R U S S I A A N D C H I N A. ai9 



ther hanging behind. The Chinefe give him the 

 title of Amban, which fignifies commander in chief; 

 and no one appears before him without bending the 

 knee, in which pofture the perfon who brings a petition 

 muft remain until he receives the governor's anfwer. 

 His falary is not large ; but the prefents which he re- 

 ceives from the merchants amount annually to a conii- 

 derable fum. 



The moft remarkable public buildings in Maimatf- 

 chin, are the governor's houfe, the theatre, and two 

 pagodas. 



The governor's houfe is larger than the others, and Houfe of ti.e 



° o ' Governor. 



better furnilhed ; it is diftinguilhed by a chamber where 

 the court of juftice is held, and by two high poles before 

 the entrance ornamented with flags. 



The theatre is fituated clofe to the wall of the town Theatre, 

 near the great pagoda : it is a kind of fmall flied, neatly 

 painted, open in front, and merely fpacious enough to 

 contain the ftage ; the audience Hand in the ftreet. 

 Near it are two high poles, upon which large flags with 

 Chinefe infcriptions are hoifted on feltivals. On fuch 

 occafions the fervants belonging to the merchants play 

 fhort burlefque farces in honour of their idols. 



F f a The 



