PESOS austere Mercantile Marine, From Suchow we learn that the criminal judge is out in strong proclamation conomning opium-smoking, gambling and prosstitution. Hitherto, he states, the effect of the Governor's proclamations have only been to remove the publicity of these practices, while they continued unabated in private but now steps will be taken by means of a special inspectorate to eradicate them altogether. Should the judge be successful in his attempts to suppress the above evils at Suchow, it will undoubtedly be a great blessing to that place, but, we apprehend, will intensity similar evils at Shangiai, to which many, especially of the latter class, will flock as to an asylum.—News-Letter.
The constant irregularities and changes taking place in all the water-courses of the Kiangsu Province, especially in such streams as are subject to tidal Carer soree of perpetual, annoyance ly lo buts also to the officials, "By he lapsing of the banks on one side whole fields often disappear, while onthe other side land is making, but not sufficiently high for cultivation; in either case, however, the people are required to pay sil the taxes that would accrue from such land in a normal state, which is clearly oppressive and unjust. It is with a view therefore to remedy this evil that a survey of all watercourses has been ordered by the provincial authorities.
Five years since such an attempt was made as impracticable, and such a fate is also pre-by Li-hung-chang, but was finally abandoned dicted to await the present effort to determine who should and who should not pay the Iand-tax, for that is the object of the proposed survey.—Neus-Letter.
The recent fire at the junction of the Canton and Fuhkien roads seems greatly to have alarmed the Chinese in that neighbourhood. A shed has been erected at the place, in which "for several days 'Taouist priests have been performing religious services to the God of fire, with a view to avert similar calamities' in the future. Several private families also have been holding special services for the same purpose. It is customary, after any extensive fire, and when fires are of frequent occurrence, to try in this way to propitiate the deity who is supposed to have control of fire. The money spent on such occasions is considerable, probably several hundred dollars; it has been suggested that this might have been contributed, with better reason, to the funds of the Fire Brigade.
'A correspondent sends the following particulars regarding an American tea:
Although there is little chance of the Paraguayan produce superseding the use of Chinese tea, a little information on the subject may be interesting to your readers.
Paraguayan tea can be cultivated in English hot-houses, and s quantity of it can be seen in Kew gardens. In Brazil it can scarcely be said to be cultivated, as it grows wild in great abundance.
In 1860, five million' pounds of this tea were prepared, but the native Indians do not use that skill and care so conspicuous in high chop Chinese teas. There are three sorts known in the market; the Coa-cuys or young leaf buds; the Coa-Men, bein the leaf separated from its mid-rib an secondary ribs, and the Yerba, the kind in moat common use, which i, corny of leaf, stalks and young branches altogether. 'The beverage lo mate thus. A small quantity of Yerba is placed in a cup called a Mati—a plain gourd is used by the common people, and richly ornamented. with silver by' the better classes—and when fit to drink a tube is introduced with a small basket, or a perforated silver or tin box at the end, in order to prevent small particles getting into the mouth; from this tube the fluid is sucked. Although not having so much colouring matter as tea and coffee, it contains an active principle resembling caffeine and theine, consequently its effects are the same as those popular Deverages. A poetic Scotchman, who resides at Buenos Ayres, thus draws attention to the universal drink. think you'll find the natives kind,
And when within, through pij tin, Polite and very chatty "They suck the boiling mats"
Fortunately for China merchants, the same duty is levied on this product as on tea, which has hitherto hindered its intro duction into England; nevertheless, persons who have resided any length of time pave crea bac eae strong a taste for this beverage, that have had regular supplies sent home to them, and gladly paid duty on the same.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.