EfeUMi 371 



wives give receptions, though the male sex is carefully 

 excluded. 



If China was but well and honestly governed, her 

 position might be one of the first in the world ; 

 gradually, I have little doubt, she will creep up to 

 this, as her destiny to hold a great place in the 

 universe appears more than probable. Patience, per- 

 severance, and soberness, are three great essentials to 

 success, and these virtues the Chinese most certainly 

 possess. 



The system of squeezing^ amongst the Mandarins is 

 terribly pernicious. As for religion, I don't consider the 

 Chinese really have any, although hardly a room in a 

 Chinaman's house is without its joss or josses. They 

 are cynical to a degree on this score. When the ground 

 is dried and parched up, their custom is to haul the god 

 of rain from his resting-place, and set him down on 

 the hot dry ground, so that he may feel the state it is 

 in, and how very much rain is required. I doubt if 

 Western people can form a conception of what the 

 Chinese character is, and as for their manners and 

 customs, pages could be fdled on this score. It is all 

 very well to suppose Western powers are so superior 



1 By " squeezing " is meant the system of forcing the poor to pay 

 unfair fines, taxes, etc. 



