THE HEATHEN CHINEE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1182, 23 September 1885, Page 3

THE HEATHEN CHINEE.

The man who picks up a Chinaman for a fool, if he does not find himself greviously mistaken, then I know nothing of the nature of the Celestials. The dead calm which pervades the Chinese face — that air of complete and pure innocence — ia very deceitful. Under that sweet, pensive smile lurks a demon of acuteness, which is more than a match for the Englishman, and bj means of which he is brought to grief and Bhame.

[ Chung Ho was a Celestial of the Celestials — a man with a face as expressionless as a sheet of parchment — who " washed " for the boys in "Angels." No mancould elude his vigilance who owed him a penny, and as for hoping he would forget you, amidst his crowd of customers, it was vain. The Chinese washer never takes down the name of the person for whom he does the work, but jots down a description upon a bit of paper, in characters which look like the handwriting of a drunken fiddler. It is no use to say a word when you come for the washing. He looks at you once, and brings out the bundle which of right belongs to you, takes his pay, and bows you out with graceful ease. Jim Senior sold a horse to Chung Ho, which quadruped turned out to be worth about threepence in the pound. Chung Ho did not complain, but went on his way as calmly as ever, biding his time. Soon after the horse disappeared, and Chung Ho was seen leading a noble-looking animal through the camp, | a perfect beauty. He had a long, j flowing mane and tail, aud his color was a rich black. ! " Hello, Chinee !" cried Jim Senter ; " where did ycu get that horse.!' " Me tradee, John," replied Chung Ho. " Catchum Englishman hardee up— gettee hos cheap." " What'll you take for him ?" "No sellee," was the answer. "Me welly poor Chinaman. You catchum once ; no catchum twice." But Jim was not to be put aside. He wanted that horse, and knew that a Chinaman is always ready for a trade, and as he had a very good horse of his own, he started for his stable to bring him in. Chung Ho was at his tub when he came in, and seemed hardly inclined to trade. "You Mellican man muehfle sharp. G-ot good hoss ; me keepee him," he said, indifferently. " Oh, get out, Chinee !" said Jim. " Let's have a trado. Come now." '• How muchee you give ? " " I'll trade even." "No catchee," said Chung Ho. " You keepee you hoss ; me keepee mine ; all rightee." " I'll tell you what I'll do," said Jim. " I'll give you an ounce." Chung Ho shook his head ; but Jim was ripe for a trade, and after much bickering, he gave the Chinaman eight pounds to boot, took the black horse and went his way, amid the admiring glances of the whole camp. " Oh, yes !" said Jim : " Every Chinaman can pick me vp — I'm so cussid foolish ! This horse is wuth one hundred pounds." He took him home and put him in the stable. Next morning he went to look at his purchase, and as he opened the door, gave a yell. There stood the noble steed of tho night before a skeleton quadruped, the remains of his tail and I mane scattered all about the stall, the dusky hue changed to dirty white, and every joiut trying to strain its way through the skin. At a glance he recognised in that horse, stripped of the stolen feathers given him by Chung Ho, the very animal which he had sold to that innocent personage a few days before !