BABIES IN CHINA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 423, 27 November 1889, Page 6

BABIES IN CHINA.

A gentleman who made a tour through China on a bicycle tells of some curious things he saw in out-of-the way districts which travellers do not, usually visit. One of these was a company of babies picketed out in the field like so many goats or calves. Each baby had a belt about the waist; into this belt behind was tied a string about ten feet long, the other end of which was fastened to a stake. The stakes were set so far apart >that there waa no danger of the strings getting tangled up. as the babies crept or ran about.. Some of them were creeping about on all fours, some of them were making their first attempt at standing bybalancing against the stakes,, while theolder ones were running or playing in the= grass. All seemed good-natured and< happy, and though they gazed at the queerlooking strang-er and his wheels with 3ra expression of surprise, they did not cry or seem in the least frightened.- Nobody seemed paying any attention tq.tbe babies ; but as> the mothers were working in a rice field a little way off, they would, of course, have come to them had there been any need. The babies had plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and perhaps were as well off as some more petted ones at home.