CHINA 



intercourse between different classes of men could be. The mandarins are blamed for nearly 

 all the iniquity attaching to the system; arid though it is beyond denial that they are as 

 powerful and rapacious as they are numerous, there is yet a word to be said in extenuation of 

 their conduct. The salaries they receive when in office and when they are regularly paid, 

 which is seldom the case are so trifling that they hardly suffice to maintain the staff which 

 it is necessary for each mandarin in office to keep. The mandarin thinks it is a sacred duty 

 to himself to remedy that state of things at the cost of the people. This becomes a more 

 imperative duty because there is a law which forbids that any mandarin shall hold office for 

 more than three years. The instant he arrives at his post all the subordinate officials hasten 

 to pay their respects to him. Not one of them would dare absent himself, and each vies 

 with his colleague in procuring a present of the utmost value he can afford to give to the 

 mandarin as a proof of his loyalty and devotion. Then, again, when a suitor comes with a 

 legal cause to the yamen, or mandarin's office, he is obliged to pay fees to the mandarin and 

 all the subordinate officials, or he would have but small chance of securing a hearing. 



The shocking corruption which is audaciously and flagrantly practised in open day in high 

 places has a most demoralising effect upon the people. Dishonesty is hardly regarded as a 

 vice; ib is practised every day and everywhere, the only deterrent being the fear of discovery 

 and punishment. False-speaking is as prevalent as dishonest dealing. The Chinese set little 

 or no value upon truth. It has been said that the Chinaman may sometimes speak the truth 

 by accident. The makers of the fatherly laws which the mandarins administer, and the 

 mandarins themselves, apparently have knowledge of the rarity of such accidents, and therefore, 

 to have more on their side than the chance of accident when trying to elicit truth in their 

 courts of justice, they employ torture. 



Flogging is the kind most commonly inflicted to bring home to the mind of a prevaricating 



Photo by Mr. Afony] 



CHINESE TAKING TEA. 



