第 38 节
作者:无边的寒冷      更新:2021-03-11 18:28      字数:9322
  of Trade; Board of Works; and I know not what besides。 In fact; _he is
  the Government_; although the Datu Klana's signature or seal is
  required to confirm a sentence of capital punishment; and possibly in
  one or two other cases; and his Residential authority is subject only
  to the limitations of his own honor and good sense; sharpened somewhat;
  were he other than what he is; by possible snubs from the Governor of
  the Straits Settlements or the Colonial Secretary。 He is a thoroughly
  honorable man; means well by all the interests of his little kingdom;
  and seems both beloved and trusted。
  On Sunday morning we had English service and a sermon; the congregation
  being augmented by the only other English peoplea man from Australia
  who is here road…making; and his wife; and in the afternoon;
  disregarding a temperature of 85 degrees; we went through the Chinese
  village of Serambang。
  Tin is the staple product of Sungei Ujong; and until lately the Malay
  peninsula and the adjacent regions were supposed to be the richest tin
  producing countries in the world。  There is not a single tin mine;
  however; properly so…called。 The whole of the tin exported from Sungei
  Ujong; which last year (1879); even at its present reduced price; was
  valued at 81;400 pounds; and contributed as export duty to the
  Government 5;800 pounds; is found in the detritus of ancient mountains;
  and is got; in mining parlance; in 〃stream works〃that is; by washing
  the soil; just as gold is washed out of the soil in Australia and
  California。 It is supposed that there is a sufficient supply to last
  for ages; even though the demand for tin for new purposes is always on
  the increase。 It is tin mining which has brought the Chinese in such
  numbers to these States; and as miners and smelters they are equally
  efficient and persevering。 In 1828; the number of Chinese working the
  mines here was one thousand; and in the same year they were massacred
  by the Malays。 They now number ten thousand; and under British
  protection have nothing to fear。
  It is still the New Year holidays; and hundreds of Chinamen were
  lounging about; and every house was gayly decorated。  The Malays never
  join house to house; the Chinese always do so; and this village has its
  streets and plaza。 The houses are all to a certain extent
  fire…proofthat is; when a fire occurs; and the attap…thatched roofs
  are burned; the houses below; which are mostly shops; are safe。 These
  shops; some of which are very large; are nearly dark。 They deal mainly
  in Chinese goods and favorite Chinese articles of food; fireworks;
  mining tools; and kerosene oil。 In one shop twenty 〃assistants;〃 with
  only their loose cotton trousers on; were sitting at round tables
  having a mealnot their ordinary diet; I should think; for they had
  seventeen different sorts of soups and stews; some of them abominations
  to our thinking。
  We visited the little joss…house; very gaudily decorated; the main
  feature of the decorations being two enormous red silk umbrellas;
  exquisitely embroidered in gold and silks。  The crowds in this village
  remind me of Canton; but the Chinese look anything but picturesque
  here; for none of themor at all events; only their 〃Capitans〃wear
  the black satin skull cap; and their shaven heads; with the small patch
  of hair which goes into the composition of the pigtail; look very ugly。
  The pig…tail certainly begins with this lock of hair; but the greater
  part of it is made up of silk or cotton thread plaited in with the
  hair; and blue or red strands of silk in a pigtail indicate mourning or
  rejoicing。 None of the Chinese here wear the beautiful long robes used
  by their compatriots in China and Japan。 The rich wear a white;
  shirt…like garment of embroidered silk crepe over their trousers and
  petticoat; and the poorer only loose blue or brown cotton trousers; so
  that one is always being reminded of the excessive leanness of their
  forms。 Some of the rich merchants invited us to go in and drink
  champagne; but we declined everything but tea; which is ready all day
  long in tea…pots kept hot in covered baskets very thickly padded; such
  as are known with us as 〃Norwegian Kitchens。〃
  In the middle of the village there is a large; covered; but open…sided
  building like a market; which is crowded all dayand all night tooby
  hundreds of these poor; half…naked creatures standing round the gaming
  tables; silent; eager; excited; staking every cent they earn on the
  turn of the dice; living on the excitement of their gainsa truly sad
  spectacle。 Probably we were the first European ladies who had ever
  walked through the gambling…house; but the gamblers were too intent
  even to turn their heads。 There also they are always drinking tea。 Some
  idea of the profits made by the men who 〃farm〃 the gambling licenses
  may be gained from the fact that the revenue derived by the Government
  from the gambling 〃farms〃 is over 900 pounds a year。
  Spirits are sold in three or four places; and the license to sell them
  brings in nearly 700 pounds a year; but a drunken Chinaman is never
  seen。 There are a few opium inebriates; lean like skeletons; and very
  vacant in expression; and every coolie smokes his three whiffs of opium
  every night。 Only a few of the richer Chinamen have wives; and there
  are very few women; as is usual in a mining population。 A good many
  roads have been made in the State; and the Chinese are building
  buggies; gharries; and wagons; and many of the richer ones own them and
  import Sumatra ponies to draw them。 To say that the Chinese make as
  good emigrants as the British is barely to give them their due。 They
  have equal stamina and are more industrious and thrifty; and besides
  that they are always sober; can bear with impunity the fiercest
  tropical heat; and can thrive and save where Englishmen would starve。
  The immense immigration of Chinese; all affiliated to clubs or secret
  societies; might be a great risk to the peace of the State were it not
  that they recognize certain leaders known as 〃Capitans China;〃 who
  contrive to preserve order; so far as is known by a wholesome influence
  merely; and who in all cases; in return for the security which property
  enjoys under our flag; work cordially with the Resident in all that
  concerns the good of the State。 How these 〃Capitans〃 are elected; and
  how they exercise their authority; is as inscrutable as most else
  belonging to the Chinese。 The Chinese seem not so much broadly
  patriotic as provincial or clannish; and the 〃Hoeys;〃 or secret
  societies; belong to the different southern provinces。 The fights
  between the factions; and the way in which the secret societies screen
  criminals by false swearing and other means; are among the woes of the
  Governor and Lieutenant…Governors of these Settlements。 Though they get
  on very well up here; thanks to the 〃Capitan China;〃 the clans live in
  separate parts of the village; have separate markets and gaming houses;
  and a wooden arch across the street divides the two 〃Nations。〃
  We went to pay complimentary visits for the New Year to these
  〃Capitans〃 with the Malay interpreter; and were received with a curious
  mixture of good…will and solemnity。  Wine; tea and sweet…meats were
  produced at each house。  Their houses are very rude; considering their
  ample means; and have earthen floors。 They have comfortable carriages;
  and their gentle; sweet…mannered children were loaded with gold and
  diamonds。 In one house; a sweet little girl handed round the tea and
  cake; and all; even to babies who can scarcely toddle across the floor;
  came up and shook hands。  A Chinese family impresses one by its extreme
  orderliness; filial reverence being regarded as the basis of all the
  virtues。 The manners of these children are equally removed from shyness
  and forwardness。 They all wore crowns of dark red gold of very
  beautiful workmanship; set with diamonds。  When these girl…children are
  twelve years old; they will; according to custom; be strictly secluded;
  and will not be seen by any man but their father till the bridegroom
  lifts the veil at the marriage ceremony。
  After these visits; in which the 〃Capitans China;〃 through the
  interpreter; assured us of their perpetual and renewed satisfaction
  with British rule; Mr。 Hayward; the interpreter; and I; paid another
  visit of a more leisurely kind to one of the Chinese gambling houses;
  which; as usual; was crowded。 At one end several barbers were at work。
  A Chinaman is always being shaved; for he keeps his head and face quite
  smooth; and never shaves himself。 The shaving the head was originally a
  sign of subjection imposed by the Tartar conquerors; but it is now so
  completely the national custom that prisoners feel it a deep disgrace
  when their hair is allowed to grow。 Coolies twist their five feet of
  pigtail round their heads while they are at work; but a servant or
  other inferior; only insults his superior if he enter his presence with
  his pigtail otherwise than pendent。 The gaming house; whose open sides
  allow it to present a perpetual temptation; is full of tables; and at
  each sits a croupier; well clothed; and as many half…naked Chinamen as
  can see over each others' shoulders crowd round him。 Their silent;
  concentrated eagerne