THE WILY CHINEE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 18 November 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WILY CHINEE

TOI'SY-TCRVEY LAND. .Much has been written about China and tlio Chinese, hut it is doubtful if tlit! strangest freaks of imagination ever rcalisetl to tlie full the weird drolleries of the yellow man as he actually is. Mrs, llarnier. the wife of .Mr. 11. CI. Manner, an architect and civil engineer formerly in the Chinese Imperial service, shouk the dust of China from her feci a few weeks ago, and lias now with her husband, decided to make her home in Sydney. The lady is a singnarly interesting personage, and when interviewed she gave a vivid word-picture somewhat disjointed, it must be admitted—of the many queer experiences she has undergone whilst a pseudo-subject of the Chinese Empire.

'"A thing the European very sooil learns in China," she said, ''is not to attempt to save a Chinaman's life. The Chinese are great spiritualists and consider that when a. man dies a joss wants him, whether it be a water joss, engine joss, lightning joss, or any other kind of joss. I well remember an instance when I was travelling with a friend—a timber merchant—on the newly-opened Shanghai-Nanking railway. The train knocked a man over, and the Chinese having implicit faith in the European's power to do anything and everything, called for assistance* My friend remarked that repairing broken limbs was not his forte, but even though amputation of a leg was necessary, lie thought he would have a shot at it. With a jack-knife he severed the crushed member, afterwards tying up the tendons and covering the stump with a plaster of mud. About three months after a crowd of Chinese called at his oflice andthanked him for services rendered. The man had survived. But my friend was quite unprepared for what followed. With a bland smile the speaker for the deputation asked him whether he would take charge of the invalid and keep him, or whether he would give them a lump sum. Their contention was that the man was insured for 150 dollars, and if he had not been prevented from dying the family would have benefited to that extent. They regarded the erstwhile surgeon as one who had deliberately robbed them of money which the engine joss specially designed should he theirs. Threats and entreaties were in vain, and eventually mv friend compromised for 40 dollars.

OFF WITH HIS HEAD. "The. people, police themselves. By I.lml I mean if two Chinamen have a disagreement they call upon a third party to arbitrate, ami the. finding of the third party is rigorously upheld. Sometimes when the possession of an estate is disputed the oldest member of the village is called upon to decide, and should either of the disputants disagree with the linding their homes would be destroyed and the parties handed over for capital punishment to the Taoti. It is no uncommon thing when travelling about to witness a summary execution. I remember once in the province of llonan seeing three men executed. The men had been guilty of robbing their fathers. They strolled on the scene ipiite unconcerned; in fact, with a swagger. Their queues were rolled round their heads, and a mark in red paint put behind their backs. To this one man objects, saying he would not die like a dog, and he was granted the privilege of having his hands free. The death sentence was read, by the Taoti, and the executioner, stepping forward, with one stroke of his scimitar sent each man's head rolling in the dust. After the bodies had been removed, children crowded on the scene and fought to get their hands, clothes, rags, and other things soaked in the blood of the executed, believing that by doing so they would become imbued with the fearlessness and daring of the dead men. HATRED OF THE JAPANESE

"The Chinese refer to the Japanese as 'little black monkeys.' They tell you with pride that the little red ball on the Imperial flag within a few inches of the nose of the dragon represents Japan, and will sooner or later be swallowed up by the dragon. They nevertheless admire the Japanese for the way in which they have progressed for the last few years. [am of opinion that time will prove that 'John' is a far better man than the Jap, and will do greater things than have ever been done in Europe or the West. The hatred of the Japanese was clearly displayed by a little incident which I witnessed about two and a-half years ago within 150 miles of Shanghai A Japanese river steamer plying between Shanghai and Hankow up the Yangtse was boarded by pirates in broad daylight, right under the lee of a Chinese cruiser. The caplain was killed, and members of the i rew mutilated. Two managed to reach the shore, and reported to the authorities, and though profuse promises were made, absolutely no action was taken, and the free-hooters actually marched through the streets with their booty unmolestod. The Japanese are considered fair game for anyone hold enough to attack thorn.

A XATIO-V OF DREAMKRS. "'At the present time the Chinaman is a dreamer. Me has a marvellous imagination, which is brought clearly home to one when visiting their playhouses, where one will see a. warrior represented on the stage by a man dragging a stick between his legs. The Chinese will in their mind's eye picture a warrior of whatever period the play is written found. His literature is the finest in the world. About 2000 years ago the Chinese were the premier engineers of the world. To-day one can see wonderful examples of canal, road and bridge construction. I" have seen a bridge of .">:) arches built in granite without an ounce of cement having been used in its construction, the joints of the masonry liein"' so perfect that you could not get a sheet of tissue paper between them. There is no invention of to-day that cannot be seen in embryo in China, and their system of irrigation equals the greatest achievement of modern times. Thousands of square miles which at one lime were undoubtedly an arid waste are now rich pastoral land. Wooden pagodas three and four hundred feet high, built entirely of timber, have witnessed the storms and tempests of ages. AH.c-.iaii wells wore bored bv means of bamboos to deplhs of '.'0(10 and 11000 feet, and yet to-day we regard it as a modern achievement, whereas the Chinese used t his means of water conveyance hundreds of rears before Christ."