as are the sneers at "the Great Unpaid," no one is likely to compare the British J. P. with a Chinese Magistrate to the advantage of the latter; and as the "conscientious objector” to vaccination has proved a con- sisteut stumbling-block to the former, so these converts will continue to be thorns in the flesh of the latter, notwithstanding all