NOTES OF TRAVEL IN CHINA. 165 



the Empire,) universally plaits into it heavy skeins of silk, which 

 terminate within two or three inches of the ground. Others dressed 

 only to such an extent as places them without the rigour of the law, 

 and who are styled " coolies," wander about prepared to work if 

 well paid, to steal, which they prefer doing, if an opportunity offers, 

 or to join in any disturbance that may arise. These fellows are 

 watched pretty closely by the police, who treat them with well 

 merited severity when they detect them in the gratification of their 

 unlawful cupidity. When brought before the police magistrate, he 

 enrols them among the chain gang, who make and repair the public 

 roads, and are thus rendered generally useful. This corps is 

 distrbuted every morning throughout different parts of the 

 town, each detachment being in charge of a policeman who holds 

 a musket over one shoulder, and an open umbrella on the other. 



There are several villages in Hong-Kong, aud on the adjacent 

 islands, the inhabitants being principally piratical fishermen, who, no 

 doubt act in collusion with the more desperate outlaws who hoist 

 the flag of their profession. 



Excursions are constantly made by the police force and volunteers 

 in Hong-Kong, against the piratical fishermen, and when prisoners 

 are taken they are bound together by their queues and led to the 

 prison. Sometimes they are handed over to the authorities at Can- 

 ton, under whose direction they are decapitated. The population 

 of the whole island is upwards of 45,000 ; the foreign residents, 

 exclusive of the military, numbering about 300 persons. The 

 floating part of the population in front of the city is large. This 

 class of people exists throughout China, and is a separate race in 

 itself. They are born, marry, and live out their existence, in their 

 shell-like abodes. Many of them procure employment from foreign 

 ships, each one while in the harbor having one or more native boats 

 attached to her. Those generally patronized are about 18 feet in 

 length, and carry sails made of matting. They are entirely decked 

 over with closely fitting boards, and when a passenger presents him- 

 self, three or four in the centre of the boat are taken up to make 

 room for his legs, the surrounding portion being neatly matted over 

 and serving as a seat. The cabin into which the legs only are 

 admitted, is floored and matted, the flooring being about two and 

 a half feet from the deck ; and resting on the left side of the boat 

 will be seen a little idol sitting in senseless state, and which the 

 occupants of the boat never fail to worship, both in the morning and 

 evening. Evex*y boat throughout the Empire, no matter how small, 

 is provided with its tutelar deity, before which are displayed joss- 



