THE EAST.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2157, 2 December 1875, Page 4

THE EAST.

SHANGHAI. The Eeereatkm Ground last evening (Aug.. 22)', was the scene of a novel incident. Whilst the usual afternoon visitors were enjoying their quiet strolls and chats with friends, they were suddenly disturbed by the loudly pitched voices of two ladies of the amah persuasion—belonging to the higher grades of society. Before proceeding to extremities, however, they deposited their infant charges with respective coolies, and returned to the fight—for sucli it had now become ; from words they soon fell to blows, and a pitched battle was the result. Two other amahs (also in society) with good intent endeavoured to separate the combatants, but were themselves attacked by the enraged ladies, who were ere this tearing and lacking each.; other without mercy. The melee bad by this time attracted a crowd of spectators, ?the juvenile portion amongst them standing aghast with fright. A policeman now appeared upon the scene, and endeavoured though without success, to separate the four furies, so closely wedged were they, holding each other by the hair, the peculiar arragement of which afforded a convenient handle; butfinally exhausted, the two culprits were marched off to the station, • leaving fragments of their clothing behind — and tranquillity once more reigned in tlie garden. JAPAJf. A female Buddhist recluse in Kioto, wh6 is well known for her skill in composing Japanese poetry, was surprised a a few nights past by a robber, who forced his way into a retired house where she resides alone, and told her fiercely to give him all the money she had ; but she was I not frightened and calmly gave him one hundred yen, with which compliance the • robber seemed, surprised. Still he ordered her to get him dinner. She gave him a little rice, expressing her regret that she had nothing better. After he had eaten it, he asked for something more, and she gave him wheaten cakes which she had received the same;morning as a .present from a friend, who owed her yen

300. As soon as the greedy robber had eaten somo of them, he fell into great agony and in a few moments breathed his last. It is surmised that perhaps the borrower wished to defray her debt by poisoning the recluse., SIAM. Word has been received that on the 6th cf April last, at the base of the Mountain Tim, in the West, a herd of thirty elephants was discovered. In pursuing this herd, Nai Mit discovered a peculiar colored elephant, which was brought to Yasohfc'aun on the. 19th of June last. Two days afterwards, the animal was safely housed in Übol and was examined and measured. Its height jis 76 Eng. inches. Its eyes are of a very light color.' Its nails are white, without lines. Inside its mouth is perfectly white. Its left fcusk lias ceased to grow, its right tusk projects out a trifle over 7 Eng. inches. Its ears, tail, the | hairs of its head, its body, its sides, its back along the spine are white. The hairs of its tail, near the roots are black, at their terminus transparent red. The color of its skin is the color of teak wood. This animal will doubtless be called a Chang-pu'-ak, or white elephant.