252 MARRIAGE CEREMONIES. [1697. 



their Country, except a Lock which they reserve in the 

 middle, and wliich hangs down behind. The Tartar who at 

 present reigns over this Nation impos'd this Law upon them, 

 being what is practis'd in his Country by his natural Sub- 

 jects, but which serves the Chineses for a badge of Slavery. 



These People in general have somewhat Noble and Mag- 

 nificent in them, what-ever they do. When any Chinese 

 betroths himself at Batavia, after the Contract is sign'd, he 

 at Night goes to visit his Mistriss in a Magnificent Chair 

 carry'd by four Men, and preceded by three or four hundred 

 others, either Javans hir'd for that purpose, or Negro Slaves, 

 each of them bearing Light at the end of a Stick. 'Tis true 

 this Light or Lanthorn answers little to the Splendor of the 

 rest, being only a Hog's Bladder upon a Pole, with a piece 

 of Wax-Candle in it. The Chair is immediately foUow'd 

 by a great Number of that Country Musicians, who make 

 between them a very odd sort of Harmony. 



The Priests come after on Horse-back with long Violet- 

 colour'd liobes, and square Bonnets, about which march on 

 all sides before and behind, a great number of the Bride- 

 groom's Friends, who incessantly throw up into the Air 

 Fire-works, which represent divers sorts of Animals. Tlie 

 Gallant goes to visit his Mistriss with this Equipage, 

 and returns after the same manner. When they walk 

 together the same Pomp is observ'd, and even when they go 

 to be marry'd, with this difference only, that the Woman is 

 carry'd in such a Chair that she can see whatever is done 

 without being seen her self. When the Marriage Ceremony 

 is ended, the Men dine together in Publick, but the Women 

 are in another Chamber by themselves, whither the Men 

 never come. The Tables of both Chambers are so ordor'd 

 that the two marryM People may sit that Day back to back, 

 a Wall being only between them. At Night the Husband 

 does the honour to his Wife to receive her to his Table, a 

 favour she never afterwards has granted, the Men of this 



