124 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



The hair of the head is lank, black, coarse, and glossy; the beard is always black, and 

 is very scanty; while whiskers are still more scanty or wholly wanting. Very little hair 

 grows on the body. The eyes, distinctly typical features, are always black, narrow, and 

 apparently oblique. The latter appearance is due to the very slight degree in which the 

 inner angles of the eyelids open, not allowing the whole iris to be seen. This Mongolian 

 peculiarity in the eye distinguishes the races of Eastern Asia from all other races of mankind. 

 The cheek-bones are high, and the outline of the face is remarkably round; the nose is 

 short, flat, but wide at the end; the lips are somewhat thicker than those of Europeans; 

 while the hands are small, and the lower limbs of average proportions. 



The women in China are smaller than 



European women; and even at the risk of 

 being reproached as ungallant, we must say 

 they possess very little of the form and the 

 air which we consider essential to female 

 beauty. The broad upper face, flat nose, and 

 narrow eyes are decidedly not handsome, 

 though sometimes brightened witli good- 

 humour and the animation of youth and 

 health. 



Fashions in dress among the Chinesb 

 are not quite so unalterable as some other 

 things. They change occasionally, as they do 

 in less conservative lands, but far longer 

 intervals elapse before auy alteration will be 

 admitted, and then such changes are not so 

 thorough and so striking as those so frequently 

 introduced into the costume and ornaments of 

 our people. The Chinese dress has remained 

 in its main characteristics the same for 

 centuries. Garments of fur or velvet or silk 

 are handed down from parent to child for 

 two, three, or more generations, and no fear 

 is entertained that they will be condemned 

 as old-fashioned when seen "on the form of 

 some sallow young lady or gentleman eighty 

 or ninety years after they were made. The 

 materials mostly used in the making of clothes 

 are silk and cloth, with a fabric called grass- 

 cloth, which is much worn in summer. 'Furs 

 and skins largely constitute the winter finery, 

 woollens being very sparingly used, and always 

 of foreign manufacture. 



The costume of the Chinese is simple, 

 yet as fully serviceable as more elaborately 

 designed robes could be. Inner and outer 

 tunics, made of cotton or silk, according to 

 the social rank of the wearer, are the principal 

 articles. In some cases they are made to reach 

 only below the loins, but oftener the outer 

 tunic goes down to the feet. The lapel on the 

 right side folds over the breast and fits close 

 around the neck, which is otherwise uncovered. 



Photo by Mi ir. /.'/ 



A CHINESE WOMAN, WITH NAIL-PKOTECTOR (OX LEFT HAND). 



