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ed like a stage-player and had his bowl filled quite up to the brim with water, and a chord tied to it, so that he could give it the distance of eight, ten, or more feet. The street was full of people, coolies, porters, sedans, &c., and yet he contrived to keep his bowl in constant motion, whirling it round and round, sometimes in one and sometimes in another direction. Repeatedly he made his neck the axle, and wound the chord round and round till the bowl came almost to his chin; then, in an instant, without disturbing the water, it was thrown whirling in the opposite direction.

An imperial beggar next made his appearance, in the next street ; "imperial" only because he wore a mock dress af royalty—a yellow * má kwá, or tunic, and on it, in the centre, before and behind, there were written, hwáng ngan káu fung, 9, “given by imperial favor." He had on also a mock cap, surmounted by a gold button; so at least it appeared; and in one hand he carried a long staff, like a shepherd's crook; in the other a small basket. He was an able-bodied man, and passed middle age, perhaps sixty. Thus oddly attired he went slowly along the street, thrusting his basket up before the face of every one whom he inagined could or would give him a cash, first in the street and then in the shops.

A pair of beggars next attracted attention, and in the same street. They were both strong and healthy men of thirty, poorly clad, having a bad countenance. They looked as if they could plunder and rob as well as beg. One stood in a shop and the other stood outside the door in the street, and both had bamboo slats in their hands, with which they kept up a deafening clatter, while they sung and rehearsed in concert,-endeavoring by all these means to extort cash. such men the tread mill would be an admirable residence.

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A priest of the Tau sect came next. He was on a begging tour, for some public object, the building or the repairing of a temple, or something of this sort. He was well clad, and of respectable appearance, a man of forty. He carried in his hand a large subscription book, and going to the door of a house, he kneeled on the threshold, opened his book, and held it up before him, so that the people in the -shop or house might easily see who had last subscribed. At the same time he did this, he gave an account of his object, setting before them its claims, and the advantages that would result to themselves by becoming subscribers.

A Budhist also was among the other beggars noticed, while walking to and from the foreign factories, through the eastern suburbs, to-day, he was or feigned to be half idiot. This order of priests

always shave the head perfecly bald to show their renunciation of the world. The poor deluded or demented man had passed scarcely five and twenty years; was meanly habited, as that fraternity usually are; and was of the filthiest cast. His hair, however had grown out, so that to it, just above the forehead, he had made fast one end of a short string, say three feet long; and to the other a bundle of papers of various colors was festooned so as to make at once a sort of charm for divining and to attract the gaze of children. Thus accoutred he was employing silly tricks, endeavoring to induce the people to give him cash.

P. S. To-day I have again seen the imperial beggar, and also the man with the whirling bowl, or rather another man in the same service.

Here may be repeated what I have heard of one of the Emperorsit was Kienlung, if I rightly remember. He was on a tour south of the Great River and near Nanking, traveling incog, when he happened to fall in with a funeral procession, that had been stopped in its progress by a throng of beggars-an event that frequently happens. At this conduct of the beggars, the Emperor was so exasperated that he immediately gave orders that every one of them should be seized and decapitated.

Friday, Jan. 28th. When passing by one of the large temples this morning, I saw a dead beggar on his back close by the temple gate the temple of Confucius. He appeared to have been a man of thirty, reduced to beggary and starvation by opium smoking. There are said to be many instances of this kind.

Another drunkard came in my way; when I saw him, he had just been wallowing in the mire by the way side, and was now begging for more strong drink to gratify his appetite.

Saturday, Jan. 29th. In passing through the city the following were some of the objects of beggary that I noticed this morning; 1. Several small companies of old or middle-aged women, with children on their back; they looked like gypsies; 2. A young man, half naked, lying seemingly in the agonies of death by the way side; 3. A middle aged man in the same condition; 4 Several women with children on their backs in the doors of the shops: 5. A woman on her knees with a sick child by her side in the middle of the street ; 6. A veteran couple-a man and his wife-going arm in arm he was eighty years of age, and she not much younger; they were from Súchau, begging for a livelihood.

Thursday, February 3d.

Bitter cold days we have had since the

month came in: Tuesday night snow began to fall, which continued till next morning. The quantity that fell may have been several inches in depth, it was so much, and the atmosphere was so cold, that on the roofs of houses and on the dry fields, the snow remained all day, not disappearing till the sun came out at noon to-day.

Wednesday, February 4th. The last day of the Chinese year. All are busy, clearing accounts and making ready for the morrow. The weather is very cold-freezing cold.

Sat. Feb'y 5th. The Chinese New Year: and a bright day it is Business of all kinds is suspended; offices, shops, &c., are all closed. As the old year went out, at midnight, the temples were crowded; and at an early hour this morning the officials went in state to pay divine honors at the altars of those whom they call gods. Before mid-day all was quiet. The forenoon of New Year day is the most quiet season the people of China ever enjoy.

Monday, Feb'y 7th. The quiet of the New Year's morning is gone : the streets are again becoming thronged; and in-doors and out-ofdoors, every where, every body is trying to make merry. Congratulations and loud salutations, low bows, &c., &c., are the order of the day.

Among the throng in the streets, you see an unusual number of children, both boys and girls, among them some lovely countenances. Beggars, horrible objects, are abroad again! Parents bring their young children, with their faces covered with small pox, and lay them down by the way-side; and there they sit, parents and children, begging for cash. Some of these are said to be dissemblers, assuming this horrible appearance of the small pox, in order to excite pity! In more than one instance, I have seen these beggars habiting themselves for their begging tours. They usually live in dilapidated temples, beneath broken walls, in old boats, hovels, or other similar places,-men, women, and children herding together like beasts. When the hour for starting on a day's tour arrives, they put on their filthy and tattered garments, making themselves beggarly as possible, sometimes leaving their arms or their bodies half naked, sometimes besmearing their faces with blood, and by these and various other devices, they equip themselves, and thus accoutered go forth and winder through the most frequented parts of the city.

Instead of sedans, horses are occasionally used here in traveling by the gentry and others. This morning, near the office of the Chahien, I met, in straggling order, no less than twenty persons on horseback: they appeared like police men or attachés of the officials

they had probably been to pay their respects to the chief magistrate of the city. They afford but a sorry specimen of horsemanship. Their beasts were not among the very best of the kind; and their saddles and accoutrements were bad enough. Each horse had on his neck a long string of bells; this troop was moving only at a moderate pace.

dar.

Saturday, Feb. 12th, the 9th of the moon in the Chinese CalenSince their New Year came in, there had been a succession of cold days; and since the 3d the weather has been remarkably fine. For several mornings ice was found an inch or more in thickness, and in the shade scarcely diminished at all during the hours of the day.

It is amusing to see the various means that are resorted to by the Chinese to keep themselves warm in this bitter cold season. Handstoves and foot-stoves are in constant use; furs, sheep-skins are put on, one over another in "any quantities," till their wardrobes are emptied ; the children of the young poorer classes like bundles appear or dirty sacks of cotton; and many of the men are not much better. Compared with such beings Falstaff's soldiers were princes.

ART. V.

Proclamation from the magistrate of Shanghái, secur ing to the missionaries of the Roman Catholic Church a residence at Sükiá Hwui.

SUKIA HWUI is the name of a small village, situated on the west of Shanghái, five or six miles distant from the city. It is said to have received this name on account of its having once been the residence and possession of the Sükia,. or the Family of Sü”—a family rendered famous in the annals of the Roman Catholic missions in China by one of its members, known as "Paul Sui" to Europeans, and as Sü Kwangki, to the Chinese. This man flourished near the close of the Ming dynasty and died in the year 1633, and his remains have been interred at or near Sükiá Hwui. In the imperial government he held the rank of Prime Minister, or Koh Láu; and a stone arch, having these characters engraven upon it, which was erected to his memory over one of the streets in Shanghái, may still be seen. It stands a few rods distant from and directly in front of the office of the chief magistrate of

the city. Paul Sit was considered by the Roman Catholic misssionaries as one of the brightest ornaments of their Church in China. At the present day a part of the family is pagan and a part is included in the Roman Catholic community at least so we have been informed.

Why count de Besi is called a French Bishop-or a Frenchman at all--we cannot tell. But the fact that as a Frenchman, a foreignerhe has been able to purchase land at the distance of several miles from the city and have it secured to him by the Chinese authorities, is worthy of notice. It is a precedent that will not be lost sight of by others who wish to secure a residence in China. At present several European Missionaries are residing at Sükiá Hwui, where they have been visited by parties from Shánghái.

We subjoin a copy of the Elict furnished us by a gentleman of Shanghai, and along with it give a translation in English.

CHAU, by imperial decree promoted to the rank of Chichau, now acting magistrate of the district of Shanghai in the department of Sungkiang in Kiáng sú, for meritorious deeds promoted ten degrees and ten times recorded, gives this proclamation, for the purpose of prohibiting (the people from doing evil) and of binding (the constable and others) to do their duty.

WHEREAS it is authenticated, that the constable, of the sixth ward of the twenty-eighth tything, has again reported the sale of land, belonging to the people Sükia Huui to the French Bishop Lo (count de Besi) for the erection of a Church and residence; and now that (the said Bishop or his agent) is buying materials and collecting artisans and beginning the work, fearing lest ignorant villagers may oppose the carrying of brick, lime, wood, and other materials, or may take trouble and create disorder, or may steal the materials, or may there crowd together to get lodgings, and thus hinder the work; THEREFORE he (the said constable) has requested that a proclamation may be given for the purpose of prohibiting, binding, &c., &c.

Receiving the above Report, it is proper to issue a proclamation, and I do hereby give this to the said constable and villagers for their information.

People of the neighboring villages, attend each one of you to your agricultural pursuits. If any worthless villains or vagabond beggars coming from other places, and at the said village, take up their lodgings there, hinder the work, or steal the materials, the said constable is hereby authorized to arrest them and deliver them over to my office, to be tried and punished according to law. The said constable, also, must not make this an occasion to create troubles. If he oppose, I will punish him. Let each and all respectfully obey. Oppose not. A special proclamation.

NB

Taukwang, 27th year, 6th month, 9th day. (A. D. July 20th 1848.)

Let the above be pasted up at St Kia Hout the residence of the said constable in the temple of Chiu King.

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