Glimpses of the Orient : or, The manners, customs, life and history of the people of China, Japan and Corea, the Philippine, Caroline and Ladrone Islands ...

Front matter

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Preface

One of the results of the war between the United States and Spain has been to arouse the liveliest curiosity regarding the nations of the East.

What ideas the general public had regarding the ‘"Flowery Kingdom,” the “ Land of the Mikado” and the ‘"Hermit Nation” were very shadowy. Of the Philippines, they knew still less. The thunder of Admiral Dewey’s guns on that fateful May morning woke, not only the echoes of Manila Bay, but the American people to a pardonable curiosity regarding these rich and fertile islands — peopled for the most part by wild, fierce tribes — which have been under the domination of Spain for upwards of three centuries. An intelligent curiosity is often a rich endowment, and in no w^ay can a laudable spirit of inquiry be so legitimately gratified, as by a study of the history of remote countries ; sitch as is presented in this work.

Commerce and religion, alike, prompt us to regard all men as brethren. The wd^iole world is becoming knit together into one great family. Electricity brings to us daily, and with the rapidity of thought ; — news from all lands.

But these communications do not speak in the same way to all. To many, these communications are all but valueless, for notwithstanding a genuine wish for extended knowledge, they know little or nothing of the countries of which they read, and as a consequence, news of them, or, from them, is neither intelligible nor interesting. It is imperfectly understood, and forgotten nearly as soon as read.

On the other hand, to the man of culture, all is intelligible and clear, and the information acquired takes its place in his wellordered mind, and is added to his store of knowledge.

Especially in America, no one can afford to be ignorant of the history and conditions of other lands. The uninformed man cannot take a proper position in an intelligent community ; he feois

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PREFACE, afraid to express himself, and is humiliated and rendered unhappy by a sense of his inferiority.

It is with the view of putting it in the power of every inhabitant of this country to enroll himself in the well informed class, that the following work has been complied.

Tiie intelligent reader will perceive that it is not a mere, bald record of dry details, but that, while no fact of importance has been omitted, it seizes more particularly on such salient events as are typical of the periods and countries described, and by exhibiting these in fuller detail, gives the reader an insight into the lives of the people described, as well as showing the productions, industries and resources of each land, with its modes of government and present political situation.

China, the “ Middle Kingdom,’* is a land of contradictions. Japan, the “Day's Beginning,” has a history that is more like a romance than a series of facts. Corea, “ The Land of Morning Calm,” is quaint, picturesque and little known. The interest in these remote empires is absorbing ; fantastic peoples, gorgeous temples, streets ablaze with kaleidoscopic coloring, grotesque objects, massive idols ; pass in glittering panoramic effect.

There are 1,200 islands in the Philippine group — the richest islands on the globe. Agricultural methods are three hundred years out of date. Thirteen distinct and separate tongues are spoken. Fortunes are made in hemp, sugar, indigo, cocoanuts and scores of other products of these wonderful islands. J'he jungles swarm with hummingbirds, parrots and other birds of brilliant plumage. The suburbs of Manila, the capital city, are residences of artistic design, adorned with a profusion of cultivated flowers. Descriptions of the Caroline and Ladrone Islands are also added, and increase the fascination of the volume.

The aim has been to overlook nothing that the reader will desire to learn concerning the countries treated, and to advance the great cause of popular education. To the young, the work will prove of inestimable value since for them it must possess such interest as to lead them from the vicious literature of the day, and inculcate a desire for wholesome reading and an ambition to be well informed.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XI.— The Coreans and how they Live, their Personal Characteristics, Industries, Social Customs, Art, Science, Literature, and Religion . . . .371

Part IV. The Philippines

CHAPTER XII. — Discovery and Conquest, Description of the Islands and the Islanders; with an account of the Characteristics, Habits, Customs, Passions, Amusements and Homes of the Philippines ..... 391

CHAPTER XIII.— The City of Manila, Descriptions of the Old and New Cities, Their half Spanish, half Oriental aspects, Occupations of the Populace, Their Homes, Churches, etc., and many interesting facts regarding the Metropolis of the Philippines ...... 405

CHAPTER XIV.— The Carolines and Ladrones, Coral Oases in a desert of Ocean, Savages who have Orders of Nobility but no Clothes, Wonderful Fertility, Vegetation, Value and Beauty of the Islands, A Queer People with Queerer Customs ........ 416

CHAPTER XV.— The Conquest of Manila, Destruction of the Spanish Fleet, Capture of the City by the Land and Naval Forces of the United States

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Native Village iu the INiilippines, .

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Frontispiece.

Chinese Emperor, King of Corea and Chinese Officials,

Chinese Idea of Creation,

Emperor Shun Plowing,

View from Summer Palace, Peking,

Chinese Temple,

Image of Confucius, .

Manchoorian Ministers,

Great Wall of China,

Buddhist Priest,

Chinese Archers,

Cninese Writer,

Chinese Call noniers, .

Aneient Chinese Arch,

A Chinese Lodging House, .

Chinese Priest,

Man of Swatow,

Chinese Paper-Making,

Chinese Peasant, Peiho District, .

Battle of Crickets,

Chinese Mandarin,

Gate at Peking.

Opium Smokers,

Chinese Mineis,

Chinese Farm Scene,

Chinese Tea Farm,

Chinese Street Scene,

Chinese Farmer,

An Imperial Audience,

Preparation of Vermicelli, .

Chinese Ladies,

Palanquin of a High Official,

The Governor of a Province,

Chinese Protected Cruiser Chih-Yuen,

Punishment by the Cangne,

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Flogging a Culprit, .

Port Arthur— Transports Entering the Inner H

arbor.

Port Arthur— Japanese Coolies Removing Chinese Dead,

A Typhoon, ....

Bandaging the Feet, .

The Seat of the War,

The Punishments of Hell,

Chinese Cart, ....

School Boy, ....

Chinese School,

Chang Yen Hoon,

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Chinese School Girl, ........ i67

Chinese Artist, i68

Chinese Baiber, . . . . . . . .169

Female Types and Costumes, . . . . . ! 175

Buddhist Temple, . . . . . . . ! I7s

Temple of Five Hundred Gods, at Canton, .... I8i

Japanese Musician, . . . . . - . . . ig^

The Mikado and His Principal Officers, ..... 185

Japanese God of Thunder, ....... i8<>

Japanese God of Riding, ......! i9o

Japanese Peasantrv, ........ i9i

Japanese God of War, ....... 195

Tokio Types and Costumes, . . . . . .197

Japanese Musician, ........ 199

Japanese Silk Spinner, ....... 200

C )lossal Japanese Image, . . . ... . . 205

Japanese Female Types, . . . . . . . 207

Shinto Temple, ........ 209

Japanese God (T Wind, . . . . . . .211

Daimios of Japan, ........ 212

Sketch Showing Development of Japanese Army, . . . 213

Buddhist Priest, ........ 215

Japanese Junk, . . . . . . . . 218

Old Time Japanese Ferry, ....... 219

Scenes of Industrial Life, ....... 221

Japanese Bell Towers, . . . . . . .229

Image of Buddha, ........ 232

Japanese Samurai or Warrior of the Old Time, . . . 233

Japanese General of the Old Time, ..... 234

Japanese Bridge, . . . . . . . .235

Baptism of Buddha, ........ 239

Woman of Court of Kioto, ....... 249

Chinese Coolie, . . . . . . . , 254

Japanese Gvmnasts— Kioto, . . . . . .255

Formosan Type, ........ 258

Entraiice to Nagasaki Harbor, . . . . . .261

Japanese Idols, . . . . . . . .271

Japanese Jugglers, ........ 277

Japanese Court Dress, Old Style, . . . . . .281

Dressing the Hair, . ." . . . . . . 285

Child Carrying Baby, . . . . . . .289

Japanese Bath, ........ 292

Japanese Couch, ........ 295

Geisha Girls Playing Japanese Musical Instruments, . . 301

Japanese Alphabet, New, ....... 302

Japanese Alphabet, Old, ....... 303

Street Scenes, ......... 30s

Groop of Ainos, . . . . . . . .311

Rats as Rice Merchants, ....... 313

Corean Landscape, ........ 316

Pagoda at Seoul, ........ 323

Corean Soldiers, ........ 324

Old Man in Corea, ........ 325

Corean Mandarins. ........ 333

Colossal Corean Idol— Un-jin Miriok, ..... 343

Map Showing Japan, Corea and Part of China, . . . 353

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xi

Corean Bull Harrowing, . . . . . , .361

Corean City Wall, 362

Corean Magistrate and Servant, . . , . . , . 369

Statesman on Monocycle, ....... 373

Corean Brush Cutter, ....... 374

Porters With Chair, ........ 375

Corean Boat, 381

Corean Eggseller, ....... 383

Corean Band of Musicians, ....... 387

Location of the Philippines, ...... 392

Port of Manila, ........ 404

Caroline Warrior, ........ 421

Ladrone Native, ........ 423

Ladrone Belle, ........ 425

Captain-General Augusti, ....... 428

Street in Cavite, ........ 429

Battery at Cavite, ........ 431

Admiral Montojo, ........ 433

Insurgent General, 434

General Aguinaldo. ........ 436