s put into a wooden box, and
exported to its native soil. The poorest Chinaman rarely fails to leave
money enough behind him to accomplish this purpose, and the friends of
the deceased consider it a religious duty to fulfil his last wishes.

Judging critically from what we saw of this race of people in the
various parts of the colonies of Australasia, we should say that they
are individually and collectively superior to the average European
immigrants, in the general characteristics which go to make up a
desirable citizen. In industrial habits they far excel the common
immigrant from England and Ireland. If the Mongolians have some bad
habits, the Europeans have ten to their one. It is mostly the pugnacious
British, striking, never-satisfied laborer who complains of the presence
of the Chinese, because he cannot compete with them in sobriety,
industry, frugality, and faithfulness of service. The Chinese are
naturally very hospitable, and no lonely shepherd or roving prospector
ever came to their cabins hungry, or in want of any special article,
without receiving the needed aid gratuitously. John always marries when
he can induce a European or American woman to have him for a husband,
and there are many such instances all over the colonies. No one ever
hears of a Chinaman abusing his wife; indeed, they are remarkable for
being good husbands. They take particular delight in seeing their wives
well-dressed, especially on all gala occasions, and cheerfully and
liberally contribute the means for this purpose. Chinamen are never seen
here in a state of intoxication; and they thus form a noticeable
exception among a population of such incessant drinkers as one sees
everywhere in these countries. Australasia affords unlimited scope for
Chinese industries, and we hardly know how the colonies could get on
without them.

It is highly gratifying to see how thoroughly the cause of universal
education is appreciated and supported in these colonies, as there can
be no stronger evidence of legitimate progress than this fact furnishes.
Brisbane is no exception to this remark. All education is secular in
character, even the reading of the Bible being omitted in the primary
and other schools. In New South Wales special Scriptural lessons are
read; but in Victoria and South Australia Scriptural teachings can only
be given out of the regular school hours,--and thus the various
denominational prejudices are carefully respected. Victoria fur