BUT THE EYE CANNOT PLAY THE ROGUE. 
 
 t i>_j2 %S- 
 
 EXTENSIVE VIEW OF THE CENTRAL FLOWERY NATION. 
 
 
 
 % 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 REMARKS 
 
 
 UPON THE 
 
 GOVERNMENT, HISTORY, RELIGIONS, LITER- 
 ATURE, AGRICULTURE, ARTS, TRADES, 
 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE 
 
 CHINESE: 
 
 AS SUGGESTED BY AN 
 
 EXAMINATION OF THE ARTICLES 
 
 COMPRISING THE 
 
 CHINESE 
 
 % 
 
 
 mm 
 
 BY I0HN R. PETERS, JR. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 1 84 7 . 
 
 EASTBURN’S PRESS. 
 
 WORDS MAY DECEIVE 
 
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by 
 John R. Peters, Jr., 
 
 (For the Proprietors of the Chinese Museum,) in the Clerk’s Office of the 
 District Court of Massachusetts. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Within a few years past, attention has been partic- 
 ularly directed towards China, by her war with Eng- 
 land, and since the conclusion of that war, the United 
 States and other nations have hastened to make treat- 
 ies with the Celestial Empire, by which, to put them- 
 selves on a footing with the most favored. The zeal 
 and enterprise of individuals have also been awaken- 
 ed. Christian communities are adding to the number 
 of their Missionaries among this nation of idolaters, 
 and merchants are flocking to the shores of China in 
 pursuit of gain. Many excellent works have been 
 written on China, but in this reading age, books, peri- 
 odicals and newspapers have become so multiplied, 
 that sight, as well as description is necessary to make 
 a lasting impression upon the mind. As information 
 is now eagerly sought after, concerning China and its 
 hundreds of millions of inhabitants, this collection and 
 the accompanying work have been made to furnish it. 
 The collection was formed without reference to labor 
 or expense, and with the aid of Chinese, and of the 
 American Missionaries, who have resided a long time 
 in the country, and who are well acquainted with the 
 language, manners and customs of this curious people. 
 
4 
 
 In collecting the materials for this book, the best 
 works on the subject have been consulted, and in most 
 instances the information derived from them is pre- 
 sented in a condensed form. Among the works used 
 may be mentioned the Chinese Repository, Dr. Bridg- 
 man’s Chrestomathy, and the works of Medhurst, 
 Davis, Barrow, Staunton, Timkowski, Kidd, and Gutz- 
 laff, as the principal ones to which this work is in- 
 debted. 
 
 JOHN R. PETERS, Jr. 
 
GENERAL VIEW 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ENTRANCE AND INTERIOR OF THE MUSEUM. 
 
 The entrance to the Chinese Museum is made to 
 represent the entrance to a Chinese Jos house or tem- 
 ple. Across the whole front, above the door-way, ex- 
 tends a beautiful carved, lacquered and gilt cornice, 
 called by the Chinese, “Um-Yum.” Beneath this, in 
 the centre, is suspended the “ Tsoi-moon” or “ Lucky 
 door,” a fanciful shaped frame divided in panels, rich- 
 ly carved and finished with gold and lacquer. On 
 either side of the “ Tsoi-moon” is suspended an enor- 
 mous lantern covered with paintings of the Chinese 
 Dragon. Over the door is an inscription in large gold- 
 en characters, reading from right to left, as follows : 
 “ Choong-wa-tie-Ivoon,” or in English, “ An extensive 
 view of the central flowery nation.” On the sides of 
 the door are suspended two tablets with the following 
 characters upon them, reading downwards and begin- 
 ning with the one on the right, viz : “ Een-tsze-chaow- 
 shy-hum-wy-gni.” “ Mow-tsze-eeu-yon-she-maw-laa- 
 ung.” A Chinese aphorism. A free translation of 
 which is, “Words may deceive, but the eye cannot 
 play the rogue.” 
 
 The cases are numbered around the room in regu- 
 lar order as in the catalogue, the largest, with the ex- 
 ception of one, contain groups of figures of the full 
 size of life, likenesses of individual Chinese, dressed 
 in the costumes appropriate to the situations and em- 
 
6 
 
 ployments in which they are represented. Two of 
 the cases are facsimiles of occupied rooms, completely, 
 but differently furnished, in the houses of a wealthy 
 person. Another is a complete representation of a 
 Chinese store with the merchant, his assistants, a 
 purchaser, &c. 
 
 Some of the small cases contain models of houses, 
 bridges and vessels, and others an immense number of 
 specimens of Chinese arts and manufacture, articles 
 esteemed curiosities by the Chinese themselves, beau- 
 tiful specimens of their curious and wonderful art 
 of carving in ivory, sandal wood, tortoise shell and 
 stone. Also many articles of food peculiar to them, as 
 birds’ nests, sea slugs, sharks’ fins, &c. 
 
 There is also a large and beautiful collection of 
 Chinese paintings in oil and water colors, consisting 
 of landscapes, portraits of Mandarins, and Hong mer- 
 chants, views of the different processes of manufactur- 
 ing porcelain, silk and cotton, raising and curing tea 
 and rice, and a great variety of others. 
 
 The ceiling is covered with a great number of lan- 
 terns suspended from it, many of them of beautiful 
 construction and materials, and others the forms of 
 * which could hardly originate in any other than the 
 distorted fancy of a Chinese. 
 
 The Museum is exclusively Chinese, collected from 
 all parts of the Empire, and with the aid of this work, 
 will give the visitor a better knowledge of this curious 
 people than can be acquired by reading the most 
 faithful descriptions alone, or even by a transient visit 
 to China. 
 
 There is only one other Museum of this kind in the 
 world ; which is that brought from China, by the late 
 Mr. Dunn, of Philadelphia, who resided in the “ Celes- 
 tial Empire” for a number of years. His Museum 
 was opened in Philadelphia in 1839, exhibited for a 
 
7 
 
 few months and then removed to London, where it 
 now remains. 
 
 To make the Museum still more attractive there are 
 two Chinese attached to it, one of whom “ T’sow 
 Chaoong,” speaks English. The other named “ Le 
 Kaw-hing,” or professor “Kaw-hing” was a teacher of 
 music in his native land, but having acquired the 
 habit of smoking opium, and not being able to give it 
 up while there, left his country for that purpose and 
 has succeeded in his undertaking. He will, at stated 
 times during the day and evening, favor visitors with 
 Chinese songs, accompanying himself on some of his 
 original and curious instruments. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 https://archive.org/details/rniscellaneousrem00pete_0 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE I. 
 
 9 
 
 CASE I . 
 
 No. 1. The Emperor Taou Kwang , (reason's glory.) 
 
 2. Mandarin of the first rank. 
 
 3. Mandarin of the second rank. 
 
 4. Mandarin of the third rank. 
 
 5. Mandarin of the fourth rank. 
 
 6. Military Mandarin of the fifth rank. 
 
 7. Military Mandarin of the sixth rank. 
 
 Magnificent embroidered satin screen suspended 
 
 on the wall. 
 
 View of the great wall of China through the door- 
 way on the right. 
 
 View on the left of part of one of the ancient Im- 
 perial palaces on the island of Tseaou-shan in 
 the Yang-tsz-Keang near Nanking. 
 
 On the top of this case is one of a pair of hideous look- 
 ing figures such as stand at the door-ways of Chinese 
 temples , to guard the entrance. The China ware drag- 
 ons are such as ornament the corners and other parts of 
 the roofs of sacred edifices. 
 
 This case contains a figure of the Emperor, six 
 Mandarins of the highest grades, and a beautiful em- 
 broidered red satin screen. 
 
 The figures are clothed in the splendidly embroid- 
 ered satin state dresses, worn only at court or upon 
 the most solemn occasions. 
 
 In the head of His Imperial Majesty we have an 
 admirable likeness of His High Commissioner Keying, 
 who is said to bear a strong resemblance to him, and 
 has had the honor to negotiate all the late treaties 
 made by the Celestial Empire with foreign nations. 
 
 The “ Son of Heaven,” or “ Ten thousand years,” 
 
10 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 Description of Figures, Dress, fyc. 
 
 as his titles read, clothed in the richest embroidered 
 Imperial yellow, which his subjects may not wear, 
 and seated in the dragon chair of state, upon which a 
 liberal number of heads of this fabulous animal stand 
 conspicuous, has just affixed the vermilion pencil rat- 
 ifying the treaty between China and the United States, 
 presented by one of his counsellors. 
 
 The four Mandarins standing in front with their 
 heads respectfully covered according to Chinese eti- 
 quette, which is the opposite to ours in many respects, 
 are of the four highest grades in the empire ; this is 
 also the number of the chief officers of the Imperial 
 Council, two of whom are Tartars and two Chinese, 
 who serve as a communication between the Emperor 
 and the different boards of civil office, revenues, rites, 
 war, &c., having charge of the affairs of the Empire. 
 
 The Military Mandarins standing a little in the rear 
 of his Majesty, as body guards, are of the fifth and 
 sixth grades. 
 
 Each figure in this case has a string of court beads 
 about the neck, part of which consists of a single 
 string running a short way down the back and ter- 
 minating in an ornament made of some precious 
 stone set in gold. Peacocks’ feathers, which are also 
 badges of rank, are fastened to the knobs of their caps 
 and hang down behind, and the usual accompani- 
 ments of rank and wealth are seen at their sides, con- 
 sisting of embroidered fan cases and small bags for 
 containing areca nut and tobacco. A great part of 
 the embroidery upon the dresses of most of the figures 
 in this case is concealed by the “ Makwa” “riding 
 coat,” or upper garment. 
 
 The splendid screen suspended at the back of this 
 case, together with that in No. 2, are supposed to have 
 been taken at the north during the war with Great 
 Britain, and were presents to two aged persons from 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 11 
 
 Division of Ranks, Distinguishing Marks, Nobility, fyc. 
 
 the officers of the districts in which they resided. 
 They are made of beautiful materials, and the elegant 
 writing and rich embroidery upon them, done in gold 
 thread and floss silk, show that no labor or expense 
 were spared in making them every way worthy of the 
 donors and those they intended to honor. A transla- 
 tion of one of them has been deemed sufficient, and 
 will be found in the description of figures, &c. in 
 No. 2. 
 
 The Chinese divide their civil and military officers 
 into nine ranks, distinguishable by balls or knobs, 
 upon the apex of their conical caps, of different colors 
 and substances, and square pieces of embroidery upon 
 the breasts and backs of their dresses, representing a 
 bird for a civil and a beast for a military officer. The 
 indication of the first rank is a ball or knob of red pre- 
 cious stone, the second red coral, the third blue, the 
 fourth dark blue or purple, the fifth chrystal, the sixth 
 opaque white, and the seventh, eighth and ninth, by 
 gold or gilt ones, distinguished by being flowered or 
 plain. Nobility in China is only hereditary in the fam- 
 ily and connexions of the Emperor, and extends to all 
 his relations descended from the same ancestors ; all 
 those of his mother and grandmother within four de- 
 grees ; and lastly all those of the consort of the crown 
 prince within two degrees. These are styled princes, 
 are of different degrees of rank, distinguished by the 
 colors of their girdles, are obliged to reside within the 
 precincts of the Imperial city, and receive pensions 
 from the Emperor for their support. They appear to 
 possess little or no influence, and are not treated with 
 much respect by the official nobility, who consist of 
 those possessing the first rank in the Empire, those of 
 the second who are employed in any official capacity, 
 and those of the third, whose office confers any civil 
 or military command. The five titles are kung, how, 
 
12 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 Mode of Attaining Office. 
 
 pih, tsze, and nan, which are equivalent to duke, 
 count, baron, baronet, and knight. The two last are of 
 inferior consequence, while the first three take prece- 
 dence of those standing in the first of the nine ranks 
 without these titles. 
 
 “ The chief source of rank and consideration in 
 China is certainly cultivated talent; and whatever 
 may be the character of the learning on which it is 
 exercised, this at least is a more legitimate as well as 
 more beneficial object of respect than the vulgar pre- 
 tensions of wealth and fashion, or the accidental one 
 of mere birth.” 
 
 “ Wealth alone though it has of course some neces- 
 sary influence, is looked upon with less respect com- 
 paratively, than perhaps in any other country. The 
 choice of official persons, who form the real aristocra- 
 cy of the country, is guided, with a very few excep- 
 tions, by the possession of educated talent ; and the 
 country is therefore as ably ruled as it could be under 
 the circumstances.” 
 
 “ All real rank of consequence being determined by 
 talent, the test of this is afforded at the public exam- 
 inations. These are open to the poorest persons ; and 
 only some classes, as menial servants, comedians and 
 the lowest agents of the police, are excluded. The 
 literary degrees to be acquired are four, viz: “ sew- 
 tsae” talent flowering, “ keu-jin ” elevated persons, 
 “ tsin-tse ” advanced scholars, and “ han-lin ” ascended 
 to the top of the trees. The examinations for the first 
 two degrees are held in the districts and principal 
 cities of the provinces, and the third and fourth trien- 
 nially in the capital, the latter being in the presence of 
 the Emperor himself. To pass the examinations it is 
 not necessary for the candidates to explore the realms 
 of nature. Geography, astronomy, chemistry, anatomy 
 and mechanics are little known, and the celestials are 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 13 
 
 Studies of the Literati and Government Officers, Anecdotes, fyc. 
 
 still ignorant of the laws of electricity, galvanism, and 
 magnetism, the theories of light, heat, and sound, the 
 use of gas for illumination and. the giant powers of 
 steam. The highest excellence consists in closely 
 imitating the ancients who are their paragons of ex- 
 cellence, and to attempt to surpass them in virtue or 
 intelligence would, be the height of presumption. 
 The sacred four books and five classics, compiled by 
 the Chinese sage, Confucius, and his disciples ages 
 ago, are the text-books of the student of the present 
 day. A perfect knowledge of these with the author- 
 ized commentaries upon them, with a thorough ac- 
 quaintance with the history of China from the earliest 
 antiquity is what is required of them. The chief ex- 
 cellency of their essays for examination consists in 
 introducing as many quotations as possible, and the 
 farther they go back, for recondite and unusual ex- 
 pressions, the better ; but they are deprived of every 
 scrap of writing, and are expected to carry their libra- 
 ry, to use their own phrases, in their stomachs, that 
 they may bring forth their literary stores as occasion 
 requires.” 
 
 “ This knowledge can only be acquired by great 
 application and perseverance. The first five or six 
 years at school are spent in committing the canonical 
 books to memory ; another six years are required to 
 supply them with phrases for a good style ; and an 
 additional number of years, spent in incessant toil, are 
 needed to insure success. Long before the break of 
 day, the Chinese student may be heard chaunting the 
 sacred books ; and till late at night the same task is 
 continued. They tell of one, who, fearing the task 
 assigned him was too hard, gave up his books in 
 despair; and was returning to a manual employment, 
 when he saw an old woman rubbing a crowbar on a 
 stone ; on asking her the reason, she replied that she 
 was in want of a needle and thought she would rub 
 
14 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE I. 
 
 Number of Candidates selected at the Official Examinations. 
 
 down the crowbar till she got it small enough. The 
 patience of the aged female provoked him to make 
 another attempt, and he succeeded in attaining to 
 the highest rank in the empire.” 
 
 “ The stimulus given to energetic perseverance by 
 making the highest offices attainable by nearly all 
 classes, is immense, and the effect, in encouraging 
 learning, incalculable. All persons acquire some 
 knowledge of letters ; and learning, such as it is, is 
 more common in China, than in any other part of the 
 world. Six poor brethren will frequently agree to la- 
 bor hard, to support the seventh at his books ; with 
 the hope that should he succeed, and acquire office, 
 he may throw a protecting influence over his family, 
 and reward them for their toil. Others persevere to 
 the decline of life, in the pursuit of literary fame ; and 
 old men of eighty have been known to die, of sheer 
 excitement and exhaustion, in the examination halls. 
 In short difficulties vanish before them, and they 
 cheer each other on, with verses like the following : — 
 
 “ Men have dug through mountains, to cut a channel for the sea; 
 
 “ And have melted the very stones, to repair the southern skies ; 
 
 “ Under the whole heaven, there is nothing difficult, 
 
 “ It is only that men’s minds are not determined.” 
 
 Out of about 10,000 candidates, who enter the lists 
 for the third degree, 300 only are selected, and be- 
 come immediately eligible to office. The first post to 
 which they are appointed, is the superintendency of a 
 district, and there is not a magistrate throughout the 
 Empire who has not attained the degree referred to. 
 At the fourth and last examination, which is very rig- 
 orous, a small number are chosen from the 300 who 
 attain the third degree, to enter the Han-lin-yuen or 
 National Institute, the members of which are consid- 
 ered the elite of the country and from amongst them 
 the highest officers of the state are generally selected. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE I. 
 
 15 
 
 Nominal Rank, Emperor, Prerogatives, S,'c. 
 
 Nominal rank and titles, with the privilege of wear- 
 ing the dress and distinctive badges of Mandarins, 
 may be purchased, for large sums, at any time, the 
 only advantages being the gratification of personal 
 vanity and exemption from summary infliction of the 
 bamboo. But offices are to be had at times by mak- 
 ing liberal subscriptions to the wants of government 
 A son of Howqua, (the richest of the Hong merchants, 
 who died a few months since) was created a Keujin, 
 in 1831, for subscribing 36,000 taels, (above 50,000 
 dollars) to repair the dykes of a portion of Canton 
 Eiver, injured by an inundation; and another son, or 
 his father in his name, contributed 100,000 taels (about 
 140,000 dollars) towards the war in Tartary. This 
 liberal donation his majesty did him “ the favor gra- 
 ciously to accept ” and conferred upon the son the 
 rank and title of “ Director of the Salt Monopoly.” 
 
 The practice of disposing of office is strongly repro- 
 bated by the Chinese, who justly consider the literary 
 institution the glory of their country. 
 
 The Emperor is distinguished from his officers, by 
 his yellow dress, upon which the imperial dragon is 
 wrought in gold, and a pearl of great value adorning 
 his cap. He is called the father of his people and is 
 supreme ruler of the lives and fortunes of about four 
 hundred millions of the human family or more than 
 one third of the inhabitants of the globe. “ He is held 
 to be the vicegerent of Heaven, especially chosen to 
 govern all nations ; and is supreme in everything, 
 holding at once the highest legislative and executive 
 powers, without limitation or control. He is hence, 
 entitled Tien-tsze, the son of Heaven ; and is clothed 
 with most of the prerogatives of Deity. From him 
 emanate all power and authority ; the whole earth it 
 is ignorantly supposed (and it is the policy of such as 
 
]6 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 Power of Emperor and Right of Succession. 
 
 are better informed to perpetuate the ignorant notion) 
 is subject to his sway; and from him as the fountain 
 of power, rank, honor and privilege, all Kings derive 
 their sovereignty over the nations. It is in conformity 
 with these haughty pretensions, that China has ever 
 refused to negotiate with “ outside barbarians,” until 
 compelled to do so by force stronger than her own. 
 
 “ The power of the sovereign is absolute, as that of 
 a father over his children; although, theoretically, he 
 is under the control of the heavenly decrees (of which 
 however, he is himself interpreter;) and practically, is 
 in a great degree subject to the influence of public 
 opinion, of customs, and of the enactments of his im- 
 mediate ancestors and predecessors. As his will is 
 law, it would be idle to attempt a specific enumeration 
 of all the prerogatives that belong to him. A state- 
 ment of a few of the peculiar rights maintained by the 
 crown must suffice. The Emperor is the head of all 
 religion, and is alone privileged to pay adoration to 
 Heaven (or the supreme ruler of the universe.) He is 
 the source of law and fountain of justice. There can 
 be no appeal from his judgment; and the gift of mercy 
 belongs alone to him. No right can be held in oppo- 
 sition to his pleasure ; no claim can be maintained 
 against him ; no privilege can protect from his wrath, 
 if it be his will to set aside established rules and cus- 
 toms. He is the main spring of the administration; 
 none can act but under his authority and commission. 
 All the forces and revenues of the Empire are his ; 
 and he does with them whatsoever he pleases. He 
 has an indisputed claim upon the services of all his 
 people, and in particular of all males between the 
 ages of 16 and 60; but this is a claim which it is rare- 
 ly attempted to enforce. In a word the whole Empire 
 is his property.” 
 
 “ The right of succession to the throne is by cus- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 17 
 
 Duties of Emperor , Curious Proclamation issued after a Hurricane. 
 
 tom hereditary in the male line ; but it is always in 
 the power of the sovereign to nominate his successor, 
 either from among his own children, or from among 
 any other of his subjects. The successor is frequently 
 nominated during the father’s life time, in which case 
 he possesses several exclusive privileges, as crown 
 prince. The duties to be observed by the sovereign, 
 are strictly understood to consist in attention to the 
 moral and political maxims of the ancient philoso- 
 phers, Confucius and Mencius, and their most cele- 
 brated disciples, as detailed in their far famed works, 
 the Five Classics, and the Four Books.” 
 
 It would indeed be strange, if in a country of such 
 vast extent as China, abuses of power did not some- 
 times occur ; but a happy, contented, and industrious 
 population is a pretty sure indication that the govern- 
 ment is, on the whole, well administered, and procla- 
 mations like the following, show that the * Son of 
 Heaven,’ notwithstanding the immense power con- 
 ferred upon him is careful of his reputation amongst 
 his children. 
 
 “ On the 30th of April, 1819, a hurricane from the 
 south east, brought prodigious quantities of sand from 
 the sea coast to the capital. The whole air looked 
 like a thick yellow mass ; at the same time a cloud 
 covered the sun, so that Peking was suddenly involv- 
 ed in darkness ; it was impossible to distinguish ob- 
 jects at the distance of a few paces.” 
 
 “ The philosophy of the Chinese, founded upon 
 their classical books, teaches them that every phe- 
 nomenon is a presage by which Heaven announces 
 that morals are corrupted, and that the Emperor and 
 his agents must do their utmost to restore their purity. 
 Kia-King desiring to prove his repentance, and to calm 
 the superstitious fears of the Chinese people, published 
 on the 1st May, 1819, the following ordinance. 
 
18 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I 
 
 Emperor's Proclamation, continued. 
 
 “ Yesterday, at three quarters past five o’clock in the 
 afternoon, a south-east wind suddenly arose. In a few 
 minutes the air and the inside of the houses were so 
 filled with sand, that it was impossible to distinguish 
 objects without the help of a candle. This event is 
 very extraordinary. Seized with terror at the bottom 
 of my heart, I passed the night without sleep, en- 
 deavoring to divine the cause of the anger of Heaven. 
 
 “ According to the signs laid down in the great 
 model, to discover perversity, a long continued wind 
 indicates infatuation. The cause comes from myself, 
 who have probably not been sufficiently vigilant in the 
 acts of my reign, and entrusted the affairs of the Em- 
 pire to unskilful hands. Perhaps the ignorance of 
 negligent Mandarins has hindered the complaints of 
 the nation from reaching the throne, and the results 
 of a vicious administration have not allowed me to 
 remedy the evils which afflict the people. 
 
 “ Perhaps there are among the Mandarins of Peking 
 and other cities of China, wicked and unjust men, 
 whose bad conduct has not been known to me. It is 
 the duty of the officers who represent me, to share in 
 my fears, caused by the anger of Heaven. Each of 
 them is obliged to acquaint me of everything that 
 passes, not out of self interest, but through zeal alone. 
 If there are faults in the administration, if it is neces- 
 sary to introduce ameliorations, or to make changes, 
 it is for them to point them out with minuteness and 
 impartiality. If any of my subjects suffer innocently, 
 his complaint should be laid before me, in order that 
 I may do him open justice. 
 
 “ As for the Mandarins whose administration is in- 
 jurious to the welfare of the Empire, and who oppress 
 the people — who, having recourse to cunning and ar- 
 tifice, execute one thing and neglect another — who, 
 deviating from the regular mode of business, act only 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 19 
 
 Commencement of Present Dynasty , Age of Emperor. 
 
 according to circumstances, — it is my will that a de- 
 tailed report be laid before me respecting the misdeeds 
 of these wicked men. Such representations will be 
 the proof of real zeal for the throne, and I shall derive 
 from them all the advantages to the Empire which are 
 conformable to the commands of Heaven. But if ad- 
 vantage should be taken of this to serve private hatred 
 or interest, and to make false accusations through a 
 spirit of revenge and personal animosity, then on the 
 contrary, white becomes black, and truth is mixed 
 with falsehood, and the orders which I give not only 
 become useless, but increase the blindness of the 
 wicked. In our days the human heart is perverse 
 and corrupted; secret and anonymous accusations 
 are made against honest men, and often cause their 
 ruin, which is sufficient to draw down the anger of 
 Heaven. The wind came from the south-east ; it 
 must therefore be supposed that rebels unknown to 
 the government are towards the south-east, and that 
 their impunity is the cause of the derangement of the 
 Celestial harmony. 
 
 “ Full of terror and alarm I think only of examining 
 myself, and endeavoring to amend. I sincerely in- 
 quire into every thing. The superior and inferior 
 Mandarins of Peking, as well as those out of the capi- 
 tal, are bound to turn their attention to their own 
 faults, to endeavor with their whole hearts, and with 
 their whole strength, to fulfil the duties of the offices 
 entrusted to them. By seconding my intentions they 
 will succeed in strengthening their own virtue, and in 
 preserving the nation in future from the evils which 
 are predicted.” 
 
 The present Mantchou Tartar dynasty, who style 
 themselves Ta Tsing (great pure,) ascended the throne 
 in 1644, 200 years ago. The reigning Emperor, Taou 
 Kwang, succeeded his father in 1821, and is now sixty 
 four years old. 
 
20 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 Description of Great Wall and Imperial Canal. 
 
 The Great Wall of China was constructed by Chi- 
 hwang-te, of the Tsin dynasty, the first universal mon- 
 arch of China, about two hundred years before the 
 commencement of the Christian era, to keep the Tar- 
 tar hordes from invading his Empire. 
 
 It extends from the Gulf of Pechele in a westerly 
 direction, a distance of more than fifteen hundred 
 miles; descending into the deepest valleys, and as- 
 cending the highest mountains, one of which is 5,000 
 feet above the level of the sea. 
 
 At important passes the wall is doubled — it varies 
 in height according to the nature of the ground. At 
 the point where Lord Macartney passed it, the wall, as 
 examined by Capt. Parish, was found to he a mass of 
 earth supported on each side by walls of large brick, 
 with a stone foundation, and terraced with a platform 
 of square brick. 
 
 The total height of the wall, including the parapet 
 of five feet, was 20 feet — the thickness at the base was 
 25 feet, diminishing to 15 feet at the platform. It is 
 flanked with massive towers or bastions, about 100 
 yards apart, which are forty feet square at the base, 
 diminishing to 30 feet at the top. 
 
 In building this immense work, the greatest proba- 
 bly ever produced by human labor, and surpassing 
 the sum total of all other works of the kind now in 
 existence, every third man of the Empire was required 
 to work on it, by which means it was completed in 
 five years. 
 
 So heavy a tax upon the industy of the people, and 
 the protection afforded by it against the Tartars, until 
 the time of Ghengis Khan in the thirteenth century, 
 who then overthrew the Chinese Empire, have led the 
 Chinese to call it, “ The ruin of one generation and 
 the salvation of thousands.” 
 
 The other great work of China is the Imperial 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE I. 
 
 21 
 
 Uses of the Imperial Canal , Islands near Nanking. 
 
 Canal, which, like the great wall, stands unrivalled, in 
 point of extent and magnitude of undertaking, by any 
 work of the kind in the world. Including the rivers 
 in its course, which are used as parts of it, it extends 
 from Tien-tsing, near Peking, to Hang-tcheou-foo, a 
 distance of about 600 geographical miles, and is navi- 
 gable for the largest vessels ; thus rendering the inter- 
 nal commerce of the Empire almost wholly indepen- 
 dent of coast navigation. But this is not its only 
 merit, as it renders a vast tract of country, which 
 would otherwise be an irreclaimable swamp, capable 
 of cultivation. It is called by the Chinese, “ Yun-ho,” 
 “ The river for the transportation of grain,” and “ Cha- 
 ho,” “ The river of flood gates.” It was principally 
 constructed by Koblai Khan and his immediate suc- 
 cessors, and is said to have employed 30,000 work- 
 men nearly fifty years. 
 
 A short distance from Nanking on the Yang-tsz- 
 Keang, rise the picturesque and precipitous rocky islets 
 called “The Three Hills of Kin-Kow,” individually 
 called “ Kin- Shan,” “ Golden Island ;” Pih-koo-shan 
 and Tseaou-shan. On the latter is situated one of the 
 ancient Imperial Palaces. The island rises from the 
 river with considerable abruptness, and is enclosed by 
 mural cliffs which deny a landing except at the place 
 of debarkation, formed for the purpose of communicat- 
 ing with the Palace, temples, and other buildings upon 
 the rock. The “ Yang-tsz-Keang ” or “ Child of the 
 Ocean,” as this noble river is called, is one of the larg- 
 est rivers in the world, being second only to the Ama- 
 zon and Mississippi. 
 
22 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 CASE II. 
 
 No. 8. The Empress of China seated in a Dragon Chair. 
 9. Lady of a Mandarin of the first rank. 
 
 10. 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 
 second rank. 
 
 11. 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 
 third do. 
 
 12. 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 
 do. 
 
 fourth do. 
 
 13. Female Servant, with pipe. 
 
 Superbly embroidered satin Screen upon the wall. 
 Two Views ; one of a Suite of Rooms in the Pal- 
 ace, and the other of part of the Grounds, at- 
 tached. 
 
 In this group, the Empress, the two ladies on her 
 left, and the servant, are Tartars. They, unlike the 
 others, as the observer will notice, are not adorned 
 with ‘ Kinleen or “ the golden lilies,” as the Chinese 
 poetically call the small feet, from the supposed re- 
 semblance of their impressions to the leaves of their 
 favorite lotus, or water lily. This perfection of beauty 
 is confined to the Chinese alone; the Emperor having 
 had the good sense to prohibit by a special edict, his 
 own family, as well as all Tartars from following the 
 Chinese custom. The other two ladies are Chinese ; 
 who are distinguished from the Tartar ladies by a 
 slight difference in dress, as well by their small feet; 
 the costume of the Tartar females being very similar 
 to the males, consisting of the same cap and flowing 
 robe, but distinguished by peculiar shoes and the grace- 
 ful sash, while the dress of Chinese females contains 
 another under dress, and sometimes two, visible below 
 the robe, which is not so long as that worn by Tartars. 
 The first article is a confined looking garment, made 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 23 
 
 Dress of Tartar and Chinese Ladies , Remarks upon Empress. 
 
 of heavy plates, and the second, loose browsers, which 
 hang down so as nearly to conceal the “ golden lilies.” 
 Their head dresses also differ some from that of the 
 Tartars, as may be noticed. But the costumes of both 
 nations, “ though amongst the higher classes, as splen- 
 did as the most exquisite silks and embroidery can 
 make them, are always extremely modest ; and what 
 we choose to call dress , they would regard as little short 
 of absolute nudity, and all close fitting to the form as 
 only displaying what it affects to conceal.” 
 
 The Tartar maid, in this case, is about to present a 
 pipe to the Empress, for she and the rest of her sex in- 
 dulge in this luxury, as well as the males, the pipe be- 
 ing used by both sexes upon all occasions. The dress 
 of the maid is the same in fashion as that of her more 
 fortunate countrywomen, though of course not as 
 splendid. 
 
 When a female is raised to the rank of Empress, 
 the Emperor announces the event to mother earth, to 
 his ancestors, and the ancient sages, and after many 
 minute observances, she is invested with the high dig- 
 nity of the mother of the country. But notwithstand- 
 ing she is the consort of the “ Son of Heaven,” her 
 sphere, like that of the rest of her countrywomen, is 
 very limited. The palace walls and gardens of the 
 Harem are the bounds of the world to her, as well as 
 to the Emperor’s concubines who are said to be nu- 
 merous, and the principal part of her time is passed in 
 trivial amusements within the “pepper chamber.”* 
 She is not even allowed the gratification of setting the 
 fashions for her countrywomen ; for the style of her 
 own dress is prescribed by the Board of Rites and Cere- 
 
 * “ According to the Ku Sz’ King Lam,” says Dr. Bridgman, “ in the times 
 of the Hon dynasty, the walls of the Harem were plastered with pepper, from 
 the notion that its pungent properties would dispel or neutralize all noxious 
 vapors in the room. From this practice, the phrase is now used to denote the 
 apartments of the Empress in the palace.” 
 
24 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 Honors paid the Emperor's Mother. 
 
 monies at Peking, who are the only setters of fashion 
 in China, regulating the dress of ail those connected 
 with the government, and to depart materially from 
 whose ordinances would be a dangerous species of 
 eccentricity. 
 
 Once a year, (about November) the Empress ac- 
 companied by her principal ladies, sacrifices at the al- 
 tar of the inventor of the silk manufacture. This ap- 
 pears to be the only state ceremonial, at which she of- 
 ficiates, and when it is concluded, a quantity of mul- 
 berry leaves are collected by herself and ladies, to 
 nourish the imperial depot of silk worms. The pro- 
 cesses of heating the cocoons in water, winding off the 
 filament, and some others are gone through with dur- 
 ing the ceremony, which is intended to encourage the 
 people in the cultivation of the mulberry and rearing 
 of silk worms for the production of silk, the principal 
 part of the manufacture of which devolves upon fe- 
 males. 
 
 It is only when the Empress becomes Empress 
 Mother, that much honor is paid her. Then the Em- 
 peror performs his daily obeisance before her accord- 
 ing to ancient custom, and at certain periods of her life, 
 as at fifty, sixty, seventy, &c., particular honors are paid 
 her; especially at the age of sixty, which, being the 
 completion of an entire cycle, is regarded as the greatest 
 occasion. On the present Emperor’s mother attaining 
 this age, his imperial majesty issued a proclamation 
 announcing to his people the great event and the ob- 
 servances attendant upon it. It is a curious docu- 
 ment, and the translation as given in the Chinese Re- 
 pository, is as follows: 
 
 “ The Emperor, who has received from Heaven, in 
 the revolving course of nature, his dominion, hereby 
 publishes a solemn ordinance. 
 
 “ Our extensive dominions have enjoyed the utmost 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE II. 
 
 25 
 
 Proclamation issued on the Emperor’s mother's sixtieth birth day. 
 
 prosperity, under the shelter of a glorious and endur- 
 ing state of felicity. Our exalted race has become 
 most illustrious, under the protection of that honored 
 relative to whom the whole court looks up. To her 
 happiness already unalloyed, the highest degree of 
 felicity has been superadded, causing joy and gladness 
 to every inmate of the six palaces. The grand cere- 
 monies of the occasion shall exceed in splendor the 
 utmost requirements of the ancients in regard to the 
 human relations, calling forth the grat illation of the 
 whole Empire. It is indispensable that the observ- 
 ances of the occasion should be of an exceedingly un- 
 usual nature, in order that our reverence for our au- 
 gust parent and care for her, may both be equally and 
 gloriously displayed. 
 
 “ Her majesty, the great Empress — benign and dig- 
 nified, universally beneficent, perfectly serene, exten- 
 sively benevolent, composed and placid, thoroughly 
 virtuous, tranquil and self-collected, in favors unbound- 
 ed, who in virtue is the equal of the exalted and ex- 
 pansive heavens, and in goodness, of the vast and 
 solid earth — has, within her perfumed palaces, aided 
 the renovating endeavors (of his late majesty) rend- 
 ering the seasons ever harmonious, and in her mater- 
 nal court has afforded a bright rule of government, 
 thoroughly disinterested. She has planted for herself 
 a glorious name in all the palace, which she will leave 
 to her descendants; and has imparted her substantial 
 favors to the Empire, making her tender affection 
 universally conspicuous. Hence genial influences 
 abide within the palace of ‘ ever-during delight,’ and 
 joy and gratulation meet together in the halls of ‘ ever- 
 lasting spring.’ 
 
 “ In the first month of the present winter occurs the 
 sixtieth anniversary of her majesty’s sacred natal day. 
 At the opening of the happy period, the sun and moon 
 
26 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 Proclamation, continued. 
 
 shed, their united genial influences on it. When 
 commencing anew the sexagenary cycle, the honor 
 thereof adds increase to her felicity. Looking up- 
 wards, and beholding her glory, we repeat our gratu- 
 lation, and announce the event to Heaven, to earth, to 
 our ancestors, and to the patron gods of the Empire. 
 On the nineteenth day of the tenth moon, in the fif- 
 teenth year of Taou Kwang, we will conduct the 
 princes, the nobles, and all the high officers, both civil 
 and military, into the presence of the great Empress, 
 benign and dignified, universally beneficent, perfectly 
 serene, extensively benevolent, composed and placid, 
 thoroughly virtuous, tranquil and self-collected, in favors 
 unbounded; and we will then present our congratu- 
 lations on the glad occasion, the anniversary of her 
 natal day. The occasion yields a happiness equal to 
 what is enjoyed by goddesses in heaven ; and while 
 announcing it to the gods, and to our people, we will 
 tender to her blessings unbounded. It is the happy 
 recommencement of the glorious revolution of the 
 cycle, the felicity whereof shall continue long as the 
 reign of reason. 
 
 “ At the observance of this solemn occasion, exceed- 
 ingly great and special favors shall be shown; the 
 particulars of which and of the ceremonies to be ob- 
 served are hereinafter enumerated. 
 
 “ First. To the tombs of the successive Emperors 
 and Kings, to the temple of the first great teacher, 
 Confucius, to the five lofty mountains, and to the four 
 mighty streams, officers shall be sent to offer sacrifices. 
 Let the rules on the subject be examined and let this 
 be carried into effect. 
 
 “ Secondly. All ladies of elevated rank who have 
 attained to the age of sixty years or upwards, from the 
 consorts of the highest princes to the wives of the 
 lowest titular members of the imperial family, from 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 27 
 
 Proclamation continued. 
 
 the princesses of the blood to the daughters of the 
 subordinate princess, from the consorts of the Mongol 
 royal chieftains to the wives of their hereditary nobles, 
 as well as the ladies of the great officers of state both 
 Mantchou and Chinese, shall be presented with tokens 
 of favor. 
 
 “ Thirdly. Every officer in the metropolis, both 
 civil and military, of every grade, shall be raised in 
 rank one degree. 
 
 “ Fourthly. Every officer, whether at court or in the 
 provinces, who is under promise of promotion to a 
 new office, shall be at once invested with the rank of 
 such new office. 
 
 “ Fifthly. In regard to every officer who for error 
 in public matters has been degraded in rank, but re- 
 tained in office, let the appropriate Board, after exam- 
 ination, present a report, requesting that his rank be 
 restored to him. 
 
 “ Sixthly. Every military officer of brevet rank 
 shall be advanced to a permanent rank. 
 
 “ Seventhly. Every soldier of the eight banners in 
 Peking shall receive a gift of one month’s pay and 
 rations. 
 
 “ Eighthly. Every Mantchou soldier who, having 
 formerly borne arms, has been permitted, on account 
 of age or sickness, to live at home, shall receive gra- 
 cious tokens of favor. 
 
 “ Ninthly. All soldiers of the eight banners, Mant- 
 chou, Chinese, and Mongols, who have attained the 
 ages of seventy, eighty, or ninety years, and all Mon- 
 gols of the inner tribes, or of the Kalkas, who have 
 attained those ages, shall have gifts conferred on them, 
 differing in relation to their several ages. Those who 
 have attained the age of an hundred years, shall, on 
 presenting a statement thereof, receive money to erect 
 an arch. 
 
28 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 Proclamation, continued. 
 
 “ Tenthly. Every one among the military and 
 people (of China Proper,) who has attained the age of 
 seventy shall be allowed one person to attend on him 
 free of liability to conscription. Every one who has 
 attained the age of eighty shall receive (also) one piece 
 of silk, ten catties of cotton, one stone weight of rice, 
 and ten catties of flesh. Every one who has attained 
 the age of ninety or of a hundred years, shall receive 
 money for the erection of an arch. 
 
 “ Eleventhly. Every perfectly filial son or obedient 
 grandson, every remarkably upright husband, or chaste 
 wife, upon proofs being brought forward of real facts, 
 shall have a monument erected with an inscription, in 
 his or her honor. 
 
 “ Twelfthly. Of the lower classes of literary gradu- 
 ates, all who have passed good examinations, but 
 without attaining degrees, shall be presented with de- 
 grees. 
 
 “ Thirteenthly. The students of the national college 
 shall have a vacation of one month. 
 
 “ Fourteenthly. In every case in which the tombs 
 of the successive emperors and kings, or the temples 
 of the lofty mountains and mighty streams, have 
 fallen into decay, let requests for their repair be 
 sent in. 
 
 “ Fifteenthly. Let roads and bridges that are in 
 want of repair, in all the provinces, be repaired by the 
 local officers. 
 
 “In this manner shall her majesty’s sanctity and 
 virtue be declared, and become a rule and an exam- 
 ple, the praise of which shall be like the sun and 
 moon, and shall be ever increasing. Her kindness 
 shall be diffused abroad and extended to all; and all 
 shall rejoice with the joys of music and dancing. Let 
 this be proclaimed to the whole Empire, that all may 
 be made to hear and know it.” 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE II. 
 
 29 
 
 Description of large Embroidered Satin Screen. 
 
 Such ornamental pieces of embroidery and writing 
 as the one at the back of this case and that in No. 1, 
 are called by the Chinese, Shau-Ping, literally Lon- 
 gevity Screens. They are presented to persons who 
 have attained a virtuous old age and are not intended 
 to be used as screens, but are suspended behind the 
 tablets, upon which the names of the venerated de- 
 ceased are inscribed, in the Ancestral halls. This one 
 “ is made of fine red satin, 14% feet long, by 9'A feet 
 broad, and is covered with writing and embroidery, 
 the latter in gold thread and floss silk. The writing' 
 occupies the middle of the sheet, and is symmetrical 
 and elegant in the extreme. A large dragon’s head 
 adorns the top, beneath which are three sitting figures, 
 emblematic of Longevity, Happiness, and Official 
 Emolument ; and on each side are four standing 
 figures representing the eight genii; various devices, 
 as tripods, vases, &c., are interspersed among the 
 figures, giving to the whole a pleasing and tasty ap- 
 pearance.” There are also two narrow strips hang- 
 ing down from the top upon which the following seal 
 characters are embroidered, viz : “ Shaow-peih-lam- 
 shan.” “ May your age be like the southern moun- 
 tains.” The translation which follows, was made for 
 the Chinese Repository, by S. Wells Williams, Esq., 
 one of the conductors and proprietors of that valuable 
 magazine. The inscription is in form of a letter. 
 
 Note upon the Longevity Honor, respectfully pre- 
 sented with congratulations to her ladyship, Sun-nee 
 Sie, by imperial favor, elevated to be of the seventh 
 rank of dignity on her 70th birthday. 
 
 “ In the year 1802, I was in command of the land 
 and sea forces of Fukien province; this province is 
 conterminous with Kwangtung. The village Ching 
 belongs to Kwangtung, to the present department of 
 Kiaying, a place which was by the rectitude of the 
 
30 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE II. 
 
 Translation of Inscription on Satin Screen. 
 
 scholar Ching of Nautse, quite renovated, (and named 
 after him.) Although I was in retirement (literally a 
 gourd hung up to dry,) still the parents of the people, 
 (i. e. the authorities,) in all that region knew me. A 
 subordinate, then under the magistrate of Kiaying- 
 chau, was the Taping fansz’, now the assistant chifu, 
 Sun Sfifang, who governed that district, all men 
 were refreshed by his upright rules, nor was there a 
 dissentient voice. Iiis mother, the lady Sie, was the 
 first and only wife of Sun Siunche, the assistant chifu 
 of Lwan chau, and he (her son) brought her from 
 Chekiang into his office, and assiduously and con- 
 stantly nourished and took care of her with respectful 
 attention. 
 
 “ It was on the lady Sun attaining the anniversary 
 day of her 7th decennium, that all the gentry wished 
 to imitate the custom usual on such occasions of pre- 
 senting a Longevity Token, and requested an explan- 
 atory notice from me, and also that I would direct the 
 libations; at the same time sending for my inspection 
 two longevity discourses made when lords Sz’, the 
 graduate, and lord Han, the district magistrate, were 
 sixty years old. 
 
 “ It appears that the etiquette in ancient times, in 
 making offerings on birth days, was not to do it 
 always on the day itself, but to choose a convenient 
 time ; in Pin, it was the custom to observe them after 
 the harvest was got in ; and in the Han dynasty it 
 was on new year’s day ; at present, some do it on the 
 birthday, which resembles the ancient practice. Now 
 my own attainments are not at all comparable to 
 those of Lord Sz’, and Prince Han, and moreover 
 your ladyship’s domestic regulations are worthy to be- 
 come a model to instructors ; may your happiness 
 and age daily increase. Why therefore should any 
 one wait for my echoing praise of such a reputation ? 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 31 
 
 Translation of Screen, continued. 
 
 But taking a point which all those in the district of 
 Kiaying who have the least acquaintance with the 
 matter know, viz : that Sun Siifang and his broth- 
 ers, reverentially receive the instruction of their 
 mother, I will remark upon it. The assistant magis- 
 trate (i. e. Sun Ftifang) has thorough and most dis- 
 criminating talents; for although his jurisdiction is 
 over only a small corner of the department, he does 
 not confine his efforts to his own limited district, but 
 has become generally distinguished ; he has appre- 
 hended villains and cleared the country of robbers; 
 he exhibits his kind regards for the villagers, and con- 
 sults their wishes ; in all these duties exerting him- 
 self to the utmost. Moreover, when he at any time 
 received the chief magistrate’s order to attend to any 
 special business, such as levying fines, arranging 
 schools, &c., he critically discriminated the advantages 
 and the disadvantages in everything, displaying the 
 utmost equity and purity, in order on the one hand to 
 requite the confidence reposed in him by the superior 
 magistrate, and on the other, to show his rectitude to 
 all the inhabitants. The quiet order of the country 
 was altogether owing to the resolute vigor of the as- 
 sistant magistrate, extending itself over and benefit- 
 ting all that region, while during this interval of sev- 
 eral years his integrity was unimpeachable, and he 
 was still poor. All this excellence was owing to your 
 ladyship’s instructions, through which he maintained 
 the magisterial uprightness of his ancestors, and per- 
 petuated the honor of the distinguished officer (his 
 father ;) therefore, when men praised the bravery of 
 the assistant magistrate, there was not one who did 
 not in so doing, laud the virtue of his mother. The 
 young gentleman, his brother, is also now about to re- 
 ceive an appointment to an office ; and when your 
 grandchildren all rise up (to emulate and succeed 
 
32 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE II. 
 
 Translation of Screen, continued. 
 
 their parents,) it will be like the flight of the phoenix, 
 or the stateliness of the stork; your joy will be com- 
 plete. 
 
 “ Your ladyship’s nephew, the prefect of Tating fu 
 in Kweichau, a place beyond the far reaching clouds, 
 you have also through the past instructed in the prin- 
 ciples of justice ; if you thus remember those who are 
 distant, how will you not care for those near you ! 
 In ancient times, when the mother of Chang Tsihien, 
 went to the palace, his majesty, on account of her age 
 and her happiness, that she had so distinguished a 
 son, honored her with a complimentary letter from 
 his own hand. And too, the Emperor Jintsung re- 
 marked, when seeing the prudent government of Tsai 
 Kiunnui, “ If such is the son, what must the mother’s 
 virtue be ! ” and he sent her a coronet and a ribbon as 
 a mark of special honor. Your ladyship has now 
 reached the age of three score and ten, and will no 
 doubt soon receive some mark of imperial regard ; so 
 that then the glory of those two matrons will not be 
 alone, for yours will equal theirs; and if the assistant 
 magistrate heartily regards you, and dilligently upholds 
 the integrity of his office, we shall soon see him rise 
 to the first grade of rank, and then your subsequent 
 glory will be more conspicuous. 
 
 “ The benignant favor of our Emperor diffuses itself 
 among and blesses the people ; and the peace and gran- 
 deur of the country and the excellence and purity of 
 the usages are preeminent; and as your ladyship’s 
 health is vigorous, and your sons and grandsons are 
 fortunate, truly your joys are not yet full. I know 
 that the wishes of the people and gentry of the dis- 
 trict, in imitating the custom of the Pin country in 
 offering the libation cup of blessing, and in perform- 
 ing the same ceremony of elevating the longevity gifts 
 as they did in the Han dynasty, are by no means 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE II. 
 
 33 
 
 Inducements to Parents to Educate their Sons. 
 
 fully satisfied, although these arc the highest of rites 
 among ceremonial observances ; and therefore this 
 which I have written may be regarded as an additional 
 cup offered up on their behalf. 
 
 “ Your humble brother, Yen Minghan by imperial 
 favor a military graduate of the first rank, appointed to 
 the imperial body guard in his majesty’s presence, 
 appointed to be ‘awe inspiring general,’ major-general 
 in command of the forces of Fukien province, and 
 acting admiral of the navy there ; formerly general of 
 the troops in the two departments of Changchau and 
 Ivienning ; in 1789 appointed official examiner at the 
 military examination in Fukien, and formerly acting 
 general of the troops in Ninghia fu in Kansuh, during 
 the war, raised four steps and recorded ten times, re- 
 spectfully bows and presents his compliments. Kiak- 
 ing, 7th year, 8th moon, 20th day, (Oct. 1S02.) 
 
 “ The names and titles of 258 persons are appended) 
 beginning with those highest in office and descend- 
 ing to the lowest, who all subscribed to purchase and 
 present this to Madame Suse.” 
 
 The reader will note in the introductory part of the 
 letter that this old lady had been elevated to the 
 seventh rank of dignity. This mode of bestowing 
 nominal rank is a great inducement to parents to 
 attend to the education and consequent advancement 
 of their sons, as not only the fortunate literary candi- 
 dates themselves receive honors, but their parents 
 also, who if dead, have posthumous titles conferred 
 upon them, which are inscribed upon their tablets, 
 preserved in the Halls of Ancestors, and used in the 
 ceremonies attending the sacrifices to their manes. 
 
34 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE III. 
 
 CASE III. 
 
 Mandarin of the fourth rank. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Interpreter. 
 
 Inferior Officer , with whip, 
 do. do. with bamboo. 
 
 Culprit on his knees. 
 
 Criminal confined in a tub. 
 
 Painting at the back of the case. Table with red cloth 
 in front. 
 
 Large lacquered “ Law San,” or “ State Umbrella .” 
 
 Large u Eu-sheen , or “ Imperial Fan,” carried in proces- 
 sions to screen distinguished persons from the rays of 
 the sun. 
 
 Painted wood Banner, carried before a person of rank , 
 with his name and titles in gilded characters upon it. 
 
 This case contains a representation of a Chinese 
 court of justice. The judge is seated behind his table 
 with writing implements before him, two metal cases 
 filled with sticks are at one end of the table, and at 
 the other a case done up in yellow grass cloth, con- 
 tains his official seals, while the small roll on the 
 frame above it, also enclosed in the imperial color, 
 contains his authority from the Emperor. This figure 
 is an excellent likeness of a former Kwang-chow-foo 
 of Canton, much beloved by the people. 
 
 On the right of the officer, stands his Secretary, on 
 the left, the interpreter, in front, on one side, a mer- 
 midon, with whip in hand, has just brought in a pris- 
 oner, and opposite, stands his fellow with the dreaded 
 (as well as admired) bamboo in his hands, ready to 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE III. 
 
 35 
 
 Chinese Justice. No Lawyers or Jury. Difference in Dialects, S?c. 
 
 dispense justice with it, according to the orders of his 
 superior. 
 
 A criminal, already sentenced, is expiating his of- 
 fence in a tub, his head and hands only being visible. 
 In the rear of the judge is a painting of a large Chi- 
 nese Unicorn, a tree with a case containing the seals 
 of office suspended upon one of the branches, and a 
 bird descending with a scroll in its beak. The Chi- 
 nese generally do not appear to understand the mean- 
 ing of such paintings as this, which are suspended 
 behind their officers in court rooms. But they would 
 seem to be emblematic of the duty of the officers to 
 discharge their trusts faithfully, in order to obtain pro- 
 motion which is indicated by the case of seals sus- 
 pended above, and the scroll containing a commission 
 in the mouth of a descending bird. 
 
 A Chinese court room is never graced with a jury 
 box; the representative of the Emperor is both judge 
 and jury. “ The plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses, 
 kneel in front of him, with the instruments of torture 
 placed near them. No counsel is allowed to plead, 
 but the written allegations required, must be prepared 
 by licensed notaries, who may also read them in court. 
 These notaries buy their situations and repay them- 
 selves by the fees upon the documents.” The services 
 of an interpreter are necessary in court, as a medium, 
 of conversation between the judge and prisoners, the 
 laws of China forbidding persons holding office in 
 their native provinces, or even owning real estate, or 
 contracting marriage, in the provinces to which they 
 are appointed; and notwithstanding the universal use 
 of the same written language throughout the empire, 
 the dialects of the different provinces vary so much as 
 to make the natives of one unintelligible to those of 
 another, without recourse to writing. “ The legal 
 mode of torture, in forcing evidence, is to squeeze the 
 
36 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE III. 
 
 Curious mode of demonstrating respect, to an upright Officer. 
 
 ankles or the fingers between three sticks tied trian- 
 gularly: the former being applied to male, and the 
 latter to female prisoners. Oaths are never required, 
 nor even admitted, in judicial proceedings; but very 
 severe punishments are attached to falsehoods in evi- 
 dence.” 
 
 “ The Chinese have some singular modes of de- 
 monstrating their respect and regard on the departure 
 of any public magistrate, whose government has been 
 marked by moderation and justice. A deputation 
 sometimes waits upon him with a habit composed of 
 every variety of color, “ a coat of many colors,” as if 
 made by a general contribution from the people. 
 With this he is solemnly invested, and though of 
 course the garment is not intended to be worn, it is 
 preserved as an honorable relic in the family. On 
 quitting the district, he is accompanied by crowds 
 that follow his chair, or kneel by the wayside, while 
 at intervals on the road are placed tables of provisions 
 and sticks of incense burning. These honors were 
 shown to a late Fooyuen of Canton, a man of a most 
 eccentric, but upright character, who unlike so many 
 others in his situation, would never take anything from 
 the Hong merchants, or others under his authority. 
 He seemed to have a supreme indifference for human 
 grandeur, and at length retired by his own choice and 
 the Emperor’s permission into private life, from whence 
 it is said he became a devotee of Budh. On his quit- 
 ting Canton, “ numerous addresses were presented to 
 him, indicating a desire, as expressed in the figurative 
 and poetical language of the Chinese, £ to detain his 
 boots,’ in order to prevent his setting out on his jour- 
 ney ;” and this singular custom was observed, in con- 
 formity with ancient usage on such rare occasions ; 
 when he had accepted the various demonstrations of 
 homage and respect from those who had been deputed. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE III 
 
 37 
 
 Different kinds of Punishments , Bastinado, fyc. 
 
 by the people to wait on him, he proceeded from his 
 residence to the city gates, and, being there arrived, 
 his boots were taken off, to be preserved, as valued 
 relics, while their place was supplied by a new pair. 
 This was repeated more than once as he proceeded 
 on his way, the boots which he had only once drawn 
 on being regarded as precious memorials.” 
 
 Punishments in China are of five kinds, each grad- 
 uated according to the heinousness of the offence. 
 The first is flogging with the bamboo, which is of two 
 sizes and the dimensions of each regulated by law. 
 The smallest is used for petty offences, requiring, ac- 
 cording to law, from ten to fifty blows, which to suit 
 the Chinese maxim, “ that in enacting laws rigor is 
 necessary and enforcing them leniency,” are reduced 
 in practice to from four to twenty, the reduction being 
 placed to the credit of the Emperor and called impe- 
 rial favor. So summary is the application of the 
 bamboo, that instances often occur of an offender 
 receiving punishment and going free within the hour 
 the offence was committed. The number of blows 
 with the larger bamboo is limited from sixty to one 
 hundred by law, but is reduced in practice to from 
 twenty to forty. Tartars are subjected to the whip, 
 which is not considered as disgraceful as the bamboo. 
 The tallies or slips of wood in the metal cases in front 
 of the magistrate, in this case, are used to indicate the 
 number of blows to be given to the culprit, and when 
 thrown upon the floor by the magistrate, are taken up 
 by the attendant and four blows in reality given for 
 each, although nominally, they signify more. 
 
 The second class of punishment is the Cangue, or 
 wooden collar, worn from one month to three, and 
 varying in weight according to the heinousness of the 
 crime. It is a plank, sufficiently large to hinder the 
 criminal from reaching his head, if his hands are not 
 
38 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE III. 
 
 Punishment hij the Gangue and Transportation. 
 
 confined, with holes to fit the neck and wrists, and on 
 it the offence is inscribed. The tub in this case, with 
 a man in it, is a species of Cangue of an uncomforta- 
 ble kind, as it prevents the free motion of different 
 parts of the body. The Cangue is often a fatal pun- 
 ishment, and the foreigners at Canton were shocked 
 with a horrid exhibition of it in the fall of 1843. Some 
 wretches taken in the act of setting fire to buildings 
 in the neighborhood of the foreign factories, which it 
 was their intention to destroy, were put in pairs in 
 large double Cangues and were thus exposed, in sev- 
 eral of the greatest thoroughfares near the factories, to 
 the gaze of passers by, to be starved to death. To add 
 to their sufferings they were placed within smell of 
 the savory streams arising from numerous travelling 
 cooking establishments in their vicinity. Their own 
 countrymen made no offers of assistance to them, and 
 the efforts of some benevolent foreigners to supply 
 them with food were resisted by the underlings, hav- 
 ing the prisoners in charge, who remarked that it 
 would only prolong their sufferings. In this way 
 they perished, one by one, and several were seen with 
 their eyes fixed, in the vacant stare of death, and de- 
 cay stealing rapidly over their bodies, while a stronger 
 fellow prisoner fastened to them was still lingering 
 out a loathsome existence. In this manner the dead 
 remained in the Cangue until nightfall, when they 
 were inspected by a Mandarin and removed, for inter- 
 ment. 
 
 The third class of punishment is transportation of 
 the offender to various distances, not exceeding fifty 
 leagues, and for different lengths of time, from his 
 home, according to the nature of the offence. There 
 is also a scale of punishment with the bamboo, cor- 
 responding to the distance and duration of temporary 
 banishment ; for instance, sixty blows correspond to a 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE III. 
 
 39 
 
 Exile and Capital Punishments. 
 
 year, and seventy to a year and a hal£ advancing thus 
 ten blows for each half year. 
 
 The fourth class of punishment is exile beyond the 
 Chinese frontier, temporarily, or for life. Criminals 
 are often banished to Ee-ly, the principal seat of Chi- 
 nese rule in Mongol Tartary, and are generally con- 
 demned to military service, or made slaves to the Tar- 
 tars. This is often the fate of the highest officers of 
 the government who happen to displease their master, 
 and several Hong merchants and linguists have been 
 sent there from Canton, but those having wealthy 
 friends find it no hard matter to make their residence 
 in “the cold country” a pleasant one. Transporta- 
 tion, if the criminal is a Tartar, is in some instances 
 commuted for the Cangue, to which a scale of the 
 time to be worn, graduated to different distances, is 
 adapted. 
 
 The three capital punishments, constituting the fifth 
 class, are, strangling, beheading, and a slow and igno- 
 minious death, sometimes termed cutting into ten 
 thousand pieces. “ In all ordinary cases, the execu- 
 tions throughout the Empire are postponed until the 
 autumnal assize, when the Emperor confirms the sen- 
 tences of the provincial officers. But for extraordi- 
 nary offences, such as robbery attended with murder, 
 arson, rape, breaking into fortifications, violence by 
 banditti of one hundred persons, highway robbery and 
 piracy, the offenders may be beheaded immediately.” 
 Strangulation (in Chinese Keaou ‘the silken twist’) is 
 considered the least disgraceful mode of execution, as 
 by it the body is preserved whole for interment ; in- 
 deed so great is the solicitude of the Chinese on this 
 point, that many preserve the broken pieces of their 
 finger nails, which they sometime allow to grow to 
 such inordinate lengths, to be interred with them. 
 The least crime for which strangulation is assigned, is 
 
40 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE III. 
 
 Punishment for Treason, Substitutes allowed for Criminals. 
 
 a third theft, and effacing the brands affixed for the 
 former two. It is inflicted upon a heavy upright wood- 
 en cross, by twisting a cord tight around the ankles 
 and staff, then the waist, the wrists, and lastly the 
 neck. Bribes are given to shorten the sufferings by 
 driving a poignard to the heart or twisting the cord 
 first around the neck. Pirates and murderers, in ad- 
 dition to beheading, have their heads exposed in small 
 cages, suspended on poles, in public places. Crimi- 
 nals who undergo this extreme punishment are con- 
 veyed to the execution ground in baskets, with their 
 names and sentences written on long slips of wood 
 attached to their backs, and are placed upon their 
 knees, facing towards the imperial court at Peking, 
 with heads bowed, in token of submission ; one blow 
 from the sword of the executioner and the head is 
 severed from the body, and the immortal spirit sent 
 “unannointed and unannealed ” into the presence of 
 its Maker. 
 
 Offences against the Emperor being considered the 
 most aggravated, the punishment inflicted is the most 
 cruel and ignominious, and is that of slowly cutting 
 to pieces. Parricide (“ which ranks as petit treason”) 
 sacrilege, and some other crimes, are punished in the 
 same way; but in the first instance not only the trai- 
 tor (either principal or accessory,) but his innocent 
 family is immolated for his crime ; his sons, even of 
 tender age, are strangled, and the females of his fam- 
 ily sold into bondage in provinces far distant from 
 their home, and the law, not to be robbed of its vic- 
 tims even by death, drags those who have been guilty 
 of treason from the grave, and inflicts the same indig- 
 nities upon their inanimate, and oftentimes, putrid 
 bodies that it demanded while in life. 
 
 One curious feature in Chinese law is, that substi- 
 tutes are allowed even for criminals condemned to de- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE III. 
 
 41 
 
 Chinese Prisons , Patriarchal Form, of Government. 
 
 capitation, and, incredible as it may appear, men are 
 to be found in this populous country to suffer under 
 the hands of the executioner in the place of another 
 for a small competency for their families, and men al- 
 ways stand ready at the courts, the skin on the ex- 
 tremity of whose bodies has long been callous to the 
 bamboo, to become substitutes for those who are able 
 to pay. The price formerly charged, we have been 
 informed by a native, was one dollar a blow, but com- 
 petition, it appears, has affected this business as well 
 as others, and the charge is now only half that sum. 
 Our informant further told us that he had seen one 
 man receive in succession, without rising from his 
 position, (face downwards upon the ground,) the pun- 
 ishment due to three. 
 
 Chinese prisons, styled by them Ty-yo, or hell, are 
 very severe, and prolonged imprisonments in them 
 are the most frequent instruments of judicial injustice. 
 “ Women in ordinary cases, enjoy the fortunate ex- 
 emption of being placed as criminals in the custody 
 of their nearest relations, who are answerable for them 
 and in this manner they escape the farther contami- 
 nation of vice in a prison.” Mutual responsibility per- 
 vades the Empire, from the highest to the lowest, and 
 serves to keep the ponderous machinery in order. 
 Neighborhoods are divided into tens and hundreds, in 
 charge of responsible men selected from amongst 
 them ; these report to the inferior Mandarins, who are 
 amenable to the superior ones, and thus the scale as- 
 cends and ends only in the supreme head the Empe- 
 ror. To such extent is the patriarchal form of govern- 
 ment carried, that “ fathers have virtually the powers 
 of life and death over their children ; for, even if they 
 kill them designedly, they are subject to only the 
 chastisement of the bamboo, and a year’s banishment ; 
 if struck by them to no punishment at all. The pen- 
 
42 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE III. 
 
 China compared ivith other Countries by a European and a Chinese. 
 
 alty for striking parents, or cursing them, is death, as 
 among the Hebrews. In practice, it does not appear 
 that this absolute power bestowed on fathers is pro- 
 ductive of evil ; the natural feeling being upon the 
 whole, a sufficient security against its abuse.” 
 
 Notwithstanding the severity of some of the laws of 
 China, Mr. Ellis, who is quoted by Davis from Sir 
 George Staunton, as one “ whose acquaintance with 
 Persia, India and China, rendered him a peculiarly 
 competent judge, pronounces China superior to the 
 other countries of Asia, both in the arts of government, 
 and the general aspect of society; and adds that the 
 laws are more generally known, and more equally ad- 
 ministered : and that those examples of oppression, 
 accompanied with the infliction of barbarous punish- 
 ment, which offend the eye and distress the feelings 
 of the most hurried traveller in other Asiatic countries, 
 are scarcely to be met with in China,” and Davis just- 
 ly remarks, “ that a country cannot, upon the whole, 
 be very ill-governed, whose subjects write in the style 
 of Tien-kee-she, a Chinese, as follows: “I felicitate 
 myself that I was bom in China ; it constantly occurs 
 to me, what if I had been born beyond the sea, in 
 some remote part of the earth, where the cold freezes, 
 or the heat scorches ; where the people are clothed 
 with the leaves of plants, eat wood, dwell in the wil- 
 derness, lie in holes of the earth, are far removed from 
 the converting maxims of the ancient Kings, and are 
 ignorant of the domestic relations. Though bom as 
 one of the generation of men, I should not have been 
 different from a beast. But how happily I have been 
 bom in China ! I have a house to live in, have drink 
 and food, and commodious furniture. I have clothing 
 and caps, and infinite blessings. Truly the highest 
 felicity is mine.” 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 43 
 
 CASE IV. 
 
 Teacher seated at his table. 
 
 Pupil reciting his lesson. 
 
 Priest of Fo or Budlia seated, 
 do. the Taou sect standing. 
 
 Paintings of Gods , Sages and Worthies suspended at the 
 back of the case. 
 
 Chinese Tomb. 
 
 • do. Coffin. 
 
 Mourning Dress. 
 
 Pair of Mourning Lanterns. 
 
 Here are to be seen the teachers of the three most 
 prominent religions of the Chinese. The first is a 
 disciple of Koong-foo-tsze, or Confucius (as his name 
 has been latinized by the Jesuits,) who is worshipped 
 as a god in China, and whose system of ethics is the 
 favorite religion of the better classes of the people and 
 constitutes the principal part of their education. 
 
 The young lad in front of the table, is reciting his 
 lesson in Chinese fashion, with his back to the teacher. 
 On the table are the works studied by young persons, 
 writing apparatus, and the rod, that universal persuader 
 throughout the world, and most direct mode of appeal- 
 ing to the feelings of the young. 
 
 The Priest of Budha, whose tonsure extends to the 
 whole head, is seated in his chair, with a rosary in 
 one hand, and small whisk brush in the other, in a 
 state of mental abstraction, awaiting his absorption 
 into nonenity, which his creed teaches him is the 
 summit of happiness; far above Heaven. This figure 
 is an excellent likeness of a former Abbot, of the cel- 
 
44 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 Confucius and his Doctrines. 
 
 ebrated Honam Jos house, who was much venerated 
 by the padries of the establishment. 
 
 The Priest of Taou, or Laou-keun and Laou-tsze 
 (the old infant) as the founder of this sect was called, 
 because born with white hair, differs but little in his 
 garb from the devotee to Bndlia, he has the same 
 rosary and whisk brush, but is distinguished from him 
 by his queue, or tail, and from his countrymen in the 
 manner of doing up this curious appendage, with a 
 skewer and in a small wooden cup. 
 
 The brushes in the hands of both these priests are 
 necessary in the cells of the temples, where they re- 
 side, which are badly ventilated, and in summer swarm 
 with musquitoes, against whose insinuating advances, 
 not even Budhistic absorption is proof 
 
 The paintings of gods on the wall are a few of the 
 immense number to seen, set up in peculiar frames, 
 in the hongs and large stores in the cities. The paint- 
 ings of sages and worthies are of a style much es- 
 teemed by the Chinese. 
 
 Confucianism is the principal or State religion of 
 China and that patronized by those who make any 
 pretensions to learning. The stability of the patriar- 
 chal form of government in China, notwithstanding 
 the many revolutions which have taken place is un- 
 doubtedly owing to the strong hold which the moral 
 maxims of the sage Koong-foo-tsze has upon the 
 minds of the people. His system of ethics formed 
 several centuries before the Christian era, are rather 
 of a political than religious cast, and Dr. Morrison 
 observes, “ a family is the prototype of his nation or 
 empire, and he lays at the bottom of his system, not 
 the visionary notions of independence and equality, 
 but principles of dependence and subordination, as of 
 children to parents, the younger to the elder, and so 
 on. These principles are perpetually inculcated in 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE IV. 
 
 45 
 
 Veneration paid to Confucius. 
 
 the Confucian writings, as well as embodied in solemn 
 ceremonials, and in apparently trivial forms of mere 
 etiquette. It is probably this feature of his doctrines, 
 that has made him such a favorite with all the gov- 
 ernments of China for many centuries past and down 
 to this day. These principles and these forms are 
 early instilled into young minds, and form the basis 
 of their moral sentiments ; the elucidation and en- 
 forcement of these principles and forms are the busi- 
 ness of students, who aspire to be magistrates, or 
 statesmen, and of the wealthy, who desire nominal 
 rank in the country ; and it is in all likelihood, owing 
 chiefly to the influence of these principles on the 
 national mind and conscience, that China holds to- 
 gether the largest associated population in the world.” 
 
 It is striking, to witness the veneration paid to 
 Koong-foo-tsze at the present day, notwithstanding a 
 period of 2,300 years has passed away, since his death. 
 His title “the most holy teacher of ancient time,” was 
 given to him during the Ming dynasty, and is contin- 
 ued by the Tartars, who now sit upon the throne. 
 There are 1,560 temples in the empire, dedicated to 
 his memory, and the government annually sacrifices 
 to his manes, 6 bullocks, 27,000 pigs, 5,800 sheep, 
 2,800 deer, and 27,000 rabbits, making a total of 62,- 
 606 victims, in addition to which, 27,600 pieces of 
 silk are offered at the same time. At the sacrifices at 
 Peking, the Emperor himself does him homage, and 
 the magistrates and all the learned throughout other 
 parts of the land ; and in all the school rooms in this 
 vast empire, his name, inscribed on tablets, is hung 
 lip, to which, the scholars pay their daily respects 
 after saluting the teacher, and before which, they 
 burn incense morning and evening. Such are some 
 of the honors paid to this ancient sage, who, undoubt- 
 edly, has influenced a larger proportion of the whole 
 human race than any other pagan philosopher. 
 
46 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 Schools and. Teachers. 
 
 Some of the moral maxims and advice contained 
 in the works of Ivoong-foo-tsze, are most excellent. 
 “There are three things,” said he, “to beware of 
 through life. When a man is young, let him beware 
 of his appetites ; when middle aged of his passions ; 
 and, when old, of covetousness especially.” And 
 upon being asked if any one word would answer as a 
 guide for a person’s actions during life, he replied 
 “ will not the word Shoo serve ? and explained its 
 meaning by, “do unto others as you would they 
 should do unto you.” He said little about a future 
 state of existence, and when questioned by one of his 
 disciples upon the subject, recalled his attention to 
 material things by replying, “ not knowing the state 
 of the living, how can you know the state of the 
 dead ? ” and his universal maxim was, “ Respect the 
 gods, but keep them at a distance.” 
 
 Owing to the number who annually try their for- 
 tunes at the literary examinations and fail to attain 
 degrees, teachers are plenty, and although respected 
 according to their attainments, their pay is generally 
 small ; not ordinarily exceeding ten or fifteen dollars 
 per month in the common schools, but in private es- 
 tablishments it is much more. In the high schools, 
 or colleges, the number of pupils sometimes rises to 
 hundreds ; in the common schools it varies from ten 
 to forty. The pupils assemble at sunrise and remain 
 till ten o’clock, when an hour is allowed for breakfast, 
 after which their studies are resumed and continue 
 till four or five o’clock ; they are then dismissed, gen- 
 erally, to reassemble at early lamp-lighting to pore 
 over their books again until nine o’clock. The mas- 
 ter occupies an elevated seat and the boys set facing 
 him at separate tables; there are no classes, each 
 pupil reciting his lesson separately; all study aloud to 
 enable the master to discover when they are engaged 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 47 
 
 Origin of JBudhism. 
 
 with their lessons, and raising their voices to a high key 
 make a noise which can be heard in the streets for some 
 distance. “ Severity,” observes a writer in the Chi- 
 nese Repository, “is highly esteemed by parents, who 
 seem to feel only that their boys will not receive their 
 full due ; and punishments are often and severely in- 
 flicted. Neglect in arriving punctually at school, or 
 in acquiring his lesson in a given time, together with 
 any kind of misbehavior, renders the pupil liable to 
 punishment, by reproof, chastisement, or expulsion.” 
 
 Budhism, which took its rise in India several cen- 
 turies prior to the appearance of Koong-foo-tsze and 
 Laou-Iveun in China, was at one time the prevailing 
 religion of that country, but a fierce persecution which 
 took place during the sixth century of our era, nearly 
 exterminated or expelled its followers from Hindos- 
 tan. It was introduced into China in A. D. 65 or 66, 
 during the reign of Ming-ty, an Emperor of the Han 
 dynasty, who, says Davis, “considering a certain say- 
 ing of Confucius to be prophetic of some saint to be 
 discovered in the west, sent emissaries to seek him 
 out. On reaching India they discovered the sect of 
 the Budhists, and brought back some of them with 
 their idols and books to China.” 
 
 The Budhists believe in a future state of existence 
 and in the metempsycosis or transmigration of souls 
 as a reward to the virtuous and punishment to the 
 guilty. The paradise of Budha, as described in one 
 of their works quoted by Medhurst, “ is of yellow 
 gold. Its gardens and palaces are all adorned with 
 gems. It is encircled with rows of trees, and borders 
 of network. There are lovely birds of sparkling plu- 
 mage and exquisite notes. The great God, O-lo-han, 
 the goddess of mercy, the unnumbered Budhas, the 
 host of demi-gods, and the sages of Heaven and earth, 
 will all be assembled in that sacred spot. But in that 
 
48 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 Doctrines of the Budhists. 
 
 kingdom there are no women, for the women who 
 will live in that country are first changed into men. 
 The inhabitants are produced from the lotus flower, 
 and have pure and fragrant bodies, fair and well 
 formed countenances, with hearts full of wisdom, and 
 without vexation. They dress not, and yet are not 
 cold ; they dress, and are not made hot. They eat 
 not, and are not hungry; they eat, and yet never 
 know satiety. They are without pain and sickness, 
 and never become old. Enjoying themselves at 
 ease, they follow Budha, gaily frisking about with- 
 out trouble. The felicity of that kingdom may be 
 justly considered superlative, and the age of its in- 
 habitants without measure. This is the paradise of 
 the west, and the way to obtain it, is the most sim- 
 ple imaginable ; depending on one sentence, O-me- 
 to-Fiih (Amidah Budha;) yet the world will not take 
 the trouble to seek this good so easily attained ; but 
 put on their iron boots, and go in quest of another 
 road.’’ Such is the Heaven of Budha, and such the 
 way to obtain it. But if their paradise is an inviting 
 one, their hell is the abode of unspeakable misery ; for 
 the unfortunate beings who are condemned to the in- 
 fernal regions are there torn in pieces, thrown upon 
 hills of knives or into boiling cauldrons, sawn asunder, 
 fastened to pillars of red hot brass, and otherwise tor- 
 mented according to their crimes, until transformed 
 into some of the six grades of metempsycosis again 
 revisit the earth to do penance. 
 
 “ One of the most favorite doctrines of Budha is, 
 that all things originated in nothing, and will revert to 
 nothing again. Hence annihilation is the summit of 
 bliss ; and nirupan , nirvana , or nonentity, the grand 
 and ultimate anticipation of all. Contemplation and 
 abstractness of mind, with a gradual obliteration of 
 all sense and feeling, are considered the nearest ap- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE IV. 
 
 49 
 
 JSudhism supported by Middle and Lower Classes. 
 
 proaches to bliss, attainable on earth; and the de- 
 votees of this system aim and effect to have no joys 
 or sorrows, hopes or fears, sense or emotion, either of 
 body or mind ; living without looking, speaking, hear- 
 ing, smelling, or feeling ; yea, without eating, and 
 without breathing, until they approach to that envia- 
 ble state of perfection, annihilation. Budha is noth- 
 ing, and to escape the various transmigrations, to rise 
 above the happiness of Heaven, and to be absorbed 
 into Budha, is to be amalgamated into nothing. 
 Those who have attained the greatest nearness to this 
 abstraction, are considered the most holy ; and if they 
 can manage to sustain life, without appearing to live, 
 they are denominated present Budhas, and worship- 
 ped accordingly. The world-renouncing priest, with 
 vacant stare and emaciated look, not deigning to re- 
 gard anything in Heaven or on earth, receives divine 
 honors from the wondering bystanders, who think 
 him something more than mortal, because fast ap- 
 proaching to nonentity.” 
 
 Budhism appears to be the most popular religion 
 of the middle and lower classes, by whom it is chiefly 
 supported. Its priests are principally from the latter, 
 and are sometimes fugitives from justice, who, to es- 
 cape the sword of the executioner, shave their heads, 
 disguise themselves in the garb of priests, and retiring 
 to the cells attached to the Budhist temples, elude the 
 search of the Mandarins. But their ranks are princi- 
 pally filled with young men who grow up among 
 them, being placed in the temples in childhood by 
 their parents, who consult a fortune teller upon the 
 birth of a son, to ascertain his destiny, and being in- 
 formed by one of these oracles, that unless consecrated 
 to Budha the child will die young, consider it useless 
 to contend against fate, and act accordingly. Brought 
 up in idleness, without any incentive to exertion, they 
 
50 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 Similarity of the rites of Budhists and Catholics. 
 
 live principally by begging, their knowledge seldom 
 extends beyond reading their prayers without under- 
 standing them, and many of those who can afford it 
 are opium smokers. 
 
 Many of the ceremonies of the Budhist religion are 
 similar to those of the Roman Catholics, as was no- 
 ticed by the early Jesuits, who visited China to con- 
 vert her to Christianity. They shave the head, prac- 
 tice celibacy, profess poverty, and live in secluded 
 abodes; they use the rosary, candles, incense, holy 
 water, bells, images and relics, in their worship ; they 
 believe in purgatory, with the possibility of praying 
 souls out of its fires, their prayers are offered up in a 
 strange language, their altar pieces are similar ; and 
 the very titles of their intercessors, such as ‘goddess 
 of mercy,’ ‘holy mother,’ and ‘queen of Heaven,’ 
 with the image of a virgin, having a child in her 
 arms, holding a cross, are the same. 
 
 This religion has at times been encouraged, and at 
 others, its devotees have been persecuted by the gov- 
 ernment. At present it appears to be left to its own 
 resources by those in authority, except in Thibet, 
 where the Emperor finds it politic in governing the 
 Tartar hordes to respect the religion of the Lamas, 
 which if not Budhism, is closely allied to it. 
 
 The religion of Taou, or sect of Rationalists was 
 founded by Laou-keun, or Laou-tsze a contemporary 
 of Confucius, but the Taou or Reason itself, is said to 
 be uncreated and to have existed from eternity, and 
 its founder to have been an incarnation of it. The 
 doctors of Eternal Reason speak of and explain it in 
 a truly transcendental strain. They say — 
 
 “ What is there superior to heaven, and from which 
 heaven and earth sprang? nay, what is there supe- 
 rior to space and which moves in space ? The great 
 Taou is the parent of space, and space is the parent 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 51 
 
 Religion of Taou , or Rationalism. 
 
 of heaven and earth ; and heaven and earth produce 
 men and things. 
 
 “The venerable prince (Taou) arose prior to the 
 great original, standing at the commencement of the 
 mighty wonderful, and floating in the ocean of deep 
 obscurity. He is spontaneous and self-existing, pro- 
 duced before the beginning of emptiness, commenc- 
 ing prior to uncaused existences, pervading all heaven 
 and earth, whose beginning and end no years can 
 circumscribe. 
 
 “ Before heaven and earth were divided, ere the 
 great principles of nature were distinguished, amid 
 the ocean of vast obscurity and universal stillness, 
 there was a spontaneous concretion, out of which 
 came a thousand million particles of primary matter, 
 which produced ‘emptiness.’ Then, after nine hun- 
 dred and ninety-nine billions of Kalpas* had passed 
 away, the thousand million particles of primary mat- 
 ter again concreted, and produced ‘ space after 
 another period of equal length, the particles of primary 
 matter again concreted, and produced ‘ chaos.’ After 
 chaos was settled, heaven and earth divided, and 
 human beings were born.” 
 
 “ The votaries of this sect talk a great deal about 
 virtue, and profess to promote it by abstraction from 
 the world, and the repression of desire. They affect 
 to despise wealth, fame and posterity ; urging, that at 
 death all these distinctions and advantages terminate, 
 and the labor bestowed upon them is thrown away.” 
 
 According to their principles, as expressed in the 
 story of Chuang-tsze, the principal disciple of Laou- 
 keun, “ riches, and the advantages which they bring, 
 are but a short and agreeable dream; honors and 
 reputation resemble a brilliant cloud, which soon van- 
 
 *A Knlpa is a Hindoo term for time denoting about one thousand a^es. 
 
52 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE IV. 
 
 Belief in an Antidote against Death. 
 
 ishes. The affection of those united by blood and 
 other ties is commonly but a vain appearance; the 
 most tender friendships may convert themselves into 
 the bitterest strifes. Let us not wear a yoke because 
 it is of gold ; nor bear the burden of chains because 
 they consist of jewels. Let us purify our minds, 
 moderate our desires, and detach ourselves from 
 worldly affection; let us above all things preserve 
 ourselves in a state of liberty and joy, which is inde- 
 pendent of others.” 
 
 Much of their attention is taken up with the study 
 of Alchymy; and they fancy that by the transmuta- 
 tion of metals, and the combination of various ele- 
 ments, they can produce the philosopher’s stone, and 
 the elixir of immortality. Some of them affect to 
 have discovered an antidote against death ; and Avlien 
 the powerful ingredients of this angelic portion some- 
 times produce the very effect which they wish to 
 avoid, they say that the victims of their experiments 
 are only gone to ramble among the genii, and enjoy 
 that immortality above, which is not to be found be- 
 low. Several of the Chinese Emperors, deceived by 
 the fair promises of some of these alchymists, have 
 taken the draught, and paid the penalty. One of 
 them having procured the elixir at an immense ex- 
 pense, ordered it to be brought before him ; when one 
 of his officers courageously drank off the full contents 
 of the cup, in its way from the compounder to the 
 throne ; the enraged autocrat ordered the offender to 
 be put to death ; but he coolly replied, that all their 
 efforts to terminate his existence would be vain ; as, 
 having drunk the elixir, his immortality was secure, 
 or the whole system was founded in error. This 
 opened the Emperor’s eyes, the minister was pardon- 
 ed, and the pretender driven from court. 
 
 The followers of Taou, like the Athenians of old, 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 53 
 
 Supernatural powers of Principal of Taou Sect. 
 
 are “ in all things too superstitious,” while the Con- 
 fucians have scarcely determined whether spirits exist 
 or not, the advocates of eternal reason profess to have 
 constant intercourse with, and control over the demons 
 of the invisible world. Chang-Teen-sze, the principal 
 of the Taou sect in China, who, like the Lama of 
 Thibet, is supposed to be immortal, or rather whose 
 place is supplied by a successor as soon as the old 
 one dies, assumes an authority over Hades. He ap- 
 points and removes the deities of various districts, just 
 as the Emperor does his officers ; and no tutelary 
 divinity can be worshipped, or is supposed capable of 
 protecting his votaries, until the warrant goes forth 
 under the hand and seal of this demon ruler, author- 
 ising him to exercise his functions in a given region. 
 
 From the power which this individual is supposed 
 to possess, his handwriting is considered efficacious 
 in expelling all noxious influences ; and charms writ- 
 ten by him are sold at a high price to those afraid of 
 ghostly visits or unlucky accidents. In the absence 
 of these autographs from the prince of the devils, each 
 priest of Taou issues amulets, and large sums of money 
 are realized by the disposal of small scraps of yellow 
 paper, with enigmatical characters upon them. Hav- 
 ing induced the belief, that this year’s imps are not to 
 be terrified by last year’s charms, they are particularly 
 busy every new year, in writing out fresh amulets for 
 the people, who would not rest securely in their hab- 
 itations, unless fully assured that the devil was kept 
 away by these infallible preventatives. 
 
 Death is with them peculiarly unclean; and when- 
 ever it occurs, brings a number of evil influences into 
 the dwelling, which are only to be expelled by the 
 sacrifices and prayers of the priest of Taou. This is 
 what they call cleansing the house; and, as it is at- 
 tended with some expense, many prefer turning lodg- 
 
54 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 Jews, Mahomedans and Christians. 
 
 ers and strangers in dying circumstances, out of doors, 
 rather than have the house haunted with ghosts for 
 years afterwards. 
 
 As it is necessary to purify houses, so it is import- 
 ant to preserve districts from contagion; and with 
 this view public sacrifices are offered, to which the 
 inhabitants generally subscribe. One of these solem- 
 nities is celebrated on the third day of the third moon, 
 when the votaries of Taou go barefoot over ignited 
 charcoal, by which they fancy that they triumph over 
 the demons they dread, and please the gods they adore. 
 On the anniversary of the birth of the “ high emperor 
 of the sombre heavens,” they assemble together before 
 the temple of this imaginary being, and having made 
 a great fire, about fifteen or twenty feet in diametei*, 
 they go over it barefoot, preceded by the priests and 
 bearing the gods in their arms. The previous cere- 
 monies consist of the chanting of prayers, the ringing 
 of bells, the sprinkling of holy water, the blowing of 
 horns, and the brandishing of swords, with which 
 they strike the fire in order to subdue the demon, and 
 then dash through the devouring element. Much 
 earnestness is manifested by those who officiate on 
 these occasions ; and they firmly believe, that if they 
 possess a sincere mind, they will not be injured by 
 the fire: but alas! their hearts must be very bad, as 
 both priests and people get miserably burnt on these 
 occasions. 
 
 The Taou sect worship a variety of idols, some of 
 which are imaginary incarnations of eternal reason ; 
 and others, rulers of the invisible world, or presiding 
 divinities of various districts. Among the rest are 
 “ the three pure ones,” who are first in dignity ; the 
 “pearly emperor and supreme ruler,” the “most hon- 
 orable in Heaven ; the god of the north, the god of 
 fire, with lares, and penates, genii and inferior divini- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 55 
 
 First Introduction of Christianity. 
 
 ties without number.”* This is by far the least pop- 
 ular of the three principal religions. 
 
 In addition to the denominations already mentioned, 
 there are also Jews, Mahomedans and Christians, in 
 China. The former have a synagogue at Kae-fang- 
 foo, the capital of the province of Honan, and are said 
 to have entered the country 200 years before Christ, 
 of whom, when visited by Pere Gozani in 1707, they 
 were ignorant. They are called by the Chinese Tiao- 
 Kin-Kiao (the sect that extracts the sinew.) 
 
 The Mahomedans are a more numerous sect. 
 They first entered China during the seventh century, 
 and are now to be met with in all parts of the coun- 
 try, where they enjoy the same privileges as the rest 
 of the Emperor’s subjects, and are fully admitted to 
 government offices. They are said to number as 
 many as 3,000 in the city of Canton, where they have 
 a Mosque, which with its lofty pagoda, or minaret, is 
 a conspicuous object in a Anew of the city from the 
 river. Unlike their Chinese brethren they disclaim 
 idolatry. 
 
 Christianity, according to the researches of the 
 learned, was early introduced into China ; and Asse- 
 mannus affirms that Thomas, the apostle, having done 
 much for the establishment of the Christian faith in 
 India passed over to a country on the east, called 
 China, where he preached the Gospel, and founded a 
 church in the city of Cambula (Peking :) after which 
 he returned to Malabar. 
 
 The next intimation of the introduction of Christ- 
 ianity into China, is given in the famous marble tab- 
 let, which was dug up at Se-gnan-foo in the year 
 1625. The inscription, in Chinese and Syriac, des- 
 cribes the principal doctrines of the Gospel, and com- 
 
 Medhurst. 
 
56 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE IV. 
 
 Roman Catholics in China . 
 
 mences by stating the existence of the living and true 
 God, the creation of the world, the fall of man, and 
 the mission of Jesus Christ. It further states, that in 
 A. D. 636, a Nestorian Christian teacher came from 
 Ta-tsin, (the Chinese name for Arabia and India) to 
 China; and that the Emperor, after examining his 
 doctrines, authorized the preaching of Christianity 
 among the people. A fac simile of this tablet is to be 
 seen in the library of the Vatican at Rome. 
 
 The Nestorians, according to Moshiem, penetrated 
 into China about the end of the seventh century, and 
 established several churches. In the time of Genghis- 
 Khan, they were scattered over Tartary where they 
 flourished till the beginning of the fifteenth cen- 
 tury, when they were probably nearly exterminated 
 by the celebrated Tartar conqueror, Timur or Tamer- 
 lane, a staunch Mehomedan and sworn enemy to all 
 Infidels, whose head was adorned with twenty-seven 
 crowns, the spoils of conquered kings ; and who as- 
 pired to the dominion of the world. 
 
 The Roman Catholics first entered China in the 
 latter part of the thirteenth century, and during the 
 next hundred years had a fine opportunity of propa- 
 gating their religion, but quarrelling with the Nesto- 
 rians, it is supposed they made but few converts, 
 and were persecuted and expelled in common with 
 the latter by the Mahomedans. 
 
 The empire appears to have been neglected by the 
 Christian world, from this period until the middle of 
 the sixteenth century, when the Jesuits first made 
 their appearance. Our limits will not admit of a de- 
 tailed history of their success. From that period to 
 the present they have at times been in high favor at 
 court, counting their converts by hundreds of thou- 
 sands, some of them, the powerful of the land, and 
 even members of the imperial family, and at others, 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 57 
 
 First Protestant Missionary. 
 
 they have been persecuted unto death. These perse- 
 cutions were brought upon them in some instances 
 by the Budhists and Taouists, and in others, by their 
 own zeal bringing them in contact with the doctrines 
 of the deified Koong-foo-tsze ; but the expulsion of 
 the Catholics from the interior of the Empire is mainly 
 attributable to disputes arising amongst the different 
 orders of Jesuits, Dominicians, &c. They are still 
 prohibited from entering the Celestial Empire, or dis- 
 seminating their doctrines amongst the Chinese, and 
 in 1820, a French missionary Avas strangled in the 
 province of Hoopih, by order of the government. 
 Notwithstanding the risk they run they continue to 
 labor secretly for the maintenance of the Romish re- 
 ligion in China, and have missionaries and Catholic 
 communities in many of the provinces, and even in 
 Peking they are said to number 26,000 members un- 
 der the care of tAvo French priests. Among the Cath- 
 olic missionaries, many have proved themselves men 
 of great zeal, splendid talents, and finished scholars, 
 and have rendered the Empire good service as astron- 
 omers and engineers. 
 
 The first Protestant missionary to China, Avas Dr. 
 Morrison, who Avas sent out by the London Mission- 
 ary Society, and arrived in China in 1807, where he 
 remained till his death. He succeeded in translating: 
 the scriptures into Chinese, wrote several minor Avorks 
 on the language, and formed a copious Chinese and 
 English dictionary. The English and American Mis- 
 sionaries, Avho have gone out since, have added to the 
 foundation commenced by Morrison, and the works 
 of Med hurst, Bridgman, Williams, and others, are val- 
 uable aids to the student. We believe that thus far, 
 no Protestant missionary has penetrated into the in- 
 terior ; but confined as they are to the borders of the 
 
 Empire, they have been diligent in founding schools, 
 
 8 
 
53 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 Places of Burial, lombs and Coffins. 
 
 hospitals, and printing presses, and in publishing and 
 disseminating the gospel and tracts among its myriads 
 of idolaters. Their works are sent into the interior by 
 every opportunity, and in this respect, the hospitals 
 are of great assistance, as many of the patients, hear- 
 ing of the wonderful cures performed by Dr. Parker, 
 at Canton, and the medical missionaries at other 
 places, come from a great distance for relief, and the 
 wants of the soul and body are administered to at the 
 same time. 
 
 The coffin seen here, which may seem to the vis- 
 itor to be very large, is one rather under the ordinary 
 size. Some of them are made of immense slabs of 
 sandal, or other foreign odoriferous wood, and cost 
 large sums. It is said that Houqua’s coffin cost one 
 thousand dollars, and that it is not unusual for the rich 
 to pay this price. In these large boxes, made air 
 tight with chunam and varnished inside and out, the 
 remains of the wealthy are often kept above ground 
 many years, awaiting the decision of the geomancers, 
 concerning the fortunate day and place of interment, 
 which is supposed to have a great influence upon the 
 future fortunes of the family. Water and white ants 
 are the two things principally to be avoided in the se- 
 lection of a place of burial ; and as the Chinese do 
 not allow interments in cities and villages, the burial 
 grounds generally occupy barren hills, which are 
 covered with tombs similar to the one seen here. All 
 of them are in the exact form of the si, (omega) and, 
 as Davis remarks, if taken in the sense of “ the end,” 
 it is an odd accidental coincidence. To perform “ the 
 rites at the hills ” is synonymous with “the tombs in 
 Chinese,” so universally are elevated spots of ground, 
 selected for cemeteries. 
 
 According to the Chinese Repository, “ when a 
 Chinese is at the point of death, his friends put a piece 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 59 
 
 Superstitious Funeral Ceremonies. 
 
 of silver to his mouth, and carefully cover his nose 
 and ears, superstitious practices calculated to aggra- 
 vate his disease and hasten his death. Scarcely is he 
 dead, when they make a hole in the top of the house, 
 in order to allow the spirits which have escaped from 
 his body, greater facility of exit, and then hasten to 
 bring the priests to commence their prayers. When 
 they come, they at first set up the tablet of the de- 
 parted soul by the side of the coffin, at the foot of 
 which is a table loaded with meat, lamps, and per- 
 fumes. All those who come to condole with the 
 mourners, and to assist at the funeral, enter the hall 
 where the corpse is placed and prostrate themselves 
 before the table. Out of the house, suspended upon 
 bamboos, numerous burning papers upon which fig- 
 ures are traced, are seen fluttering in the breeze. 
 While the priests are reciting their prayers, (which is 
 generally during several days,) beating time as they 
 say them, none of the viands are eaten. The priests 
 from time to time, call upon all to weep, and there- 
 upon relatives and visitors approach the corpse, and 
 nothing is heard but sobs and groans. Amid these 
 preliminaries to the funeral repast, if a new comer ar- 
 rives, and proceeds to weep over the corpse, all the 
 rest must join with him. Meantime, the priests, by 
 force of their prayers make a breach in the nether 
 world, for the escape of the departed spirit. It always 
 goes there on leaving the body, and they know in 
 what part of Tartarus it is detained, and what it suf- 
 fers. The soul, when once out of hell, has to pass 
 over a bridge, built across a river of blood, filled with 
 serpents, and other venomous creatures. This passage 
 is dangerous, because that upon the bridge there are 
 devils lying in wait to throw it into the accursed 
 stream. But at length the soul passes over, and the 
 priests give it a letter of recommendation to one of 
 
60 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IV. 
 
 Mode of Burial. Period of Mourning. 
 
 the ministers of Budha, who will procure it a reception 
 into the western heavens. According to the doctrine 
 of the priests, every man has three souls; the first 
 comes to live in the body in some of the forms of 
 transmigration ; the second goes to Hades ; and the 
 third resides in the tablet, which has been prepared 
 for it.” 
 
 On the expiration of twenty-one days the funeral 
 procession generally takes place, the tablet being con- 
 veyed in a gilded sedan, or pavilion, with incense and 
 offerings before it, and accompanied by music resem- 
 bling the Scotish bag-pipe, with the continual repeti- 
 tion of three successive strokes on a sort of drum. 
 The relations of both sexes follow, clad in such suits 
 of coarse, brown grass cloth, and strips of the same 
 material, as are seen in this case. The coffin is car- 
 ried by four men, or oftener by eight on account of 
 its weight, and is preceded by one or two who go 
 before the procession, and throw pieces of paper in 
 the road, to purchase a free passage for the corpse, for 
 fear that it should be stopped by spirits. When they 
 reach the place of sepulture, which has been inspect- 
 ed and pronounced good, they bury the dead under a 
 discharge of rockets and crackers. “ After the inter- 
 ment, the tablet of the deceased is brought back in 
 procession, and, if the family be rich, it is placed in 
 the hall of ancestors ; if poor in some part of the house, 
 with incense before it.” In any case a feast is made 
 in memory and honor of the deceased, at which every- 
 body is admitted, and if the family are in easy circum- 
 stances, it is a good windfall to the poor of the neigh- 
 borhood who all assemble on the occasion. “ The 
 original and strict period of mourning (according to 
 the ritual) is three years for a parent, but this is com- 
 monly reduced in practice to thrice nine, or twenty- 
 seven months, during which an officer of the highest 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE V. 
 
 61 
 
 Figures and Articles in Case V. 
 
 rank must retire to his house, unless under a particu- 
 lar dispensation from the Emperor. The full period 
 of three years must elapse before children can marry 
 subsequent to the death of their parents. During the 
 period of mourning, the ornamental ball, denoting 
 rank, is taken from the cap, as well as the tuft of 
 crimson silk which falls over the latter. As the Chi- 
 nese shave their heads, the neglect and desolation of 
 mourning are indicated by letting the hair grow; for 
 the same reason that some nations, who wear their 
 hair long, shave it during that period. On the death 
 of the Emperor, the same observances are kept by his 
 hundreds of millions of subjects, as on the death of 
 the parents of each individual; the whole Empire 
 remains unshaven for the space of one hundred days, 
 while the period of mourning apparel lasts longer and 
 all officers of government take the hall and crimson 
 silk from their caps. 
 
 CASE V. 
 
 Chinaman smoking opium. 
 
 Lady ; wife of the former. 
 
 Female attendant with tea. 
 
 Couch , tables , chairs , tea poys, book case , $*c., made of 
 bamboo. Paintings on the walls. Lanterns suspended 
 from the ceiling. Door screen embroidered with gold. 
 
 The room in which these figures are placed is en- 
 closed with a species of bamboo work, of a light and 
 tasty fashion, much admired by the Chinese, who 
 construct entire houses in this manner to ornament 
 
62 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE V. 
 
 Opium Smoking. 
 
 their grounds, and as cool retreats to retire to in the 
 heat of the summer. The furniture is made entirely 
 of bamboo, as well as the frames of the lanterns, and 
 serve to exhibit some of the innumerable uses to 
 which this plant is applied in China, and the ingenu- 
 ity and taste displayed in its manufacture. 
 
 The male figure here represents a person in easy 
 circumstances, who is somewhat advanced in this 
 slavish habit, reclining upon a couch with the pipe to 
 his mouth; and a tray, containing the prepared opium 
 in a small porcelain box, the opium lamp with its 
 peculiar glass shade, and the small implements neces- 
 sary to apply the opium to the pipe and to clean the 
 latter when requisite. The posture in which this 
 figure is seen is that in which all opium smokers 
 indulge, and the pipe from its peculiar construction 
 is confined entirely to opium smoking. A person 
 having never seen this instrument used would be 
 puzzled to know how to apply the opium ; it is as 
 follows : a quantity of the prepared opium, (which 
 looks like very thick molasses) about the size of a 
 small pea, is taken upon the point of a steel instru- 
 ment and held over the flame of a lamp, where it is 
 kept turning during a few seconds, it is then applied 
 to the small aperture in the top of the large earthen 
 bowl of the pipe to which it attaches itself and the 
 point of the instrument, after being pushed into the 
 hole and turned round to detach it from the opium, is 
 drawn out. It is now ready for smoking, and the 
 person pressing the end of the thick stem of the pipe 
 against the partially opened lips, and holding the 
 opium on the bowl over the light, inspires deeply; 
 the smoke passes into the lungs and being retained 
 as long as the person can hold his breath comfortably, 
 is respired in a dense white cloud through the nostrils 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE V. 
 
 63 
 
 Variety and uses of the Bamboo. 
 
 After a few whiffs a new supply of opium is neces- 
 sary. 
 
 The wife of the opium smoker is here seated near 
 him upon the couch with the tobacco pipe in her 
 hand, and is about taking a cup of tea. Some of the 
 daughters of Han are said to be addicted to the use of 
 opium as well as the sons ; but the proportion of the 
 former to the latter is probably as that of females with 
 us who drink ardent spirits compared to the males. 
 
 The female servant in this case varies but little 
 from those in the cases already described. 
 
 The bamboo ( Bambusa arundinacca) is indigenous 
 in all the southern countries of Asia, in the greater 
 part of China, and in the West Indies. By long cul- 
 tivation and care, it has become sufficiently hardy to 
 grow as far north as Peking, which is in nearly the 
 same parallel with New York. The bamboo is called 
 by the Chinese “ C/tw/i,” and the long period during 
 which they have cultivated it, and the desire to pro- 
 cure new and singular kinds for the gardens of the 
 wealthy, have produced many varieties. A Chinese 
 botanist, in treating on this plant, observed in the be- 
 ginning of this book, that he could not undertake so 
 much as to name all the varieties, and would there- 
 fore confine himself to a consideration of sixty-three 
 of the principal ! 
 
 “ The usual height of the bamboo is between 40 and 
 50 feet, but they sometimes reach 60 or 70 . The di- 
 ameter varies from that of pipe stem to seven and 
 eight inches. The color of the outside is not always 
 yellow, but has been made to vary into chestnut, 
 black, &c. The black bamboo is a favorite in the 
 parterres and gardens of the rich. The process by 
 which the color has been changed, from its natural 
 yellow to a black, is unknown, except in China. 
 
 “ The bamboo is so useful to the Chinese and their 
 
64 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE V. 
 
 Uses of the Bamboo. 
 
 partiality for it is so great, that it may justly be called 
 their national plant. The many purposes to which 
 they apply it are truly surprising. They press it into 
 use on the water and on the land. In literature and 
 confectionary ; as well as in navigation and clothing, 
 this useful plant is found necessary. Its services are 
 required in building the house and clothing its in- 
 mates ; and it is indispensable in the school-room and 
 the police office. To the agriculturist, the carpenter, 
 and the seaman, this plant serves many useful pur- 
 poses. The young and tender shoots of the bamboo 
 are used as a vegetable for the table in different ways ; 
 if cut as soon as they appear above the ground, they 
 are almost as tender and delicate as asparagus. They 
 are white and palatable, and when in this state are 
 used as pickles, as greens, as a sweetmeat, and as a 
 medicine. The fondness for these young shoots is so 
 general, that they are made articles of commerce, and 
 are sent to the capital and all parts of the empire. 
 They often form a part in the feasts of the rich, they 
 constitute an important article of diet for the priests, 
 and all classes use the pickle as a relish with rice and 
 other vegetable dishes. 
 
 “ The manufacture of paper consumes great quan- 
 tities of this plant, but the paper made from it is unfit 
 for writing upon with a pen and is of a yellow color. 
 
 “ The roots of the bamboo are employed by the 
 Chinese in making grotesque images ; the gnarled 
 and crooked pieces, are wrought with the aid of a lit- 
 tle fancy, into the shapes of men, animals, &c. The 
 divisions of the joints being taken out, the tube forms 
 excellent water pipes, defended from injury if laid 
 under ground, by the hard exterior. Those which are 
 very straight have been used for astronomical instru- 
 ments. Vessels for holding water, buckets and meas- 
 uses of capacity, are made of those joints which are 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE V. 
 
 65 
 
 Uses of the Bamboo , continued. 
 
 of sufficient diameter. A large hollow piece is tied 
 to the backs of children living in boats, which buoys 
 them up till aid arrives, if they chance to fall over- 
 board. The lightness of the bamboo compared with 
 its length and diameter, fits it admirably for tracking 
 poles, for supporters of the mat sails of the Chinese, 
 for roofs, and for poles on which to carry burdens. A 
 frame of four bamboos is made, which the Chinese 
 sailors use as a life preserver at sea. 
 
 “ The manufacture of chairs, stools, tables and boxes 
 from the bamboo gives employment to many labor- 
 ers. Fences are usually constructed of it, and the 
 minor uses of the poles are almost innumerable. 
 Mats of different degrees of fineness are manufactured 
 from the long internodes. A cheap covering for 
 boats, houses and sheds is made of the wide slips of 
 this plant. Ropes are also made from the small 
 twigs, but they are not adapted to long use. The 
 simple instruments of the farmer are made from the 
 bamboo and the leaves are used to thatch the houses 
 of the poor, manure the soil, line the chests of tea and 
 by sewing them together in one direction, a rain cloak 
 is made, off which the water runs as from a roof. 
 Hats and umbrellas are made of bamboo to a great 
 amount. Lampwicks are made of the pith of the 
 young plants, which are, however, ill adapted to that 
 use. The handles of the writing pencils, arrows, 
 pikes, and spears, and also scaffolds and baskets are 
 formed of different parts. In ancient times, before 
 the discovery of paper, the large bamboos were split 
 and flattened by means of water and heat, and the 
 sides attached to each other by wires ; in this state 
 they were used instead of scrolls and books. The 
 cuticle is of sufficient hardness to produce fire by fric- 
 tion. Much skill and taste is shown in its manufac- 
 ture into fans, which are an indispensable article to 
 
 9 
 
66 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE V. 
 
 Earhj Use of Opium. Action of Opium on the Constitution. 
 
 every Chinese; and the work sometimes bestowed 
 upon a single one is sufficient to give employment to 
 a laborer for weeks. The tubes of tobacco pipes are 
 almost universally made of the bamboo ; as are also a 
 great portion of walking canes which are exported to 
 western countries. Finally, the bamboo is used by 
 the government of China as one of the most efficient 
 means of maintaining order and enforcing obedience. 
 It is applied to the backs of offenders in cases of small 
 delinquency, and different sizes of the plants are 
 adapted to the several grades of crime.” 
 
 According to the Chinese Repository, “ the use of 
 opium can be traced to an earlier date than that of 
 alcohol, which lias been known as an intoxicating 
 drink for upwards of nine hundred years. The Gre- 
 cians appear to have been acquainted with the sopor- 
 ific powers of opium ; and as a medicine it has been 
 employed for many centuries by all civilized countries. 
 It was introduced into the Materia Medica, more than 
 two hundred years before the Christian era.” 
 
 The operation of opium upon the constitution, greatly 
 depends, like that of alcohol upon the quantity and 
 frequency of its being administered ; the age, temper- 
 ament, and habits of the individual, and the climate 
 of the country in which he resides. Men of strong 
 constitutions using the drug in moderation, like a sim- 
 ilar class amongst us who indulge in strong drink may 
 enjoy health and attain a good old age, but the num- 
 ber of such cases in the aggregate is small, and 
 amongst the mass, when the excitement obtained by 
 the use of a little begins to diminish, the dose is im- 
 perceptibly increased until the victims, to whose com- 
 fort it has become essential, finding their resolutions 
 too weak to overcome the habit, shut their eyes to the 
 future, and stifling their bitter reflections with the 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE V. 
 
 67 
 
 Action of Opium on the Constitution, Sfc. 
 
 opium pipe, rush headlong to deeper misery and 
 eventual destruction. 
 
 “ A disposition to smoke this fascinating drug com- 
 mences frequently in early life, particularly when the 
 person has friends addicted to the practice. He is in- 
 duced, at the onset, to try it from curiosity or persua- 
 sion, or because it is fashionable. At first he smokes 
 very seldom, and perhaps not more than two or three 
 pipes at a time. Gradually, either from a false taste 
 being acquired, or a desire for a renewal of the pleas- 
 ure it imparts, the pipe becomes a more frequent 
 companion, and generally in the course of a year or 
 two it is in daily use. The quantity of extract at first 
 smoked may be about five or six grains, which is 
 equal to three or four pipes. Very soon this is in- 
 creased to twelve grains a day, six at night and six in 
 the morning. By and by it is increased to eighteen ; 
 and from that to twenty-five and thirty; and if cir- 
 cumstances permit, and the appetite for it is strong, 
 it is gradually increased to from sixty to one hundred 
 and twenty grains, which is about the average amount; 
 for though the greater number use less, many cases 
 have been known of from two hundred to four hun- 
 dred and sixty grains being smoked daily.” 
 
 A more seductive luxury than opium cannot exist. 
 It does not intoxicate, as is generally supposed, raising 
 the animal spirits to a high pitch, like fermented 
 liquors, for a short time, and then leaving the individ- 
 ual in a proportionably depressed state ; but on the 
 contrary, it is asserted by Chinese smokers, supported 
 by the confessions of De Quincy, the English opium 
 eater, and others, that its effects never approach in- 
 toxication, that it calms the feelings, and imparts a 
 sense of inexpressible, quiet enjoyment, which is kept 
 up for hours, and to renew which, and not to escape 
 from a depressed stage, which never follows its pleas- 
 
63 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE V. 
 
 Law against the Introduction and Use of Opium. 
 
 ant effects, the pipe is appealed to again. Its narcot- 
 ic properties begin to appear as soon as the others 
 diminish, and after passing the hours of the night in 
 quiet slumber, accompanied by the most delightful 
 dreams, the person rises in the morning as refreshed 
 and vigorous as if no opium had been used. These 
 are its effects for several years, during which the habit 
 becomes fixed and the dose is increased, in proportion 
 as its effect upon the system diminishes, until a re- 
 action gradually takes place. The enjoyment, which 
 has been on the decrease for some time, now ceases 
 entirely, the whole system has become deranged, the 
 members of the body refuse to perform their functions 
 without the aid of opium, and the poor victim finds 
 himself too late, a slave to the drug, which he is now 
 obliged to use to escape the most terrible and inde- 
 scribable tortures both of body and mind. 
 
 The late Emperor, Keaking, early perceived the 
 danger to which his subjects were exposed, and in 
 1796 interdicted the introduction of opium by a law, 
 making those found guilty of smuggling and selling it 
 liable to punishment and death, and the smokers sub- 
 ject to the bamboo and cangue. This law, as amend- 
 ed by Taou-Kwang, was made still more rigorous, and 
 Mandarins and their subordinates infringing it, were 
 decreed to suffer one degree more severely than pri- 
 vate individuals. 
 
 But all the efforts of the Emperor to stop the pro- 
 gress of the drug were unavailing against the enor- 
 mous bribes the smugglers could afford to pay ; and 
 the profits of the trade were known to be so great, 
 that the fast sailing boats, kept filled with men and 
 arms by the government, for the suppression of the 
 traffic, were used in many instances by the Manda- 
 rins having charge of them as a means of monopoliz- 
 ing it. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE V. 
 
 69 
 
 War between English and Chinese. 
 
 The Emperor, exasperated on finding himself foiled 
 in his laudable endeavors to stop the growing evil, 
 and determined to leave no means untried to arrest it, 
 sent Lin, an officer in whom he could confide, to 
 Canton, invested with extraordinary powers to carry 
 out his measures. He arrived in Canton, in March, 
 1839, and by stopping all trade, and threatening, and 
 forcibly detaining the foreigners residing at Canton, 
 together with the British superintendent of trade, Capt. 
 Elliot, who went up there to get his countrymen re- 
 leased, he compelled the surrender of all the opium 
 then in port, amounting to 20,283 chests, which he 
 destroyed at the Bogue (mouth of Canton River,) in 
 June, according to the Emperor’s orders. 
 
 After the delivery of the opium, the foreigners were 
 obliged to give a bond not to engage in the opium 
 trade in future, sixteen of their number were banished, 
 by an edict, from the Celestial Empire ; the opium 
 vessels were ordered to leave the Chinese waters, and 
 the regular traders to enter the port or leave also. 
 The opium trade being continued on the coast, the 
 English felt insecure, and refusing to enter the port as 
 required, Lin, by a course of severe measures, under- 
 took to drive them from his master’s dominions. This 
 brought on the war, during which the Son of Heaven 
 issued repeated orders for “ the extermination of the 
 rebellious English;” for rebellious tributaries they were 
 considered by the Chinese, having sent tribute (as 
 the presents of Lords MacCartney and Amherst were 
 called) to the Imperial Court. But “ the rebellious 
 English” were not much alarmed, and collecting a 
 force upon the coast of China, they destroyed or dis- 
 persed the redoubtable army and navy of the Empe- 
 ror wherever they met them. In fact the Chinese 
 appear at first to have been entirely unprepared, ex- 
 cept at the south, to show any effectual resistance to 
 
70 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE V. 
 
 Result of War with England. 
 
 the attack of Europeans, and the whole of their de- 
 fences seem to have been incapable of arresting the 
 progress of a mere handful of British soldiers. 
 
 For about three years they measured their strength, 
 without avail, against European arms and discipline, 
 and several times, when the English humanely con- 
 sented to treat, the Chinese, who, it afterwards ap- 
 peared, only wished to gain time, violated their agree- 
 ments ; until, becoming wearied with the bad faith of 
 the Chinese high officers, the English took the City 
 of Canton, (which was immediately ransomed for 
 $6,000,000 and some other considerations,) and send- 
 ing an expedition to the north took several important 
 cities on the coast, entered the Yang-tsz-kiang (Child 
 of the Ocean) took Shanghai, and proceeding up the 
 river to the City of Chinkiang took possession of that 
 place and blockaded the Imperial Canal. Continuing 
 onwards, they soon appeared before the walls of Nan- 
 king, the ancient capital of the Empire, and were 
 ready to attack that city when the imperial commis- 
 sioners, Keying and Ilipu sued for peace, and after 
 several friendly conferences with the English plenipo- 
 tentionary, Sir Henry Pottinger, a treaty of peace was 
 formally signed on the 29th of August, 1842, by which 
 the Chinese agreed to pay $21,000,000 indemnity, for 
 the expenses of the English during the war, to open 
 the ports of Slanghai, Ningpo, Fuchau, and Amoy, to 
 all nations, and to cede the island of Hong Kong to 
 Great Britain. 
 
 Thus was the war between China and Great Britain 
 ended, which began by the determined means pursued 
 by the Emperor to put a stop to the opium trade in 
 his dominions. The result has proved that he is pow- 
 erless in this respect; and since the English govern- 
 ment virtually refuse to put an end to the evil, by 
 continuing the growth of opium in their East India 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE VI. 
 
 71 
 
 Singing Case and Store. 
 
 possessions for the China market, the cure can only 
 be effected by some great moral action amongst the 
 Chinese people similar to that of the temperance 
 cause in our own country and others. 
 
 CASE VI. 
 
 Chinese Singing Case ; such as are seen in the busmess 
 streets of the cities during the season of thanksgiving 
 to the gods of the elements, wealth, &c.,for their pro- 
 tection and assistance during the previous year. The 
 figures , &c., on the pctnnels are all beautifully made of 
 various colored silk crapes, worked in reliej. 
 
 In the autumn of every year, the shopkeepers in 
 each of the streets of Canton, subscribe according to 
 their means to illuminate and otherwise adorn their 
 respective streets, as a means of propitiating the gods 
 and thanking them for protecting their houses and 
 property from the ravages of the elements and pros- 
 pering their business during the preceding year. In- 
 terspersed among glass chandeliers, which are sus- 
 pended overhead in the centre of the streets, are 
 groups of small figures representing scenes in Chinese 
 plays, and at intervals are hollow pyramids, resting 
 upon the houses on each side of the way, their in- 
 teriors covered with thin looking glass and foils of va- 
 rious colors, which reflect the light from hundreds of 
 tapers suspended within, and present to the specta- 
 tors below, a gorgeous and dazzling appearance. 
 Here and there along the sides of the streets, cases 
 like the one seen here, are fitted up in the entrances 
 to crossways, in vacant places, or shops, in which 
 
72 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VII. 
 
 Chinese Merchants. 
 
 musicians and singers contribute their part to the en- 
 tertainment. These illuminations are kept up during 
 several nights in a street, according to the amount 
 subscribed by the residents, and are then transferred 
 to another. 
 
 CASE VII. 
 
 Merchant. 
 
 Par see purchaser , in the peculiar dress of his countrymen. 
 Clerk. 
 
 Coolie, setting the table. 
 
 Beggar soliciting charity. 
 
 This case is a facsimile of a handsome mercantile 
 establishment in the city of Canton, where such large 
 and beautiful frames, as the one over the shelves at 
 the back of the case, paintings of Jos’, incense vessels, 
 &c., are only seen in the large stores and hongs; but 
 the shrine to the god of wealth at the door and some 
 representation of a deity inside are met with in the 
 smallest establishments. 
 
 The merchant seated behind his counter with his 
 “ Soong-poon,” or counting board beside him, entering 
 the orders given by the Parsee ; the clerk about taking 
 down a piece of goods pointed out by the purchaser ; 
 the coolie preparing a meal in the front part of the 
 store, as is customary in Chinese shops ; and the beg- 
 gar at the door in the act of beating a small gong to 
 call attention to his needy situation, completes a 
 scene, many counterparts of which, are daily met 
 with at Canton. 
 
 The Chinese are good merchants. They are sys- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VII. 
 
 73 
 
 Canton , English. 
 
 tematic, obliging to customers, and indefatigable in 
 the pursuit of money. The word of the large deal- 
 ers is entirely to be depended upon, and the Ilong 
 merchants are noted for their honor in mercantile 
 transactions. So much cannot be said of the gener- 
 ality of small traders, with whom foreigners come in 
 contact, who are as great rogues as can be found any- 
 where, and most of them will ask four or five times 
 as much for an article as they expect to get, and by 
 their well feigned surprise if an attempt is made to 
 beat them down often impose upon strangers. The 
 English language is most barbarously used in China, 
 and conversations like the following daily take place 
 in old and new China streets, which are near the fac- 
 tories, or foreign residences, and are filled with small 
 shops which depend upon foreigners for support. A 
 person sauntering along one of these thoroughfares, 
 is accosted by some shopkeeper on the lookout, 
 with “ chin chin ! wancliy some littey chow chow ling 
 to-day f ” If an undecided answer is given, this ques- 
 tion is followed by, “ walk in take ches gentlemen 
 At the same time receding into the shop ; where, if 
 he is followed, he continues : 11 jus now what ting 
 wanchy The person, if he understands the language , 
 perhaps answers, “ no sabby true. Can see, can sab- 
 by,” and begins looking about. While he is doing 
 this, the shopkeeper is not idle. “ You missy wat 
 name f” “ My name is Jones.” “ Au ! Missy Yones! 
 My tinkey you lib Missy Wetmau housed “ No ! I live 
 Suey hong number two.” “ Au ! you lib Missy Fauks ’ 
 house. My sobby he velly plopper ; Missy Fauks my 
 number one good fiend, liab gib my ple-enty pidgeon. My 
 tinkey you Olo Canton Missy Yonesd “ Yes : have 
 come Canton side one time before.” “ Jus now hab 
 got noos “ No. What’s the price of this fan ?” 
 
 “ Au ! dat hab number one Nankin ting ; two dollars plum 
 10 
 
74 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VII. 
 
 Spanish Coin Used. Parsees in China. 
 
 easily hob true price .” “ I’ll give you half a dollar.” 
 
 “ Half dollar! Hy-yah! how can? Maskee one dollar 
 haf, “ No. I won’t give you but half a dollar.” 
 “ Hy-yah ! numbar one thing half dollar! no ca-an! 
 maskee one dollar .” “ No. Half dollar.” “ Jus-now- 
 
 no-can Ketchy any-projit ! Maskee ! hab litly pidgeon , 
 half dollar can do : no ye wanchy chesarnan ? hab got 
 number one .” “ No. Here take pay for the fan out 
 
 of this dollar.” “ Hy-yah ! dis hab Koto chin! mus 
 loosy too muchy , no got chop dolla ?” “No. S’pose no 
 can take that, can keep the fan.” “ Maskee ! bumby 
 spose wanchy Ketchy cargo pidgeon, my chin chinney you 
 too muchy take care my .” And the universal chin chin 
 accompanies the departure of the visitor. 
 
 The Spanish or Portuguese word “ sa-be,” or the 
 French “ savez,” is used instead of the English words 
 know and understand ; and maskee, for no matter, or 
 I don’t care. Pidgeon, is the common Chinese pro- 
 nunciation of business ; but those who try to speak 
 correctly call it pidgeoness. “ Hy-yah,” is the Chinese 
 exclamation of surprise, and chin chin, means good 
 morning, how do you do ? thank you, &c. The other 
 words will probably be recognized. The Chinese 
 have a whimsical preference for some Spanish dollars 
 over others. They divide them into old head, new 
 head, and Kowchin, dollars. The first bear the head 
 of Carolus, with the stamp of some particular mint 
 and always command a premium, while new heads, 
 (just like the others except the mint stamps,) and 
 Kowchin, (those bearing the head of Ferdinand,) to- 
 gether with North and South American dollars are at 
 a considerable discount. 
 
 The Parsees are those descendants of the ancient 
 Guebers or worshippers of fire, who, driven out of Per- 
 sia on account of their religion, by the usurper Caliph 
 Omar, sought refuge in Hindostan. After the Eng- 
 lish obtained possession of Bombay, many Parsees 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE VII. 
 
 75 
 
 Parsees in China , continued. 
 
 came to that place, and thence went to Calcutta, 
 Madras, China, &c. The religion of the Parsees is 
 called Muzdyesne or Yezdaprust, meaning worship- 
 per of God. By foreigners it has been contracted and 
 called Magi. They worship one supreme being, 
 whom they call the eternal spirit, or Yerd. The sun, 
 moon, and planets they believe to be peopled with ra- 
 tional beings, acknowledge light as the primitive cause 
 of good, darkness as that of evil, and worship fire, (as 
 it is said,) from which they have received their name. 
 But they themselves say, that they do not worship 
 fire, but only find in it an image of the incomprehen- 
 sible God, on which account they offer up their 
 prayers before a fire, and maintain one uninterruptedly 
 burning on holy places, which their prophet Zoroaster 
 (so called by the Greeks, meaning the living star,) 
 they say, kindled thousands of years ago. Their re- 
 ligion requires them to say their prayers five times a 
 day. They do not allow other sects to join them 
 and are strict in their observances. If any culi- 
 nary vessel be touched by one of another caste, it 
 must be thrice washed to purify it ; and if it chance 
 to be a mineral substance it can never again be con- 
 sidered pure. Their laws do not admit of polygamy 
 and are peculiar in the disposal of the dead, who are 
 not buried but exposed, in large buildings made for 
 the purpose without roofs, to be devoured by vultures 
 and other ravenous birds. The number of the follow- 
 ers of Zoroaster in Persia is supposed to be 200,000. 
 The number in India is about 50,000. Almost all those 
 residing under the British government are merchants, 
 or servants of merchants. There are no tailors, bar- 
 bers, &c., among them, and they are dependant upon 
 others for the production of almost all the necessaries 
 of life. The few in China are principally natives of 
 Bombay, and like most of the other foreigners, look 
 
76 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE VII. 
 
 Manners in which Merchants Live. Beggars. 
 
 forward to the accumulation of a competency to re- 
 turn home with. 
 
 Chinese merchants live in their stores and visit 
 their families, who reside in a private part of the town, 
 daily or weekly as business will admit. They gener- 
 ally eat but two meals a day. One about 10, A. M., 
 and the other about 5, P. M. At each of which it is 
 calculated one person eats about two thirds of a pound 
 of rice, but as there is a little variety upon the table, 
 consisting of cakes and sweetmeats, the two meals 
 cost the same as the three eaten by mechanics ; that 
 is ten cents per diem for each individual. The table, 
 dishes, &c., which the coolie is setting out, are such 
 as are commonly used. It will probably be noticed, 
 that there is nothing upon the table resembling knives 
 and forks. These are not used by the Chinese at 
 table. The little sticks, at the sides of the bowls, 
 called chop sticks, are used instead, and the facility 
 with which they shovel rice into their mouths, and 
 fish small pieces of meat, &c., out of their stews with 
 them, is truly astonishing. 
 
 The number of beggars at Macao, and Canton, and 
 their pitiable condition, arrests the attention of every 
 new comer. It is said that they congregate at these 
 places from all parts of the country, and that at Can- 
 ton the number of the most wretched class exceeds 
 5,000. The blind are very numerous and generally 
 go about in parties. They enter a store wherever they 
 hear the voice of a purchaser and set up such- a horrid 
 noise with their small gongs, bamboos, and mournful 
 singing that the shopkeepers are generally glad to give 
 them the customary sum of one cash to get rid of them 
 and the vermin with which they are covered. Cu- 
 taneous affections are very common amongst the 
 Chinese, who appear to be ignorant of the efficacy in 
 such cases of sulphur, and other simple remedies. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE VIII. 
 
 77 
 
 Leprosy. Figures, S?c., in case VIII. 
 
 But the most pitiable objects are those afflicted with 
 leprosy, which the Chinese consider incurable and 
 contagious, and a person found to have it is immedi- 
 ately deserted by his friends and relations. This dis- 
 ease appears to be confined to the southwestern pro- 
 vinces, and is supposed to be owing to the humidity 
 of the atmosphere. In Canton there is a government 
 lazar house, appropriated to lepers, and in addition a 
 part of the city is appropriated to them, but the poor- 
 est are allowed to roam about the streets to the great 
 annoyance of shopkeepers and passers by, from whom 
 they solicit alms. 
 
 CASE VIII. 
 
 Lady , wife of a wealthy Chinaman. 
 
 Young lady, friend of the former, preparing to smoke. 
 Handmaid playing upon the ll Pei,-pa, v a species of guitar. 
 Maidservant lighting the young lady's pipe. 
 
 Small boy, son of the first lady. 
 
 do. younger son of the first lady. 
 
 A large and beautiful Screen made of paintings on glass ; 
 chairs and tables made of king wood with variegated 
 marble tops , superbly embroidered door Screen, vase 
 containing a peacock feather fan of 200 eyes, fruit up- 
 on the table, scrolls on the wall, lanterns suspended 
 from the ceiling, frc., &c. 
 
 This case, or rather room, is a perfect facsimile of 
 an apartment in a wealthy Chinaman’s dwelling. 
 The richly carved, painted and gilded work, of which 
 it is formed, together with the furniture within are in 
 
78 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VIII. 
 
 Description of Figures. 
 
 peculiar Chinese taste, and entirely the productions of 
 the Celestial Empire. 
 
 Here the visitor is introduced into a Chinaman’s 
 sanctum sanctorum ; the female apartments, where 
 Asiatic jealousy will not allow his most intimate 
 friends to enter ; nay, the door is even closed against 
 his own father, and undutiful sons sometimes flee to 
 the “ fragrant apartments ” for protection against the 
 wrath of an offended parent. 
 
 The mother is playing with her children, the eldest 
 of whom is threatening to throw a lichi at the visitor, 
 whilst the youngest is trying to get a peach, held, in- 
 advertently by the mother, too high for his little hands 
 to reach. This is one of the most life-like scenes in 
 the collection. The countenance of the principal fig- 
 ure bears the indescribable expression of a mother 
 strongly impressed upon it, and the children with their 
 little heads shaved, leaving only two small tufts of 
 hair done up in a fanciful manner on each side, are 
 also true to the life ; they are both boys, which are the 
 pride of a Chinaman’s heart, for they will perpetuate 
 the family name, may become great men in their 
 native land to reflect honor on their parents, either 
 alive or dead, and after they have passed away, will 
 sacrifice to their manes and those of their ancestors. 
 
 The young lady is preparing to smoke a Chinese 
 hookah ; she is dressed in pink and green, (the colors 
 peculiar to ladies,) her hair is decked with flowers, of 
 which the Chinese are very fond, “the golden lilies” 
 peep out from beneath her dress, and on the whole 
 she is a fair specimen of a Chinese beauty, who, as 
 they poetically express it, has “ cheeks red as the al- 
 mond flower, mouth like the peach’s bloom, waist 
 slender as the willow lea£ eyes bright as autumnal 
 ripples, and footsteps like the flowers of the water lily.” 
 Although about to indulge in a luxury which would 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VIII. 
 
 79 
 
 Use of Tobacco. Accomplishments of Handmaids. 
 
 not be considered much of an attraction with us, she 
 is doing nothing contrary to the usages of her country 
 where both sexes contract the habit of smoking, with 
 pipes of various construction, when quite young. The 
 only segars they have are small paper ones, which are 
 not much used by the better classes. Snuff appears 
 to be monopolized by the men, and one of the indis- 
 pensable articles suspended at the waist of a gentle- 
 man is a snuff bottle, some of which, elaborately 
 carved from “ yu ” or jade stone, cost several hundred 
 dollars apiece. The snuff is taken out of the bottle 
 with a small spoon attached to the stopper, laid upon 
 the back of the left hand thumb, and conveyed by it 
 to the olfactories. 
 
 The female, with feet of the natural size, playing 
 upon the pei-pa ,” or guitar, is a handmaid, some of 
 whom are children of the poorer classes, and others, 
 those who are in infancy left by their unnatural 
 parents to perish in the streets if unnoticed by the pas- 
 sers by, but if of good personal appearace, are taken 
 up by those making it a business, taught numerous 
 accomplishments, such as embroidery, music and. 
 painting, and when old enough, sold as handmaids or 
 personal attendants to the wealthy. 
 
 The servant maid, attending upon the young lady 
 is dressed in clothes suitable to her class, which, while 
 not expensive, are at the same time neat and service- 
 able, but her hair is cut and left to hang down in the 
 unbecoming manner of all young girls, not of mar- 
 riageable age in China. 
 
 The large glass screen, upon the long table, is one 
 of the finest specimens of Chinese painting on glass 
 and will bear the closest inspection. The painting 
 represents the branches of a numerous family, paying 
 their annual respects to the oldest surviving members. 
 This is an ancient custom with the Chinese, and is 
 
80 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VIII. 
 
 Furniture, Ornaments, fyc. 
 
 observed by the Emperor, who, upon these occasions, 
 performs the “ Kotow ” (kneels and knocks his head 
 upon the ground) before his mother. 
 
 The furniture of this apartment, which is rich and 
 massive, is arranged in Chinese style ; the sides of the 
 room being occupied with rows of heavy arm chairs 
 and tea poys, which are not intended to be moved 
 about the apartment as ours are. Several of the chairs 
 have landscape marble inserted in the backs, having 
 trees and birds upon it. The finest specimens of this 
 kind are rare and expensive, as only the natural colors 
 of the stone are used. They are made by taking a 
 slab of white marble having dark veins below the sur- 
 face, and with much labor, rubbing down the exterior 
 until spots appear where they are wanted, to form 
 such rude representations of natural objects as the 
 stone admits of. 
 
 The universal use of tobacco renders the “ tom-to’s” 
 or spittoons seen in a Chinese room in such profusion 
 necessary, and in the construction and ornamenting 
 of these, considerable taste is displayed as the visitor 
 will observe. 
 
 The embroidered hanging door screens in this and 
 the bamboo case are of rare beauty, and such as are 
 seldom seen, even in China, where these articles are 
 used in the interior of dwellings instead of doors. 
 The peacock feather fan in the vase is an article of 
 ornament and is not intended for use, and the fruits 
 upon the table are such as are commonly seen in the 
 markets at Canton, consisting of oranges, lichis, pome- 
 granates, “ sam leen,” &c. The scrolls on the wall 
 are a kind of ornament much prized by the Chinese. 
 They are generally choice extracts of moral sentences 
 from the works of the ancient sages made by some 
 esteemed friend. Those selected by old persons are 
 valued the highest. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VIII. 
 
 81 
 
 Marriage. Polygamy. 
 
 The lanters suspended from the ceiling in this 
 room are very unique. They are made of stained 
 horn, and represent lions and birds. 
 
 The Chinese law does not admit of polygamy, as is 
 erroneously supposed by many, although it does of 
 concubinage. “A Chinese can have but one ‘ Tsy’ 
 or wife, properly so called, who is distinguished by a 
 title, espoused with numerous ceremonies, and chosen 
 from a rank of life totally different from his ‘ Tsii’ or 
 handmaids, of whom he may have as many as he 
 pleases, and though the offspring of the latter possess 
 many of the rights of legitimacy (ranking however 
 after the children of the wife) this circumstance makes 
 but little difference as to the truth of the position. In 
 fact the wife is of equal rank with the husband by 
 birth, is espoused with regular marriage ceremonies, 
 possessing moreover certain legal rights, such as 
 they are ; while the handmaid is bought for money 
 and received into the house nearly like any other 
 domestic.” The ‘Tsy’ and the ‘Tsii’ stand to each 
 other in very much the same relation as the Sarah 
 and Hagar of the Old Testament. 
 
 If a person has sons by his wife it is considered de- 
 rogatory to take a handmaid, but if he has not, it is of 
 course allowable, and some of the Chinese have many. 
 Pwan-tin-qua, a Mandarin, well known to foreigners 
 at Canton, has thirteen, and a former linguist at the 
 same place had nineteen. According to Mr. Lay, 
 “ the dwelling together of wife and concubine, under 
 the same roof, does not produce that unhappiness that 
 our feelings might teach us to imagine. The sole 
 proprietorship of a husband’s attachments does not 
 enter into the calculations of the former, so that she 
 yields to the obtrusion of a rival without repining; 
 and the latter is content to find herself in a circle 
 much above her birth and parentage. When Chinese 
 
 u 
 
82 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VIII 
 
 Treatment of Females. 
 
 ladies are appealed to, they allege that there is nothing 
 objectionable in the practice. Wife and concubine 
 mix together without any symptoms of jealousy and 
 contend that neither one nor the other has any right 
 to complain, so long as the husband is impartial and 
 loves them both alike. 
 
 At home or abroad, in holiday robes or in plain 
 clothing, the heart of a Chinese female seems to be at 
 all times ready to overflow with mirth and good hu- 
 mor. Ill usage or misfortune may make her sad for 
 a while, but the smallest efforts to soothe or amuse on 
 the part of one whom the values, drives away all her 
 heaviness. Confucian philosophy has done its best 
 to unfit a Chinese for the possession of such an heri- 
 tage, by assigning to woman nothing but the privilege 
 of drudging for her lord. Those well chosen terms of 
 esteem and preference with which we are wont to 
 address females, and the countless variety of polite 
 offices which we perform as matters of course, find 
 no place either in the written or unwritten laws of 
 Chinese society. Native poetry and romance descant 
 upon the accomplishments of the lover and the charms 
 of his mistress, and in beautiful terms and imagery 
 eulogize the bliss of chaste and well requited love. 
 But these sentiments seem to be confined to the poet, 
 whose imagination, guided by the promptings of his 
 heart and the refinement of his understanding, por- 
 trays what ought to be, but what seldom happens. 
 It is hard to conceive how a man can behold the 
 object of his best affections, and exhibit no desire to 
 show her any marks of regard, especially when his 
 heart has been softened by education, and no exter- 
 nal circumstance interferes with the display of his 
 feelings. Whenever the light of heaven-born Chris- 
 tianity shall dawn upon this people, and begin to dis- 
 sipate the mists of a diabolical system of ethics, which 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VIII. 
 
 83 
 
 Preference for Male Children. 
 
 lias so long brooded over the land, one of the first 
 evidences of its presence will be a restoration of fair 
 woman to all her rights and privileges ; she will then 
 be regarded as she ought to be, “the glory of the 
 man,” and a Chinese will then behold a paradise 
 yielding flowers to embellish his feasts, to adorn the 
 friendly board, to refine, ennoble and rejoice his own 
 heart. 
 
 “ The birth of a female is a matter of grief in China. 
 The father and mother, who had ardently hoped in 
 the unborn babe, to embrace a son, feel disappointed 
 at the sight of a wretched daughter. Many vows and 
 offerings are made before their idols, in order to pro- 
 pitiate their favor and secure the birth of a son. The 
 mercy of the compassionate Kwanyin especially, is 
 implored to obtain this precious gift : but after they 
 have spent large sums of money in this pious work, 
 the inexorable goddess fills the house with mourning 
 at the birth of a daughter. “ Anciently,” says Pan- 
 Hwuypan, (a Chinese authoress,) “ the female infant 
 was thrown upon some old rags by the side of the 
 mother’s bed, and for three days was scarcely spoken 
 or thought of. At the end of that time it was carried 
 to a temple by the father, accompanied by attendants 
 with brick and tiles in their hands.” “ The bricks 
 and tiles,” says Pan-Hwuypan in her comment on 
 these facts, “ signify the contempt and suffering which 
 are to be her companions and her portion. Bricks 
 are of no use except to form enclosures, and to be 
 trodden under foot ; and tiles are useless except when 
 they are exposed to the injuries of the air.” At the 
 present day as well as anciently, the female infant is 
 not unfrequently an object of disgust to its parents, 
 and of contempt to all the inmates of the family. If 
 a Chinese is asked how many children he has, he 
 gives the number of sons; the daughters stand as 
 
84 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE VIII. 
 
 Number and use of Domestics. 
 
 cyphers in the list of his blessings. “ Infanticide of 
 females is not unknown among the Chinese, and they 
 are far from regarding this crime with the horror it 
 deserves. “ It is only a female,” is the answer gen- 
 erally given when they are reproved for it.” 
 
 The daughters of the wealthy receive something of 
 an education, those of the middling and poorer classes 
 generally none at all. 
 
 “ The mistress of a family, among the affluent, has 
 four waiting maids ; the older ones to take care of 
 her clothes, and to attend on her when eating; the 
 younger ones to follow her when she goes out, to 
 hand her tea and tobacco, to fan her, &c. These 
 waiting maids are not unfrequently slaves, whom she 
 has purchased for herself. Besides these she hires 
 several housemaids ; (as) one to dress her hair, one to 
 cook her food, one to wash her clothes, and one to fol- 
 low her when she goes abroad. 
 
 “ The master of the family usually has four personal 
 servants; two grown men, who wait upon him at 
 meals, take care of his clothes, and attend to all such 
 matters; and two younger persons, to follow him 
 when he goes abroad, to carry his pipe, to fan him, 
 and to present his cards. He has also four domes- 
 tics ; the older carry water and go to the bazaars ; 
 the younger sweep the floors, light the lamps, and 
 wipe the chairs and tables.” 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IX. 
 
 85 
 
 Itinerant Street Workmen. 
 
 CASE IX. 
 
 Itinerant barber exercising his avocation. 
 
 Person being shaved. 
 
 Fortune teller , with table , &c. 
 
 Street doctor and medicines. 
 
 do. broker ivith counter , &c. 
 
 Large map of China at the back of the case , made by the 
 Chinese, from the surveys of the early Jesuit missiona- 
 ries. The disproportionate size of the rivers, which 
 the visitor will undoubtedly notice, is a fault common 
 to all Chinese maps. There are also a number of 
 bamboo hats, ivorn by the lower classes, on the wall. 
 
 “ The number of itinerant workmen of one kind or 
 another, which line the sides of the streets, or occupy 
 the areas before public building in Chinese towns, is 
 a remarkable feature. Fruiterers, pastry men, cook- 
 stalls, venders of gimcracks, and wayside shopkeepers 
 are found in other countries as well as China; but 
 to as a travelling blacksmith or tinker, an itinerant 
 glass mender, a peripatetic umbrella mender, a loco- 
 motive seal cutter, an ambulatory barber, a migratory 
 banker, a perigrinatory apothecary, or a walking shoe- 
 maker and cobbler, one must travel thitherwards. 
 These moveable establishments, together with fortune 
 tellers, herbs sellers, chiromancers, &c., pretty well fill 
 up the space, so that one often sees both sides of the 
 street in Canton literally lined, with the stalls or tools 
 of persons selling or making something to eat or to 
 wear.” 
 
 As the Chinese shave the head as well as the beard 
 
86 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IX. 
 
 Barbers. 
 
 every ten or twelve days, barbers constitute a numer- 
 ous class in their communities. The greater part are 
 itinerant, and with the chest of drawers, which an- 
 swers for customers to sit upon as well as to contain 
 their tonsorial apparatus, and a water vessel over a 
 small furnace, slung on a pole carried on the shoulder, 
 they traverse the streets, making known their pres- 
 ence by occasionally twanging their call, which some- 
 what resembles the pitch pipe used by singers. Their 
 common appellation is Ti-toiv-le, meaning shave-liead- 
 old-man. 
 
 There are 7,300 barbers in the city of Canton, every 
 one of whom has been obliged to obtain a license be- 
 fore commencing the trade, and all of whom, like 
 the other mechanics, form a community whose busi- 
 ness is regulated by laws made amongst themselves. 
 They use no soap in shaving, merely wetting the 
 head and face with warm water before applying the 
 razor, which, from its short, clumsy blade, appears 
 better suited to opening oysters than shaving, but 
 which nevertheless answers the purpose intended 
 very well. 
 
 The barber’s whole apparatus is near him, and his 
 razor and other small implements are seen in one of 
 the open drawers of the case and in his hands. In 
 addition to shaving, some of them exercise the func- 
 tion of shampooing, and practice cleaning the eye and 
 ear, oftentimes to the manifest injury of the former, 
 to diseases of which, the Chinese are particularly sub- 
 ject. A person is here seen undergoing the ear-clean- 
 ing operation, and the effect produced by the tickling 
 sensation in the ear is faithfully delineated upon his 
 countenance. The barber’s remuneration is generally 
 twenty or thirty cash, but no regular charge is made, 
 the amount being left entirely to the generosity of his 
 customers. As in other countries, the barber is the 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IX. 
 
 37 
 
 Fortune Tellers. Street Doctors. 
 
 repository of local information, and his success is usu- 
 ally proportioned to his powers of making himself 
 agreeable to his customers. 
 
 The Chinese of all classes are very superstitious, and 
 fortune tellers consequently abound amongst them, 
 who, for a trifling consideration, by consulting the 
 stars, the lines on the hand, or by shaking several 
 bamboo slips, with characters written on them, from a 
 case full, will predict with confidence, the destiny of 
 an individual. Our fortune teller uses the latter 
 method which is the most common, and his advertise- 
 ment informs the public of his abilities and charge for 
 the different information furnished, whether it be to 
 foretell the fortunes of some new born babe, the future 
 fate of some hitherto luckless wight, a lucky day for a 
 marriage or funeral, or the proper location for a house 
 or tomb. This class pretend to few secrets ; by taking 
 the characters from the slips thrown out and combin- 
 ing them upon the writing board according to rules 
 for the different information wanted, they form sen- 
 tences which are explained by referring to a book, and 
 frequent appeals are usually made to the crowd around 
 as to the correctness of the mode of proceeding in ob- 
 taining the explanations. There are sometimes ten 
 or a dozen of these wise men to be seen in the street 
 on the west side of the American factories at Canton, 
 in the space of a few hundred feet, and generally some 
 of them are Budhist and Taouist priests. 
 
 The street doctor is another ambulatory genius met 
 with in China, and in Old China street (the one just 
 mentioned,) they generally surpass in numbers the 
 fortune tellers. A person can hardly pass through this 
 thoroughfare without seeing some of them exhibiting 
 their skill in dressing a sore, pulling teeth, or prescrib- 
 ing for some of the ills of the body. Some are sur- 
 rounded with roots and herbs, some have long strings 
 
38 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IX. 
 
 Doctors. 
 
 of teeth, which they have extracted, in front of them, 
 and others, like our Esculapius, have their medicines 
 exposed in small jars for sale, with printed advertise- 
 ments of their virtues and directions for use. Occa- 
 sionally one may be seen with some large bones, or 
 thick skin, such as that of the rhinoceros and elephant, 
 disposing of them in small pieces to the passers by, 
 who suppose them to possess eminent strengthening 
 properties. One of this last mentioned class of Chi- 
 nese M. D.’s might be seen at the entrance of the 
 American grounds, in the latter part of 1844, with the 
 skeleton of an ourang-outang, which he was disposing 
 of in the manner spoken of, and as an evidence of the 
 virtues of the medicine, an unhappy looking chicken 
 stood upon one leg, beside the skeleton, with a duck’s 
 foot and leg banded on to the other. 
 
 In addition to the street doctors there are some who 
 have acquired sufficient experience and reputation in 
 their profession to find plenty of employment among 
 the wealthy, and are consequently not obliged to resort 
 to the thoroughfares for support. As dissection is 
 never practised, they have very imperfect ideas of 
 anatomy, and as an evidence of their ignorance of 
 the circulation of the blood, they distinguish twenty- 
 four different and distinct pulsations in the body, and 
 twenty-four different diseases at each of three pulses 
 on each arm. They also seem to be ignorant of the 
 existence of muscles and nerves, and, as an instance 
 of their ignorance of the latter, Dr. Parker, the Amer- 
 ican medical missionary at Canton, informed us, that 
 a Mandarin, whom he had treated for tic doloreux, 
 was previously under the hands of a native physician, 
 who told him that the acute pain arising from this 
 nervous affection was caused by the movement of a 
 worm, existing in the flesh, which he endeavored to 
 kill, but the worm changed his position so rapidly, 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IX. 
 
 89 
 
 Medicines. Street Brokers. 
 
 that lie eluded all his endeavors. Another physician, 
 who practised in Old China street, the doctor said he 
 had seen cutting off the edge of the gum around an 
 aching tooth, and exhibiting it to his satisfied patient, 
 who was eased for the time by the counter irritation, 
 informed him it was the worm which had caused all 
 his pain. When a Chinese physician is unsuccessful, 
 he retires with the adage, “ that there is medicine for 
 sickness but none for fate.” As there are no medical 
 schools in China, the only way for a person wishing 
 to become a physician is to seek for some celebrated 
 practitioner and become his pupil. 
 
 Notwithstanding the low state of medical science 
 in China, which, in its connection with astrology, 
 closely resembles the practice of the healing art in 
 Europe, less than two centuries since, the Chinese 
 appear to enjoy as good health and as many attain 
 old age as in other countries. 
 
 Comparatively little appears to be known by for- 
 eigners regarding the bulk of medicines used by the 
 Chinese, although it is known that they have several 
 similar preparations of mercury and other minerals to 
 those in use with us, and that the former are admin- 
 istered in the same classes of diseases. They also 
 have some similar vegetable medicines to ours, but 
 ginseng, which once sold for eight times its weight in 
 silver, stands with them at the head of all remedies. 
 
 The street broker is a more stationary being than 
 the others spoken of above, hut his stand is seen at 
 every turn. For a small per centage he is ready to 
 exchange pieces of silver or to buy and sell the only 
 national coin called by the Chinese, Tclien , and by 
 foreigners, cash , which is an alloy of copper and zinc 
 principally, and of which 1,000 are intended to equal 
 in value a tael, or Chinese ounce of silver (about $1K) 
 but 1,200 and more are sometimes given in exchange 
 
90 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IX. 
 
 Counterfeiting. Banks. 
 
 for a dollar. On the introduction of Spanish dollars 
 in commerce, they were at first found to be so conve- 
 nient, that the coinage of dollars in imitation was for 
 a time allowed; but though these commenced at a 
 higher rate than the foreign dollars, they soon sank 
 greatly below the standard, while the foreign coin 
 preserved its wonted degree of purity. The manu- 
 facture of imitation dollars, being now prohibited, is 
 still carried on to a considerable extent at some places 
 on the coast, and at the north the opium traders occa- 
 sionally receive dollars with Chinese and Mantchou 
 characters and devices upon them, purporting to be 
 issued by the present Emperor. The Spanish dollars 
 imported at Canton soon become punched into such 
 a state, with the private marks of all those through 
 whose hands they pass, as to be saleable only by 
 weight. The fraudulent even introduce bits of lead 
 into the punch-holes, and none but freshly imported 
 dollars can ever be received without a very strict ex- 
 amination, called shroffing, in going through which 
 process the jingling of coin may be heard in the for- 
 eign residences throughout all hours of the day. 
 Small payments, if not made in copper coin, are 
 effected by exchanging bits of silver, whose weight is 
 ascertained by such small ivory balances as that seen 
 in the hands of the broker in this case, with which all 
 persons provide themselves. The payments to gov- 
 ernment not made in kind, are in silver of a prescribed 
 rate of fineness, which the officers charged with the 
 collection of the revenue, generally deposite in some 
 of the private banking establishments, called rfgan po, 
 (money shops,) selected for the purpose, who, for a per 
 centage, refine the silver until it contains only two 
 per cent, alloy, and cast it into ingots of one and ten 
 taels weight called Sysee, upon which the name of 
 the banker and date of refining is stamped to prevent 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE IX. 
 
 91 
 
 Rate of Interest. Paper Money. 
 
 fraud on the part of the refiner. There are no char- 
 tered or privileged banking companies, but the private 
 banks receive deposits from individuals either on inter- 
 est not exceeding twelve per cent, or drawable at will 
 without interest. The legal rate of interest is three per 
 cent, per month and thirty per cent, per annum ; but 
 this of course is very seldom reached, except in pawn- 
 ing and other such short loans. All compound inter- 
 est is unlawful, and whatever number of years may 
 have elapsed, the government does not enforce any 
 claim for interest accumulated above the amount of 
 the principal, or in the Chinese phrase, “ the offspring 
 must not be greater than the mother.” The ordinary 
 rate of interest at Canton is from twelve to fifteen per 
 cent, per annum. 
 
 According to the Memoirs sur le Chinois, the motive 
 of the government in legalizing such a high rate of 
 interest, is partly to facilitate loans, and partly to dis- 
 courage luxury and prodigality by hastening the ruin 
 of such as borrow merely to spend. 
 
 Some of the former dynasties of China made use of 
 paper money, which probably had its origin there, and 
 was first announced to Europe as existing in China, 
 by Marco Polo, the celebrated Venetian traveller, who 
 visited the Empire in the thirteenth century. Accord- 
 ing to the investigations of Klaproth, paper money as 
 a substitute for metals, without being guarantied by 
 any sort of mortgage or security, was first introduced 
 during the tenth century, although something of the 
 kind existed long previous, in the promissory notes or 
 bonds of the government given to traders to the capi- 
 tal, and all moneyed persons, in exchange for their 
 cash, which they were allowed to deposit in the im- 
 perial treasury. These notes were eagerly sought 
 after for purposes of trade, and probably gave rise to 
 the issue of those on a different system, which rapidly 
 
92 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE IX. 
 
 Paper Money. 
 
 depreciated, and notwithstanding the efforts of the 
 government to sustain the credit of this paper money, 
 at different times, caused much distress to the coun- 
 try, and the Mongols were driven out of China after 
 a reign of less than a century, through its abuse. The 
 Ming Emperors who succeeded, were not only unable 
 to abolish the paper in circulation, but compelled to 
 issue new notes. Every attempt was made by com- 
 pulsive measures, to restore the paper currency to a 
 better condition, and some of the taxes were allowed 
 to be paid with it ; but every exertion was fruitless, 
 and the notes went out of circulation ; at least, history 
 makes no mention of them later than the year 1455. 
 The Mantchous, who succeeded the Ming Emperors, 
 and are now masters of China, have never attempted 
 to introduce a paper currency, for they are happily 
 ignorant of the European policy, which declares that 
 the more a nation is in debt, the more it is rich and 
 flourishing. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE X. 
 
 93 
 
 Articles in Case X. 
 
 CASE X. 
 
 Military Mandarin of the sixth grade. 
 
 Archer. 
 
 Soldier with matchlock, 
 do. with spear, 
 do. ivith painted rattan shield. 
 
 Militia-man or policeman , with whip and lantern. 
 
 Military weapons on the wall. 
 
 Large black velvet “ Law-Sanf or “ State Umbrella 
 embroidered ivith gold ; used to hold over the head of 
 the Emperor to protect him from the sun , and carried 
 as a banner in processions of State. 
 
 Richly embroidered satin “ Law -San .” 
 
 Two richly embroidered “ T^soy-Kays ” or “ Banner 
 which are carried in processions upon a horizontal staff 
 between two persons, one preceding the other. 
 
 The Mandarin in this case is equivalent to our lieu- 
 tenant. He is dressed in the summer costume, with 
 a fan (the Chinaman’s constant companion in warm 
 weather,) in one hand, and a tobacco pipe in the other. 
 The chair in which he sits is the kind used by military 
 officers of the Celestial Empire when inspecting their 
 troops, and is made to shut up for convenience in 
 transporting it. The change from the winter to the 
 summer dress, and vice versa, is simultaneous through- 
 out a province. On the commencement of the hot or 
 cold weather, the first person in each province, as the 
 tsoong-to or viceroy, assumes his summer or winter 
 cap, which is noticed in the official gazette, or court 
 circular, and is the signal for every man under his gov- 
 
94 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE X. 
 
 Archery. 
 
 eminent to make the same change. If a superior offi- 
 cer to the viceroy happens to pass through the pro- 
 vince at the time, his change of dress sets the example. 
 
 The archer represents one of the most esteemed and 
 effective branches of the Chinese military. Their 
 dress is the handsomest and most expensive, and their 
 weapon is considered by the Chinese, and no doubt 
 is, superior to their rude and ill-constructed match- 
 locks. The skilful use of the bow and arrow, like 
 fencing amongst western nations, is considered an 
 elegant accomplishment for gentlemen, and the bow 
 and arrow constitute the principal arms of the cavalry, 
 who are said to be very expert in using them, rarely 
 missing the target while their horses are in rapid mo- 
 tion. The bow is made of elastic wood and horn, 
 strongly bound and cemented together, and strung 
 with a hard twisted cord of silk. The strength of the 
 bow is estimated by the weight required to bend it ; 
 varying from eighty to one hundred pounds. The 
 longest exceed six feet and six inches. The arrows, 
 for practice, are made of bamboo with horn heads 
 pierced with holes, which make a whistling noise in 
 passing though the air ; the other extremities are 
 feathered. The arrows used in war are made similar- 
 ly to the others, except that the heads are of iron or 
 steel, and the shafts stronger. In using the bow and 
 arrow, the Chinese wear a strong, heavy ring, of agate, 
 or jade stone, upon the right hand thumb, with which 
 they draw the string. 
 
 The soldier with a matchlock is dressed in the uni- 
 form of his corps, which is plain and serviceable like 
 that of the principal part of the Chinese military. 
 The matchlock in his hands is one of those used at 
 Canton during the difficulties with the English a few 
 years since, and is a fair specimen of this species of 
 Chinese fire arms. His cartridge-box, it will be ob- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE X. 
 
 95 
 
 Mode of Fighting. 
 
 served, is in an exposed position in front of his person 
 and many fatal accidents happened during the war, 
 by pieces of the ignited match, with which the guns 
 are touched oflj falling amongst and firing the cart- 
 ridges ; and in one of the engagements at the north 
 an English officer lost an arm in attempting to take a 
 prisoner whose cartridge-box exploded at the moment 
 and killed him. 
 
 The soldier with sword and shield is defending him- 
 self against his antagonist who is armed with a spear. 
 His shield is made of rattan, turned spirally around a 
 centre, and on it is painted the face of a hideous mon- 
 ster, the object of which, is to strike terror to the hearts 
 of the enemy. Such weak devices as this were used 
 by the Chinese, in their last attempt to subdue the 
 “ rebellious English,” several of which were exceed- 
 ingly ridiculous. At some of the battles the brave 
 Tartar soldiers advanced to meet the foe with their 
 faces painted like clowns at a circus, and throwing 
 somersets as they came on, to terrify the “ barbari- 
 ans.” Several were shot upon the wing (as the Eng- 
 lish soldiers called it) as they performed their gyra- 
 tions in the air. This mode of attack is only parallel- 
 ed by some of the other stratagems which the Chinese 
 soldiers were directed, by their commanding officers, 
 to put in practice. One of the latter recommended 
 his men to use their endeavors to throw the enemy 
 upon the ground as soon as possible, for being once 
 down, an Englishman, from the tightness of his 
 breeches, was unable to rise, without assistance, and 
 would consequently be entirely at their mercy. 
 
 The swords used by the Chinese are generally 
 made of iron, and like the matchlocks are of little use. 
 The spearman’s weapon, of which there are a num- 
 ber of different forms upon the wall, is a more effec- 
 tive instrument, and in the hands of disciplined troops 
 
96 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE X. 
 
 Militia. Fire and other Arms. 
 
 would be as serviceable as the bayonet in charging 
 an enemy. 
 
 The sixth figure in this case is one of the militia 
 who are principally used as a local police, and as 
 such, this one has a lantern in one hand, with the 
 Mandarin’s name, to whose corps be belongs, upon 
 it, and in the other hand a whip which is used to dis- 
 perse small riotous assemblages in the streets, and to 
 clear the road before the great man, his master. His 
 dress is that of the Chinese militia, his upper garment 
 having the character ‘ yung' (brave) inscribed upon 
 the back as well as front, which was considered by 
 the English, who had frequent opportunities of seeing 
 it in the former position, as rather contradicting this 
 quiet and modest assertion. 
 
 In addition to the spears of various kinds upon the 
 wall, there are two bows ; one with a case, and the 
 other without, and two pair of double swords ; one 
 pair with a tortoise shell, and the other a leather 
 sheath. On a stand below is a jinjall, or long heavy 
 gun on a pivot, which has three moveable chambers, 
 in which the powder and ball are put, and which 
 serve to replace each other as often as the gun is dis- 
 charged These have been used for a long time by 
 the Chinese, and in principle are the same as some of 
 our late invented fire-arms but coarsely made. Being 
 constructed of thick wrought iron, and very strong, 
 there is little danger of their bursting, and when well 
 served, in close engagements, are effective weapons 
 of offence or defence. Most of the large boats and 
 junks are armed with jinjalls, in which the Chinese 
 have confidence, and which are undoubtedly superior 
 to Chinese cannon, which are cast hollow, not bored 
 out as ours are, or even reamed, and no attention 
 being paid to the quality of the metal, they often burst 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE X. 
 
 97 
 
 Composition of Army. 
 
 and destroy those whom they were intended to de- 
 fend. 
 
 Near the policeman is a long matchlock or sporting 
 gun, and near that is a small gun which stands up- 
 right, with its wooden cover on one side. Sets of 
 three of these guns are placed at each of the gates of 
 Chinese cities and are fired as salutes whenever a 
 Mandarin passes in or out. They sometimes serve 
 rogues, who are pillaging in a body outside the walls, 
 a good turn, by giving them timely notice of the ap- 
 proach of officers. 
 
 According to the latest authorities the Chinese army 
 is divided into four divisions, according to the number 
 of nations which compose the Empire. 
 
 The first division consists of 67,800 Mantchoos di- 
 vided into 678 companies. 
 
 The second division is composed of Mongols who 
 entered China with the Mantchoos at the time of the 
 conquest, and comprises a body of 21,000 men formed 
 into 211 companies. 
 
 The third division is composed of Chinese who 
 joined the Mantchoos towards the end of the reign of 
 the last Chinese dynasty. This division includes the 
 field artillery of four hundred cannon, and consists of 
 27,000 men divided into 270 companies. These three 
 divisions forming a total of about 116,000 men, consti- 
 tute the Tartar regular army, the greater part of which 
 is cavalry, and which is ranged under eight standards, 
 distinguished by the colors, yellow, white, red, and 
 blue, and each of these bordered by one of the others. 
 
 The green flag distinguishes the Chinese troops, 
 who constitute the fourth division, which contains in 
 the aggregate about 625,000 men. These are the 
 militia spread throughout the provinces, most of whom 
 do little or no military duty, but having proved them- 
 selves strong, able bodied men, by lifting the weights 
 
 13 
 
93 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE X. 
 
 Grades of Military Officers. 
 
 prescribed by law, are recruited and become liable to 
 be called upon to serve at any time, but the mass of 
 them receive their pay of a few dollars a year and 
 continue at their occupations. 
 
 In addition to these four divisions amounting to 
 nearly 740,000 men, there is an irregular light Mongol 
 cavalry which is said by Timkouski to resemble the 
 Russian Cossacks of the Don, Oural, &c., who pay no 
 taxes but do military service on the frontiers instead. 
 This body of Mongols is estimated by some persons, 
 at 500,000 men, but it is impossible to ascertain this 
 with any degree of exactness. 
 
 The Chinese military officers, like the civil, are di- 
 vided into nine ranks distinguished by the same balls 
 upon their caps, but the first rank of military officers 
 only claim right of precedence with the fourth rank of 
 civilians. As Davis correctly remarks; “It may be 
 considered as one proof of social advancement on the 
 part of the Chinese, that the civil authority is generally 
 superior to the military, and that letters always rank 
 above arms, in spite even of the manner in which the 
 Tartars obtained the Empire. In this respect China 
 may be said to have subdued her conquerors.” “ A 
 military Mandarin of the highest grade may be often 
 seen on foot, when a civil officer of middling rank 
 would be considered as degraded unless in a sedan 
 with four bearers : the others are not allowed chairs 
 but may ride.” 
 
 “ The highest military rank is that of a tseang-Keun 
 or Tartar general, one of whom has charge of the regu- 
 lar troops in Canton province ; this post can never be 
 filled by a Chinese, but secondary commands may. 
 Below these are subordinate officers, promoted in reg- 
 ular order from the lowest grade, according to their 
 physical strength, and their skill in shooting with the 
 bow, combined with the activity and zeal which they 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE X. 
 
 99 
 
 Punishment of Military Officers. 
 
 may occasionally display in cases of civil commotion 
 or revolt. One very singular feature we must not 
 forget to notice, in regard to the military officers of 
 China. They are all subject to corporal punishment, 
 and very often experience it, together with the cangue. 
 This parental allotment of a certain quantum of flag- 
 ellation and personal exposure, is occasionally the fate 
 of the highest officers, and, upon the whole, must be 
 regarded as a very odd way of improving their military 
 character. It must be observed, however, that enter- 
 prising courage is not considered as a merit in Chinese 
 tactics. They have a maxim, that ‘rash and arrogant 
 soldiers must be defeated.’ The qualities of a good 
 general are enumerated as follows by the Chinese. 
 
 ‘ The covetous he appoints to guard his treasure ; the 
 uncorrupt to dispense his rewards ; the benevolent to 
 accept submission ; the discriminating and astute to 
 be envoys ; the scheming to divine the enemy’s plans; 
 the timid to guard the gate ; the brave to force the 
 enemy; the strong to seize an important pass; the 
 alert to gain intelligence ; the deaf to keep a lookout 
 and the blind to listen. As a good carpenter throws 
 away no blocks, so a good general has no men unem- 
 ployed. Each is selected according to his capacity ; 
 but favor, (it is added,) and interest, and secret influ- 
 ence subvert the order of things, sending the blind to 
 look out, and the deaf to listen.’ ” 
 
 Notwithstanding the reputation the Chinese have 
 acquired of being great cowards, a reputation which the 
 mass perhaps deserve, according to the general accep- 
 tation of the term, the English officers bear witness 
 that there are some brave men amongst them. At 
 the taking of the City of Amoy by the British, in Au- 
 gust, 1841, a Chinese officer was observed to cut his 
 throat in a battery as the foreigners entered it, and 
 
100 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE X. 
 
 Courage of the Chinese. 
 
 another walked into the sea and drowned himself in 
 the coolest manner possible. Other instances were 
 noticed at Chinhae, upon the defence of which the 
 rich city of Ningpoo depended for preservation, which, 
 with the latter, fell into the hands of the British in 
 October of the same year. The Chinese troops at 
 this place, although broken and dispersed, refused to 
 lay down their arms, preferring death to surrender, 
 and many officers committed suicide ; thus showing 
 that discipline was all that was wanting to make good 
 soldiers of them. The cowardice of the mass is prob- 
 ably owing to the long peace the Empire has enjoyed, 
 to their naturally amiable dispositions, and the state 
 of subjection they are kept in during their fives de- 
 stroying all confidence in their own powers. But that 
 they are naturally cowards, we do not believe, having 
 seen the class of persons who would probably be the 
 first to run before a body of soldiers, submit to the 
 most painful operations of the surgeon’s knife without 
 flinching in the least, or even uttering a groan. 
 
 The Chinese believe the gall-bladder to be the seat 
 of courage, and the heart the tenement of the mind ; 
 that the latter turns pale like the face, when a person 
 is under the influence of fear, and that rice steeped in 
 the gall-bladder of a human being and eaten will 
 make brave men of cowards. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XI. 
 
 101 
 
 Figures and Articles in Case XI. 
 
 CASE XI. 
 
 Man ploughing , with a buffalo attached to the 'plough. 
 
 Man with a rush cape on and a hoe in his hand. 
 
 Man beating out paddy ( unhulled rice.) 
 
 Man whitening rice. 
 
 Coolie carrying two boxes of tea. 
 
 Chain pump for irrigating rice fields. 
 
 Machine for hulling paddy. 
 
 Model of a winnowing mill. 
 
 Large size belloivs used by blacksmiths. 
 
 Stone rice mill. 
 
 Ropes made of bamboo , rattan , and coir or husk of the 
 cocoa nut. 
 
 At the back of the case are some of the implements used 
 in husbandry, a variety of bamboo baskets, &c., and 
 specimens of the common cotton and grass cloths man- 
 ufactured by the Chinese. 
 
 The Chinese husbandman and his implements, as 
 seen here, are probably the same as they were ages 
 ago. The plough is said to be the counterpart of that 
 used by the ancient Hebrews, and strongly resembles 
 those found among the Arabs or Syrians. As in other 
 countries, this implement is synonymous with hus- 
 bandry, a farmer being called Kung-teen-jin , “ a man 
 who ploughs the fields.” The buffalo is used almost 
 entirely in the southern provinces for ploughing the 
 rice fields to which he is peculiarly adapted, being a 
 hardy animal, living on coarse food, and his nature 
 leading him to prefer wet, muddy shallows, where he 
 may often be seen wallowing like a hog with nothing 
 
102 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XI. 
 
 Buffalo. Modes of threshing and carrying Loads. 
 
 but his head above water. From this propensity he 
 receives his Chinese name of “ Shuey-new “water-ox.” 
 
 The rush cape worn by the second figure is also 
 used by fishermen and others in rainy weather, and 
 the “ C/m,” or hoe in his hand is the most common 
 utensil in Chinese husbandry. A considerable part of 
 the turning over the soil is done with it instead of the 
 plough, and by practice the Chinaman has learned to 
 apply it to almost as many uses as there are separate 
 instruments in other countries. 
 
 Next to thrashing with the flail, the mode of beat- 
 ing the paddy from the straw exhibited here is the 
 most common. The tub and other apparatus is car- 
 ried to the field, and the grain as fast as cut is brought 
 to it and the paddy beat out immediately. By this 
 method the straw is injured very little, and serves for 
 making brooms, rain cloaks, mats, &c. Animals are 
 also sometimes used in treading out grain. All the 
 principal farms have thrashing grounds, made of hard 
 earth or chunam, and almost every village has a pub- 
 lic one for the accommodation of small farmers. 
 
 The paddy is deprived of its husk, and whitened 
 either by the trip hammer and mortar, at which the 
 fourth figure is at work, or the circular machine seen 
 at the back of the case made of pieces of bamboo set 
 on end in a frame, and fastened with chunam, a 
 cement made of lime and oil. 
 
 Our coolie represents a numerous body in China 
 where nearly everything is carried by them. At the 
 north, carts with low plank wheels and wheelbarrows, 
 are sometimes seen ; but at the south there are many 
 who never even heard of such things, and at Hong 
 Kong an anecdote is told which illustrates their igno- 
 rance of such machines, as well as their attachment 
 to “ old custom.” In making some of the roads along 
 the side of the mountain where the town of Victoria 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM- — CASE XI. 
 
 103 
 
 Strength of Coolies. Machines. 
 
 is located, the superintendent thought the work would 
 be expedited by using wheelbarrows, and accordingly 
 procured some which were put into the hands of the 
 coolies without any instructions about the manner of 
 using them, it being taken for granted they knew how ; 
 but much to the amusement of the foreigners, who 
 happened to be looking on at the time, the Chinamen, 
 after filling the barrows, with which they seemed 
 pleased, slung them with a rope upon the bamboos, 
 as they were wont to do their baskets, and in pairs, 
 with the barrows between them, trudged off to the 
 edge of the bank with their loads ; and it was some- 
 time, and not without much trouble, that they were 
 induced to use them properly. The Chinese coolies 
 are probably as muscular a body of men as can be 
 found in the world, although their food is principally 
 rice. Their pace is always a kind of half run, and 
 they may be often seen moving along with loads of 
 one or two hundred pounds apiece at the rate of four 
 or five miles an hour. Farmers and coolies wages 
 do not usually exceed three or four cents a day and 
 boarded and many do not get as much. 
 
 The farming implements and machines in this case 
 are the principal ones used by the Chinese. The 
 fanning-mill is sometimes used to clean tea as well as 
 grain, which is more commonly separated from the 
 chaff by being let fall, from such large bamboo trays 
 as are here seen, in a current of air. The fanning- 
 mill is said, by Davis, to have originated in China, 
 where it is made like this model, with several spouts 
 to separate the grains of different gravities as well as 
 to clean it from the chaff. The chain pump is of 
 various dimensions ; this is a small one. It is only 
 calculated for raising water to small heights and is 
 generally worked by hand with a crank, or by the feet 
 with treddles, on the shaft, which, being turned, draws 
 
104 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XI. 
 
 Cloth Manufacture. Agriculture. 
 
 the boards up the trough in succession, and the water 
 in front of them. The suction pump is unknown in 
 China, and the force pump, which was introduced by 
 Europeans, is but little used. 
 
 The common cloths in this case are manufactured 
 cheaply, and retailed at a low price, and the partiality 
 of the Chinese for their own productions, leads them 
 to make use of these in preference to foreign goods ; 
 some of which are much better and equally as cheap. 
 
 As agriculturists, the Chinese have generally been 
 overrated by authors, as it is said by competent judges 
 that they do not equal the English. They are better 
 gardeners than farmers, and in that art certainly do 
 excel. Their terrace cultivation has been much ex- 
 aggerated by those writers who affirm that nearly all 
 the hills are terraced to the very summits, when in 
 fact but very few are, as is testified to by Davis and 
 other members of European embassies who have vis- 
 ited the interior, and nearly every person, visiting 
 China, is disappointed at seeing the large number of 
 barren hills between the ocean and Canton, a distance 
 of seventy-five or eighty miles, where it was expected 
 a perfect garden would be found. Other parts of the 
 Empire are said to present a similar spectacle, and 
 Peking, the capital, is situated upon a sandy, arid 
 plain, incapable of sustaining vegetation. Those hills 
 only are terraced, where the soil warrants a good 
 return for the labor expended, and where a plentiful 
 supply of water can be conveniently obtained. Agri- 
 culture in China holds a rank second only to literature, 
 and to perpetuate the remembrance of those times 
 when princes themselves were cultivators of the soil, 
 the Emperors of China, accompanied by the chief 
 officers and princes of the blood, repair at the proper 
 time, in the spring of each year, to the temple of the 
 inventor of agriculture at Peking, the grounds about 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XI. 
 
 105 
 
 Agricultural Ceremonies. Rice. 
 
 which are enclosed by a high wall, to till the ground 
 and offer sacrifice to Heaven. The part of the field 
 tilled by the Emperor is covered with a kind of tent 
 made of mats, and after he has ploughed for about 
 half an hour he ascends a neighboring eminence 
 whence he examines the work of the princes, minis- 
 ters and Mandarins, who, guided by the most expe- 
 rienced cultivators, plough in the open air. All are 
 dressed like farmers, and while they are at work the 
 musicians of the court sing hymns composed in an- 
 cient times in honor of agriculture. The ploughs are 
 drawn by oxen which are never used on any other 
 occasion. There are also granaries destined for the 
 produce, part of which is used for seed upon future 
 occasions and part to make cakes for the sacrifice to 
 Heaven. 
 
 Rice, the principal production of China, may be call- 
 ed the staff of life in that populous country, and Gutz- 
 laff remarks, that a native of the southern provinces 
 will not admit he has made a meal, unless he has eat- 
 en a sufficient quantity of rice, and some Chinese 
 once inquiring of him whether the western barbarians 
 ate rice, and finding him slow to answer them ex- 
 claimed : “ Oh ! the sterile regions of the barbarians, 
 which produce not the necessaries of life. Strange 
 that the inhabitants have not long ago died of hun- 
 ger!” Some idea may be formed of the enormous 
 consumption of this article, when it is stated that a 
 ship load of 12,000 piculs of 1331 pounds each or 
 more than a million and a half of pounds of rice does 
 not equal the amount consumed in the city of Canton 
 in a single day. At the south, two crops of rice and 
 one of vegetables are raised upon the same spot of 
 ground in a year, and as might be expected in a 
 country where the ground is urged to the utmost, all 
 kinds of manure are in demand. Decayed animal 
 
 14 
 
106 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XI. 
 
 Scarcity of Animals. Manure. Taxes. 
 
 and vegetable matter, sweepings of streets, the mud 
 from ditches, burnt bones and lime and even barbers’ 
 shavings, which are not inconsiderable, as millions of 
 heads are shaved every ten days, are industriously 
 gathered and sold ; but the collections from sinks and 
 other animal manure is esteemed the highest, and 
 mixed with loamy earth, and dried in small masses in 
 the sun, it forms a considerable article of commerce. 
 In towns and on rivers the whole atmosphere seems 
 at times to be impregnated with the odor left by pass- 
 ing scavengers, who pay little attention to the olfac- 
 tory nerves of less interested persons. Every farm 
 is furnished with a cistern in which the manure is dis- 
 solved and kept until required for use. It is not mix- 
 ed with the soil, but universally applied to the plant 
 itself in a liquid state, and most seeds are steeped in 
 it previous to being sown. 
 
 What few diminutive horses and cows the Chinese 
 have, are pastured on waste land incapable of cultiva- 
 tion. They have no good land to spare for animals, 
 all is needed for the support of man. In consequence 
 of this very few can afford to eat animal food, and 
 Davis says that there is no people in the world who 
 eat so little meat or so much fish and vegetables as 
 the Chinese. The tax on land is part in kind and 
 part in money, but the sum is small, and reduced 
 considerably or remitted altogether in case of destruc- 
 tive drought or inundation. The farms are generally 
 small and without fences, being usually divided by 
 ditches, but the low wet lands where rice is cultivated 
 are divided by narrow embankments which are used 
 as walks and means of communication between vil- 
 lages. No wide roads are seen at the south, or indeed 
 needed, as wheel carriages are not used. 
 
 In addition to the chain pump for irrigating their 
 fields, the Chinese have several other simple machines 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XI. 
 
 107 
 
 Flour Mills. Application of Machinery. 
 
 for the same purpose. The principal of these is a 
 wheel, sometimes forty feet in diameter, which, with 
 the exception of the shaft, and supports, is made en- 
 tirely of bamboo. The paddies are of basket work, 
 and some bamboo tubes open at one end, and fasten- 
 ed on to the circumference of the wheel, tangent to, 
 or diagonally across it, take up the water from the 
 stream, (in which the wheel is placed, and turned by 
 the current striking the paddles,) and carrying it to the 
 top of the wheel, discharge it into a gutter which con- 
 veys it to the place required. It is calculated that 
 some of these wheels raise upwards of three hundred 
 tons of water to the height of forty feet in twenty-four 
 hours. 
 
 The mills used by the Chinese for making flour are 
 made of two stones, (usually a hard granite) with the 
 faces grooved like our mill stones, and the top one 
 turning round an iron pin fastened into the lower one. 
 The hopper is fastened to the upper stone over a small 
 hole a little one side of the centre. Most of these 
 mills are small and turned by a single person ; but 
 the public ones are usually turned by buffaloes, a few 
 only by water power. In the two first mentioned, 
 the upper stones are turned by levers fastened to them 
 and in the buffalo mills the animals (one to each run 
 of stones) walk around in circles twelve feet in diam- 
 eter, seven or eight times a minute. Four buffaloes 
 working by turns at one run of stones will grind from 
 three to four hundred pounds of grain per day. In 
 the water power mills the upper stones have sticks 
 fastened into the circumference which act as cogs, and 
 which are turned by similar sticks fastened into the 
 shaft of the water-wheel. The water-wheels generally 
 used are overshot, and a run of stones turned by one 
 of them usually grinds six or seven hundred pounds 
 of grain in twenty-four hours. These, like the few 
 
108 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XII. 
 
 Mechanics. 
 
 other machines used by the Chinese, are of the sim- 
 plest kind, but their tools and agricultural implements 
 appear to be particularly designed to direct labor not to 
 supersede it. If improvements, manifest and simple, 
 are proposed to a Chinese, the proposer is immediately 
 referred to ancient custom, and the usage of his 
 fathers, or perhaps to the fear of being squeezed by the 
 Mandarins, and this is an end to all controver- 
 sy. Educated to reverence antiquity, and to think the 
 usages and productions of the Celestial Empire per- 
 fection, the force of custom on the minds of the Chi- 
 nese is a great bar to their improvement. Experience 
 has shown, that a supply of food can be procured, and 
 a numerous population supported by an adherence to 
 the ancient mode, and a Chinaman is the last person 
 to waste either land or labor in venturesome experi- 
 ments. 
 
 CASE XII. 
 
 Carpenter , sawing. 
 
 Carpenter , planing , with bench and tools complete. 
 
 Travelling blacksmith , with his forge , bellows and other 
 apparatus , mending a cast iron vessel. 
 
 Itinerant Shoemaker , with his kit, at work. 
 
 Over head is a large rush umbrella, such as is seen cover- 
 ing small moveable establishments of various kinds in 
 the streets and market-places of Canton. 
 
 In China, the sawyer’s the carpenter’s, the joiner’s, 
 and the sashmaker’s trade are all exercised by the 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XII. 
 
 109 
 
 Peculiarity of Tools. 
 
 same person. There are no saw-mills, planing ma- 
 chines, or sash factories, and in sauntering about the 
 streets of the cities, at the door of a shop, or new build- 
 ing, may be seen one or two men sawing boards from 
 the logs, and inside other workmen manufacturing 
 them into the different forms for constructing or finish- 
 ing a house. Their carpenter’s tools are few, peculiar, 
 and rudely made ; but the work done with them al- 
 though not equal to that of our mechanics, made with 
 more perfect instruments, is probably much superior 
 to what they could produce with similar ones. The 
 peculiarity of their tools will be immediately noticed 
 by a mechanic ; the handsaw resembles our bucksaw 
 except that the blade stands at an angle to the frame, 
 the plane, from its diminutive size, looks like a play- 
 thing, and is used, as seen in the hands of one of the 
 figures, the chisels and gouges are few and have very 
 short blades, the rough wooden drill-stock, with a 
 bamboo bow and dart-shaped drills, answers instead 
 of gimblets, a bolt and ring serves to draw nails, as 
 the clumsy looking hatchet does to drive them ; the 
 adze, with its wooden head, is a curiosity from the 
 economy of iron evinced in its construction, and, like 
 many other things, the exact opposite to ours, the line 
 for marking boards, &c., is black instead of white. 
 This marking apparatus is a convenient affair; the 
 line is wound on a spool, fastened in a small box and 
 turned with a wire crank ; when drawn out it passes 
 through some cotton containing moistened India ink, 
 which is also used with a slip of bamboo for marking 
 as a pencil, a small weight fastened to the end of the 
 line keeps it from being drawn into the box and serves 
 as a plummet. 
 
 A Chinese mechanic knows nothing about augers, 
 braces and bits, gimlets, drawing knives, spoke shaves, 
 and the host of other tools used with us to save labor 
 
110 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XII. 
 
 Itinerant Blacksmiths and Shoemakers. 
 
 and economize time. These are not desideratums to 
 the myriads of China who overcome physical obsta- 
 cles, like insects, by dint of numbers, but economy of 
 materials is the great object. Their pay will not 
 admit of their spending hundreds of dollars for tools, 
 their chest and all the contents, they can easily carry 
 in one hand to the place where required for use, and 
 if they need a hole larger than can be made with a 
 drill, they have the time to make it with a chisel or 
 gouge. 
 
 The travelling blacksmith is engaged in the cele- 
 brated operation of ‘ welding cast iron as it has been 
 incorrectly called, but which as the observer will 
 notice is nothing more than filling up a crack (made 
 wider for the purpose) in a broken cast iron vessel 
 with drops of the same metal in a melted state which 
 are pressed down on each side with the rolls of cotton 
 cloth which he has in his hands. After filling the 
 fracture in this manner it is rubbed over with clay to 
 stop up any remaining small holes. 
 
 The blacksmith’s tools are more portable than a 
 person would expect they could be made ; his bellows 
 has no unnecessary machinery or finish about it. It 
 is usually made of the section of a tree bored out and 
 a piston fitted to it, which, being moved to and fro, by 
 the handle at one extremity, the air is alternately 
 forced out and drawn in at each end ; thus making 
 the blast nearly, but not quite, continuous. His fur- 
 nace is small, but large enough for all the work re- 
 quired of him, and with the baskets containing his 
 hammers, scraper, files, and fuel, and when he moves, 
 his forge and bellows, slung at each end of a pole on 
 his shoulder, he trudges about from place to place, 
 seeking employment. Most of the metal work of the 
 Chinese which will admit of it, is finished by scraping 
 instead of filing or polishing. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM— CASE XII. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Mechanics' Wages. Food. 
 
 The honest shoemaker, who sits beside his brother 
 vulcan, has suspended operations upon the old shoe 
 between his knees, and is looking very wisely through 
 his large spectacles at the cast iron vessel which the 
 knight of the hammer and tongs is repairing. There 
 are 4,200 shoemakers in Canton, many of whom be- 
 long to the wandering class, and hardly a street can 
 be passed but one of them is seen industriously plying 
 his trade. 
 
 The number of persons engaged in different me- 
 chanical employments in the City of Canton is esti- 
 mated at 246,000, and each of the respective trades 
 form to a certain degree, a separate community, and 
 have each their own laws and rules for the regulation 
 of their business. The wages of journeymen carpen- 
 ters, blacksmiths and mechanics of that class, are from 
 fifteen to twenty-five cents a day and boarded. Wood 
 carvers get from eighteen to forty cents and found, 
 and ivory carvers from twenty to sixty cents. Me- 
 chanics eat three meals a day, viz : at 7, A. M., 1, P. M., 
 and 6, P. M. The food consists principally of rice, 
 with a little fish or pork to season it, and a few greens. 
 Each person will eat on an average a catty (equal to 
 a pound and a third) of rice at a meal, and the daily 
 expense for each individual’s food does not exceed 
 ten cents. All mechanics work from seven in the 
 morning until sundown. 
 
 Such large umbrellas as the one overhead in this 
 case, are generally seen protecting a number of half 
 naked beings, from the rays of the sun, who are 
 gambling for the value of a cash (the tenth part of a 
 cent) in pea nuts, or something of equal worth, and 
 crowding around the board underneath, the lookers 
 on evince as much anxiety as if they had an interest 
 in the valuable stake. Some of these establishments 
 remain stationary for a considerable length of time, 
 
112 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIII. 
 
 Gambling. Tanka Boat. 
 
 unless disturbed by the Mandarins, and are enclosed 
 at night with a screen- work of bamboo, which rolls up 
 into a compact form in the day time. 
 
 The lower orders of Chinese are much addicted to 
 gambling, which is a vice chiefly confined to them, 
 and notwithstanding the law to the contrary, in the 
 more retired streets of the cities are gambling houses 
 where these wretches congregate. The most com- 
 mon game is that of quadrating cash, which consists 
 in throwing down a handful, or an unknown number 
 of cash, small stones, or bits of crockery and counting 
 them out by fours. This game is called ( cha tan,’ 
 and the issue depends on the remainder bet upon. 
 Ten, twenty, and more men are often seen around a 
 table, different members of the group exhibiting all 
 the passions of the gambler — fear, hope, success or 
 disappointment, as they win or lose alternately. 
 
 CASE XIII. 
 
 Tanka boat woman sculling , with an infant on her back, 
 do. do. girl rowing. 
 
 Small boy with float tied to his back , playing. 
 
 Tanka boat complete. 
 
 Large and beautiful lacquered and gilt screen with elab- 
 orate carved border. The finest and most expensive 
 specimen of this ware ever brought from China. 
 Elegant model of a nine storied pagoda. 
 
 Baskets and bird cases made of bamboo. 
 
 Lacquered baskets , &c., much used by the Chinese. 
 Ladies' 1 and gentlemen's dressing cases. 
 
 The first object which meets the eye in visiting 
 China is the barren looking coast ; the next the fish- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIII. 
 
 113 
 
 River population at Canton. 
 
 mg smacks; and the next the tanka (egg house) 
 boats who swarm round vessels coming to anchor, 
 the inmates all screeching at once in a jargon difficult 
 to be understood by a new comer, but which is soon 
 learned. Every one is dignified with the title of 
 “ Massa Cap’n,” and “ My poaty la, My poaly la Massa 
 Cap r n! My sobby youfacy line old tim Massa Cap^n!” 
 is generally the burthen of their song. In Macao 
 roads, where vessels usually stop before proceeding 
 up to the Canton anchorage, the tanka boats are gen- 
 erally navigated by young girls, in competition with 
 whom the old women meet with poor encourage- 
 ment. The boat seen in this case was purchased 
 from the family who were using it at the time on the 
 river at Canton, and is of the ordinary size seen at 
 Macao, but not quite as large as some of the same 
 class at Whampoa and Canton. At the latter place 
 there are 84,000 registered boats upon the river, most 
 of which are these tanka boats, in which a man, un- 
 less a passenger is seldom seen in the day time. The 
 fathers of the families residing in them are generally 
 fishermen, boatmen, or coolies, whose employments 
 call them away, and who are obliged to leave their boats 
 and families in charge of the mothers, who in addition 
 to taking care of them often raise some ducks or 
 chickens for sale in small coops hanging over the 
 sterns of the boats. These boats are generally kept 
 much cleaner than Chinese dwellings on land, and in 
 common with their other vessels as well as houses, 
 every one has a shrine and Jos, or representation of 
 one, before which a jos stick is kept continually burn- 
 ing, and morning and evening a general chin chinning 
 (as they call their noisy worship,) consisting of the 
 beating of gongs and burning of paper, takes place to 
 propitiate their idols. The females who live in these 
 boats appear to be out of their clement when on land, 
 
 15 
 
114 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIII. 
 
 Lacquered Ware. 
 
 and by the running pace at which they move seem 
 to be afraid some accident will befall them before 
 reaching their boats. The mode of carrying infants 
 tied on to the back is universal in China and resem- 
 bles the same custom amongst our Indians. The 
 larger children generally carry the infants, and those 
 not higher than a walking-stick, are often seen with 
 babies strapped on to their backs. Most of the small 
 children have floats made of light wood, or a bottle 
 gourd tied to their backs to keep them from sinking 
 if they fall into the water, which they seldom do, 
 although they appear to move about in the most care- 
 less manner. It is said that in case they fall over- 
 board in addition to a ducking, they get flogged, 
 which makes them more careful in future. Chinese 
 boats are principally propelled by sculling oars at 
 their sterns, which work on pivots with very little 
 friction and noise. Some of the large passenger boats 
 have four or more large sculls, (each worked by ten 
 or a dozen men,) two placed at the sides of the sterns, 
 and the others at stagings on the sides. When mov- 
 ing at full speed, these boats go as if urged by steam 
 power. The oars or sculls are all made of two pieces, 
 fastened together with rattans. 
 
 China as well as Japan is celebrated for its lacquered 
 ware which was formerly quite an article of export, 
 but since the improvements made by Europeans in the 
 manufacture of varnishes, the consumption of the 
 Chinese ware is quite limited. The varnish used by 
 the Chinese for fine articles is obtained from the Tsie- 
 shoo, or lacquer shrub, which grows in Japan and the 
 provinces north of Canton, from which it distils like 
 gum, and though commonly used with a jet black, or 
 red, is capable of taking all colors. The finer quality 
 of lacquer is quite poisonous in a liquid state, and 
 persons easily affected by contact with poisonous 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIII. 
 
 115 
 
 Lacquered Ware. Pagodas. 
 
 shrubs often suffer with swelled hands and faces after 
 visiting the lacquer ware stores and handling the 
 newly manufactured articles. 
 
 The expense of this ware depends upon the quality 
 of the varnish, the number of coats and labor in ap- 
 plying them and the beauty of the design. The large 
 screen in this case was thirteen months in the hands 
 of an extensive manufacturer of this ware, and during 
 the embellishment of it, two persons were employed 
 upon each of the eight leaves night and day. 
 
 The body of the articles is generally a fine grained, 
 well seasoned wood, which is first covered with raw 
 silk, fastened on with glue, to prevent its cracking. 
 A coat of finely ground and washed sand stone is then 
 applied with glue and brought to a uniform surface, 
 as a ground work for the lacquer, a coat of which is 
 then put on with considerable care, and after allow- 
 ing it to dry slowly and thoroughly, which takes from 
 two to four weeks, is rubbed down and polished. 
 The other coats of varnish are added one after the 
 other in the same manner until the desired thickness 
 is obtained. 
 
 The outlines of the design are first drawn and 
 pricked upon paper, which being laid upon the article 
 and covered with white powder, when taken off 
 leaves the design in dotted lines upon it. This is 
 then filled up by different persons, one applying the 
 size for retaining the gold leaf, another putting on the 
 leaf, and others the different colors required ; thus ex- 
 pediting the process by separating the different kinds 
 of labor. 
 
 This case contains, in adition to the boat and 
 screen, a large and a beautiful model of a nine storied 
 pagoda. These lofty edifices, towering to the skies, 
 constitute one of the beauties of a Chinese landscape. 
 There appears to be some doubt concerning their 
 
116 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIII. 
 
 Influence ascribed to Pagodas. 
 
 origin, but the supposition is that they are monuments 
 of Budhism, as many of them have temples dedicated 
 to Budha in their vicinity, and some of them contain 
 Budhistic idols. That they arc intimately connected 
 with the superstition of the Chinese, and that they 
 suppose them to exert a salutary influence upon the 
 country surrounding them, there can be no doubt, 
 from the tenor of the subscription papers occasionally 
 circulated by the literati and gentry for their repair. 
 The following is a translation of one issued at Can- 
 ton, taken from the Chinese Repository: — “ Fellow 
 countrymen ! The region of country southeast of the 
 provincial city, on account of its water courses, has 
 an important influence on the fortunes of the inhabit- 
 ants. From an examination of old records it appears 
 that 'the pagoda on Pachow and the adjacent temple, 
 were built in the twenty-fifth year of Wanleih ; and 
 that the pagoda at Clieikang, and the temple there con- 
 secrated to the god of letters, were founded in the reign 
 of Teenke ; all these structures have had a most happy 
 influence on every thing around them, causing the 
 number of literati to be very numerous, and the pro- 
 ductions of the soil most abundant. Recently, how- 
 ever, the winds and the rains, driving furiously, have 
 broken down the tops of the pagodas, and laid the 
 temples in ruins, and injured even their foundations. 
 Their appearance now is very unsightly ; they ought 
 to be repaired, in order to secure the return of happy 
 and prosperous times. The pagoda on the north of 
 the city, which rises five stories high, and has its walls 
 painted red, a color which is from its very nature pro- 
 ductive of fire, ought also to be repaired, and painted 
 with some other color. Already we have obtained 
 the permission of their excellencies, the governor in 
 council, to proceed with the contemplated repairs, and 
 also recommendatory papers in which they advise the 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIV. 
 
 117 
 
 Porcelain and Enameled Ware. 
 
 people to assist in accomplishing this work. It being 
 an affair which greatly concerns both our honor and 
 prosperity, we have a right to expect, fellow-country- 
 men, that you will heartily cooperate, joyfully and 
 promptly contributing, little or much, according to your 
 ability, so that by our united efforts the repairs may 
 be soon undertaken, and the buildings rise again to 
 their former splendor ! Then according to your deeds 
 of merit, the gods will send prosperity, and your glory 
 and virtue will become great beyond comprehension. 
 A special solicitation.” 
 
 Chinese pagodas vary in height and the number of 
 stories, but rank amongst the most durable structures 
 of the country. The most celebrated is the famous 
 porcelain tower at Nanking. This building is nine 
 stories, and rises two hundred feet from the ground. 
 The body is of blue brick, covered with porcelain tiles. 
 
 CASE XIV. 
 
 150 and 151. A pair of the largest size porcelain 
 vases, painted to represent some of the battles 
 fought in ancient times between the Tartars 
 and Chinese. These paintings are preferred 
 in China to the more modern styles, and are 
 not fanciful caricatures, as supposed by many. 
 The representation of similar scenes is one of 
 the principal attractions of the Chinese stage 
 at the present day, and the actors dress in the 
 ancient costumes as seen on these and other 
 articles of Chinese porcelain. 
 
 152 and 153. A pair of vases similar to the above, of 
 the next size smaller. 
 
118 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIV. 
 
 Porcelain and Enameled Ware. 
 
 154 and 155. A pair of porcelain vases of the third 
 size, elegantly painted with single figures. 
 
 156. Finely gilt blue porcelain jar for powdered su- 
 gar, called “ping-fa,” “crystal flowers.” 
 
 157 and 15S. A pair of common flower stands. 
 
 159 and 160. A pair of hexagonal light green porce- 
 lain garden seats, with delicate white raised 
 sprigs and flowers. 
 
 161 and 162. A pair of blue porcelain garden seats 
 with white raised figures. 
 
 163. Beautifully painted porcelain garden seat, hex- 
 agonal form. 
 
 164 and 165. A pair of blue porcelain “tom-tos” or 
 spittoons, with raised white flowers. 
 
 166 and 167. A pair of handsome enameled copper 
 spittoons. 
 
 168 and 169. A pair of fine enameled candlesticks 
 used as part of the furniture of Budhistic 
 Altars. 
 
 170. A large and beautiful enameled copper vase, 
 
 used to burn incense in before the idols of 
 Budha. 
 
 171, 172, 173 and 174. Two pair of small porcelain 
 
 vases. 
 
 175 and 176. A pair of yellow porcelain cap stands, 
 with raised figures of parrots, &c. 
 
 177 and 178. A pair of antique six-sided porcelain 
 vases. 
 
 179 and 180. A pair of fine painted square porcelain 
 vases. 
 
 181 and 182. A pair of bottle shaped porcelain vases, 
 richly painted. 
 
 183 and 184. A pair of five necked green flower 
 vases. These are sometimes used by Chinese 
 archers to try their skill in shooting their ar- 
 rows into the different necks. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XIV. 
 
 119 
 
 Invention of Porcelain. 
 
 185. Handsome painted porcelain flower vase, with 
 raised figure of a lizard encircling the neck. 
 186 and 187. A pair of porcelain cap stands, made 
 in imitation of pieces of bamboo tied together. 
 
 188. Two beautiful enameled tea trays. 
 
 189. Enameled Jos Vase to hang on the wall beneath 
 
 the painting of the idol. This is made in the 
 form of half an oo-loo or bottle gourd, a Chi- 
 nese emblem of longevity. 
 
 190. A beautiful enameled blue and gilt holy water 
 
 vase, used by the Budhists. 
 
 191. Enameled tea-pot with stationary handle. 
 
 192. Small enameled flower vase. 
 
 193. Three enameled plates of different patterns, and 
 
 one enameled tea-tray. 
 
 The manufacture of porcelain originated in China, 
 and commenced with the Tang dynasty, A. I). 630. 
 The first furnace on record was in Keang-se, the prov- 
 ince where it is now principally made. In ancient 
 times it was called “imitation gem ware.” For the 
 last thousand years the government has paid great at- 
 tention to the manufacture of porcelain, and some of 
 the Emperors have given large premiums for the best 
 specimens. In point of substance it has never yet 
 been surpassed, although the advances made in the 
 science of chemistry, and in the art of painting, by 
 Europeans, has enabled them to excel the Chinese in 
 the coloring and the execution of the paintings. Not- 
 withstanding the perfection to which Europeans have 
 attained in the manufacture of China ware within the 
 comparatively few years since its introduction, they 
 still purchase considerable of the Chinese, and the 
 value still keeps up, especially of the large articles, as 
 an instance of which it may be stated that such jars 
 as the large ones in this case, cost from two to three 
 hundred dollars a pair, in China, according to the per- 
 
120 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XV. 
 
 Musical Instruments. 
 
 fection of the shape and the beauty of the painting, 
 when taken from the furnace. Some idea may be 
 formed of the extent of the manufacture, when it is 
 mentioned that several hundred thousand workmen 
 are employed, and the fires of the furnaces, when seen 
 from a distance at night, are said to resemble a city 
 enveloped in flames. 
 
 CASE XV. 
 
 The interior of this case is filled with Chinese mu- 
 sical instruments. On the top are several porcelain 
 vases. 
 
 194. Karri or kin, “the lute.” This is more esteemed 
 
 than any other musical instrument of the Chi- 
 nese ; partly on account of its antiquity. A 
 native writer says it is called Kam (to prohibit) 
 because “ it restrains and checks evil passions, 
 and corrects the human heart.” It is made 
 from the wood of the ivoo-tung or Dyandria 
 cordifolia, its strings are of silk, and it is said 
 to discourse most excellent music, but the 
 difficulty of playing upon it is so great, that 
 “ every tune that a Chinese learns costs him 
 the labor of several months.” 
 
 195. Hayoong-Kok or Wa-Kok. This instrument is 
 
 used in Budhist temples to call the inmates to 
 their evening devotions, and also in the army, 
 as the drum is with us, to mark the morning 
 and evening hours. 
 
 196. Chang. A smaller species of lute than the Kam. 
 
 It has sixteen strings and is generally seen in 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XV. 
 
 121 
 
 Musical Instruments. 
 
 the hands of blind musicians who use their 
 long finger nails or some substitute as a plec- 
 trum. 
 
 197. Pi-pa. The balloon shaped guitar. This is 
 
 also made of the ivoo-tung wood. The plain 
 upper surface is left without varnish, and is 
 let into the rounded back. The strings are of 
 silk, as were those of the ancient lute used in 
 Europe, and the pi-pa is said by Mr. Lay to 
 correspond exactly to the harp of Pythagoras 
 in the outline. It is one of the common ac- 
 companiments to the voice of ballad singers. 
 
 198. Ut-Kam. The full moon guitar. “ This is 
 
 made of the Swan-clie wood, and has four 
 strings which stand in pairs and are unisons 
 with each other. The table is not coated with 
 varnish, lest it should hurt the sound. Our 
 violins never acquire their purest tones till 
 they have lost the best part of their varnish ; 
 would it not be as well to take a leaf out of 
 the Chinaman’s hook and bestow all the or- 
 nament upon the neck and back, but leave 
 the sounding-board untouched.” 
 
 199. Luk-Koo. A call used by pedlars of cloth, kc. 
 
 From morning till night the clicking of the 
 Lulc-koo is heard in the streets of Chinese 
 towns, accompanied by cries of the different 
 kinds of pedlars. 
 
 200. Sam-een. Three stringed guitar. “ This is 
 
 made of the Swan-che wood, its sounds are 
 low and dull, and it is played as an accompa- 
 niment to the pi-pa. The body is covered 
 with the skin of the tan snake, of which the 
 natural vestment is divided by cloudy lines of 
 brown and yellow into compartments. The 
 
 jerkin of this snake, we see, helps to make 
 
 16 
 
122 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XV. 
 
 Musical Instruments. 
 
 melody after its decease, and its liver is much 
 prized by the dealers in medicines.” 
 
 201. Ee-een. The two-stringed fiddle. The rebeck 
 
 of the Chinese. Some Ee-eens are made 
 merely of a stick of bamboo passing through 
 a hollow cylinder of the same material, but 
 this one is of rather better construction. “One 
 end of the cylinder is covered with snake skin 
 and the other is left open. The bow is in all 
 its original simplicity, being a piece of rattan 
 or bamboo, with its ends drawn towards each 
 other by a small bundle of horse-hair which 
 passes between the strings, and it requires no 
 little practice to keep them clear of one while 
 being drawn over the other, as they are near 
 together. As it is a cheap instrument, it is in 
 the hands of a great many learners, who fill 
 up the vacuity of their leisure moments by 
 grating the strings of this scrannel coagmen- 
 tation of silk and wood. In better hands 
 however, its notes though shrill and piercing, 
 are by no means contemptible. It will be 
 seen that this instrument embodies the prin- 
 ciple of the violin, which is comparatively a 
 modern instrument, its great powers and capa- 
 bilities being first pointed out by Tartini. 
 The Chinese were in possession of the idea 
 ages ago, ;but while the Italians labored to 
 give the original draft every perfection it was 
 susceptible of, the Eastern Asiatics left theirs 
 to enjoy its primitive simplicity.” 
 
 202. Tai-Kam. The bass fiddle. This is very much 
 
 like the ee-een, except that the drum is made 
 of cocoa nut shell instead of bamboo, and its 
 notes are gruffer. These two instruments 
 are almost the only ones among the Chinese 
 that are played with a bow. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XV. 
 
 123 
 
 Musical Instruments. 
 
 203. Taoonv-Kam. The wire strung harmonicon. 
 
 The strings are beaten with small slips of 
 bamboo, and in skilful hands emit sweet 
 music. 
 
 204. Shap-yam. An instrument made of ten small 
 
 gongs arranged in a frame shaped like a cross. 
 This is carried in marriage processions and 
 used as an accompaniment to other instru- 
 ments. 
 
 205. Chat-kok. The clarion. This instrument is 
 
 made of thin copper, and the upper part of 
 the stem slides into the lower to enable the 
 performer to modify the sounds, which are 
 very grave. 
 
 206. Wang-teh. The Chinese flute. “ This is made 
 
 of bamboo, bound with silk between the aper- 
 tures to preserve the wood from cracking, and 
 helps doubtless to sweeten the sound. It is 
 with this, as with the guitar and lute, that the 
 Chinese dame cheers and beguiles the lonely 
 and unexciting hours of her seclusion.” 
 
 207. Ho-toong. Trombone trumpet. The sounding 
 
 tube of this instrument is capable of being 
 lengthened and shortened at the will of the 
 performer. Its sounds, like those of our trom- 
 bone, are not very agreeable alone, but form a 
 proper relief to the shriller instruments when 
 blown in concert. 
 
 208. Sang. This is a collection of tubes varying in 
 
 length, so as to utter sounds at harmonic in- 
 terval from each other, thus embodying the 
 principle of the organ stops, and with the 
 wind chest, into which the tubes are inserted, 
 forms the embryo of that magnificent instru- 
 ment. Very few of the Chinese of the pres- 
 ent day understand the use of this instru- 
 
124 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XV. 
 
 Musical Instruments. 
 
 ment, which was used in ancient times in 
 the performance of religious rites. 
 
 209. Hayoong-lo. Small gong used with other in- 
 
 struments by bands of music during marriage 
 entertainments. 
 
 210. Nam-ling. Small gong suspended in a metallic 
 
 frame, used by Budhist priests. 
 
 211 and 212. Tan-la , and Tong Koo , Gongs used in 
 concert with other instruments. 
 
 The gong is a favorite instrument with the Chinese. 
 The large ones are heard in their morning and eve- 
 ning devotions, they precede processions of all kinds, 
 and drown all other noises in bands of music. 
 
 213 and 214. Cymbals. These add to the din kept 
 up with gongs in bands of music upon the 
 stage. 
 
 215. Seaou-Soo-lo. A small gong used in concert 
 
 with other instruments. 
 
 216. Tong -koo. The concert drum. 
 
 217. Luk-koo. A call similar to 199. 
 
 218. Wai-koo. “Flat drum.” “ This is much used 
 
 by blind singers, who saunter through the 
 streets in the night. These singers are also 
 the tellers of old stories. Many of them are 
 poor female children, early trained to this 
 business, by which they procure support for 
 their parents, sometimes, as well as for them- 
 selves.” 
 
 219. Mar-lo. Beggar’s gong. 
 
 220 and 221. Heang-teh. “ This possesses all the es- 
 sential parts of the clarionet except the finish 
 and the sweetness of its sound. It is a great 
 favorite among the Chinese, who are so 
 charmed with its loud and deafening sounds, 
 they make it the principal on all occasions, 
 either of joy or sorrow. It is heard at funeral 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XV. 
 
 125 
 
 Musical Instruments. 
 
 processions, it takes a part at marriage enter- 
 tainments, and leads in the musical compa- 
 nies both at the theatre and in the temple.’’ 
 
 222. Nam-sing. Bell used by Bndhist priests in 
 
 their worship. Among the instruments of 
 percussion used by the Chinese, the great 
 bell claims the first place, as all other instru- 
 ments were tuned by this. It was also used 
 in ancient times as the standard of weight 
 and measure. The Chinese bell has no clap- 
 per, but is struck with a wooden hammer. 
 It is seen in all the principal temples, hung 
 in a large wooden stand, and is struck upon 
 at vespers, and at other times, when prayers 
 are offered up. The bell is an eastern inven- 
 tion, and was used many centuries before it 
 was known in the west. 
 
 223. Puk-eu , “ Divining fish.” This instrument is 
 
 used in the recitation of prayers, both private 
 and public, by the Budhistic priest, for the 
 purpose of marking time. 
 
 224. Pin-koo. The low drum. This and the pong- 
 
 koo are used together in a chorus, the singers 
 beating them with small bamboo sticks. They 
 give out a peculiar clinking sound, not gen- 
 erally agreeable to the ears of others than 
 Chinese, till use and association, ingredients 
 in taste, have made it so. 
 
 225. Tong-heng. This metallic instrument is also 
 
 used by the Bndhist priests, to mark time 
 while chanting their prayers. 
 
 “As lovers of pleasure, the Chinese have always had 
 great respect for music, one of its principal promoters; 
 and for tones and rythm, the two essential elements 
 of music and of song, they manifest great fondness. 
 ‘ Indeed it appears that the ancient sages of China 
 
126 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XV. 
 
 Rules for Writing Music , fyc. Vases. 
 
 were not only extremely fond of what they esteemed 
 good music, but that they believed it to have a power- 
 ful influence over the morals of the people. It is said 
 that Confucius was so powerfully struck with the 
 music of the great Shun, that for three months after 
 he heard it, he knew not the taste of his food.’ Their 
 writings on the subject of music, though hard to be 
 understood, are very numerous; and they contain 
 records of the art, in the earliest periods of their his- 
 tory, accompanied with drawings and descriptions of 
 their instruments. Many of the most ancient are now 
 disused, and ‘ according to their own account their 
 music at present is far inferior to what it was in the 
 golden ages of antiquity.’ 
 
 “ The rules for writing instrumental music among 
 the Chinese change somewhat according to the instru- 
 ment employed; thus the lute requires a very differ- 
 ent system of notation from the guitar; and both from 
 the rebeck. In the notation adopted for the lute, 
 
 ‘ each note is a cluster of characters ; one denotes the 
 string, another the stud, a third informs you in what 
 manner the fingers of the right hand are to be used, a 
 fourth does the same in reference to the left, a fifth 
 tells the performer in what way he must slide the 
 hand before or after the appropriate sound has been 
 given, and a sixth says, perhaps, that two notes are to 
 be struck at the same time.’ On account of this 
 clumsy mode of notation, but few Chinese learn to 
 play the lute scientifically.” 
 
 226. Beautiful porcelain vase, with the surface pur- 
 
 posely cracked in burning. The Chinese 
 affirm that the art of making this kind of ware 
 has been lost for several hundred years. 
 
 227. Light green porcelain vase, with raised white 
 
 figure. 
 
 228. Very ancient surface cracked porcelain vase, 
 
 discolored by time. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XVI. 
 
 127 
 
 Paper, Envelopes, Cards, fyc. 
 
 CASE XVI. 
 
 229. Large gilt figured envelopes for marriage letters. 
 
 230. “ “ letter paper “ “ 
 
 Exchanged by the parents of the bride and 
 groom and sent accompanied by the marriage 
 presents. 
 
 231. Smaller gilt figured marriage envelopes. 
 
 232. “ “ letter paper for same use as 
 
 230. 
 
 233. White letter paper, with blue title-page, for com- 
 
 munications and petitions to government offi- 
 cers. 
 
 234. Red letter paper, with dark blue title page, for 
 
 communications between Mandarins. 
 
 235 and 236. Figured red letter paper. 
 
 237. Plain red letter paper. 
 
 238. Figured white letter paper. 
 
 239 and 240. Figured and plain mourning letter 
 paper. 
 
 541 and 242. Figured and plain envelopes for letters, 
 
 243. Mourning envelopes. 
 
 244, 245, and 246. Name strips for envelopes. 
 
 247. Figured fancy colored note paper. 
 
 24S and 249. Plain red and mourning cards. 
 
 250. Small red cards. 
 
 251. Small red envelopes and name strips. 
 
 252. Letter from an officer in the province of Honan, 
 
 to Hr. Parker, the American medical mission- 
 ary, at Canton, stating his case and soliciting 
 his advice. 
 
 253. 254, and 255. Envelope of letter from Wong 
 
 (2d Imperial Commissioner,) to Dr. Parker ; 
 
128 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XVI. 
 
 Printing , Newspapers, Cards, fyc. 
 
 the letter, and copy of Keying’s despatch to 
 the Emperor, accompanying the treaty with 
 the United States. 
 
 256. Envelope of an official document from the Im- 
 
 perial Commissioner, Keying, to the Hon. 
 Caleb Cushing, Minister Plenipotentiary from 
 the United States to China. 
 
 257. Envelope of an official document from the 
 
 Tsoong-to of Canton, to Paul S. Forbes, Esq., 
 American Consul at Canton. 
 
 248. Facsimile of Keying’s Tartar signature as af- 
 fixed to the treaty between China and the 
 United States. The first character is the sig- 
 nature, and the second or lower one is the 
 flourish. 
 
 259. The Imperial Commissioner Keying’s card. 
 
 260. The card of Wong-gan-toong the second Com- 
 
 missioner. 
 
 261. 262, and 263. The cards of Chow-chan-ling, 
 
 Pwan-sz-shing or Pwan-tin-qua, and Tung- 
 lin, the Mandarins or high officers attached 
 to Keying’s suite. It will be noticed that 
 Pwan-tin-qua’s card has a drab colored strip 
 upon it, upon which his name is inscribed. 
 He was still in mourning, at the time this 
 card was presented, for his mother who died 
 nearly a year before. The Chinese ritual pre- 
 scribes the time of mourning for a parent, 
 which is nine months or thrice ninety days, 
 during which time government officers retire 
 from office. 
 
 264. Stereotype block for two pages of a Chinese 
 book. All the printing is done in China with 
 such blocks as this. They have no movable 
 types ; but the American missionaries at Ma- 
 cao and Hong-Kong are printing books in 
 Chinese with movable types made in France. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XVI. 
 
 129 
 
 Printing , Newspapers , Books, Sfc. 
 
 26 5. Seals for the use of merchants. 
 
 266. Handsome carved blocks for printing labels. 
 
 267. Block for printing invitations to marriage en- 
 
 tertainments. 
 
 268. Stamps used by shopmen. 
 
 269. Canton court circular, containing only the 
 
 movements of the various government offi- 
 cers. 
 
 270. Copy of the Peking Gazette, issued at Canton 
 
 every other day. This one contains dates 
 from Peking, eighty days previous (Canton is 
 about as far from Peking as New Orleans is 
 from New York.) There is no freedom of 
 the press in China. The newspapers contain 
 only such information as the government 
 sees fit to have published to suit its own pur- 
 poses. 
 
 271. Different kinds of theme paper used at the lit- 
 
 erary examinations of candidates for the differ- 
 ent degrees necessary for them to attain be- 
 fore becoming eligible to office. 
 
 273. Account hooks of various sizes. 
 
 274. White envelopes with red name strips. 
 
 275. Faint ruled theme paper. 
 
 276. Ruled account paper. 
 
 277. Specimens of handsome characters made by a 
 
 celebrated Canton scribe named Chung-uk- 
 sliung. 
 
 278. Characters for children to copy. 
 
 279. Chinese Almanac, for 1844. 
 
 280. Complaint of a poor Buffalo, a Budhist pro- 
 
 duction, arranged to resemble a boy leading 
 one of those animals. 
 
 281. Divining book to consult when throAving the 
 
 bamboo slips used in Jos houses or temples 
 to ascertain the lucky days for marriages, 
 building houses, &c. 
 
 17 
 
130 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XVII. 
 
 Invention of Paper and Printing. 
 
 282. Chinese Arithmetic. 
 
 283 and 284 Ancient characters and their meaning 
 explained. 
 
 285. Picture book used to learn children the names 
 
 of things. 
 
 286. Directions for holding the pencil for different 
 
 kinds of writing. The Chinese are great ad- 
 mirers of caligraphy, and indeed one of the 
 essentials at the literary examination is an el- 
 egantly written theme. 
 
 The manufacture of paper and the art of printing 
 both originated in China, the former being first made 
 by the Chinese, A. D. 95, and the art of manufactur- 
 ing is transmitted by the Arabs (who learnt it from 
 the Chinese) into Spain about the beginning of the 
 10th century, and the latter invention, which was first 
 introduced to the notice of the Chinese government 
 about the middle of the 10th century, was first brought 
 to notice in Europe in 1440, and introduced into Eng- 
 land in 1470. Before the invention of paper, the Chi- 
 nese wrote upon slips of flattened bamboo which they 
 formed into books by fastening them together with 
 wires. 
 
 CASE XVII. 
 
 This case contains a beautiful model of a two story 
 summer house, as seen in the southern provinces of 
 China, with small figures of a lady and gentleman. 
 There are also a number of flowers made of rice pa- 
 per and other ornaments for the hair made of feathers 
 in imitation of flowers, birds and insects. On the top 
 of this case are several finely painted porcelain vases. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XX. 
 
 131 
 
 Stores and Shops. 
 
 CASE XVIII. 
 
 Contains a model of a silk store in Canton. Arti- 
 ficial flowers made of silk and rice paper, and a fan 
 made of the feathers of the Argus Pheasant. On the 
 top of this case are also several porcelain vases. 
 
 CASE XIX. 
 
 Contains a model of a China ware and curiosity 
 shop in New China street, Canton, an ornamental fan 
 made of Peacock’s feathers, and one made of the 
 feathers of the Argus Pheasant. There are two pair 
 of elegant five necked porcelain flower vases, and a 
 pair of beautifully painted single necked ditto, on the 
 top of this case. 
 
 Chinese stores, like the houses, are ordinarily but 
 one story high, but some of the handsomest are two 
 stories. Nearly all are destitute of yards, and have 
 only a platform upon the roof where the fuel is kept 
 for cooking, which is done in the attic. In the cities 
 the ground, in business localities, is covered with 
 stores, and they are universally lighted by sky-lights 
 in the roof, as seen in the models here exhibited. 
 
 CASE XX. 
 
 The upper part of this case contains plates of vari- 
 ous patterns made of brass enameled. 
 
 287. Enameled cup with cover. 
 
132 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XX. 
 
 Enameled Ware. 
 
 288, 289. Small enameled hand spittoons used in bed, 
 and carried by the attendants of gentlemen 
 for the use of their masters. 
 
 290. Enameled cream cup, an article made for ex- 
 
 port, as the Chinese do not use cream or milk 
 as a beverage. 
 
 291. Enameled stand for writing pencils and dust 
 
 brush, a part of a gentleman’s writing appa- 
 ratus. 
 
 292. Curious enameled fruit shaped tea pot. The 
 
 tea is put in at the bottom of the vessel, it 
 having no opening at the top to admit the 
 escape of the aroma of the tea. 
 
 293. Sweetmeat box made of enameled ware. 
 
 294. Vessel for hot Sam-shou, the liquor distilled from 
 
 rice by the Chinese. 
 
 295. Enameled plate used in making offerings of 
 
 fruits and cakes before idols. 
 
 296. Elegant enameled vessel for holding Sam-shou, 
 
 also called Su-hing hot wine, used at enter- 
 tainments. 
 
 297 to 299. Covered enameled tea cups. 
 
 300. Enameled milk cup. 
 
 301. Enameled plate for same use as 295. 
 
 302 to 304. Set of small enameled incense vessels 
 used upon family altars. 
 
 305. Beautiful small enameled bowl for holy water, 
 
 used by Budhists. 
 
 306. Enameled sugar bowl. 
 
 307. Small enameled catty for line tea. 
 
 308. 309. Small hand spittoons. 
 
 310. Same as 307. 
 
 311 to 315. Enameled plates of the ordinary size 
 used at table by the Chinese to contain the 
 relishes of pork, fish, &c., eaten with their 
 rice. Each person is furnished with a bowl 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XX. 
 
 1 33 
 
 Enameled Ware. 
 
 for rice, and with his chopsticks takes from 
 time to time some of the contents of the 
 plates which are used in common. 
 
 316. Small enameled sugar bowl. 
 
 317. Small enameled saucer of a peculiar and an- 
 
 cient form which the Chinese consider lucky. 
 318 to 321. Enameled plates of various patterns. 
 
 322 to 324. Enameled saucers of various patterns. 
 325, 326. Similar to 317. 
 
 327. Similar to 324. 
 
 328 to 330. Enameled tobacco boxes. Tobacco is 
 only used by the Chinese for smoking and 
 snufljng. 
 
 331. Enameled pencil stand with water vessel at- 
 
 tached to it for mixing India ink. 
 
 332, 333. Enameled pencil rack and stand. 
 
 334. Enameled rice bowl 
 
 335, 336. Boxes made of enameled ware for betel 
 
 nut, tobacco, &c. 
 
 337, 338. Enameled tea cups and saucers. 
 
 339. Small rice bowl curiously enameled. 
 
 340 to 342. Enameled tea cups and saucers. 
 
 343, 344. Beautiful blue and gold enameled boxes 
 for tobacco. 
 
 245. Enameled cup for drinking Sam-shou. 
 
 346, to 351. Beautifully painted porcelain tea cups 
 with metallic saucers and covers to prevent 
 the escape of the aroma of the tea. 
 
 352. Mended cup and saucer exhibiting the Chinese 
 
 method of repairing porcelain, glass, &c. 
 
 353. A set of enameled sweetmeat dishes made to 
 
 fit a circular tray. 
 
 354 to 357. Enameled cups and saucers of small 
 dimensions for drinking hot Sam-shou and 
 very fine tea. 
 
 358, 359. Enameled saucers of peculiar forms. 
 
134 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XX. 
 
 Enameled , Porcelain and Metallic Vessels, fyc. 
 
 360. Enameled Chinese spoon. 
 
 361, 362. A pair of elegant porcelain arm supports 
 
 used on large settees. 
 
 363. Porcelain rice bowl within a porcelain hot water 
 
 vessel. 
 
 364. A set of porcelain medicine boxes. 
 
 365. Ancient incense vessel in the form of a Unicorn 
 
 on a stand. The incense is placed in the in- 
 terior and the fames exhale from the mouth. 
 
 366. Grotesque Chinaware image used as a pillow 
 
 367. 371. Elegant metallic vessels for containing 
 
 Sam-shou used at feasts and universally drank 
 hot. t 
 
 368 to 370. Curiously shaped metallic cups for drink- 
 ing Sam-shou. 
 
 369. Metallic lamp stand. 
 
 372. Same as 366. 
 
 373. Same as 365. 
 
 374. 375. Two elegant porcelain tea trays. 
 
 376, 377. A pair of small porcelain flower stands. 
 378, 379. Straight jars, made of porcelain, for hold- 
 ing writing pencils. 
 
 380, 381. A pair of beautiful flower vases of small 
 size. 
 
 382, 383. Curious formed and painted porcelain 
 vases. 
 
 384, 385. A pair of handsomely painted flower vases. 
 386, 387. A pair of superb porcelain flower jars, in 
 which the leaves of flowers are placed, the 
 perfume escaping through the perforations in 
 the covers. 
 
 388. Porcelain image of the Budhist goddess Shing- 
 Mo, “ Holy Mother,” with a child in her arms 
 holding a sceptre. The attributes of this hea- 
 then goddess strongly resembles those of the 
 Virgin Mary. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XX. 
 
 135 
 
 Porcelain and Earthern Ware. 
 
 389, 390. Tea pot and Sam-Shou vessels made of blue 
 stone ware. 
 
 391. Beautiful painted porcelain sugar bowl. 
 
 392, 393. Porcelain tea and Sam-Shou vessels. 
 
 394 to 396. Set of small porcelain incense vessels. 
 397. Porcelain vessel, the upper part of which is used 
 
 for medicine, and the lower as a spittoon. 
 
 398 to 401. Porcelain tea pots of different construc- 
 tions. 
 
 402. Small unglazed procelain vessel for the prepa- 
 
 ration of ginseng. 
 
 403. Wooden case for tea vessel used in stores and 
 
 houses to keep tea warm. 
 
 404. Stone ware sweetmeat jar. 
 
 405. Small tea pot made of red glazed porcelain. 
 
 406. Common hand furnace made of an earthen 
 
 vessel, to contain the coals, fitted into a bam- 
 boo basket, used by the poorer classes in cold 
 weather. 
 
 In the north of China houses are heat by flues pas- 
 sing under the tile floors, and couches made of brick 
 are heated in a similar manner, but at the south fires 
 are only used for cooking, the body being kept warm, 
 by putting on additional clothing as cold weather, 
 which is not very severe or of long continuance, ap- 
 proaches. At Canton the mercury seldom falls below 
 the freezing point, and it has snowed but once at that 
 place in a great many years. 
 
 407. 408. Fanciful shaped vessel for holding water 
 
 used to grind ink used for writing. 
 
 409. Tea pot made of common ware in the shape of 
 
 a melon. 
 
 410. Blocks made of the root of the bamboo; used 
 
 in temples to ascertain whether the prayers of 
 suppliants will be answered favorably or not. 
 The petitioner kneeling before the altar drops 
 
136 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XX. 
 
 Origin of the Chinese. 
 
 the blocks upon the pavement, if one falls 
 with the round side up and the other the flat, 
 it is considered favorable, but if otherwise, 
 the reverse. 
 
 411. Handsome case containing a tea vessel above 
 
 and a stone ware receptacle for coals below. 
 Every store and house is furnished with 
 something of this kind for the use of the in- 
 mates and visitors. The Chinese warm all 
 their drinks, considering cold ones unhealthy. 
 
 412. Curious tea pot made of common ware in the 
 
 form of a pomegranate. 
 
 413. An image of one of the Budhist deities holding 
 
 aloft the mystical diagram made by the ancient 
 Emperor Fuhi, used to protect houses from 
 evil influences. The Emperor Fuhi or Fohy 
 is considered by some Chinese historians as 
 the founder of the Empire. Before he ap- 
 peared they say men differed not from brutes, 
 but he civilized them, and after making the 
 eight mystical diagrams, of which the Chi- 
 nese write and talk much but know little, he 
 proceeded to invent the written character. 
 The commencement of his reign is placed 
 2852 B. C., and it is in the province of Honan 
 where he built his capital that the Chinese 
 fix the site of that first settlement from whence 
 have sprung all the successive dynasties and 
 all the countless multitudes of the black 
 haired people, which during a period of forty- 
 seven centuries, have ruled and cultivated 
 the hills and vallies of the celestial Empire. 
 
 414. Porcelain medicine jar. 
 
 415. Small tea pot of curious construction, for mak- 
 
 ing a cup of tea expeditiously by placing a 
 lamp underneath. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXII. 
 
 137 
 
 Canal Boat. 
 
 416. Common ware tea vessel for the use of stores 
 and houses. 
 
 On the top of this case are eight elegant porcelain 
 jars of various patterns. 
 
 CASE XXI. 
 
 Contains a model of a canal boat, such as the tea 
 is brought to Canton in ; some artificial fruits, head or- 
 naments made of feathers, and two fans so made that 
 when opened in one direction are whole, but if open- 
 ed the other appear broken. A large number of these 
 canal boats are always to be seen in the Canton 
 waters. They are excellent cargo boats, and pecu- 
 liarly adapted to the shallow inland waters and canals, 
 where they are pushed along by the men with bam- 
 boo poles, or tracked with ropes. They have peculiar 
 masts, which can be taken down and put up with 
 facility, which enables them to take advantage of the 
 winds in large streams. The top of this case is cover- 
 ed with porcelain vases. 
 
 CASE XXII. 
 
 Contains a model of a Nanking junk, and a num- 
 ber of specimens of artificial fruits. 
 
 The hulls of all junks are shaped very much like a 
 Chinese shoe, but they differ considerably in their up- 
 per works and embellishments. The Nanking junks 
 18 
 
138 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXII. 
 
 Junks. 
 
 are perhaps the handsomest. “The model from which 
 a junk was first derived, is said by the Chinese to 
 have been a monstrous fish ; the fancied resemblance 
 is kept up in the eyes, the mouth and teeth, painted 
 on the bow, a frisking tail in the high stern, &c.” 
 Like all other Chinese vessels the junks are without 
 keels, and draw very little water, on which account 
 they fall to leeward in head winds, and are obliged, in 
 their trading voyages, to take advantage of the mon- 
 soons or periodical winds which, on the coast of 
 China, blow steadily for several months in one direc- 
 tion, and then change and blow in an opposite one. 
 The art of navigation appears to have been on the 
 decline in China for several centuries, as it is well 
 known that the Chinese once navigated as far as 
 India, while at present their most distant voyages ex- 
 tend no farther than Java, and the Malay islands to 
 the south. They have no instruments for calculating 
 the latitude or longitude, but are guided by the com- 
 pass between the prominent headlands ; of which to- 
 gether with the harbors, currents and shoals on the 
 coast, they possess tolerably accurate directories. The 
 sails of all Chinese vessels are made of mats, the ropes 
 and cables of split rattans and coir, or the husk of the 
 cocoa nut, and the anchors of a heavy hard wood 
 called by the Chinese teih-mo, “iron wood.” The ac- 
 count which Mr. Gutzlaff gives of the manning and 
 discipline of the trading junks, in which he made 
 several voyages, explains, in part, the loss of so many 
 at sea. “ Besides the principal owner of the cargo, or 
 agent for those who own it, there is the captain or 
 pilot. He sits constantly on the weather side of the 
 vessel, observing the shores and promontories as they 
 are approached, and from habit seldom lies down to 
 sleep. Though he has the nominal command over 
 the sailors, who are the offscourings of the Chinese 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XXIII. 
 
 139 
 
 Mandarin Boats. 
 
 population, they obey him or not, according to their 
 pleasure, and sometimes scold or brave him like one 
 of their own number. Next to the pilot is the helms- 
 man, who manages the steering and sails. Besides 
 clerks for the cargo, there is a purchaser of provisions, 
 and another whose express business it is to attend to 
 the offerings to the gods and goddesses. The crew 
 consists of two classes: the able seamen, who are 
 called Tow-mo , “heads and eyes,” and the ordinary 
 seamen called Fokins “ comrades.” Every one is a 
 shareholder, with the privilege of putting a certain 
 quantity of goods on board. The principal object of 
 all is trade, and the working of the junks would seem 
 to be a subordinate point. The crew exercise full 
 control over the vessel, and oppose every measure 
 which they deem injurious to their own interest; so 
 that the captain and pilot are often obliged to submit 
 to them. In time of danger the men often lose all 
 courage ; and their indecision, with the confusion 
 which attend the absence of discipline, not unfre- 
 quently proves the destruction of the junk.” 
 
 On the top of this case are several porcelain vases 
 and two China ware fountains, sometimes used as 
 flower pots, made to represent rocky hill sides, with 
 castles, temples, &c. 
 
 CASE XXIII, 
 
 Contains a model of a Mandarin boat or revenue 
 cutter. 
 
 The Mandarin boats, called by the Chinese “ fast 
 crabs,” and “ scrambling dragons,” are intended by 
 the government for the suppression of opium smug- 
 
140 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXIV. 
 
 Embroidered Articles. 
 
 gling on the rivers, but are said to be oftener used for 
 smuggling, or for collecting from smugglers a certain 
 amount for every chest of opium they are allowed to 
 run in, which amount goes into the pockets of the 
 Mandarins having them in charge. 
 
 The top of this case is covered with porcelain vases 
 and China ware fountains similar to those on the pre- 
 vious case. 
 
 CASE XII Y. 
 
 417. Gentlemen’s embroidered pockets worn at the 
 
 waist in front under the upper garment. 
 
 418. Gentlemen’s embroidered pockets for keys. 
 
 419. Gentlemen’s embroidered double pockets for 
 
 betel nut, &c. 
 
 420. Gentlemen’s embroidered watch pockets. 
 
 Those who can afford it usually carry two watches, 
 
 one on each side. A Chinese being asked the reason 
 answered “ S' pose one catchy litty sick inside , other can 
 ivalky .” 
 
 421. Embroidered head bands for ladies. 
 
 422. Stamped leather spectacle cases. 
 
 423. Embroidered cases for spectacles. 
 
 424. Large embroidered pocket. 
 
 425. Waist ornaments worn by gentlemen. 
 
 426. Embroidered sashes for ladies. 
 
 427. Gentlemen’s embroidered woolen cap worn in 
 
 cold weather. 
 
 428. Gentlemen’s embroidered tobacco pouches, sus- 
 
 pended at the waist. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXIV. 
 
 141 
 
 Embroidered Articles. 
 
 429. Ornamental embroidered scent bags carried by 
 
 gentlemen at the waist. 
 
 430. Silk bandage for small feet. 
 
 431. Embroidered fan cases. These articles form a 
 
 part of the waist ornaments worn by gentle- 
 men who all carry fans. 
 
 432. Embroidered scarlet worsted pockets. 
 
 433. Silk crape breast pieces worn in cold weather. 
 
 434. Embroidered knee pans padded with cotton 
 
 and worn in water. 
 
 435. Embroidered knee pans for summer wear. 
 
 436. Black silk handkerchief with white figure ; car- 
 
 ried by bridegrooms. 
 
 437. Printed crape door cover. 
 
 438. Child’s head dress. 
 
 439. Budhist canonical head dress with embroidered 
 
 images of the “ precious Budhas ” sitting on 
 the flowers of the lotus or sacred water lily. 
 
 440. Silk garters worn by gentlemen. 
 
 441. 442. Chinese stockings. 
 
 443. Cap worn by Budhist priests on festival days. 
 
 444. Ordinary cap worn by Budhist priests. 
 
 445 to 447. Children’s embroidered caps. 
 
 448. Different kinds of caps worn by gentlemen in 
 
 winter. 
 
 449. Gentlemen’ summer caps made of horse hair. 
 
 450. Boy’s caps. 
 
 451. Mourning caps. 
 
 452. Felt caps. 
 
 453. Velvet collars worn in winter by gentlemen. 
 
142 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXV. 
 
 Carved Articles , <Sre. 
 
 CASE XXV. 
 
 453. Image of a Chinese sage, carved from a root of 
 
 the bamboo. 
 
 454. Beautiful carved king wood cap stand. 
 
 455. Large and elegant bronze incense vase with 
 
 carved wood cover and stand. 
 
 456. Budhist idol carved from the root of the bam- 
 
 boo. 
 
 457. Beautiful carved wood stand and tree with 
 
 bronze images of an old man, a stork and a 
 deer, emblematic of long life and happiness. 
 
 458. Figure of an elephant and his master hand- 
 
 somely carved from a bamboo root. 
 
 459. Fine red lacquered incense vessel in the form 
 
 of an Oo-loo or bottle gourd which is consid- 
 ered by the Chinese an emblem of longevity. 
 
 460. Similar to 454. 
 
 461. Figure of a Chinese sage riding on a deer, 
 
 carved from a bamboo root. 
 
 462. Magic mirror or carved stand. Some of these 
 
 mirrors possess the curious property of re- 
 flecting an image on a wall, of the raised fig- 
 ures on the back from the surface. The body 
 of the mirror and the figures are supposed to 
 be made of metals of different reflective pow- 
 ers, and the figures to extend through the 
 mirror to the face, which being polished, ren- 
 ders their outlines invisible to the eye. 
 
 463. Budhist idol, with Joo-ee or sceptre in his hand, 
 
 riding upon a buffalo. Carved from a bam- 
 boo root. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM-CASE XXV. 
 
 143 
 
 Carved Articles , fyc. 
 
 464. Bronze image of Budha. 
 
 365. Parrot carved from the root of the bamboo. 
 
 466. Vine pattern stand elaborated carved out of 
 
 king wood. 
 
 467. Beautiful leaf pattern bronze holy water vase 
 
 on a finely carved stand. 
 
 468. Elegantly carved cup made from the horn of 
 
 the rhinoceros, on a carved king wood stand. 
 These cups were sent to government officers 
 in ancient times by the Emperors, as marks of 
 displeasure to be followed by removal from 
 office. 
 
 469. Bronze elephant and figure. 
 
 470. Triple ornamental carved wood stand with va- 
 
 riegated marble tops. 
 
 471. Representation of a hill with temples, devotees, 
 
 &c., elaborately carved from a bamboo root. 
 
 472. Temples and figures carved in bamboo. 
 
 473. Image of a Budhist Jos or God, beautifully 
 
 carved in a fine yellow wood resembling 
 English box. 
 
 474. Elegant bronze vase of small size, on stand. 
 
 475. Double ornamental stand with marble tops. 
 
 476. Grotesque image carved from a bamboo root. 
 
 477. Bronze incense vessel in the form of a duck on 
 
 a handsome carved stand. The incense is 
 placed within the body, the smoke escaping 
 through the mouth. 
 
 478. Bronze image of Kuan-yim, the goddess of mer- 
 
 cy, on carved stand. 
 
 479. Double marble top stand, similar to 475. 
 
 480. Temple and figures carved from a bamboo 
 
 root. 
 
 481. 482. Machine toys made at Nanking. 
 
 483. Chinese compass. The polarity of the needle 
 was probably discovered in China as it is ex- 
 
144 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXV. 
 
 Carved Articles, fyc. 
 
 plicitly noticed in a Chinese dictionary, fin- 
 ished A. D. 121, and previous to 419, it was 
 used by them to guide ships. 
 
 484. Similar to 481 and 482. 
 
 485. Large Chinese compass. 
 
 486. Carved stone Jos or idol. 
 
 487. Small tea-pot made of a brown ware, much 
 
 esteemed by the Chinese, and beautifully 
 painted in enamel. 
 
 488. Sword made of ancient Chinese coin, supposed 
 
 by that superstitious people to be very effica- 
 cious in keeping away ghosts and generally 
 suspended at the head of their couches for 
 that purpose. 
 
 489. Tea-pot similar to 487. 
 
 490. Lacquered letter box. 
 
 491. Compass and sun dial. 
 
 492. Tea-pot made of fine brown ware. 
 
 493. Model of a two storied pagoda carved out of 
 
 stone. 
 
 494. Small brown earthen ware tea-pot. 
 
 495. Compass and perpetual almanac. 
 
 496. Nanking machine toy. 
 
 497. Small clay toy images from Nanking. 
 
 498. Small carved stone image. 
 
 499. Toy buffalo made of clay. 
 
 500. Tea-cups finely carved from cocoa-nut wood 
 
 and lined with metal. 
 
 501. Handsome small brown ware tea-pot. 
 
 502. Small grotesque image carved out of stone. 
 
 503. Beautiful carved stone image. 
 
 504. Small hexagonal stand carved out of king wood. 
 
 505. 507, 509. Nanking machine toys of different 
 
 construction. These toys contain machinery 
 inside, and when wound up possess the power 
 of locomotion for a short time. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XXV. 
 
 145 
 
 Carved Articles , fyc. 
 
 506. Small lacquered tobacco-box. 
 
 508. Large brown ware tea-pot handsomely painted. 
 
 510. Chopsticks and knife in a shark skin case. 
 
 Worn by gentlemen suspended at the girdle 
 and used to eat with. 
 
 511. Elaborately carved ivory fan. 
 
 512. Beautifully engraved tortoise shell paper cutter. 
 
 513. 514. Ivory puzzles of different construction. 
 
 515. Small Chinese compass. 
 
 516. Grotesque carved ivory letter stamp. 
 
 517. Ink stone box with the cover ornamented with 
 
 a vine and flowers made of pearl in relief. 
 
 518. Superbly carved sandal wood letter rack. 
 
 519. Chopsticks and knife in a tortoise shell case. 
 
 520. Chastely ornamented feather fan with ivory 
 
 frame. 
 
 521. 523. Handsomely carved ivory paper cutters. 
 
 522. Engraved tortoise shell segar case. 
 
 524. Silver basket with gold and enameled orna- 
 
 ments. A most elegant specimen of Chinese 
 fillagree work. 
 
 525. Carved sandal wood case containing a pair of 
 
 chopsticks, knife and toothpick. 
 
 526. Handsome lacquered card case. 
 
 527. Curious tea-pot made of metal and lined with 
 
 earthen ware, the handle and end of the spout 
 being made of jade stone. 
 
 528. Carved ivory counter box. 
 
 529. Stone pencil holder. 
 
 530. Carved cocoa nut wood tea-cups, with metallic 
 
 linings. 
 
 531. Carved pearl card case. 
 
 532. Round carved ivory counter box. 
 
 533. Handsome carved ivory puzzle and box. 
 
 534. Large ivory basket, most exquisitely carved. 
 
 535. Belt clasp used by government officers, 
 
 19 
 
146 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXV. 
 
 Carved Articles, fyc. 
 
 536. Carved stone pencil stand. 
 
 537. Hexagonal carved king wood stand of small 
 
 size. 
 
 538. Engraved tortoise shell covered book containing 
 
 small figures of Chinese, made of silk with 
 painted ivory faces. 
 
 539. Gilt silver arm ring worn by Chinese ladies. 
 
 540. Small handsomely carved stand, made of king 
 
 wood. 
 
 541. Ivory puzzle. 
 
 542. Neatly carved ivory letter stamp. 
 
 543. Pearl letter stamp. 
 
 544. Splendidly carved ivory card case. 
 
 545. Finely carved gentlemen’s waist ornament made 
 
 of Yu or Jade, a stone highly prized by the 
 Chinese and very costly. 
 
 54 6* Silver arm ring or bracelet. 
 
 547. An elegant carved tortoise shell card case. 
 
 548. 552, A pair of small handsome king wood 
 
 stands. 
 
 549. Snuff bottle. 
 
 550. 553. Small lacquered tobacco boxes. 
 
 551. Thumb ring worn by archers. 
 
 554. Beautiful ivory model of a flower boat, with 
 figures, furniture, &c. complete. 
 
 555. Curious ivory letter stamp. 
 
 556. Elegant carved ivory frame with a figure of a 
 
 lady, reclining on a couch carved in ivory and 
 painted on one side, and a looking glass on 
 the other. 
 
 557. Book containing diagrams of puzzles. 
 
 558. Small mirror with back handsomely carved in 
 
 ivory and painted. 
 
 559. Large and finely carved ivory ball, containing 
 
 sixteen other balls inside, curiously carved 
 out of a solid piece of ivory. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XXV. 
 
 147 
 
 Carved Articles, SfC. 
 
 560. Very finely carved ivory case for a snuff bottle. 
 
 561, 562. Small carved ivory balls. 
 
 563. Toy buffalo, made of clay, with bay on his back 
 
 flying a kite. 
 
 564. Grotesque carved ivory letter stamp. 
 
 565. Waist ornament worn by gentlemen. 
 
 566. Small Sam-shou cups made of cocoa nut wood, 
 
 lined with metal. 
 
 567. Small gilt porcelain tea-pot. 
 
 568. Ivory letter stamp, with ball handle, containing 
 
 several concentric spheres within. 
 
 569. Small Nanking clay toys. 
 
 570. Snuff bottle. 
 
 571. Carved cocoa nut wood tea cups. 
 
 572. Small brown ware tea-pot. 
 
 573. Very small clay toys made at Nanking. 
 
 574. Carved bone fan. 
 
 575. Grotesque carved stone paper weight. 
 
 576. Small magic mirror on carved stand. 
 
 577. Chinese spy glass, of little or no use, as they 
 
 are not possessed of science enough to make 
 a good instrument of this kind. 
 
 578. Chinese compass. 
 
 579. Curious puzzle made of a number of silk strings 
 
 and ivory cross bars. The bars will slide up 
 and down but the number of strings between 
 the different pairs varies. 
 
 580. Small pocket compass. 
 
 5S1, 583. Brown earthen ware tea-pots. 
 
 582. Curiously carved stone paper weights. 
 
 584. Elegant carved sandal wood card stand support- 
 
 ed by a grotesque figure of a frog. 
 
 585. Small carved stand of handsome shape. 
 
 586. Beautiful Japanese carved lacquered box. 
 
 587. Lacquered letter case. 
 
 588. Small curious shaped brown ware tea-pot. 
 
148 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXVI. 
 
 Porcelain Painting. 
 
 589. Water vessels, part of a Chinese writing appa- 
 
 ratus. 
 
 590. Small fancy lacquered box for betel nut, tobac- 
 
 co, &cc. 
 
 591. An elegant Joo-ee or sceptre, which according 
 
 to Davis is, in fact, an emblem of amity and 
 good will. It is called Joo-ee , “as you wish,’’ 
 and is exchanged as a costly mark of friend- 
 ship ; but that it had a religious origin seems 
 indicated by the sacred flower of the lotus 
 being generally carved on the superior end. 
 
 592. 594. Mandarins’ belt clasps. 
 
 593. King wood ornamental stand, in the form of a 
 
 flower. 
 
 595. Carved ivory letter stamp. 
 
 596. Ornamental stand made of king wood. 
 
 597. Small fancy lacquered box. 
 
 598. Small yellow earthen ware tea-pot. 
 
 599. 600. Metallic framed compasses and sundials. 
 
 601. Small double carved king wood stand. 
 
 In carving small articles out of ivory, tortoise shell, 
 sandal and other woods, stone and bamboo, the Chi- 
 nese certainly do excel any other nation, and if visitors 
 closely examine the articles in this case they will 
 readily perceive that the patient labor bestowed upon 
 some of them must have been immense. 
 
 CASE XXVI. 
 
 602. Chinese compass. 
 
 603. Porcelain flower vessel in the form of an ele- 
 
 phant. 
 
 604. Chinese combs of various patterns. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXVI. 
 
 149 
 
 Spectacles, fyc. Articles of Porcelain, fyc. 
 
 605 to 607. Three covered cups showing the process 
 of painting Porcelain. The first has the out- 
 line drawn in India ink, the second has the 
 colors put on, and the third is finished, the 
 colors being burned in. 
 
 608. A set of chopsticks. 
 
 609. Spectacles of different kinds, made of crystal. 
 
 These are sometimes fastened on by loops 
 passing over the ears and sometimes with 
 strings with little weights at the ends. The 
 large round eye gives the wearer a peculiarly 
 sapient appearance. 
 
 610. Small books containing the prayers recited by 
 
 the Budhist priests, and sold by them as amu- 
 lets to be carried about the person. 
 
 611. An Oo-loo or bottle gourd, considered an em- 
 
 blem of longevity. 
 
 612. Tray and set of porcelain writing implements. 
 
 613. Dried skin of the porcupine fish, used by the 
 
 Chinese as lanterns. 
 
 614. Red porcelain medicine box. 
 
 615. Joo-ee or sceptre, similar to the one in case 
 
 XXV. The ornamental parts are carved out 
 of jade and other precious stones. 
 
 616. Beautiful lacquered paint box, with colors, &c. 
 
 complete. 
 
 617. Large and beautifully painted porcelain punch 
 
 bowl. 
 
 618. Elegant covered porcelain conjee or rice bowl. 
 
 619. Arm rings, belt clasps, hair pin and ear rings. 
 
 620. Beautifully painted fancy shaped porcelain fruit 
 
 dish. 
 
 621. Porcelain rice bowl and hot water vessel. 
 
 622. 623. Fine painted fancy shaped porcelain fruit 
 
 dishes. 
 
150 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXVII. 
 
 Articles of Porcelain, fyc. Flower Boats .’ 
 
 624, 625. Two large and finely painted porcelain 
 plates on stands. 
 
 626. Different sized compasses. 
 
 627 to 629. Three elegantly painted porcelain dishes 
 of fancy shapes. 
 
 630. Fine porcelain sweetmeat vessels in the form 
 
 of a puzzle. Within the different ones are 
 paintings of birds and flowers upon the pre- 
 pared leaves of the Ficus religiosa or Banyan 
 tree. 
 
 631. Copper hand furnace used by gentlemen in 
 
 cold weather. 
 
 632. Compasses used on board of junks and other 
 
 large Chinese vessels. 
 
 633. Large compass of different construction. 
 
 634. A beautiful and costly carved red lacquered 
 
 Japanese present box presented by Pwan-tin- 
 qua, one of Keying’s suite. 
 
 635. A number of snuff bottles of different patterns 
 . and made of different materials. The snuff 
 
 is taken out with a little spoon attached to 
 the stopple. 
 
 636. Lacquered sweetmeat box. 
 
 637. Beautiful pearl inlaid lacquered cover to 636. 
 
 638. Splendid pearl inlaid lady’s dressing case from 
 
 Japan. 
 
 CASE XXVII. 
 
 Contains a model of a Chinese flower boat, some 
 pots of artificial flower and an Argus Pheasant feather 
 fan. 
 
 The flower boats are used by the Chinese as hotels 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXIX. 
 
 151 
 
 Hong Boats. 
 
 are with us, but to a greater extent, in giving dinners. 
 They are also often used by bridal parties and excur- 
 sions of other kinds upon the rivers. At Canton 
 whole streets of these boats are seen, which with 
 their richly carved and gilded fronts present a gorgeous 
 spectacle, especially at night, when they are splendidly 
 lighted with a great variety of lanterns. Many of 
 them are used as drinking and gaming establishments 
 and some for worse purposes. On the top of the case 
 is an elegant model of a Chinese summer house and 
 a beautiful specimen of carving in fine wood. 
 
 CASE XXVIII. 
 
 Contains a model of a Hong boat, and some pots 
 of artificial flowers. These boats are so called by 
 foreigners, because used by the Hong merchants in 
 going from one part of Canton to another, or to and 
 from their country places. They are very pleasant 
 and convenient boats for making excursions upon the 
 river with small parties in summer, and have been 
 adopted by several foreign residents at Canton for this 
 purpose. On this and the next case are a number of 
 cases of insects, &c. 
 
 CASE XXIX. 
 
 Contains a model of a stone bridge of five arches 
 at Fahti near Canton. 
 
152 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXX. 
 
 Metallic Ware. 
 
 CASE XXX. 
 
 639, 640. Two beautiful paintings on glass represent- 
 ing scenes in the ancient history of the Em- 
 pire. 
 
 641. Rosaries made of different materials and worn 
 
 by priest and mandarins. 
 
 642. A metallic vessel with several apartments, one 
 
 above the other, and tea and Sam-Shou pots 
 fastened on at the sides. A lamp beneath 
 warms the whole apparatus. 
 
 643. Handsome domestic shrine made of king wood. 
 
 644. 645, 647. Metallic candlesticks and plate to set 
 
 upon an altar before Budhist idols. 
 
 646. White copper hookah in a case with box for to- 
 bacco and stand for match paper. In these 
 pipes the fumes of the tobacco are made to 
 pass through water or some aromatic liquid, 
 contained in the vessel below. 
 
 648. Metallic tobacco box and match stand. 
 
 649. White copper hand furnace. 
 
 650. 651. Metallic night lamp and cover. 
 
 652. A beautiful carved stone tablet in an elegant 
 
 carved king wood frame and stand. 
 
 653, 654. Metallic tea and Shcim-Shou pots. 
 
 655. Handsome reading lamp made of white copper. 
 
 656, 657. Bamboo under shirts worn by gentlemen 
 
 in summer. 
 
 658. Sword made of old coin and hung up in houses 
 to prevent the ingress of ghosts. 
 
 659 to 663. Figured candles burned in the temples 
 and by the wealthy before the representatives 
 of Budhist deities on festivals. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXX. 
 
 153 
 
 Candles , SfC. 
 
 664. Common Candles. The Chinese have been 
 
 obliged to seek a substitute for the fat of ani- 
 mals, owing to their scarcity in the vegetable 
 kingdom, and this they find in the seed of 
 the croton febriferum or tallow tree. This seed 
 which is contained in a three lobed berry is 
 surrounded by a white substance not unlike 
 tallow in consistence. The vegetable grease 
 is obtained from the seed by grinding, crush- 
 ing, exposing it to heat and afterwards press- 
 ing it. From this substance all their candles 
 are made, and as it melts easily the candles 
 are usually coated with wax. They burn rap- 
 idly, having a large wick, made of a bamboo 
 stick, covered with cotton, and give bad light, 
 with a great deal of smoke. 
 
 665. A painting on glass representing a thunder 
 
 storm, which the Chinese suppose is caused 
 by the dragon. 
 
 666. Metallic incense vessel to suspend against the 
 
 wall. 
 
 667. White copper hookah. 
 
 668. Carved wood shrine with porcelain image of 
 
 the goddess Kuan-yim. 
 
 669. 670. A pair of beautifully flowered candles used 
 
 at wedding entertainments. 
 
 671. Richly carved and gilt shrine with name of the 
 
 deity inscribed on the tablet below. 
 
 672, 673, 674. Metallic candlesticks and incense 
 
 vessel. 
 
 675, 676. Metal Sam-shou pots. 
 
 677. Large and elegant tablet on stand. 
 
 20 
 
154 CHINESE MUSEUM CASES XXXII, XXXIII. 
 
 Duck Boats. Bridges. 
 
 CASE XXXI. 
 
 Contains a model of a duck boat and several lac- 
 quered feather fans. 
 
 The Chinese consume a great many ducks, which 
 they contrive to rear very cheaply in boats made for 
 the purpose. In these the ducks are conveyed from 
 place to place upon the rivers and turned out to seek 
 their own food upon the muddy banks and shoals. 
 Upon a signal being given by the owner, the ducks 
 may be seen hurrying from every direction towards 
 the floats to which they belong, and ascending the in- 
 clined planks laid out for the purpose, file off to their 
 own coops. It is said that the birds are trained to 
 flock to the boats, when the signal is given, by the 
 last one coming in being whipped. 
 
 CASES XXXII AND XXXIII. 
 
 The first of these cases contains a model of a stone 
 bridge of three openings in the interior of llonam; 
 and the second a model of a granite bridge of three 
 arches opposite Canton. 
 
 Chinese bridges, where there is much passing, and 
 the situation admits of it, are always made of the most 
 solid and durable materials, put together in a substan- 
 tial manner. Evidences of their engineering skill in 
 this respect are to be seen in all parts of the empire, 
 and several fine bridges are spoken of in Staunton’s 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXIV. 
 
 155 
 
 Bedsteads. 
 
 account of Lord Macartney's embassy to China. One 
 of ninety-one arches, thrown across an arm of a lake 
 between Soo-chow and Hang-chow, was passed, and 
 in Keang-nan solid stone bridges of different forms 
 were observed to be thrown over the canal. Some 
 of the arches were semi-circular, others the transverse 
 section of an elipse, and others approached the shape 
 of a horse shoe, the space being widest at the top. 
 From the fact of arches and vaulted work being found 
 in the Great Wall, which was built more than two 
 thousand years ago, it is evident that the Chinese 
 must have understood the construction and proper- 
 ties of the arch long before the Greeks and Romans, 
 whose original and most ancient edifices consisted of 
 columns connected by straight architraves, of bulk 
 sufficient to support the incumbent pressure of solid 
 masonry. 
 
 CASE XXXIV. 
 
 Contains a beautiful model of a Mandarin’s couch, 
 with the appurtenances complete. On the top is a 
 model of the Wampoa pagoda. 
 
 The bedsteads used by the wealthy Chinese, of 
 which our model is a fair specimen, are massive and 
 tasty pieces of furniture, and cost large sums. In 
 summer nothing but a mat is used upon them ; and 
 in winter a thin quilt stuffed with raw silk. The lux- 
 ury of feather beds, hair mattrasses, and other western 
 inventions, appear to be unknown to the Celestials. 
 The bed covering is made of silk, and always hand- 
 some ; its arrangement at the back will be noticed in 
 
156 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXV. 
 
 Wampoa Pagoda. 
 
 the model. A pillow made of bamboo or rattan usu- 
 ally answers to rest the head upon. 
 
 The model of a pagoda on this case is a represen- 
 tation of the pagoda of Pepa-chow, known to foreign- 
 ers as the “Wampoa pagoda.” It is one of the land- 
 marks used by vessels coming up the river. It stands 
 on a slight elevation of ground, is about 170 feet high, 
 and was built in 1598. It was originally called 
 Fowtu, (Budha,) and also “the pagoda of the sea 
 monsters,” and has a small court dedicated to the god 
 of the north, and a temple consecrated to the mon- 
 sters of the deep. 
 
 CASE XXXV. 
 
 678. Large cakes of ink with gilt figures of the dragon 
 
 upon them. 
 
 679. Rolls of ink used in stores. 
 
 680. Common writing pencils of different sizes. 
 
 681. A case of fine writing pencils. 
 
 682. Fine ink of different manufacture. 
 
 683. Large and small pencils for writing the differ- 
 
 ent styles of characters. 
 
 684. Similar to 680. 
 
 685. Brushes used by lantern manufacturers. 
 
 686. Ink stones. 
 
 687. A pair of children’s grass slippers. 
 
 688. Shoes for large sized compressed feet. 
 
 689. do. do. small feet. 
 
 690. Prints used by the Chinese ladies upon their 
 
 faces, which they cover so completely with 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXV. 
 
 157 
 
 Boots , Shoes, fyc. 
 
 white as to hide their complexions entirely. 
 The lips only are touched with red. 
 
 691. Shoes for small footed ladies. 
 
 692. Clay models of a pair of the golden lilies, one 
 
 bandaged and the other naked. 
 
 693. False hair worn by ladies. 
 
 694. Pair of children’s grass slippers. 
 
 695. Thick leather soled shoes worn in wet weather 
 
 by women with large feet. 
 
 696. Boys’ satin shoes with fancy soles. 
 
 697. 698. Children’s embroidered shoes. 
 
 699. Heavy shoes for children, with felt soles. 
 
 700. Beautifully embroidered shoes of various pat- 
 
 terns for ladies with large feet. 
 
 701. Embossed blue satin shoes for gentlemen. 
 
 702. Gentlemen’s cloth shoes with felt soles. 
 
 703. do. dark grass shoes. 
 
 704. Grass slippers. 
 
 705. Mandarin’s satin boots. 
 
 706. Grass slippers lined with cotton. 
 
 707. Similar to 702. 
 
 708. Children’s leather shoes; worn by the poorer 
 
 classes. 
 
 709. Yellow grass shoes for gentlemen. 
 
 710. Mourning shoes. 
 
 711. Heavy wood soled shoes worn in rainy weather. 
 
 712. Satin shoes with thick leather soles for wet 
 
 weather. 
 
 713. Military boots. 
 
 714. Overshoes for ladies with small feet. 
 
 715. Clogs worn by coolies. 
 
 716. Leather boots for ladies with small feet. 
 
 717. Children’s shoes. 
 
 As the Chinese have very little leather besides pig 
 skin which is very porous, they are obliged to make 
 the soles of their boots and shoes waterproof with 
 
158 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXVI. 
 
 Temp'e of Honam. 
 
 some other material to keep out water. For this pur- 
 pose they use wood, felt and paper. 
 
 CASE XXXVI. 
 
 Contains a model of the principal building attached 
 to the celebrated Budhist temple at Honam, commonly 
 called the Honam Jos house, with idols, &c., complete. 
 On the top of the case is a model of a two storied 
 summer house in the south of China completely fur- 
 nished. 
 
 The ground occupied by the temple at Honam, 
 which is the largest and best endowed religious estab- 
 lishment in the southern part of the Empire, was 
 originally a private garden, but several hundred years 
 ago, a priest named Cheyue, built up an establishment, 
 which he called “ the temple of ten thousand au- 
 tumns,” and dedicated it to Budha. It remained an 
 obscure place until within 200 years; when the Em- 
 peror Kanghe’s son in law, who acquired the title of 
 “King of the subjugated South,” by completely bring- 
 ing the province of Canton under his father’s sway, 
 took up his head quarters in the temple of Honam. 
 Being a blood thirsty man, and casting his eyes upon 
 Ah-tsze, a fat, happy priest, whose good condition he 
 thought could not be the effect of vegetable diet, and 
 that he was consequently a hypocrite, he drew his 
 sword to kill him ; but his arm suddenly stiffened, 
 and he was stopped from his purpose. That night a 
 divine person appeared to him in a dream, and assured 
 him that Ah-tsze was a holy man, adding, “you must 
 not unjustly kill him.” Next morning the king pre- 
 sented himself before Ah-tsze, confessed his crime. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XXXVI. 
 
 159 
 
 Honavi Jos House. 
 
 and his arm was immediately restored. He then did 
 obeisance to the priest, and took him for his tutor and 
 guide, and morning and evening the king waited on 
 the priest as his servant. Through the intervention 
 of Ah-tsze the inhabitants of the surrounding country 
 were rescued from extermination, and by their grat- 
 itude and the munificence of the king and his Tartar 
 officers the temple was raised to its present magnifi- 
 cence. 
 
 Its buildings, which are chiefly of brick, are numer- 
 ous, and occupy with the gardens belonging to the 
 temple, six or eight acres. These grounds are sur- 
 rounded by a high wall. After entering the first gate 
 and passing through a long court-yard, the centre of 
 which is occupied by a handsome wide granite walk, 
 kept very clean, and shaded by rows of large trees on 
 each side, you come to the second, called the hill gate, 
 over which Hae-chivang , the name of the temple, is 
 written in large characters. Here, as you stand in 
 the gateway, you see two colossal figures, twenty or 
 twenty-five feet in height, — images of deified warriors, 
 stationed one on your right and the other on your left, 
 in threatening attitudes, to guard day and night the 
 entrance to the inner courts. Passing further on, 
 through another court, you enter “ the palace of the 
 four great celestial Kings,” images of ancient heroes, 
 of colossal dimensions, like the former. Still advanc- 
 ing, a broad granite pathway, like the two former, 
 conducts you up to the principal building, of which 
 our model is a representation. Upon a carved and 
 gilded tablet, in front, is inscribed the characters Tae 
 Hoong Paou Teen, “ The Great Powerful Precious 
 Palace.” Procal, O procul este profani. You are now 
 in the presence of the trial of Budha. Sau Paou Full, 
 the three precious Budhas. Three stately images, 
 more than twenty feet in height, in a sitting posture, 
 
160 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXVI. 
 
 Honam Jos House. 
 
 covered with burnished gold, and representing the 
 past, the present, and to come. On the right sits 
 Kwo-Keu Full , whose reign is already past. In the 
 centre is Heen-tsae Full , who now reigns over the 
 world. And on the left is We-lae Full , the Budha 
 whose reign is yet to come. In front of these are 
 altars, upon which the incense vessels and offerings 
 to the gods are placed. Eighteen other gilded idols 
 of smaller size, deck the sides of the hall, and bells, 
 urns, &c., are scattered about. 
 
 The building in which these images are placed, is 
 about 100 feet square, and standing in the midst of 
 the vast hall, at twilight, surrounded by the colossal 
 but senseless and silent idols, who receive the largest 
 share of the worship due from the sons and daughters 
 of Adam to their Creator, a feeling of awe gradually 
 steals over the mind, akin to that felt on visiting the 
 splendid edifices dedicated to religious purposes in 
 other countries. But here it is soon dispelled by the 
 monotonous chanting of the priests, performing their 
 vespers in the Pali language, of the meaning of which 
 they themselves are generally ignorant. 
 
 “Beyond this building are other halls, filled with 
 images, and on the right side is a long line of apart- 
 ments, some of which are formed into narrow cells 
 for the priests, and others into stalls and pens for pigs, 
 fowls, &c., which are brought to the temple by devout 
 devotees, when they come to make or pay vows to 
 the beings who inhabit the temple. On the left side 
 there is another set of apartments, a pavilion for Kwan- 
 foo-tsze, a military demigod ; a hall for the reception 
 of visitors; a treasury; a retreat for Te-tseang-wang , 
 the king of Hades; the chief priest’s room; a dining 
 hall, and a kitchen. Beyond these, there is a spacious 
 garden, at the extremity of which there is a mauso- 
 leum, wherein the ashes of the burnt priests are once 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXVI. 
 
 161 
 
 Summer Houses. Entertainments. 
 
 a year deposited ; also a furnace for burning their 
 dead bodies, and a little cell in which the jars con- 
 taining their ashes are kept, till the annual season 
 for opening the mausoleum returns. There are like- 
 wise, tombs for the bodies of those who leave money 
 for their burial. There are about 175 priests in the 
 temple, who are supported in part by property be- 
 longing to the establishment, and partly by their own 
 private resources. Only a very few of them are well 
 educated.” 
 
 The summer or country houses, of which the models 
 seen in this collection, are fair specimens, are gener- 
 ally built of wood and set upon brick or stone pillars 
 in the midst of sheets of water, which are covered 
 with the nelumbium, or xvater lily. Some of these 
 country seats, occupying a few acres only, diversified 
 by artificial hills, clumps of rocks and trees, small 
 islands and buildings of different sizes and construc- 
 tion, joined together by tasty bridges, are arranged in 
 such a perspective manner as to give them the ap- 
 pearance of extensive grounds. Families do not 
 ordinarily reside at these places, but short excursions 
 are made to them in summer, and entertainments 
 are given to friends in them, in which theatrical 
 performances generally form a part, and a private 
 theatre is therefore attached to the principal building 
 for this purpose. The Chinese being great epicures, 
 some of these entertainments are very costly, and the 
 tables are covered with a profusion of dishes, filled 
 with extravagant and far-fetched dainties. The order 
 of the courses varies, but they usually begin as ours 
 end, with fruits, cakes and sweetmeats, and end as 
 ours begin, with soup, or more commonly with plain 
 boiled rice. The number of courses is sometimes 
 very great ; ten, twenty, thirty and upwards are not 
 
 unusual. One course is not entirely removed to give 
 
 21 
 
162 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXVI. 
 
 Drinicing Games. Dwellings. 
 
 place to another, but the dishes are being continually- 
 changed. The food consists principally of stews, in 
 which the meat is cut up into small pieces previous 
 to cooking, in order to accommodate it to the* chop- 
 sticks, and a Chinese dinner would be nothing with- 
 out stews made of birds’ nests, sharks’ fins, deers’ 
 sinews, bircho-de-mer, or sea slugs, and many other 
 such dishes, used and appreciated only by the Chi- 
 nese, and all of which, to the uneducated and barba- 
 rous taste of a native of the western world, possess a 
 similarly insipid or repulsive flavor. Sam-shou, a 
 liquor distilled from rice, is served hot, and the host 
 and guests amuse themselves with the game of tsoey- 
 moey, or some other. The game is played by two 
 persons facing each other and simultaneously throw- 
 ing out their hands and opening some of their fingers, 
 at the same time expressing the number of fingers 
 held out by both. If one guesses correctly and the 
 other does not, the loser is obliged to drink a cup of 
 sam-shou. This is a favorite game with all classes, 
 and Davis says, is precisely the same as the game of 
 Morra, common among the lower orders of Italy at 
 the present day, and derived by them from the Roman 
 sport of “ Micare digitis,” of which Cicero remarked, 
 that “ you must have great faith in the honesty of any 
 man with whom you played in the dark.” After the 
 entertainment, if theatricals are introduced, one of the 
 actors steps forward and presents a list of plays to the 
 principal guest for his selection, any of which the 
 company can perform at a moment’s notice. 
 
 The dwelling houses of the Chinese present a blank 
 wall to the street, and in this respect as well as in 
 their ordinary plan, are said to bear a curious resem- 
 blance to the remains of the Roman habitations, dis- 
 interred from the scoriae and ashes of Pompeii. “ They 
 consist usually of a single story, divided into several 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXVII 
 
 163 
 
 Sing-Songs or Theatres. 
 
 apartments, lighted only by windows looking into the 
 internal court yard. The principal room next to the 
 entrance, serves to receive visitors as well as for eat- 
 ing ; and within are the more private apartments, the 
 doorways of which are screened by pendant curtains 
 of silk or cotton. At the north, the apartments are 
 furnished with brick work couches, with furnaces 
 below to warm them during the winter.” 
 
 The houses are generally raised a few steps above 
 the ground and are generally built of blue brick super- 
 ficially pointed. “ Those of consequence are entered 
 by a triple gateway, consisting of one large folding 
 door in the centre, and of a smaller one on either side. 
 These last serve for ordinary occasions, while the first is 
 thrown open for the reception of distinguished guests. 
 Large lanterns of a cylindrical shape are hung at the 
 sides, on which are inscribed the name and titles of 
 the inhabitant of the mansion, so as to be read either 
 by day or at night when the lanterns are lighted.” 
 Just within the gates is the covered court, where the 
 sedan chairs stand, surrounded by red varnished label 
 boards, having inscribed in gilt characters, the full 
 titles of any person of rank and consequence. 
 
 CASE XXXVII. 
 
 This case is placed between II and III, and con- 
 tains a model of a Sing-Song, or Chinese theatre, with 
 actors performing. 
 
 The Chinese, although fond of theatricals, have no 
 stationary theatres except at Peking, but companies of 
 actors are continually travelling through the provinces, 
 performing wherever the inhabitants can raise a suffi- 
 
164 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XXXVII. 
 
 Actors and Acting. 
 
 cient amount by subscription to remunerate them. 
 Bamboos and mats are to be had everywhere, and in 
 a feAV hours, with these, and rattans to fasten them to- 
 gether, the Chinese will construct a large building. 
 The theatres are generally erected in some of the 
 squares or open places in front of the temples, and are 
 free to all passers by, as they are left entirely open in 
 front. Women are never seen on the Chinese stage, 
 their parts being performed admirably by young boys 
 educated for the purpose. Many of their plays are 
 founded on the ancient history of the empire, and rep- 
 resent the wars between the different states or petty 
 kingdoms. In these plays the dresses are very splen- 
 did. As they use little or no shifting scenery, a great 
 deal is left .to the imagination. An actor comes in 
 with a whip in his hand, and throws up his left leg, 
 when there is no doubt he is on horseback. Striding 
 up and down the stage several times, he stops and 
 informs the audience that he has arrived at some dis- 
 tant place, which they are in duty bound to believe. 
 If he hesitates in his rapid pace during his journey, 
 and treads a few steps cautiously, and with an oscil- 
 lating motion of the body, and then stoops down and 
 begins pulling at an imaginary oar, the spectators 
 must suppose him exposed to the dangers of naviga- 
 tion. These defects, with the ludicrously painted 
 faces of the actors, representing Tartar generals, and 
 the horrid din kept up with gongs and an instrument 
 which has been aptly compared, in its notes, to a 
 cracked penny trumpet, renders all their historical 
 plays farces in the eyes of foreigners. The plays 
 begin about the middle of the day, and last until late 
 at night, usually ending with tumbling and other feats 
 of agility and strength. 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASES XXXVIII, XXXIX. 165 
 
 Tools , Brushes , fyc. 
 
 CASE XXXVIII. 
 
 Between Cases III and IV, contains a small model 
 of a tanka boat. 
 
 CASE XXXIX. 
 
 Between Cases IV and V. 
 
 718. Mats made of cocoa-nut husks. 
 
 719. Brushes “ “ “ used by painters. 
 
 720. Barbers’ brushes. 
 
 721. Gentlemen’s leather pockets. 
 
 722. Tinder cases. 
 
 723. Small opium pillow. 
 
 724. Pocket ink-stand. 
 
 725. Moustache combs. 
 
 726. Tortoise shell and bamboo instruments, used by 
 
 ladies to fasten up the hair. 
 
 727. Brushes used by ladies to clean their combs. 
 
 728. Tinman’s soldering irons, made of iron. 
 
 729. Small tinman’s shears. 
 
 730. Tinman’s hammers. 
 
 731. Funnel made of tin. 
 
 732. Tailor’s shears. 
 
 733. Ladies’ scissors. 
 
 734. Snuffers. 
 
 735. Shoe brushes. 
 
 736. “ Soon-poon ” counting-board universally used by' 
 
 the Chinese in calculating sums. 
 
166 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XL. 
 
 Jos Stick or Incense. 
 
 737. Chinese padlock of curious construction. 
 
 73S. Small pillow made of rattan. 
 
 739. Pillow made of lacquered pig skin. 
 
 740. Leather travelling pillow. 
 
 741. Chinese nails and screws made entirely by hand. 
 
 CASE XL. 
 
 Between Cases IX and X. 
 
 742. Large Jos stick burned in incense vessels be- 
 
 fore idols. 
 
 743. Jos stick made of the raspings of sandal wood, 
 
 which when burned gives out a fragrant odor. 
 
 744. 745. Sandal wood Jos stick in different fancy 
 
 packages. 
 
 746. Common Jos stick used in stores and houses as 
 
 incense. Before clocks were introduced into 
 China, Jos stick, graduated to measure time, 
 and clepsydra’s were instruments by which 
 the Chinese kept the time of day. Each 
 period of a day and night together is divided 
 by them into twelve parts called chee, which 
 begin at eleven o’clock at night according to 
 our reckoning. 
 
 747. Brick tea used in China, as a medicine, and in 
 
 some parts of Tartary, according to Timkow- 
 ski, like money, as a medium of exchange. 
 
 748. Chinese match paper for lighting pipes. It takes 
 
 fire readily, and is inflamed when required 
 by a slight puff. 
 
 749. 750. Cakes of tea used as a medicine. 
 
 751. Bing Jos stick used in houses and stores to pre- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XL. 
 
 167 
 
 Betel Nut. 
 
 serve a fire to light pipes by. Jos stick receives 
 its name from the principal use made of it, as 
 it is kept continually burning as incense be- 
 fore the Jos or idols in the temples, houses 
 and vessels of the Chinese. 
 
 752. Betel nut as taken from the tree. 
 
 753. “ with the shuck taken off. 
 
 754. Second quality of betel nut. 
 
 755. Betel nut cut in thin slices for chewing. 
 
 756. Honan betel nut chewed without pepper leaves. 
 This nut is in fact the areca nut, the fruit of a slen- 
 der palm, not above six inches in diameter and about 
 30 feet high. 
 
 The betel pepper is the vine from which the leaf is 
 obtained, and for which it is alone cultivated. The 
 flavor of the leaf is very peculiar, being between a 
 herbaceous and an aromatic taste, and is a little pun- 
 gent. It is cultivated throughout the south of China. 
 The preparation of the betel nut for use is very simple. 
 The thin slices are merely wrapped in the raw fresh 
 pepper leaves with enough quick-lime to give them a 
 flavor. 
 
 The habit of chewing this preparation has extended 
 from the islands, where the plant is found, to the con- 
 tinent of Asia, and it is now used from the Red sea to 
 the Pacific Ocean. All classes of people among the 
 islanders, male and female, are in the habit of chew- 
 ing it. “ It sweetens the breath,” so say those who use 
 it, “rectifies and strengthens the stomach, and pre- 
 serves the teeth it also gives the teeth, lips and gums 
 a dark red color, which is esteemed a mark of beauty 
 in proportion to its darkness. There is less objection 
 against its use than that of tobacco ; its narcotic prop- 
 erties are not so great, and the taste more pleasant. 
 Persons of rank carry it prepared for use in splendid 
 cases, suspended from their girdles. Poor people are 
 
168 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XL. 
 
 Tobacco. 
 
 contented with cases of any kind, provided they con- 
 tain the substance itself. Among some of the inhabit- 
 ants of the Indian Archipelago, to refuse, on meeting 
 a friend, to accept the betel nut is regarded as an 
 offence, and satisfaction is demanded. So interwoven 
 into their ideas has the practice become, that figures 
 of beauty are taken from it, and a face is not account- 
 ed beautiful, unless the mouth be stained of a dirty 
 red round the outside of the lips. 
 
 757. Medicine put up in boxes with advertisements 
 
 in the form of the Oo-loo. An emblem of 
 longevity. 
 
 758, 759. Chinese smoking tobacco. 
 
 750. Chinese paper segars. 
 
 Tobacco is not chewed by the Chinese but is smok- 
 ed by all classes, both boys and girls learning the use 
 of the pipe from their earliest childhood. The tobacco 
 plant is commonly said by the people to have been 
 introduced by the present dynasty, it is so mild as to 
 be rather insipid to persons accustomed to Manila 
 or Havana tobacco, though the species is identical. 
 Large manufactories of it are established in Canton, 
 some of them four stories high (an unusual elevation 
 for a house in China) where all the processes of pre- 
 paration are to be seen. Paper segars are the only 
 kind made by the Chinese and are called by the 
 Spanish segarhilo’s, or little segars ; an expert work- 
 man will make 1500 in a day. A Chinese would as 
 soon think of going without his tea and rice, as with- 
 out his pipe, and in cases of emergency, he even puts 
 a sigarhilo or two behind his ear, to have one at hand. 
 761. Chinese gunpowder. This is another invention 
 of the Chinese who used it to make fireworks 
 long before it appeared in Europe, but prob- 
 ably did not use it with fire arms until after- 
 wards. Their proportions of materials are 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM— CASE XLI. 
 
 169 
 
 Seeds, Grain , fyc. 
 
 nearly like ours but their powder is poor stuff 
 because badly made. 
 
 762. Clay balls for breath guns. 
 
 7 63. Iron shot, used as a matter of economy by Chi- 
 
 nese sportsmen. 
 
 CASE XLI. 
 
 Between Cases X and XI. 
 
 764. Chinese olives. 
 
 765. Chinese green peas. 
 
 766. White Nanking peas. 
 
 767. lied rice. 
 
 86S. Black Nanking peas. 
 
 769, 770. Melon seeds, used by the Chinese while 
 drinking Sam-shou. The skilful extraction of 
 the meat of these seeds constitutes one of the 
 accomplishments of a Chinese gentleman. 
 
 771. Keen-leen; the seeds of the Lien-fa or water lily 
 
 from Fokien. The leaves and flowers of this 
 plant cover the immense marshes in the in- 
 terior of China and present a rich and beauti- 
 ful appearance. It is often raised for mere 
 ornament in capacious earthen ware or porce- 
 lain tubs, containing gold fish, but upon the 
 lakes and marshes it is cultivated for its seeds 
 and root, both of which are articles of food 
 much esteemed by the Chinese. The roots 
 are sliced and eaten as fruit, being white, 
 juicy, and of a sweetish and refreshing taste ; 
 the seeds are eaten with Sam-shou. 
 
 772, 773. White and black sesamum. This grain is 
 
 cultivated principally for the oil obtained from 
 
 22 
 
170 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XLI. 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 it ; it is also used to put in cakes and is some- 
 times boiled and eaten like rice. 
 
 774. Chinese sugar candy. 
 
 775. Chinese white sugar. 
 
 776. Chinese brown sugar. 
 
 “From all the notices that can be obtained from 
 ancient history, it is very probable that China was the 
 first country in which the sugar cane was cultivated. 
 Its native country is the southern part of the continent 
 of Asia, and its properties have been well known by 
 the inhabitants for many ages. Among the Chinese 
 the cultivation of it is carried to an extent sufficient 
 to suppy their own wants, and also to form an article 
 of export. The varieties of the cane are several, but 
 the only one cultivated is the same as that which 
 grows in the West Indies.” The process of manufac- 
 turing it is simple and laborious; the machinery is 
 coarse, and the labor performed mostly by human 
 strength. The best sugar made by the Chinese is 
 the sugar candy, pulverised in large stone mortars 
 and called ping-fa , ‘crystal flowers/ the superior 
 quality of which is as white as snow. 
 
 777. Long-gans. “Dragon’s eyes:” so called from 
 
 their resemblance to the ball of the eye : a 
 favorite fruit with the Chinese, but not suited 
 to the palate of “ barbarians.” 
 
 778. 779. First and second qualities of deers’ sinews. 
 
 780. Good and inferior qualities of bicho-de-mar or 
 
 tripang. 
 
 781. Prepared birds’ nests of two qualities. * 
 
 782. Edible birds’ nests, in the state in which they are 
 
 imported into China. 
 
 783. Dried salted Shrimps. 
 
 784. Dried fish maws. 
 
 785. 787. Second and first qualities of prepared 
 
 sharks’ fins. 
 
 786. Vermicelli, made and extensively used by the 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XLI. 
 
 171 
 
 Fruits, Vegetables, fyc. 
 
 Chinese in soups, of which they are fond and 
 
 make a great variety. 
 
 “ A considerable proportion of the food of the Chi- 
 nese consists of fruit, which is both cheap and abun- 
 dant. Fruit stalls line the sides of the streets, and 
 baskets full fill the doorways of shops. The variety 
 is not so great as in western countries, where exotic 
 fruits are added to the indigenous, nor is the flavor of 
 Chinese fruits, as a whole, equal to that of lands where 
 skill and science have combined to improve the pro- 
 ductions of nature.” In addition to the fruits already 
 enumerated, apples, pears, grapes, peaches, apricots, 
 quinces, and dates, grow in the northern and middle 
 parts of the empire, and oranges, limes, pumelos, cit- 
 ron, custard apples, plantains, pine apples, pomegran- 
 ates, jack fruit, guavas, whampes, and mangoes, are 
 amongst the fruits found in the South. “ The peach 
 is one of the best fruits found in China, though it is 
 not usually allowed to attain its full maturity on the 
 tree, the practice of picking fruits before they are ripe 
 being very common in China, and is often the chief 
 reason of their insipidity which is noticed by most all 
 writers. Pears often grow to a large size, but their 
 flavor, as well as that of the apple, is far inferior to 
 the same fruits elsewhere, which is accounted for by 
 the ignorance of Chinese gardners of the methods of 
 improving the quality of fruit by grafting and careful 
 cultivation.” 
 
 “ Chinese agriculturists excel in the cultivation of 
 kitchen -herbs and vegetables, of which they raise a 
 great variety and an abundant supply. Their forte 
 lies in this branch of gardening, and in the amount of 
 vegetables produced from a single acre probably no 
 people exceed them. By constant manuring, trans- 
 planting, and forcing, three, four, and even five crops 
 of vegetables are obtained from the same bed in a 
 
172 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XL!. 
 
 Birds’ Nests. 
 
 twelve month. They are very fond of onions, garlic, 
 and all other edible alliacaous plants, of which they 
 consume large quantities, so much so, in some in- 
 stances, as to taint their persons with the odor.” But 
 the favorite and most common vegetable used by 
 them is the pc-tsae orj oak-tsoy ‘white greens,’ so called 
 from the leaf stalks being blanched. It is a species 
 of brassica resembling lettuce; is produced principally 
 at the north, and from thence conveyed, either in the 
 fresh state or salted, to all parts of the country. They 
 are said to preserve it fresh, either by planting in wet 
 sand, or by burying it deep in the ground ; and it is a 
 popular remark, that the nine gates of Peking are 
 blockaded during the autumnal season with the ve- 
 hicles bringing in the pe-tsae. The amount of this 
 vegetable consumed is second only to rice, of the 
 enormous consumption of which some idea has been 
 given in the preceding pages. 
 
 The article of birds’ nests, which owes its celebrity 
 only to the whimsical luxury of the Chinese, is 
 brought principally from Java and Sumatra, though 
 it is found on most of the rocky islets of the Indian 
 Archipelago. The nest is the habitation of a small 
 swallow, named (from the circumstance of its having 
 an edible dwelling) Hirundo esculenta. They are 
 found in caves and are composed of a mucilainous 
 substance, which has never yet been analysed with 
 sufficient accuracy to show its constituents. Those 
 that are dry, white, and clean, are the most valuable. 
 They are packed in bundles, with split rattans run 
 through them to preserve their shape. 
 
 The quality of the nests varies according to the sit- 
 uation and extent of the caves, and the time at which 
 they are taken. If procured before the young are 
 fledged, the nests are of the best kind ; if they con- 
 tain eggs only, they are still valuable ; but if the young 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XLI. 
 
 173 
 
 Mode of Procuring and Value of Birds' Nests. 
 
 are in the nests or have left them, the whole are then 
 nearly worthless, being dark colored, streaked with 
 blood, and intermixed with feathers and dirt. The 
 nests are procurable twice every year ; the best are 
 found in deep, damp caves, which if not injured will 
 continue to produce indefinitely. It was once thought 
 that the caves near the sea coast were the most pro- 
 ductive ; but some of the most profitable yet found, 
 are situated fifty miles in the interior. This fact 
 seems to be against the opinion of some, that the 
 nests are composed of the spawn of fish or of bicho 
 de mar. 
 
 The method of procuring these nests somewhat re- 
 sembles that of catching birds on the Orkney isles. 
 Some of the caves are so precipitous, that no one, but 
 those accustomed to the employment from their youth 
 can obtain the nests, “being only approachable,” 
 says Crawford, “ by a perpendicular descent of many 
 hundred feet, by ladders of bamboo and rattan, over a 
 sea rolling violently against the rocks. When the 
 mouth of the cave is attained, the perilous task of 
 taking the nests must often be performed by torch- 
 light, by penetrating into recesses of the rock, where 
 the slightest slip would be instantly fatal to the adven- 
 turers, who see nothing below them but the turbulent 
 surf making its way into the chasms of the rock.” 
 
 After they are obtained, they are separated from 
 feathers and dirt, and carefully dried and packed, and 
 are then ready for the consumer. The sale of birds’ 
 nests is a monopoly with all the governments in 
 whose dominions they are found. The Chinese are 
 the only people who purchase them for their own use, 
 and in China they command extravagant prices; the 
 best, or white kind often being worth $1800 per pecul 
 of 133 pounds. The labor bestowed to render it fit 
 for the table is enormous ; every feather, stick or im- 
 
174 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM CASE XLI. 
 
 Bicho de Mar , Sharks’ Fins , Sfc. 
 
 purity of any kind is carefully removed; and then 
 after undergoing many washings and preparations, it 
 is stewed into a soft, mucilaginous jelly. When pre- 
 pared for cooking, the best quality sells at the rate of 
 $50 a catty (1 K lb.) or $5000 per pecul. The most 
 part of the best kind is sent to Peking for the use of 
 the court. It appears that this curious dish is only 
 an article of expensive luxury among the Chinese ; 
 the Japanese do not use it at all, and how the former 
 people acquired the habit of using it is only less sin- 
 gular than their persevering in it. They consider the 
 birds’ nest as a great stimulant and tonic, but its best 
 quality, perhaps, is its being perfectly harmless. 
 
 The slug ( Hololhurion ) called Bicho de mar, as its 
 name imports, is a product of the sea, and resembles 
 that often seen in damp places on land. It forms one 
 of the important articles of commerce between the 
 islands of the Indian Archipelago and China. It is 
 found on all the islands from New Holland to Suma- 
 tra, and also on most of those in the Pacific. It is 
 produced in the greatest abundance on small coral 
 islands, is an ill looking animal, and has but few pow- 
 ers of locomotion. The ordinary length is seen here, 
 although it is sometimes two feet long. It is taken 
 with the hand by natives, who often dive for it : and 
 after it has been cleansed, dried and smoked, it is fit 
 for sale. The Chinese use it by itself or as an ingre- 
 dient in other dishes, and consume large quantities 
 under the belief that it is an aphrodisiac. When 
 brought to the table it resembles pork rind in color 
 and consistency. The varieties into which the Chi- 
 nese divide it are about thirty, but unless one is well 
 acquainted with the article it is impossible to distin- 
 guish them. 
 
 Deers’ sinews and sharks’ fins, when cooked, are 
 esteemed by the Chinese for their supposed stimu- 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XLI. 
 
 175 
 
 Fish, Ducks , fyc. 
 
 lating and tonic properties. The former are brought 
 from the northern parts of the empire to Canton, and 
 the latter are sought for from the Indian Ocean to the 
 Sandwich Islands, to supply the Chinese market 
 The chief supply is from Bombay and the Persian Gulf 
 There appears to be little or no choice as to what spe- 
 cies of shark the fins are from, but those of a whitish 
 color are valued much higher than the black sort. 
 Sharks and rays of all kinds form a common article 
 of food amongst the Chinese on the coast. 
 
 The stomach of fishes called fish maws, like the 
 preceding articles, are used as a luxury among the 
 Chinese, who consume them for their imagined 
 strengthening and aphrodisiac qualities. They are of 
 a cartilaginous nature, and are cured by stretching 
 and drying them in the sun. They are chiefly 
 brought to China in junks from the Indian islands. 
 
 In addition to the stock and other kinds of salt fish 
 imported in small quantities, the Chinese cure a large 
 amount of the fish and shrimps taken in their own 
 waters by salting and drying them in the sun, and 
 seem particularly to relish the high flavor of those 
 preserved with just enough salt to keep them from 
 becoming absolutely putrid. 
 
 Of the immense number of ducks, hatched by arti- 
 ficial heat and raised in boats upon the inland waters, 
 many are split and dried. The gizzards of geese, 
 ducks and other fowls, smoked and dried, and even 
 rats and mice, similarly preserved, are common arti- 
 cles of food amongst the middling and poorer classes. 
 The split ducks, smoked gizzards, and rats and mice 
 are seen exposed for sale in stalls, or carried about 
 the streets on poles, exactly as represented in some 
 geographies. Dogs and cats are eaten by those who 
 can afford to buy other meat, and are seen for sale in 
 baskets in most all the public places in cities: the lat- 
 
176 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM— CASE XLI. 
 
 Reptiles Eaten. Mode of Cooking. 
 
 ter seeming to be aware of their fate by the piteous 
 mewings kept up amongst them, and Chinese dogs 
 are said to have a particular aversion for butchers, in 
 consequence, no doubt, of the violation of those per- 
 sonal exemptions and privileges which the canine 
 race are allowed to enjoy almost everywhere else. 
 Dogs indeed are enumerated as a regular article of 
 food in one of their ancient books, and among the 
 rich, a Avild cat, previously prepared by feeding, is 
 reckoned a delicacy. An amusing anecdote is told of 
 a foreigner who in dining with a wealthy Chinese, 
 took quite a fancy to one of the dishes upon the table, 
 of which he ate considerable, supposing it to be duck, 
 but to satisfy himself on this point beckoned one of 
 the servants to approach, and pointing at the dish, in 
 an inquiring tone, imitating the quacking of that fowl ; 
 when much to his discomfort the servant shook his 
 head and answered with a bow-wow-wow, thus in- 
 forming him he had been eating dog’s-meat. 
 
 If the rich should appear to be fantastic in the se- 
 lection of their diet, the poor are no less indiscriminate 
 in the supply of theirs; frogs, toads, water snakes, liz- 
 ards, and bats are purchased by the latter, and among 
 insects the locust, grasshopper, and silkworm are 
 eaten. The two former are sometimes cooked by 
 being roasted alive, and are esteemed a delicate re- 
 past ; the latter is taken after the insect has wound off 
 the cocoon of silk and cooked by baking. By some 
 epicures the larvae of the sphinx-moth, as well as a 
 grub which is bred in the sugar-cane, are much rel- 
 ished. 
 
 As might be expected from the economical habits 
 of the people, that great save-all, the pig, is univer- 
 sally reared about cottages, and its flesh is by far the 
 commonest meat; a maxim of the Chinese is, “that 
 a scholar does not quit his books, nor the poor man 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM — CASE XLI. 
 
 177 
 
 Dragon Procession, fyc. 
 
 his pigs.” Oil is used by the Chinese in cooking, as 
 batter is with us, and is usually that extracted from 
 ground or pea nuts, although the oil extracted from 
 the ricinus, which yields the castor oil of medicine, 
 and other kinds are frequently used ; but the ricinus 
 oil as used by them in its fresh state, and with some 
 peculiar preparation, has neither the strong detergent 
 properties, nor the detestable taste, by which this oil 
 is known with us. 
 
 Lanterns , Paintings, &c. 
 
 Among the great number of lanterns suspended over 
 head, will be particularly noticed the large and splen- 
 didly embroidered one, hung from the centre piece of 
 the fresco work. This is about ten feet high, and is 
 altogether a gorgeous affair, the frame being beauti- 
 fully carved and gilt, the panels richly embroidered, 
 and there are several hundred silk tassels pendant 
 from different parts of it. Such lanterns as this are 
 not intended to be lighted, and are used only in pro- 
 cessions of Mandarins, and to decorate the temples 
 when they visit them, as required by the ritual, to 
 offer sacrifices and do homage to the ancient sages 
 and emperors. The dragon lantern will also be no- 
 ticed; this, with the fish and bird lanterns hanging in 
 different parts of the room, and also those made of 
 gauze are carried in the yearly dragon processions to 
 propitiate that fabled monster. Amongst the others 
 are two very large ones, made of horn, with silk tas- 
 sels around them, two large carved king wood framed 
 ones, with beautiful painted silk panels, and four 
 beautiful ones with small paper figures, capable of 
 motion when the lanterns are lighted. 
 
 23 
 
178 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 Paintings. 
 
 Among the pictures which cover the wall at the end, 
 near the entrance, and of which there are between 
 four and five hundred in oil and water colors, are 
 two large and beautiful paintings of the city of Can- 
 ton and Hon a m opposite Canton, portraits of Samqua, 
 Houqua, and Linchung, three of the Hong merchants, 
 dressed in their official robes, which they purchased 
 the privilege of wearing. Houqua was generally 
 well known for his riches ; he died about two years 
 since, and left about fifteen millions of dollars, after 
 paying an immense amount to the government dur- 
 ing the troubles with the English. The portrait on 
 the left of Linchung is one of a Chinaman, called 
 Boston Jack, who is well known to all persons who 
 have visited China as he furnishes the ships with pro- 
 visions. Below Linchung and Jack is a set of twelve 
 paintings in oil colors, representing the life of a suc- 
 cessful Chinaman from his birth to his death. Be- 
 neath these are twelve paintings, showing the grow- 
 ing of rice, and on the right of these, on the other side 
 of the room are twelve more, representing the cul- 
 ture, curing and packing of tea. Over the beautiful 
 paintings of flowers, &c. are four frames with six rice 
 paintings in each; the two on the left showing a 
 funeral procession, and the two on the right a mar- 
 riage procession. Over the large paintings are two 
 portraits of Chinese beauties. 
 
 Besides those mentioned are an immense number 
 of Chinese views, paintings of birds, punishments, 
 vessels, fishes, shells, insects, &c. &c. The scroll 
 paintings hung between the windows over the large 
 cases on the west side of the room represent some of 
 the Budhist deities, sitting in judgment upon the 
 souls of mortals, while below are seen the guilty suf- 
 fering the most horrid punishments, such as being 
 boiled in cauldrons of molten lead, sawn asunder, 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 179 
 
 Introduction of Budhism. Early Travellers. 
 
 thrown on beds of spikes, &c. Those on the opposite 
 side of the room are representations of some of the 
 Bndhist deities. All the paintings in the Museum are 
 the work of Chinese artists, and for execution and 
 finish speak for themselves. 
 
 General Remarks upon the early intercourse with China , 
 her present commerce ivith foreign nations , her govern- 
 ment , £c. 
 
 China being situated on the eastern border of Asia, 
 appears to have been so far removed from other great 
 nations of Antiquity, that little was known by them 
 concerning it, and the notices to be found in their his- 
 tories concerning its existence, are few and uncertain. 
 During the first century of our era, under the reign of 
 the celebrated Han dynasty, the Emperor Mingty, 
 despatched messengers to India, who brought back 
 the religion of Budha ; and Hoty, a succeeding Em- 
 peror, sent an envoy to seek some intercourse with 
 the western world, who is said to have reached Ara- 
 bia. About the middle of the second century, as re- 
 corded in Chinese history, people came from India 
 and other western nations with tribute, and from that 
 time, foreign trade was carried on at Canton. Under 
 this head of tribute, was probably placed the presents 
 carried by the embassy, despatched by the Roman 
 Emperor, Marcus Antonius, to China, in A. D. 161 , 
 to acquaint himself with the country which was 
 reported to produce the beautiful silks supplied to 
 his luxurious countrymen through the medium of 
 India. There is sufficient evidence that some Nes- 
 torian Christians entered China as early as the mid- 
 
180 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 Marco Polo's Residence in China. 
 
 die of the seventh century, but “ it is to the Arabs that 
 we owe the first distinct account of China, and of its 
 peculiar institutions and customs. Their far extended 
 conquest brought them to the confines of that remote 
 empire ; and the enlightenment of science and litera- 
 ture, which they possessed in no small degree during 
 the eighth and ninth centuries, led many individuals 
 among them to explore unknown countries, and to 
 record what they had seen.” Although nearly 1,000 
 years have elapsed since their first accounts were 
 written, there is a remarkable identity between the 
 Chinese, as they are therein described, and the same 
 people as we know them at the present day. 
 
 As the fact may not be familiar to all, that the 
 knowledge of the existence of an immensely popu- 
 lous and wealthy empire in the remotest parts of the 
 east had a great effect in the descovery of our conti- 
 nent by Columbus, a short description of the origin 
 and work of Marco Polo, a Venetian, and the first 
 European who gave the world a history of his travels 
 in those distant regions, is here given. 
 
 His father Nicholas, and uncle Matheo Polo first 
 visited the court of Cublai Khan, the sovereign poten- 
 tate of the Tartars and Emperor of China, who com- 
 pleted the conquest of the Chinese Empire, began by 
 his grand-father, Ghenghis, who overthrew all the in- 
 dependent powers of Tartary and made himself sole 
 master of Central Asia. Nicholas and Matheo em- 
 barked from Venice on a commercial voyage to the 
 east, about the year 1255, and having penetrated to 
 the Court of Cublai, by whom they were received 
 with great distinction, from political motives, it is sup- 
 posed, where furnished with letters to the Pope, en- 
 treating him to send a hundred learned men to in- 
 struct the sages of his empire in the knowledge of the 
 Christian faith, and on their departure for Europe 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 181 
 
 Marco Polo’s Return to Venice. 
 
 were invited to return. They arrived home safely in 
 1269, and having delivered their letters and received 
 others from the Pope, with presents to the Grand 
 Khan, they set out again for the remote regions of 
 Tartary in 1721, accompanied by two learned friars 
 and young Marco, who was born shortly after his 
 father left the first time. The friars becoming alarmed 
 for the safety of their lives in Armenia, where a war 
 was raging, took refuge in a monastery where they re- 
 mained, and the Polos, after a long journey and suffer- 
 ing many hardships, arrived in the dominions of Cub- 
 lai, who, hearing of their approach, sent officers to 
 meet them at forty days distance from the court. 
 
 The Venetians resided about seventeen years at the 
 Tartar Court, during which they were treated with 
 great distinction ; and Marco, having acquired the four 
 principal languages of the country, was employed by 
 the Khan in missions and services of importance in 
 various parts of his dominions. At length after con- 
 siderable difficulty in obtaining the consent of the 
 Khan, the Polos set out on their return to Venice by 
 sea, being loaded with presents of rich jewels given 
 them by their patron, who made them promise to re- 
 turn to him after they had visited their families. They 
 arrived in Venice in 1295, literally laden with riches, 
 and having heard, on their journey, of the death of 
 their old benefactor, they considered themselves ab- 
 solved from their promise to return. Several months 
 after their arrival, in an action between the Genoese 
 and Venetian navies, Marco Polo, who had taken the 
 command of one of the galleys of the latter, advanc- 
 ing first in the line, was taken prisoner and carried to 
 Genoa in irons. Here he was detained in prison, 
 and all offers of ransom rejected. Having had his 
 papers aud journals sent to him from Venice, he pro- 
 duced his work on China. 
 
182 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 Influence of Marco Polo's Work upon Columbus. 
 
 This work is said to have been one of the principal 
 lights used by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century, 
 when the attention of the world was turned towards 
 the remote parts of Asia, and they were attempting to 
 circumnavigate Africa; and from Marco Polo’s de- 
 scriptions of the situation of China and the islands on 
 the coast, and the state of geographical knowledge of 
 the day, Columbus was led to believe that by sailing 
 in a westerly direction he should reach the eastern 
 shores of Asia. With this idea, and the supposition 
 that the circumference of the earth was much less than 
 it was afterwards found to be, he set sail from Spain, 
 and when he arrived among the West India Islands, 
 we find him trying to identify the island of Cipango 
 of which Marco Polo gave a splendid description. 
 We afterwards find him seeking in the island of Cuba, 
 which he supposed, from the accounts of the natives, 
 and his own observation to be a part of the main land, 
 for the rich city of Cambalu, (Peking,) in the Province 
 of Cathay, the winter residence of the Great Kahn, 
 and where, according to Marco Polo, was to be seen, 
 “ in wonderful abundance, the precious stones, the 
 pearls, the silks, and the diverse perfumes of the East.” 
 
 “ The sumptuous descriptions given by Marco Polo,” 
 says Irving, “ of countries teeming with wealth, and 
 cities whose very domes and palaces flamed with gold, 
 induced Columbus, who was confident of soon arriv- 
 ing at these countries, to hold forth those promises of 
 immediate wealth to the Spanish Sovereigns, which 
 caused much disappointment, and brought upon him 
 the frequent reproach of exciting false hopes and in- 
 dulging in wilful exaggeration.” 
 
 “He died,” continues Irving, “in ignorance of the 
 real grandeur of his discovery. Until his last breath, 
 he entertained the idea that he had merely opened a 
 new way to the old resort of opulent commerce, and 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 183 
 
 Early Trade with China. 
 
 had discovered some of the wild regions of the east 
 He supposed Hispaniola to be the ancient Gphir, 
 which had been visited by the ships of Solomon, and 
 that Cuba and Terra Firma were but remote parts of 
 Asia. In all his voyages he was continually seeking 
 after the territories of the grand Khan, and even after 
 his last expedition, when nearly worn out by age, 
 hardships and infirmities, he offered in a letter to the 
 Spanish monarchs, written from a bed of sickness, to 
 conduct any missionary to the territories of the Tartar 
 Emperor, who would undertake his conversation.” 
 
 The first Europeans who traded directly with China 
 were the Portuguese, who made their appearance at 
 Canton in 1546, not many years after their celebrated 
 navigator, Vasco De Gama, discovered the passage 
 around the Cape of Good Hope. But it was not un- 
 til about the middle of the 16th century, that they 
 established themselves at Macao, for the use of which 
 place they still pay a ground rent to the Chinese of 
 500 taels per annum. The only privilege they appear 
 to possess is that of governing themselves; as the 
 Chinese population of the town is entirely under the 
 control of the Mandarins. 
 
 The Spaniards soon followed the Portuguese, but 
 they have derived less advantage from an intercourse 
 with China than most other nations, notwithstanding 
 the vast advantage which they possess in the locality 
 of Manilla and the Philipine islands, within a few days’ 
 sail of China, and approached with equal facility in 
 either monsoon. 
 
 The first attempt made by the English to establish 
 a trade with China, was during the reign of Elizabeth 
 in 1596, but the vessels sent out were wrecked on the 
 outward passage, and, owing to the jealousy and mis- 
 representations of the Portuguese, their future attempts 
 
184 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 Early 2'rade icith China. 
 
 and those of the E. I. C. were unsuccessful until 
 about the beginning of the last century. 
 
 The first American vessel sent out to China, sailed 
 from New York in 1784 . She was soon followed by 
 others, and the trade rapidly increased until 1789 , 
 when there were more American vessels at Canton 
 than from any other country except Great Britain ; 
 and the American trade with China is now much 
 larger than that of any other country except England. 
 The number of ships employed by the latter being 
 more than two hundred, employing a capital of up- 
 wards of $20,000,000 while we have about seventy 
 ships in the China trade, and a capital of about 
 $ 7 , 000 , 000 . The present total exports from China 
 amounts to about $ 40 , 000 , 000 , of which about $ 15 ,- 
 000,000 worth are teas, over $ 14 , 000,000 treasure, near- 
 ly $6,000,000 raw silks, silk thread, and silk goods ; and 
 the balance is cassia, sugar, sugar candy, lacquered 
 ware, ivory articles, matting, fans, &c., &c. The im- 
 ports, amounting to about the same sum consist of the 
 following articles; opium, rice, treasure and pearls; 
 principally the first, which amounts to upwards of 
 $ 20 , 000 , 000 , ginseng $ 300 , 000 , raw cotton $ 6 , 000 , 000 , 
 cotton manufactures and cotton yarn $ 4 , 000 , 000 , 
 woolen manufactures of all kinds $ 2 , 047 , 000 , metals of 
 all kinds $ 1 , 500 , 000 , and the balance in other goods 
 such as betel nut, bicho de mar, birds' nests, &c. 
 
 The goods which we buy from the Chinese are 
 paid for partly in cotton goods, ginseng and lead, but 
 principally by bills drawn on London bankers, who 
 have agencies in the United States to furnish letters 
 of credit to foreign traders. They loan nothing but 
 their credit to foreign traders. They loan nothing but 
 payable far enough in advace for the proceeds of the 
 goods for which they were drawn to meet them. 
 
 The English, in addition to paying (the Chinese) 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 185 
 
 Hong Merchants. 
 
 for all the teas, silks, &c., with their cotton, cotton 
 goods and opium, are annually drawing an immense 
 amount of the precious metals from China, the pro- 
 ceeds of the latter article. 
 
 Formerly, all the business done by China with other 
 nations except Kussia, was carried on by the Cohong 
 or body of Hong merchants, of which nearly every 
 one has heard who has heard of China. This body 
 was a monopoly established by the government to 
 conduct the trade with foreigners, and consisted of a 
 few persons, who were allowed to trade singly, al- 
 though, until 1830, the whole body was liable for all 
 the foreign debts of each individual. Some of the 
 Hong merchants made large fortunes, but they lived 
 in a state of continual uncertainty, as having once 
 become members of the Cohong, they were seldom 
 allowed to leave it, unless in case of failure, and they 
 were liable to be “ squeezed” (as the Chinese call it) 
 at any time, by the Mandarins, who under various 
 pretexts exacted large amounts from them. Some 
 one of the body was obliged to become security for 
 the payment of the port charges, duties, and good be- 
 havior of every vessel entering the port for trade. 
 This monopoly was abolished by the treaty between 
 China and Great Britain, and the foreign trade made 
 free to all. 
 
 The Chinese have been ridiculed for assuming to 
 be the only civilized nation in the world. This as- 
 sumption is probably owing to their peculiar institu- 
 tions. They live on the past, we on the future, and 
 consequently they are not to be judged by our stand- 
 ard. We have thousands of presses furnishing infor- 
 mation of all kinds and from all quarters of the globe, 
 which is distributed with astonishing rapidity, to every 
 one. They have no newspapers except those used 
 for government purposes, which have a very limited 
 
 24 
 
186 
 
 CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 Advancement in Civilization. 
 
 circulation, and information with them, like light from 
 some distant world, which may have been blotted 
 from existence for years, does not reach the mass of 
 the Chinese until it has ceased to be new to the rest 
 of the world. There was a time, and that not many 
 centuries since, that the Chinese were farther advanced 
 in the arts of civilized life than any European nation, 
 and they are still far in advance of the rest of Asia. 
 Is it strange then when they see the greatest Euro- 
 pean nation seize upon the neighboring country of 
 India and clandestinely flood their shores with a drug 
 which destroys thousands, and is known to be pro- 
 hibited by their laws, that they should look upon them 
 as barbarians. Is it strange when they formerly saw 
 the governments and merchants of foreign nations 
 belieing each other and perpetually quarrelling for the 
 sake of gain that they should look upon them all with 
 suspicion and contempt and call them “ Fan-qui’s,” 
 “ foreign devils ! ” When foreigners first began trading 
 with the Chinese, every port was open to their com- 
 merce, and the trade was free to all ; the country was 
 also open to missionaries, and the Catholics converted 
 many thousands to their faith and stood high in favor 
 with the government, but the misconduct of the for- 
 mer caused them to be confined in their trade to 
 Canton, and the attempts of the latter to interfere with 
 the government caused them to be excluded from the 
 country. The Chinese have also been denounced for 
 their exclusiveness; but who can doubt its being the 
 correct policy of her rulers to ensure the stability of 
 their government. They themselves are foreigners, 
 were invited into the Empire to quell a rebellion, 
 which they did, and then took possession, and they 
 well know the danger they subject themselves to by 
 the visits of strangers. 
 
 In 1812, according to the best Chinese authority, 
 
CHINESE MUSEUM. 
 
 187 
 
 Number of Inhabitants. Government. 
 
 there were in the eighteen provinces of China, 360 ,- 
 279,827 inhabitants, and 2 , 167,286 in Tartary, subject 
 to the Chinese government. As they have had no 
 wars of consequence since that time, and the cholera 
 is said to have passed lightly over this nation, they 
 must now exceed 400 , 000 , 000 . The eighteen prov- 
 inces contain 830 , 719,360 English acres, more than 
 three-fourths of which are under cultivation, and with 
 a climate so various, that everything they wish for is 
 produced by themselves, they need not and care not 
 for foreign commerce. 
 
 Twenty-seven dynasties, furnishing two hundred 
 and forty-three sovereigns including the present and 
 excluding those considered mythological by the Chi- 
 nese themselves, have swayed the destinies of China 
 for more than 4,600 years. Well may the Tartar and 
 his subjects be proud of the throne upon which he 
 sits unrivalled as it stands in the annals of the world, 
 and without boasting can they point to its antiquity, 
 and that of their laws and customs, founded prior, or 
 at least coeval with the Empire of Babylon, the very 
 site of whose greatest city, with its stupendous walls 
 and hundred gates of brass, is now a matter of doubt. 
 
 Other great empires and kingdoms have risen and 
 flourished for a season, but where are they? Go, 
 seek their history among the pyramids and ruins of 
 splendid edifices, the equals of which the world may 
 never see again. 
 
 The most powerful modern kingdoms of Europe 
 are but of yesterday compared with China. While 
 they count their existence by hundreds, she reckons 
 hers by thousands of years, and is now in the enjoy- 
 ment of a green old age under the administration of 
 laws founded upon the precepts of her sages. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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