I bore myself. Death was so dull.
The dead are strangely beautiful
To the new-comer; it wears off.
II.
They told me I was damned. The Shroff!
Gave me ten dollars Mex. (For ease
Of English souls the dead Chinese
Are taxed) to pay my way in hell.
On one pound sterling one lives well.
For luxuries are cheaply paid
Since Satan introduced Free Trade;
And necessaries—woe is me !|—
Are furnished to the damned soul free.
Ill.
God’s hell, Earth’s heaven, are not so far.
Dinner brought oysters, caviar, )
Anchovies, truffles, curried rabbit
(Bad for the apoplectic habit)
While ancient brandy and champagne
Washed down the dainties. Once again
1 Money-changer. Mexican dollars were long the sole
currency on the Chinese coast.
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