ACCOUNT OF BOOKS, 
ed and varnifhed pillars. The can- 
vas of which it was compofed did 
not follow the obliquity of the cords 
along their whole length to the pegs 
faftened in the ground; but about 
midway was fuifered to hang per- 
pendicularly down, while the up- 
per part of the canvas conftituted 
the roof, Within the tent was 
placed a throne, fuch as has been 
defcribed in a former chapter, with 
windows in the fides of the tent, to 
throw light particularly upon that 
part of it. Oppofite to the throne 
Was a wide opening, from whence a 
yellow fly tent projeéted to a confi- 
derable diftance. “The furniture of 
of the tent was elegant, without 
glitter or affected embellifhments. 
Several fmall round tents. were 
pitched in front, and one of an ob- 
long form immediately behind. 
The latter was intended for the 
Emperor, in cafe he fhould choofe 
to retire io it from his throne. It 
had a fopha or bed at one extremi- 
ty. The remainder was adorned 
with a variety of mufquets and fa- 
bres, European and Afiatic. Of 
the fmall tents in front, one was for 
the ufe of the embaffy while it was 
in waiting fot the Emperor. Some 
of the others were deftined, in the 
fame manner, for the feveral tribu- 
tary princes of Tartary, and dele- 
gates from other tributary ftates, 
who were affembled at Zhe-hol on 
the occafion of the Emperor’s birth- 
day ; and who attended, on this 
day, to grace the reception of the 
Englifh ambaflador. Some tents al- 
fo were , intended for the male 
branches of the Emperor’s family, 
and the principal officers of ftate, 
In the great tent, his Imperial Ma- 
jefty was to receive, feated on his 
throne, as a particular diftinction, 
the delegate from the King of Great 
Britain. Ara op 
475 
Soon after day-light the found of 
feveral inftruments, and the confuf- 
ed voices of men at a diftance, an- 
nounced the Emperor’s approach. 
He foon appeared from behind a 
high and perpendicular mountain, 
fkirted with trees, as if from a fa- 
cred grove, preceded by a number 
of perfons bufied in proclaiming 
aloud his virtues and his power. 
He was feated in a fort of open 
chair, or triumphal car, borne by 
fixteen men; and was accompanied 
and followed by guards, officers of 
the houfehold, high flag and um- 
brella bearers, and mufic. His ap- 
proach to the tent of audience is 
delineated in the 25th plate of the 
foliovolume. He was clad in plain 
dark filk, with a velvet bonnet, in 
form not much different from the 
bonnet of Scotch Highlanders; on 
the front of it was placed a large 
pearl, which was the only jewel or 
ornament he appeared to have about 
him. 
On his entrance into the tent he 
mounted immediately the throne by 
the front fteps, confecrated to his 
ufe alone. Ho-choong-taung, and 
two of the principal perfons of his 
houfehold, were clofe to him, and 
always {poke to him upon their 
knees. ‘The princes of his family, 
the tributaries and great officers of 
ftate being already arranged in their 
refpective places in the tent, the 
prefident of the tribunal of rites 
conduéted the Ambaflador, who was 
attended by his page and Chinefe 
interpreter, and accompanied by 
the Minifter Plenipotentiary, near 
to the foot of the throne, on the 
left hand fide, which, according to 
the ufages of China, fo often the 
reverfe of thofe of Europe, is ac- 
counted the place of honour. The 
other gentlghen of the embaffy, 
together wit a great sumber of 
manda- 
