the golden chersonese and the way thither-第12章

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in　the　city　wall　and　several　interior　guard…houses；　all　the　inner　gates
being　garrisoned　by　Tartar　troops。　Canton　is　divided　into　thirty…six
wards；　under　twelve　officers　in　summer；　but　in　winter；　as　now；　when
burglars　are　supposed　to　be　more　on　the　alert；　this　number　is
increased。　Each　officer　having　soldiers　under　him　traverses　at
intervals　during　the　night　every　street　under　his　jurisdiction；　and
these　armed　followers；　whether　to　intimidate　criminals　or　to　show　their
vigilance；　are　in　the　habit　of　discharging　their　old…fashioned
matchlocks　and　gingalls　as　they　patrol。　In　consequence　of　so　many
precautions；　which　are　carried　out　very　thoroughly；　fires　and
burglaries　are　much　minimized；　and　the　proverb　〃as　safe　as　Canton〃
appears　to　have　a　substantial　foundation。　The　barricaded　streets　at
night　have　an　eerie　solemnity　about　them。　One　night；　my　present
hostess；　Mrs。　H。；　and　I　prowled　through　some　of　them　quite　unattended；
on　our　way　back　from　a　friend's　dwelling；　roused　up　the　watchmen　to
unlock　and　unbar　the　gates；　saw　no　other　people　astir；　went　down　one　of
the　water　streets；　hailed　a　boat；　and　were　deposited　close　to　the　door
of　our　own　abode　about　midnight；　such　an　event　being　quite　of　common
occurrence　in　this　quarter。

In　the　streets　the　roofs　of　the　houses　and　shops　are　rarely；　if　ever；
regular；　nor　are　the　houses　themselves　arranged　in　a　direct　line；　This
queer　effect　results　from　queer　causes。　Every　Chinese　house　is　built　on
the　principles　of　geomancy；　which　do　not　admit　of　straight　lines；　and
were　these　to　be　disregarded　the　astrologers　and　soothsayers　under
whose　auspices　all　houses　are　erected；　predict　fearful　evils　to　the
impious　builders。　There　are　few　open　spaces　in　Canton；　and　these　are
decorated；　not　with　statues；　but　with　monumental　arches　of　brick；　red
sandstone；　or　gray　granite；　which　are　put　up　as　memorials　of　virtuous
men　and　women；　learned　or　aged　men；　and　specially　dutiful　sons　or
daughters。　Such　memorials　are　erected　by　citizens；　and；　in　some　cases；
by　Imperial　sanction　or　decree。

The　public　buildings　and　temples；　though　they　bear　magnificent　names；
are　extremely　ugly；　and　are　the　subjects　of　slow　but　manifest　decay；
while　the　streets　of　shops　exceed　in　picturesqueness　everything　I　have
ever　seen。　Much　of　this　is　given　by　the　perpendicular　sign　boards；
fixed　or　hanging；　upon　which　are　painted　on　an　appropriate　background
immense　Chinese　characters　in　gold；　vermilion；　or　black。　Two　or　three
of　these　belong　to　each　shop；　and　set　forth　its　name　and　the　nature　of
the　goods　which　are　to　be　purchased　at　it。　The　effect　of　these　boards
as　the　sun's　rays　fall　upon　them　here　and　there　is　fascinating。　The
interiors　of　the　shops　are　lofty；　glass　lamps　hang　from　the　ceilings
and　large　lanterns　above　every　door；　and　both　are　painted　in　bright
colors；　with　the　characters　signifying　happiness；　or　with　birds；
butterflies；　flowers；　or　landscapes。　The　shop　wall　which　faces　the　door
invariably　has　upon　it　a　gigantic　fresco　or　portrait　of　the　tutelary
god　of　the　building；　or　a　sheet　of　red　paper　on　which　the　characters
forming　his　name　are　placed；　or　the　character　Shan；　which　implies　all
gods；　and　these　and　the　altars　below　are　seen　from　the　street。　There　is
a　recess　outside　each　shop；　and　at　dusk　the　joss…sticks　burning　in
these　fill　the　city　with　the　fragrance　of　incense。

As　there　are　streets　of　shops　and　trades；　so　there　are　streets　of
dwelling…houses；　but　even　the　finest　of　these　present　a　miserable
appearance　to　the　passers…by；　for　all　one　can　see　is　a　lofty　and
dimly…lighted　stone　vestibule；　furnished　with　carved　ebony　chairs　with
marble　seats　and　backs；　and　not　infrequently　with　gigantic　coffins
placed　on　end；　the　gift　of　pious　juniors　to　their　seniors！　A　porter
stands　in　this　vestibule　ready　to　open　the　lofty　triple　gate　which
admits　to　the　courtyard　of　the　interior。　Many　Chinese　mansions　contain
six　or　seven　courtyards；　each　with　its　colonnade；　drawing；　dining；　and
reception　rooms；　and　at　the　back　of　all　there　is　a　flower　garden
adorned　with　rockeries；　fish…ponds；　dwarf　trees；　and　miniature　pagodas
and　bridges。

The　streets　in　which　the　poor　dwell　are　formed　of　low；　small；　dark；　and
dirty　houses；　of　two　or　three　rooms　each。　　The　streets　of　dwellings　are
as　mean　and　ugly　as　those　of　shops　are　brilliant　and　picturesque。

This　is　a　meagre　outline　of　what　may　be　called　the　anatomy　of　this
ancient　city；　which　dates　from　the　fourth　century　B。C。；　when　it　was
walled　only　by　a　stockade　of　bamboo　and　mud；　but　was　known　by　the　name
of　〃the　martial　city　of　the　south；〃　changed　later　into　〃the　city　of
rams。〃　At　this　date　it　has　probably　greater　importance　than　it　ever
had；　and　no　city　but　London　impresses　me　so　much　with　the　idea　of　solid
wealth　and　increasing　prosperity。

My　admiration　and　amazement　never　cease。　I　grudge　the　hours　that　I　am
obliged　to　spend　in　sleep；　a　week　has　gone　like　half　a　day；　each　hour
heightening　my　impressions　of　the　fascination　and　interest　of　Canton；
and　of　the　singular　force　and　importance　of　the　Chinese。　Canton　is
intoxicating　from　its　picturesqueness；　color；　novelty　and　movement。
to…day　I　have　been　carried　eighteen　miles　through　and　round　it；
reveling　the　whole　time　in　its　enchantments；　and　drinking　for　the　first
time　of　that　water　of　which　it　may　truly　be　said　that　who　so　drinks
〃shall　thirst　again〃true　Orientalism。　As　we　sat　at　mid…day　at　the
five…storied　pagoda；　which　from　a　corner　of　the　outer　wall　overlooks
the　Tartar　city；　and　ever　since；　through　this　crowded　week；　I　have
wished　that　the　sun　would　stand　still　in　the　cloudless　sky；　and　let　me
dream　of　gorgeous　sunlight；　light　without　heat；　of　narrow　lanes　rich　in
color；　of　the　glints　of　sunlight　on　embroideries　and　cloth　of　gold；
resplendent　even　in　the　darkness；　of　hurrying　and　colored　crowds　in　the
shadow；　with　the　blue　sky　in　narrow　strips　high　above；　of　gorgeous
marriage　processions；　and　the　〃voice　of　the　bridegroom　and　the　voice　of
the　bride；〃　of　glittering　trains　of　mandarins；　of　funeral　processions；
with　the　wail　of　hired　mourners　clad　in　sackcloth　and　ashes；　of　the
Tartar　city　with　its　pagodas；　of　the　hills　of　graves；　great　cities　of
the　dead　outside　the　walls；　fiery…red　under　the　tropic　blue；　of　the
〃potter's　field〃　with　its　pools　of　blood　and　sacks　of　heads；　and
crosses　for　crucifixion；　now；　as　on　Calvary；　symbolical　of　shame　alone；
of　the　wonderful　river　life；　and　all　the　busy；　crowded；　costumed　hurry
of　the　streets；　where　blue　banners　hanging　here　and　there　show　that　in
those　houses　death　has　stilled　some　busy　brains　forevermore。　And　I
should　like　to　tell　you　of　the　Buddhist　and　Confucian　temples；　of　the
monastery　garden；　which　is　the　original　of　the　famous　〃Willow　Pattern；〃
of　the　great　Free　Dispensary　which　is　to　rival　that　of　the　Medical
Mission；　of　the　asylums　for　lepers；　foundlings；　the　blind；　aged　men　and
aged　women；　dating　from　the　fourteenth　to　the　seventeenth　centuries；
originally　well　conceived　and　noble　institutions；　but　reduced　into
inefficiency　and　degradation　by　the　greed　and　corruption　of　generations
of　officials；　of　the　〃Beggars'　Square〃　and　beggars'　customs；　of　the
trades；　and　of　the　shops　with　their　splendors；　of　the　Examination　Hall
with　its　streets　numbering　eleven　thousand　six　hundred　and
seventy…three　cells　for　the　candidates　for　the　literary　honors　which
are　the　only　road　to　office　and　distinction　in　China；　but　Canton
deserves　a　volume；　and　Archdeacon　Gray　has　written　one！

I。　L。　B。



LETTER　IV

〃Faithful　unto　Death〃〃Foreign　Devils〃Junks　and　BoatsChinese
LuxuryCanton　AfloatAn　Al　Fresco　Lunch…Light　and　ColorA　Mundane
DisappointmentStreet　Sights　and　SoundsStreet　CostumeFood　and
RestaurantsA　Marriage　ProcessionTemples　and　WorshipCrippled　Feet


REV。　B。　C。　HENRY'S；　CANTON；　January　6。

In　the　week　in　which　I　have　been　here　I　have　given　myself　up　to
ceaseless　sight…seeing。　Almost　the　first　sight　that　I　saw　on　arriving
in　this　quarter；　which　is　in　Canton　itself；　was　a　number　of　Christian
refugees；　old　men；　women；　and　children；　who；　having　fled　from　a　bloody
persecution　which　is　being　waged　against　Christianity　about　ninety
miles　from　Canton；　are　receiving　shelter　in　the　compound　of　the