40 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
\ 
duced by long ftraight lines, were 
adorned with a variety of figures, 
either in imitation of real objects, 
or more commonly as mere works 
of fancy; the whole fhining like 
gold under a brilliant fun, immedi- 
ately caught the eye with an ap- 
pearance of grandeur in that part 
of buildings where it was not accuf- 
tomed to be fought for. ‘ Immenfe 
magazines of rice were feen near 
the gate :—and looking from it to 
the left, along the city-wall, was 
perceived an elevated eaifice,. de- 
{cribed as an obfervatory erected, 
in the former dynafty, by the Em- 
peror Yong-loo, to. whom the chief 
embellifhments of Pekin are {aid to 
be owing. 
Th front of moft of the houfes 
in this main-ftreet were thops paint- 
ed, gilt, and decorated like thofe of 
Tong-choo-foo, but in a grander 
ftyle. Over fome of them were 
broad terraces, covered with ihrubs 
and flowers. Before the doors fe- 
veral lanterns were hung, of horn, 
muflin, filk, and paper, fixed to 
frames: in varying the form of 
which the Chinefe feemed to have 
exercifed their fancy to the utmoft. 
Outtide the fhops, as well as within 
them, was difplayed a variety of 
goods for fale. 
Several circumftances, indepen- 
dently of the arrival of ftrangers, 
contributed to throng fo wide a 
ftreet.. A proceffion .was. moving 
towards the gate, in which the 
white, or bridal colour, according 
to European ideas, of the perfons 
who formed it, feemed at frit to 
announce a marriage-ceremony; 
but the appearance of young men 
overwhelmed with grief, fhewed it 
to be 2 funeral, much more indeed 
than the corfe itfelf, which was con- 
tained .n a handfome fquare cafe, 
fhaded with a canopy, painted with» 
gay and lively colours, and preced- 
ed by ftandards of variegated filks. 
Behind it were fedan chairs cover- 
ed with white cloth, containing the 
female relations of the deceafed ; 
the white colour denoting in Chi- 
na the affliction of thofe who wear 
it, is feduloufly avoided by fuch as 
with to manifeit fentiments of a 
contrary kind: it is therefore ne- 
ver feen in the ceremony of nup- 
tials (met foon afterwards) where 
the lady (as yet unfeen by the 
bridegroom) is carried in a gilt and 
gaudy chair, hung round with fef- 
toons of artificial flowers, and fol- 
lowed by relations, attendants, and- 
fervants, bearing the parapherna- 
lia, being the only portion given 
with a daughter, in marriage, by 
her parents. The crowd was not a 
little increafed by the mandarins of 
rank appearing always with nume- 
rous attendants; and ftill more by 
circles of the populace round auc- 
tioneers, venders of medicines, for- 
tune-tellers, fingers, jugglers, and 
{tory-tellers, beguiling their hear- 
ers of a few of their chen, or cop- 
per money, intended probably for 
other purpofes, Among the ftories 
that caught at this moment the 
imagination, the embafly was faid 
to furnifh no inconfiderable hare. 
The prefents brought by ‘it to the. 
Emperor were afferted to include 
whatever was rare in other. coun-, 
tries, or not known before to the 
Chinefe. Of the animals that were 
brought, it was gravely mentioned 
that there was an elephant of the 
fize of a monkey, and as fierce as a 
lion ; and a cock that fed on char- 
coal. Every thing was fuppoféd to 
vary from what had been feen in 
Pekin before, and to poffefs quali- . 
ties different from what had been 
ere 
t 
