450 Mr. Davis on /he Fodry of the Chinese. 



foregoing description from a person who had viewed us at home, may be 

 deemed curious, as de])icting the estimate formed of us by one who had 

 never left his own country. With tliat want of minute discrimination which 

 might be exj)ected under such circumstances, tiie verses treat chiefly of 

 those leading features which are common to all nations wearing hats and 

 coats, and mingle, together with the rest, the Roman Catholic ceremonies 

 of tiic Portuguese at Macao. Being less interesting to Englishmen than the 

 poem which has already been given at full length, it may suffice to present 

 an abstract of whatever observations it contains most deserving of notice. 



The retired Bard commences with lauding the good faith of the foreigners, 

 who " make use of no formality, in tlieir most extensive bargains, more so- 

 lemn than a mere shake of the hand," and proceeds to hint, in the next 

 verse, that " the simple virtues of barbarians have been the subject of praise 

 from the oldest times." It is quite true that commercial transactions of the 

 largest description arc frequently conducted at Canton on the mere faith of 

 promises ; and the good poet had never been in the way of seeing our legal 

 stamps and parchments at home, which might have gone far to make him 

 withdraw his last compliment. 



" When a guest arrives, the host helps him with his own hand to the 

 juice of the grape," — and it is added in a note, " they welcome visitors with 

 wine, and not with tea," which is the Chinese fashion. " To touch glasses 

 in drinking is a mark of friendship. In winter evenings they sit by the fire 

 and pour out cold wine, careless of the snows which lie deep beyond the 

 door." In China they always warm their wine. 



" They make light of their lives," it is observed, " on occasions of per- 

 sonal contest, and when two of them quarrel, the consequences may be very 

 serious. They stand face to face, and discharge fire-arms at each other on 

 a given signal." In a note it is said, " If one fall, the survivor is not 

 punished : if neither fall, there is an end of the quarrel." " They do this," 

 adds the poet, " to shew tliat they are not afraid, — and so forth." 



Our autlior marvels much at the comparatively late period at which Eu- 

 ropeans marry, but endeavours to explain it in this way. " Their distant 

 voyages abroad keep them long from home, and it is not until they have 

 accumulated a fortune that tliey return to take a wife. Many do not marry 

 before fifty years of age ; and if the bride be very young on these occa- 

 sions, it is no scandal." The knowledge of the worthy Hong merchant on 

 this subject seems to have been much on a par with that of the St. Helena 



