CHINA. 1751. a 89 



■yams, to take care of their filk work, to be 

 fparing, temperate, diligent, and patient, not 

 to love pratling, nor to meddle with any thing 

 Which does not belong to their houfewifry. 

 If they get a fon, they make great feaftV 

 and treat fuch of their friends as have 

 congratulated them on this account, and 

 have made fome prefents. The third day, 

 when the child is to be warned, the ceremony 

 is flill greater ; they then in particular eat 

 painted eggs (which are prefents of the grand- 

 mother), comfits, and other prefents. If a 

 man attains to 40 years of age and has no 

 children, he may marry more wives than he 

 has already, to prevent the extinction of his 

 family, provided he is able to maintain them. 

 He may ufe them as he pleafes, and fuffers no 

 punifhment if he kills his own wife in anger. 



Nuptials are likewife celebrated in the 

 decked boats, which on this occafion are orna* 

 mented as well as can be imagined, both with- 

 in and without. They put little banners upon 

 the deck of the boat, and hang it round with 

 crowns, flowers, and fruits made of paper, 

 and in the night-time lanthorns are placed on 

 it. During this, feveral mufical inftruments 



Vol* I. U . m 



