| OCR Text |
Show PAPERMAKIN IN INDO-CHIN 1 and considerate of their only Occidental passenger. Th few cramped rooms of the sleeping quarters were divide from the more utilitarian sections of the ship by aseries o rusted iron bars that had been reduced to about half thei original size through the a&ion of salt water; I notice also two or three obsolete iron cannon resting carelessl on the lower deck. The several Chinese members of th crew squattingupon the foredeck were burning redolen ‘ smelling joss before a burnished gilt Buddha incased i alarge decorated lacquered shrine equipped with ornamental folding doors which were spread open givinga ful view of the carved rotund figure within. Other member of the superstitious crew were hurriedly engaged in th eredion of a newly-severed tree, the limbs of which hel streamers of bright red paper fluttering and tearing i the sharp evening breeze. It was the hope of the Asiati mariners that the entreaty to the golden wooden Buddh and the flying of the brilliantly coloured strips of pape would assure a safe passage through the Hainan Straits aremote part of the world where the ocean is perpetuall in turmoil. It was likewise hoped by these hardy seame that the iron gratings and the rusting cannon would a least discourage molestation by pirates, for such bands o lawless marauders along the unfrequented ship lanes o the China Sea are not uncommon The Tonkinese steward of the Paul Doumer was ad dited to betel-nut chewing and through the habitua use of this delightful masticatory his fine stout teeth ha Digital mage © 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah, All rights resarved |
