Composition of Chinese Ink. 367 



stances, the pencil has taken the place of the graver. The 

 hieroglyphics now made on paper are softer, more elegant, 

 and in distinctness of outline admit greater varieties of form. 

 Most of the Chinese whom we saw engaged in writing 

 formed the most complicated characters with great celerity 

 and ease upon the thin paper, and without the firm strokes 

 losing anything of their neatness and clearness of outline. 



Among the various scientific objects recommended as 

 important objects of inquiry to the members of the Expedi- 

 tion, dming their visit to China, by the renowned sinologue 

 Dr. Pfitzmaier, was the obtaining of rare Chinese books, 

 and the elucidation of certain ethnographic and linguistic 

 questions. Whatever was achieved by us in throwing light 

 upon these matters is due in great measm'e to the cordial 

 reception with which we were received by men of science 

 resident at Hong-kong. Especially we would name in this 

 respect Dr. M. Lobscheid, a German by birth, a missionary 

 and inspector of schools, who, thoroughly conversant with the 

 Chinese language, exerted himself to the utmost in for- 

 warding the objects of the scientific corps, besides assisting us 

 in the purchase of a variety of the most valuable Chinese 

 works, and giving us much interesting information re- 

 specting the country and the inhabitants. Dr. Lobscheid 



by age, or the colour changing, and may be thus kept for any length of time. 

 4 lb. of glue and \ lb. of this colouring matter are the proportions for one pound of 

 pin-soot. However, only a very small portion of the different materials used seems 

 to possess the power ascribed to them, and many are used out of mere prejudice, and 

 not at all to the advantage of the ink prepared. 



