One can scarcely pass through the streets but he is saluted with the cry of “Kum my shop; can sell much too chipp; no wanchee buy sum littley ting?” In fact, the Chinese portion of Hong Kong is a perfect Chatham Street. Going into a shop one morning, we began looking at various articles, the shopkeeper pulling down all his wares to show us. After selecting several articles, and inquiring the sum total of the bill, we were informed it was fourteen and a half dollars. We indignantly turned to leave, when he accosted us with, “How much can catchee them tings?” We told him “six dollars.” “No can do; no can catch plofit, s’pose six dollar.” “Very good,” we informed him, and again turned to leave, when he called to us the second time, and, after some bantering, told us we might have them for six dollars. Had we not have known the price of such articles previous to this, we might have paid him more than we did, but we knew they were all _Jews_ in trading, and were determined not to allow the rascal to cheat us. They are great rascals, these Chinese merchants. The currency here is gold, silver, and copper, and they are very cautious in regard to it, being continually on the alert for spurious coin; yet, if they have the opportunity, will put off any quantity of it, and then lie out of it in the most barefaced, impudent manner imaginable. Spanish and Mexican dollars command a premium of from four to six cents; other silver they will not take for its full value. An American half dollar passes for but twenty-five cents among them. On receiving a piece of money, they inspect it very minutely, and if they discover the least flaw or defect in it, they refuse it as bad; or, as they say, “chop dollar—no proper;” yet, if they have the opportunity, will pass the same kind on the purchaser in giving change. If one of them refuse to take such money, it is only necessary to whisper the word “policeman” in his ear, and all is immediately right. A seaman, who had recently come on shore to live from a California ship, received a bad dollar from one of these merchants. On discovering it, he proceeded to the shop and called for a backgammon-board. Choosing a beautiful one, finished with rich gilt work, he inquired the price. The Chinaman said “three dollars.” “No, no, John Chinaman; s’pose me no saby you? me live too long Hong Kong; me no fool.” “Well, s’pose can catchee two dollar, he very good?” “No, I give you one dollar; proper.” “Hiyah! how can do! no proper!” “S’pose you like one dollar, very good; s’pose you no like, very good.” “Me likey one dollar; two dollar more good; proper; you no see; number one, this fellow; alla same ’nother pigeon (merchant) sell five dollar.” “Me no give more one dollar; plenty Chinaman speak one dollar proper.” “Hiyah! Chinaman bloody liar! no speak good; too much lie. S’pose you like catchee one dollar half, proper; s’pose one dollar, no can do.” “Well, s’pose you no like one dollar, me go ’nother shop.”