rin eric ur Hoe ie opens muir rercar she Bee as Saeae, iene rate has crits Een cteataate Strata's oan ese Cee cons heme Sees The building of a public bridge was regarded by the Buddhist teachers as the first on the list of meritorious deeds. Heaven as well as Hell knew the art of bridge-building In the Buddhist creed, and it was over the! bridge formed by all the crows of the world that the daughter of the Lord of Heaven' travelled to cross the Han River of Heaven. (Who Milky Way) in order to visit her herd Boy lover. 'The silk industry takes special note of this lady for tradition has it that she was a spinner of silk. The crows learned of her coming, gathered voluntarily and arranged themselves' in a long row for her feet to Recpemaas ieee gees RRP Re ater See dieeaees alcae SET sh tea Sein coco tae Sry Seas eater nets tread rains on the day, it Is a bad omen for the silk trade, because the little maiden cannot pass the river and will have to walt another year before she has an opportunity to The most famous bridge in Hell leads a Jong trail of souls over a terrible lake of bolling blood in this belief there Is mirrored some of!
the thrill experienced by so many when they pass over one of the high Chinese bridges with their low parapets or else no parapet An example of Asiatic fatalism can also be perceived: "If Fate has arranged that you are to fall down from a bridge, it will happen the appointed time."
If the Chinese Buddhist fects that he has lived a life which is likely to involve him in trouble with the authorities of the next world he is often persuaded to dispense money for the construction of a bridge, for in due] course if he can bring proof that he has con~ tributed to the construction of a public bridge the ten judges of Hell will acquit him of his] sins, Engineers. were sometimes prevented by evil spirits from building bridges "This happened to the big bridge over the Wei River Duilt during the Han dynasty.
was more than 1,000 fect long, had 68 arches and was reconstructed three times—during period. of 200 years—until it was finally Abandoned. Attempts must also have been made to bridge the Hoangho, as the spirits in charge of this river have the special duty of Aeatroying all_bridge foundations placed in their waters, The river is believed to be under It by any chance the foundation of a bridge' gives way—and apparently one of the disadvantages of Chinese engineering is a tendency to build on too slender foundations—the view is at once held that evil spirits have been at work, Priests are summoned, in-conse and paper money burned and then superstition gives way to the more practical examination whether the bridge should be abandoned altogether or whether it can be repaired. If proper precautions are taken these dangers should not arise, For example, the erection of an arch bridge is preceded by' elaborate negotiations and when the contractors have been duly chosen other steps are taken "Before the actual place for the location of the bridge is decided upon, wise priests skilled in the science of "Feng-Sul" (wind-waler) are consulted in order to find the place which east exposed to evil influences. The contractor then builds his cofferdams and drains out the water where the bridge Is to be constructed. Stones from a quarry stocking quality on which the contractor relies are! then shipped to the place. page On a big white wall close to the bridge the builder makes a large scale drawing of the structure. This sketch would confuse—a European contractor, but on this, combined!
Prom mur "Nomni-Cuxa Dany News," or Ocrouen 8, 1877 The China Mail says Mr. Herbert Cope lett by the French mail to open a branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank at Singapore. Mr. Hennessy has graciously granted a tree pardon to Mr. Robert Duncan, late secretary to the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company; he was liberated on Saturday morning. las!. Notice is given in the Gazette that the Score tary of State for the Colonies has approved recognition of Mr. William Reimers as Acting Polygar Consul-General for Austria-Hungary at this port, during the absence of Mr. Andre. The Dally Press says the replacement of European house property by Chinese is a noticeable feature jo the colony at present, Two more blocks of houses are now on the point of de volition for this purpose, in the neighbourhood of Old Bailey street. 'The Eastern and Austra~ Man mail steamer Brisbane left Singapore for Hongkong on the 27th ultimo. She brings the malls per Normandy, which vessel is now, the Press was pleased to learn, all right.' The maximum temperature at the Peak during the past week, as recorded in Saturday's Gazette, was 79.0 the minimum 690; at the Harbour-Master's OMce, Praya West, the maximum was 86.0 and the minimum 74.0.'2.82 inches rain fell during the week, Frost rue "Nomm-Cuma Dany News" or Ocrosm 9, 1877 We often see some curious things said about China in foreign papers; but for unmitigated nonsense we have seldom read anything t0 gree equal the following in the "Australasian":—Our finance is in its infancy. When we want to make a railway we innocently pay for it, either out of the Treasury chest or by means of borrowed money, which we punctually repay. They manage these things much better in China, The Chinese authorities are just now talking about making a railway about twelve miles in length.
the mandating have seized. upon the wealthiest man in the district, and have in formed him that his father must have been very wicked and a great oppressor of the poor; otherwise the old gentleman could not himself be so rich. Should he, however, be publiespirited enough to advance £100,000 towards the construction of a railway, why then "let bygones be bygones, and the Emperor will give him a red button." As he knows the consequence of refusing so enticing a proposal, he has contributed the necessary funds, The iand required will be appreciated, the labour needed will be pressed, and the plant will be provided above, Now, isn't this actual fact one which ight be turned to useful account by the Chief Mandarin Berry? Wouldn't it be a splendid joke for instance, to compel the Hon, William Campbell to find the capital for the Melbourne and Oakleigh junction direct?
Frost re "Nomm-Cimxa Day News," or Ocrosex 11, 1877 It was predicted that a strong northerly. blow would come after the mild weather on Monday and 'Tuesday, and the prediction has been Bitterly verified. A strong north-westerly wind set in on Wednesday morning, and the thermometer fell during the night' to 47 against a minimum of 62 on Tuesday night. Tt continued fo blow with the strength of a gale all day yesterday and our thermometer at -3 nin. Marked only G7 against 78 on Wednesday after-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.