Hongkong. ited by Wiliam rcpt by oho, Henry Gry, Gow Gregor,—London, 1878, "Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
This is the description given in the Bible of Abishai, the brother of Joab, and it is in some sort true of Archdeacon Gray. His book is not so good a book as that of Sir John Davis, it is conspicuously inferior to "The Middle Kingdom" of Dr. Williams, and it is not perhaps quite so meritorious as the work of Medhurst, but it is a very good book indeed. The writer has studied the Chinese with close attention. He has had abundant opportunities for doing so, and he has brought to the task very considerable powers of observation, and that diligence which results from an absorbing, almost passionate, interest in his subject. The daily life of the people has been investigated with a resolute determination to let nothing of interest escape his keen glance and his faithful note-book. It is true that the volumes before us are perhaps 1 little disjointed, but still the chapters, though thrown together without a plan, are treasuries of curious folk-lore, of anecdote, and of odd information. We gather from these laborious pages what the Chinese believe, and to a certain extent how they are governed. There are abundant particulars about all sorts of subjects. Chapters on pawnshops and pagodas, on hospitals and highways, on silk, on ships, on tea, on gardens. The pictures from Chinese originals enhance the attraction of the book, and the occasional notes of personal adventure give it reality and life. There is perhaps rather an old fashioned air in the frequent classical parallels; for instance, the chapter on ships begins with a reference to the golden fleece and the Aryo, and the account of the carrier pigeon service suggests allusions to Anacreon, Tamosthenes, Brutus, and Hirtius. The English is better than in the writer's former work. © We will give a few extracts taken almostatrandom, for the book is so readable that it is difficult to choose amiss. Here is note on cotton:—, "The Chinese did not cultivate cotton for themselves until during the dynasties of Sung and Yuen, A.D: 1127 to 1383. " 'The' provitices in which it was first cultivated were Kwi and Fohkien. Thesg doubtless owed their priority to the fact: that their ports were the first and probably. for a considerable time the only porta' at which foreign vessels were permitted by'a/ jealous Government to touch. It appears,' Kwong-kee, who flourished in the Ming cotton, written @ literate named 1 rover, from 8 on the cultivation of dynasty, A.D. 1368 to' 1628," that the' provinces of Shansi and Shensi were acaécely if at all behind those of Kwangtung and' Fohkien in this enterprise. This statement may at first sight seem improbable, a3 foreign ships are not known to have proceeded further North at that time than the Foh'sien port of Chin-chew. 'It is an-historical fact, however, that between the ravinees of Shansi and Shensi on the one id, and India on the other, there was frequent communication at the earliest time, and that whilst-foreign vessels weta' conveying cotton to the ports of Kwang. tung and Fohkien, beasts of burden were carrying it in equal quantities over the western provinces of China to i and Shensi. "A knowledge of the cultivation of the plant is said to have been conveyed to the province of Kiangsu, by an intelligent and enterprising lady of the Wang ily. This benefactress of a vast portion of the human race lived in the Yuen dynasty."
Here isa graceful legend, which accounts for the Chinese worship of the moon "On the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the first year of his reign, the Emperor Ming Wong was walking in the funds of his palace attended by one of is priests. The Emperor, who was much given to astrological studies, asked his companion if he could inform him of what material the moon was made. The priest by way of reply, asked his royal master if he would like to visit the moon, The Emperor said he would, and thereupon the priest threw his staff into the air, The staff became a bridge, and Ming Wong and his companion passed over it, "They fond the moon to be a region of vast palaces, beautiful flowers and fair women, their way back the priest roque Majesty, who had his lute with him—an instrument which he was noted for playing with remarkable skill to enliven the way with its melodious strains. The music filled' the air, and the inhabitants of Natikin and the surrounding territory. believing that rejoicing angels were traversing the; realms of space, ran to the tops, of their houses todo them homage. At the request of the priest, his Majesty showered down cash upon the votaries, en: 'Ming Wong was once more in his palace, his adventure seemed so strange that he concluded it was a dream; but, whilst he was persuading himself that it was so, ani official' communication was laid before him. It came from the Governor-General of the province describing certain marvels which had taken place on the 15th day of the month—celestial music had been Heard in the air, and cash had fallen from heaven: So the Emperor was convinced that he had visited the moon, and the people, have since continued to worship her on the night on which Ming Wong accomplished his marvellous journey" (vol. 1, p.'265.)
Here are some strange particulars about Beggar Guilds In the absence of workhouse gars form themselves into guilds, which are presided over by pre-called by the community "gener tendence of a magistrate named Poo-Téag, by"
guilds are under the euperin-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.