But they were never openly rude like the coloured folk were in Jamaica, when, stranded in their beautiful island, I did them the honour to go as a "walk-foot buccra" round the sugar plantations from Ewarton to Montego Bay.

Even poor ragged fellows, living in utter misery, would laugh and snigger at me when not observed, and crack jokes at the foreigner who was well-fed, well-clad, and well-mounted in a way you would think to excite envy rather than derision.

But Chinese laughter seems to be moved by different springs from ours.

The Chinaman makes merry in the presence of death.

A Chinaman, come to announce to you the death of a beloved parent or brother, laughs heartily as he tells you--you might think he was overflowing with joy, but he is really sick and sore at heart, and is only laughing to deceive the spirits.