42-0 Voyage of the Novara. 



may get a vapour bath, while six cash more are paid for 

 keeping custody of the habiliments. The bath is far from 

 being elegant or comfortable, but when one reflects on such 

 extraordinary cheapness, it seems as though the very utmost 

 had been attained. It consists of a large apartment, filled 

 with steam, which is from time to time renewed, by dashing- 

 hot water upon stones, maintained at a high temperature, while 

 ranged in readiness all round are a number of tubs of cold 

 water for cooling the bather. In one of these establishments 

 about thirty persons may bathe at once, and as John China- 

 man, despite his filthy manners, is passably clean about the 

 body, as testified by the pains he is at with his head and 

 hands, these places are as extensively patronized as they are 

 greatly needed. 



Our next stoppage was at a pawnbroker's, an institution 

 which, to all appearance, has been far longer in vogue in 

 China than in Europe, and is made great use of by the 

 wealthy as well as the poorer classes. In the Celestial King- 

 dom, the same custom prevails as with us of pawning the 

 winter habiliments in summer, and summer apparel in 

 winter ; and this not so much for the sake of the money 

 borrowed upon them, as to have them kept in safety and 

 carefully preserved, especially in the case of costly furs. In 

 China the usual advance is of one half the value, upon a very 

 low computation of the article pledged, for which the monthly 

 charge is ten cash per 500, or twenty-four per cent, per annum. 

 Whatever has not been redeemed at the end of three years. 



