Chapter I: Front Matter

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LIFE AND SPORT IN CHINA

LIFE AND SPORT IN CHINA

BY

OLIVER G. READY, B.A.

_SECOND EDITION_

LONDON CHAPMAN & HALL, LIMITED 1904

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The British public is greatly handicapped in forming an intelligent appreciation of happenings in China by a lack of that initial experience which can only be gained by residence in the country.

In this little work I have endeavoured to place before readers a sketch of things as I saw them, and to convey to their minds an idea of how Europeans live there, of their amusements, of their work, and of those things which are matters of daily interest to them, so that my book may serve as a kind of preface to that enthralling volume, the current history of China, as it is daily revealed in the press, in magazines and in learned works.

While confining myself herein to the lighter side of narrative, I am not unconscious of those intricate problems and deep studies connected with the Far East, but to which profound research and matured judgment must be applied, though information thereon, even when collected and published, would appeal mostly to the narrow circle of experts on matters Chinese.

The vast Empire of China with its hundreds of millions of toiling slaves, with its old, old civilisation reaching back for untold years prior to the dawn of history in the West, with its manners and customs so worn into the national character that they almost form the character itself, with its fertile plains, its sandy deserts, its lofty mountains, its mighty rivers, its torrid heat and arctic cold, its devastating floods, its cruel famines and loathsome epidemics, represents a _mass_, the contemplation of which staggers the mind and makes one ask, "What is Europe trying to do here? Does she hope to conquer, to change or to purify?"

After a residence of twelve years in various parts of the country I instinctively feel that while military occupation by the Great Powers may be possible, not only is China in a sense unconquerable, but that she is eminently a conquering nation, though not by clash of arms. Insidiously, remorselessly and viciously she will subdue apostles of the West who are sent to her, and unless persistently restrained will overflow into adjacent lands and conquer there by cheap labour and unremitting toil.

For the photographs I am indebted to the generosity of Mrs T. Child, as well as to T.T.H. Ferguson, A.J.E. Allen, Carlos Cabral and the late H. Hall, Esquires.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. ANGLO-CHINESE LIFE 1

II. SERVANTS AND TRADESMEN 26

III. SHOOTING 46

IV. RIDING 73

V. SAILING 96

VI. JAMBOREES 119

VII. AROUND PEKING 139

VIII. HERE AND THERE 169

IX. THE MARRIAGE TIE 197

X. DISCUSSED POINTS: PEOPLE, LANGUAGE, MISSIONARIES, CHANCES 212

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PHOTO BY

PAGODA NEAR HANKOW H. HALL _Frontispiece_

THE BRITISH CONCESSION, HANKOW _Chinese_ _To face page_ 3

HOUSE-COOLIE, BOY, COOK,
AND "NO. 2." T.T.H. FERGUSON " 37

HOUSE-BOAT ON THE YANGTSE A.J.E. ALLEN " 50

THE CAB OF NORTHERN CHINA A.J.E. ALLEN " 75

THE OLD GRAND-STAND, HANKOW
RACES, 1888 _Chinese_ " 87

FOOCHOW JUNK, SHOWING EYE T.T.H. FERGUSON " 98

PLAYING FANTAN IN PRIVATE HOUSE CARLOS CABRAL " 133

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA T.T.H. FERGUSON " 158

AVENUE OF STONE FIGURES, MING
TOMBS T.T.H. FERGUSON " 161

A TYPICAL FARM-HOUSE H. HALL " 177

FISHING-JUNKS IN MACAO HARBOUR
AT CHINESE NEW YEAR CARLOS CABRAL " 189

BUDDHIST PRIEST AND ACOLYTE
HOLDING BOOK T. CHILD " 228

VOCABULARY

=Bund.= The embankment or quay of a concession.

=Concession.= A strip of land conceded by China to another Power
exclusively for the residences of foreigners.

=Camoens.= Portuguese poet who wrote the Luciad at Macao.

=Chit.= Any letter or note, also an I.O.U.

=Chop chop.= Quickly. Hurry up.

=Compradore.= Chinese agent or partner.

=Coolie.= Chinese labourer.

=Cumshaw.= A tip or present.

=European.= In China this word is equally applicable to
Americans.

=Foreigner.= European or American in China.

=Gingall.= Heavy muzzle-loading musket requiring two men to
carry and fire it.

=Han, Children of.= Chinese.

=Kowtow.= To make obeisance by striking the head on the ground.

=Lowdah.= Sailing-master.

=Mafoo.= Groom.

=Native.= Chinese.

=Out-port.= Any treaty port except Shanghai, and Hongkong.

=Papico.= Junk from Ningpo, shaped aft like a duck.

=Pow.= To gallop.

=Praia Grande.= Esplanade facing sea.

=Pumelo.= A coarse fruit resembling an enormous orange.

=Punkah.= Large fan suspended from ceiling for ventilating
room.

=Ricksha.= Small gig drawn by a coolie, who plies it for hire.

=Runner.= Official underling. Police agent.

=Sai.= Here I am. A word used by servants combining Sir and
_Lai_, to come.

=Samli.= A fish resembling salmon.

=Sampan.= Small native boat.

=Samshu.= Spirit distilled from rice or millet.

=Settlement.= Where Europeans have settled on a limited strip of
Chinese territory.

=Shroff.= Chinese accountant, cashier and banker.

=Squeeze.= Recognised cheating.

=Sycee Shoes.= Rough lumps of silver cast in shape of
China-woman's small shoe or of half-globe.

=Tiffin.= Luncheon.

=Treaty-port.= Any port opened by treaty to foreign trade.

=Waler.= Horse from New South Wales.

=Westerner.= European or American.

=Yamen.= Official building.

=Yulow.= A scull worked over the stern.

=Zacousca.= Russian appetiser or snack taken before meals.

Life and Sport in China