122
122
phosphoregcencs in these Hastcrn seas is brighter than I have ever sean elsewhere. The water syarkics with gems st every dip ottha oars, sud our boat Jeayea 4 train of snow glistening with jewaia in its weke. Tbe roft sir waited from the shore 1s laden with incense, for we ara now among the epice inlends of the trepic?, ard almest un- der the equator.
We wind emong the shipping af anchor, ateamers and gail veesels fram s)m.et every part of Europe, junks from China and curi- cus craft from india. Now we pass a tevia~ than steamer Isder with the cabla which isto ecnvect Singapore with Hong Kong, and see upon her deck and over her stern tha wheels and compliested machinery for paying out the wire thread which will soon put Chics in instant ecmmunication with London and New York. Ins few misutes more wo are landed at the slens jetty, from which a ehort walk briszs us in front of the laraa inuciosure ef the Hotel DEurepe. It is bright with lights stream- ing through the open windowe, across the broad piszzis of several detached bnildings ia a large garden fitled with tropical shrabbery. There is no glas3 in the wis- dower, for in this hot climate the air must circulate freely evarywhera, cbatructad only by venetian blinds. Werexzister onr names, are sesigned Jarge airy reome, and strell cut to seo the placa by gagaundmuvonlight. But one of our party had ever besu here before, and accepting his guidance we cress tha river by an elegant iron bridge toward the cammerciat part of the ciy, where frem the music sed many flashing lights we think some celebration is going on. Passing through several quict streets, we furo a eormsr ard suddenly come upon & broad equare crowded with people, all Chi- nese. Fire-crackers are popping all around, and the venders of fruits ard satablee, with flaming lightr, make the pisca bright as aay, At the turther end of the street, in a booth erected for the purpase, is a Chinase theatre in fol! operation. Isis covered with gay flags and bright eclored lanterns, and wa quietly edse our way towards thosiage and watch the euricus pantomime and fantastic performances of the Chinese drama, If there is pny dislogue it is drowned in the incessant rattling of bamboo sticks, beating on tom-toms, varied with an ceeasionat boom of heavy gongs. Ic is evidently some Chinese festival and we have srriyed justin time for the celebration.
