324 OS BECK'S VOYAGE. 



fcaffold is about fix yards above the ground, 

 fo that any one may with eafe pafs under it. 

 It is clofely covered with boards, and chairs 

 are placed on it for the a&ors and muficians. 

 The players generally wear long gowns, and 

 foirietimes are dreffed like harlequins. The 

 inhabitants are no doubt better pleafed with 

 their finging, bawling, and mimickries, than 

 the Europeans, who are ufed to fee their own 

 theatrical entertainments much more fkilfully 

 conduced. Thefe plays are afted in the be- 

 ginning of autumn, both in the ftreets on 

 account of good fuccefs in trade, and likewife 

 in houfes after meals, to infpire the guefts 

 with mirth. The fpeclators fit upon the roofs 

 or in the windows, thofe excepted who flop 

 in the ftreets while paffing. The Ch'inefe play 

 at cards fometimes ; but their cards have a dif- 

 ferent form from ours, and have but half their 

 breadth. They likewife play at another game 

 which requires a great deal of thought, and 

 goes on very ilowly, and is managed with two 

 (tones, which are moved on a board, fome- 

 what after the manner of chefs. 



The children play at night with their birds, 

 kites, and butterflies of paper, which they 

 fend up into the air. 



September 



