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the bearing of men who can fight. Their commissioned officers are all Englishmen, but the chevrons on the sleeves show that there is a chance for promotion to a native up to a certain grade. I am told that they are Sikhs from the Paunjaub in Northern India, which did not join in the revolt against the British in 1857. They all wear white helmet-shaped pith hats, which are universal in India.
Here I see for the first time the Parsees, disciples of Zoroaster, and sun-worshippers. They are most numerous in Bombay, but a few can be seen scattered throughout the whole east. They are no darker in complexion than Cubans, but are a larger and finer-looking race, men of education, and first-class merchants. Their dress is European, except the tall Mitre or hat, which is peculiar to the sect. It reminds me of a brown, glazed snuff-box, worn a little on the back of the head, without visor or any protection for the eyes.
The motly population of Hong Kong includes a large proportion of rascals from every clime, and makes a very large number of police necessary, over six hundred, of whom nearly one half are negroes. In answer to my enquiry to-day, one of them told me he “was a subject of the Queen from Jamaica.” He had never been in the United States and thought there was too much prejudice against color there to suit him.”
In the heart of the city is an immense jail with seven hundred inmates, mostly Chinese, who work on the street chained together and guarded by soldiers. Punishment to a Chinaman is swift and sure if caught transgressing the laws. A few days ago a friend of mine arrived on the Pacific Mai! steamer “Great Republic,” from San Domingo, and leaving his luggage locked in his stateroom, he took a walk up town. A waiter who was passing his room heard a slight rustling noise, and looking through the keyhole he espied a Coolie, who had crawled in through the window, rifling the baggage. He gave the alarm and the fellow was secured and taken ashore to the office of the Company. Here he broke sway from his captors and dashed through the crowd, but was caught by his pigtail, which streamed out behind in his rapid movement. He was then led by the queue to the Magistrate’s office, and within an hour from the time he was first caught, he found himself in the chain gang, with six months before him of hard work.
