CHINESE NEW YEAR 19 



course of construction, he suffered a severe loss in the 

 almost total destruction by fire of an innuense mass of 

 timber which was to be used for it. On the alarm being 

 given all the Europeans turned out to his assistance, 

 but, owing to the want of any efficient fire-engine, were 

 unable to be of much use. After a considerable time 

 a mandarin appeared with several European portable 

 hand fire-engines, but the small jets of water thrown by 

 them were of no avail to extinguish the now fiercely 

 burning pile. 



On proceeding to the scene of the conflagration, I w^as 

 somewhat surprised to find a Chinaman at a consider- 

 able distance from it diligently throw^ing water upon 

 the reflection of the flames on the eaves of his house. 

 Finding it impossible to satisfy him that his house 

 was not on fire, I left him to his unprofitable labour. 



In 1888 the Chinese new year occurred about the 

 middle of February, and this is the most important 

 festival in the year. During the ceremonies all work 

 is suspended, and the whole population give themselves 

 up to festivity and the payment of new year calls. All 

 monetary settlements are concluded, and should a Chinese 

 find himself unable to meet his liabilities, he frequently 

 prefers death by his own hand to the dishonour. At this 

 season it is the custom to send a servant to paste the 

 card of the intending visitor upon the doors of all his 



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