3U 



CHINA. 



The external eipretsion* of civility and retpect are 

 rijctlv regulated and strictly inculcated by the laws of 

 China. But it i( the form, which they study, without 

 c:ilicr the ease of good breeding, or the sincerity of real 

 kiodoet*. Pertoni of all rank* prostrate themselves in 

 the presence of the emperor, and address him in a set of 

 phrases, which are appropriated to him alone. When 

 any one presents a request to a mandarin of high rank, 

 he bends the knee, incliues his bead three times towards 

 the ground, and, in this posture, communicates his 

 wishes ; but, should the petitioner be a person abore 

 the common order, he is generally desired to rise, and 

 retiring to one side, he makes his speech in an upright 

 petition. In speaking, also, to persons of rank, it is a 

 part of polite behaviour, to place the hand before the 

 mouth, and to incline the body in a respectful manner. 

 In ordinary cases, the mandarins avoid as much as pos- 

 ible to meet each other; but, when two of them chance 

 to meet, the inferior leaves his palanquin, and mikes a 

 profound reverence to the other ; or if they are of equal 

 rank, they both remain in their chairs, and make a salute 

 at they pass. When one of the lower order meets a 

 mandarin, he does not presume to salute him ; but quickly 

 turns to one side, and places himself erect, with his head 

 inclined, and his arms hanging by his sides. To the 

 aged, to parents, and to elder brothers, particular respect 

 is shewn ; and they always occupy the most honourable 

 place; which, among the Chinese, is the right hand, and, 

 among the Tartars, the left. When two Chinese of 

 equal rank salute each other, they bend themselves to- 

 wards each other, join their hands, and repeat the words 

 Tsin-win, or Tsin-leao, I salute you. On such occa- 

 sions a common expression is hao-hao, good, good, or ya- 

 fan, have you eaten your rice, a competent supply of which 

 article is always a principal ingredient in the comfort of 

 a Chinese; but to persons of superior station, the pro- 

 per title of respect is Lau-y6 old >, or old gentleman, 

 at age is always the chief object of reverence and esteem. 

 When one Chinese wishes to pay a visit to another, he 

 first tendt in hi* compliments with his name contained 

 in a billet of red paper folded like a screen, with a small 

 triangular piece of gilt paper on the last leaf. These 

 visiting cards or tickets, are of a certain size, colour, 

 and degree of ornament, according to the rank of the 

 parties; and the card of the viceroy of Pe-tche-lee to 

 Lord Macartney, is said to have contained as much 

 rimson coloured paper, as would have covered the 

 wall* of a room of moderate *ize. If the person, visited, 

 wishes to decline the visit, he returns the billet with a 

 request, that his friend will not trouble himself to de- 

 scend from hi* palanquin, and then sends to him a simi- 

 lar card ; and the more hurry in dispatching it, the 

 greater the respect. If, however, he is disposed to re- 

 ceive the visit, and if the visitor be of equal rank, then a 

 multitude of civilities are interchanged. The great display 

 of ceremo&y take* place in entering the gate, the stranger 

 contenting only, after much entreaty, to pats through 

 the middle gate, while the other enter* by one of the 

 tide doors. Upon entering an apartment, a teat is offered, 

 which the master of the house, at the same time, slight- 

 ly wipe*. When once seated, they keep themselves erect, 

 with their hands upon their knees, their feet equally dis- 

 tant from the chair, and their whole appearance sedate 

 nd competed. Their conversation is remarkable for in- 

 ipidity and tamcnets, turning chiefly upon the affairs of 

 the neighbourhood, the injustice of the magittratei, the 

 tricks and stratagems of the merchants and mechanics. 

 Tea i* always presented at these visit*. The leaves are 

 put into a porcelain cup, boiling water poured upon 

 them, the cover put on, and the cup presented in a 



bason or copper Mnrer. The cup is lifted with both Charjftef 

 hands, and slowly emptied. If a present accompanies ""'' 

 the visit, it i* committed to the servants, and a note of M-"""^ 

 the articles, of which it consists, accompanies the card. " """*""" 

 The master of the house examines the contents after the 

 departure of his visitor ; accepts the whole or a part ; 

 and, in the latter case, he writes in a note what he ha* 

 retained, which he send* with the portion returned. 

 Sometimes they merely send a list of the presents intend- 

 ed, when the person addressed marks the articles, which 

 he is willing to accept, sends back the note, and then 

 receives the objects specified. Even their letters are at- 

 tended with similar formalities ; every one consisting of 

 nine leaves, beginning at the second ; folded within an 

 envelope, covered by a strip of red paper ; then inclosed 

 in a paper bag, which is sealed at the mouth, and .upon 

 which is written the name, quality, and residence of the 

 person to whom it is sent. 



No person of any distinction can with propriety 

 walk on foot, upon a visit or short journey ; but must 

 make use of a palanquin, a sedan-chair, a whecl-carriage, 

 a horse, or mule. The palanquins of the mandarins are co- 

 vered with green cloth, and the chairs of the ladies are 

 closely shut. Among the carriages in use are large 

 wheel-barrows, or small carts with one wheel, pushed a- 

 long by one person ; and these are sometimes provided 

 with a sail, which appears to have very little effect, and 

 to be attended with greater inconvenience than benefit. 

 These wheel-barrows are used chiefly for carrying bag- 



fage, and also for conveying the women and children, 

 n the latter case, they are commonly covered with a 

 kind of mat to shelter the family ; and, when heavily 

 loaded, an ass is sometimes yoked in front, which an- 

 swers better than the sail. Their travelling carts are nar- 

 row, clumsy, and ill constructed, with small wheels, with- 

 out spokes. They resemble the hearses of Europe, 

 though not above half their length ; are without any seats, 

 or springs, of which the Chinese appear to have no idea ; 

 and the only improvement, with a view to diminish the 

 jolting, is to place the wheel well back, or to put a third 

 wheel in the middle, between the two at the sides. They 

 are always covered, generally lined with blue cloth, 

 and sometimes furnished with black cushions. They are 

 commonly open in front, with a square window at each 

 side ; but sometimes they are shut before, and have the 

 door at the side. The driver sits at the entrance in front ; 

 and they have only one horse, even in some of a consider- 

 able size. When the Chinese ride on horseback, they 

 use commonly wooden saddles, and a simple cord by way 

 of bridle. Instead of horses, they prefer mules, be- 

 cause their step is more sure, ana their motion more 

 easy, because they are capable also of subsisting upon 

 less nourishment, and of enduring greater fatigue. They 

 are not fond of riding at great speed, but rather set out 

 early, and travel slowly. In the northern districts, num- 

 bers of dromedaries are used as beasts of burden, which 

 are remarkably gentle, and generally follow one another 

 in files, a driver merely leading the foremost with a cord. 



The Chinese, of all ranks, are passionately fond of G am ,, an j 

 gaming ; and whenever they come together, whatever be a m ue- 

 the occasion, they seldom separate without a trial of mem% 

 their good fortune. For such opportunities, a Chinese it 

 always provided with a pack of cards, or a pair of dice 

 in his pocket. The former are long and narrow, small- 

 er in size, but more in number than those of Europe. 

 The latter are exactly similar to ours, and are frequently 

 carried in a cavity, made for the purpose in the handle* 

 of their knives. When the party are not provided with 

 either of these articles, they have recourse to their finger*, 

 with which they play a game named Ttoi-moi, and vrhick 



