Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/40

 36 Ling-Nam.

Miss Noyes, and is proving a source of light and know- ledge to the women of the land. These institutions are indicative of the future, and deserve a closer study than we can give them in the rapid glance bestowed.

Sedan chairs, borne by coolies, are in waiting to bear us through the maze of narrow streets, which in their labyrinthine character are utterly bewildering to the stranger. A few steps bring us in front of one of the square towers observed from the river. It is a pawnshop, where money is advanced on clothing and valuables at high rates of interest, and where people can deposit articles for safe keeping. Ascending the narrow winding stairs, rows of packages, each labelled carefully, fill the tiers of shelves. The rates of interest are usurious, and the pawnbroker is the virtual possessor of all that comes into his hand.

Regaining the street, we come, after two sharp turns, face to face with two eating-houses, where the peculiar shape of the articles exposed for sale attracts attention. Closer inspection shows them to be dogs, the tip of the tail or the foot attached leaving no room for doubt, while the whole body of a puppy freshly dressed and ready for the kettle is held up by the grinning attendant, A covered pot near by displays a card, on which are these enticing words, “ Pure, sweet, black cat always on hand inside,” and lifting the wooden lid, a collection of what might be cat, rabbit, or something else for aught we know, is seen.

After a few more turns through dingy, crooked streets we come to the hall and temple of the Swatow Guild, a magnificent structure with highly-carved pillars and