728466-1842-21-Apr-1842 — Page 7

RIGINAL

THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.

FOR THE FRIEND OF CHINA

No. 2.

CONTRADIEZINOTIONS.

Ir has often been remarked that China, not only Geographical position, but a

customs &c. &c. is the ver nations. On first coming to C struck with the prominent where sees around him. To on which the Chinese differ

present paper entirely too long

ing an

very many minor points also,such as peal. pear which they do by holding the blade the knife from you instead of towards you as we do begining at the vertex of the roof instead of the caves to cover their houses; carving their meats before cooking. &c. &c. &c.

Your

Hongkong April 17th. 1842,

AK..

HONGKONG 25

RIL=1842–

To the Editor of the

Friend of China,

BIR

Tax dégraceful

of v

Many rumours, are afloat about

pon Koolon

Chin

23

and at present I shall notice only a few.

Their language (which is the most common charac. teristic of any country] not only differs from every essential particular both written and contrary to the great first principle o

urs 10

instrument

in common with our own in the Our instrument of writing in part of the quill and very being used is held slantingly universally-employed by the Chinese is of the softest kind being made(as it were of the other end of our pen). of the finest hair, and when they write they hold it perpendicularly. The lines of our writing cross the page from left to right, and theirs from top to bottom, and the begninig of all their books is exatly on the page where ours-end. The types or blocks used for printing are not metal but wood and they never print but on one side of the paper.

Frequently may be seen old men busily employed in flying their kites, while groups of Title boys are looking on enjoying the scene with the utmost ap. parent gratification.

There are an abundance

of barbers, shops in

out

China as well as in our own country but the Chinese very rarely have their faces shaved but always the head except a very small place on the crown ; and it is not at all uncommon to see an old man with a beard five or six inches long hanging to his chin and mustachios accordingly while nearly every hair of his head has be closely shaved off

The externi

and a miserably

lady cruelly cramped feet

kwardgait

say Thou Kwang seventh twentyfith day.

The marinera compass long before it was thonght motest antipuity to the

still speak of it as

south as the grand

north as has been decidedl

estern Literati of therefore to ask & Chin neo he would say

his reply would be east

On entering a lionso been severed by death

the deceased cli

our end, thus they ar mioon (or – month

own and used in China.

e but from

rection of Bor

and not south west and

where the family tie has just eeing the relatives bilimen

all loudly for magisterial int

orse and wOISO.

You mus

the

ate

can only allude to the drunken of our Soldiers and Sailors for the conduct native population, by contrast, is truly admirable.

THE Occurrence I particularly fer to. and which induces me to address you I will now detail Yesterday, Sunday, as I was passing Labtats tavern-at- quarter past five P. M.-I was much shocked at witnessing two Sailors, stripped to the waist, engaged The combatants were both intoxicated and streaming in a regular pugilistic encounter with backers &c. &c. with blood. This was disgusting enough, but still com paratively harmless in moral effect on the Chinese Spectators, compared with the fact that sie of our Police to keep and maintain the Peace) were passive, and appa- (in England they would be peace Officers, being sworn rently gratified spectators, of this conflict.

I called on the police to interfere, they declined. I demanded on what ground they refused. Replied that they were commanded by an Officer of the Blen- heim to let the men fight it out-which officer 1 I dont see him now, he is a small man. Did you ask his name 1

No-Do you refuse to interfere? Yes, our orders are

not to interfere but with the Chinese Whose orders ↑ It is so, and we have no place to put the men in, if we

up. 1 remained to

the true, an

taken to prevent

ok the name of

Suld report

retur

day bef re the atta asons both for believing Smith and the Major are det side and be ready and vigilant

disbeliev

the safe

Since the above - was in type we have received an other letter from the same source dated Koolangsoo 14th April from which we extract the following: Last night was a time of much excitement ; and the drums beat and the bugle sounded to arms at midnight All things were ready to receive the enemy in a few minutes; but it proved a false alarm. It was a party of pirates attacking some houses at Amoy instead of Chinese troops attacking us. We can only muster a few above three hundred troops ; but they are probably suf-

many thousands if they can prepared for them. This unsettled. very unfavorable to Mis- nearly deserted

origin

And I remain

Your obt. Servt.

A Friend.

CABUL.

ved this week from

that we are compelled

to the

of the

glad

immedi

The treaty

menco

TO THE EDITO

THE

SIR

that

OF CHINA