LESSON 20 Scenes in canton
第二十课 广东的景象
The recently arrived stranger naturally manifests surprise and incredulity on being told that the estimated population of Canton exceeds a million. When, however, he visits the close streets, with their dense population and busy wayfarers, huddled together in lanes from five to nine feet wide, where Europeans could scarcely inhale the breath of life, the greatness of the number no longer appears incredible. After the first feelings of novelty have passed away, disappointment, rather than admiration, occupies the mind. On leaving the open space before the factories, we behold an endless succession of narrow avenues, scarcely deserving the name of streets.
刚来广东的人一听说广东预计有一百万人口，肯定都会大吃一惊，不敢相信。但是，当他走上街头，看着密集的人头来来往往的行人摩肩接踵，摆开有五到九英尺宽，欧洲人几乎无法呼吸，他们再也不会不相信广东有如此之多的人口了。第一次的新鲜感过去之后，留给他们的不是崇拜而是失望。在工厂前的一片片开阔地上，是无穷无尽的狭窄小道，多得几乎无法给每一条命名。
As the visitor pursues his course, narrow lanes still continue to succeed one another, and the conviction is gradually impressed on the mind that such is the general character of the streets of the city. Along these, busy traders, mechanics, barbers, venders, and porters, make their way; while occasionally the noisy abrupt tones of vociferating coolies remind the traveller that some materials of bulky dimensions are on their transit, and suggest the expediency of keeping at a distance, to avoid collision. Now and then the monotony of the scene is relieved by some portly mandarin, or merchant of the higher class, borne in a sedan chair on the shoulders of two, or sometimes four men. Yet, with all this hurry and din, there seldom occurs any accident or interruption of good nature.
顺着路走会不断出现一条条狭窄的小路，这让他们越来越确信这座城市街道的特征就是如此。一路上都是忙碌的商人，理发店，小贩和搬运工；偶尔也会听到苦力工人的大喊，提醒路人他们正在运送货物从路上经过，并让路人让出路来，以免发生碰撞。经常能看到的一个情景就是肥胖的满族人坐在由两人或四人抬的轿子上。但是，在来往繁忙和喧嚣中，很少出现事故或中断这种情形的事情。
On the river the same order and regularity prevail. Though there are probably not fewer than 200,000 denizens of the river, whose hereditary domains are the watery element that supports their little dwellings, yet harmony and good feeling are conspicuous in the accommodating manner with which they make way for each other. These aquatic tribes of the human species show a most philosophic spirit of equanimity, and contrive in this way to strip daily life of many of its little troubles; while the fortitude and patience with which the occasional injury or destruction of their boats is borne are remarkable.
河边的景象也是一样。虽然有不少于20万世代居住水上的居民，但是他们彼此之间的生活很是和谐，给人的感觉很好。这些水上居民体现了平静的哲学精神，并以此减去生活中的诸多烦恼；同时，他们的船有时也会被破坏，但是他们对待这种破坏的不屈不挠和耐心也是很显著的。
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