ON CHINESE GARDENS. 183 



which are moved by imperceptible threads, the actions being 

 accompanied by the voice of the operator, modified in different 

 manners ; all so conformable to the size and gestures of the figures, 

 that they seem really to speak. 



There are likewise lanterns made in the form of tigers, drom- 

 edaries, and dragons of an enormous size ; which are painted in 

 transparency, and filled with lights : these are moved about the, 

 streets by men concealed within them, who artfully give to the 

 machine every motion of the animal it represents ; others there 

 are seen floating upon the lakes and rivers, built like boats and 

 vessels of various kinds, or shaped like dolphins, alligators and 

 porpuses, that swim and curvet upon the water ; others again that 

 resemble birds fluttering amongst trees, or perched on the sum- 

 mits of the houses, on all parts of their temples, triumphal arches, 

 and public structures of different kinds : in short, there is scarcely 

 any form that can be imagined, which is not given to some of these 

 lanterns ; all executed with the greatest taste and neatness, often 

 at a very considerable expence ; some even to the amount of a 

 thousand tael, or near three hundred and fifty pounds. 



It is likewise upon this festival that the most splendid of their 

 fire-works are exhibited ; it would be tedious to describe them 

 particularly, as they resemble, in many things, our European ones; 

 but what is related on that head, by one of the missionaries, is 

 curious, and may here be inserted, to give the reader an idea of 

 Chinese skill, in works of this sort. 



" I was extremely surprized," says the father, " at a fire-work 

 which I saw at Pe-king, representing an arbor of vines; it burnt 

 for a considerable time, without consuming'; the grapes were red, 

 the leaves green, and the color of the stem and branches varie- 

 gated, in imitation of nature ; all the forms were represented 

 with the utmost precision, in fires of different colors ; the whole 

 was executed with amazing art, and had the most pleasing effect 

 imaginable." 



Their rivers are seldom straight, but winding, and broken into 

 many irregular points ; sometimes they are narrow, noisy and 

 rapid ; at other times deep, broad and slow. Their banks are 

 variegated, in imitation of nature; being in some places bare and 

 gravelly, in others, covered with woods quite to the waters edge ; 

 now flat and adorned with flowers and shrubs, then steep, rocky, 

 and forming deep winding caverns, where pigeons of the wood, 

 and water-fowl build their nests. 



(To be Continued.) 



