Character of the Manchu 209 



Chinese not to feel strongly, and thus to be led to grope for 

 a probably unattainable remedy.* 



In contrast with the slender, listless appearance of young 

 Chinese girls, was the robust, sturdy look of a Manchu 

 family whose acquaintance I made at the Kung-kwan or 

 Ya-men, in Chung-king, maintained for the reception of 

 travelling officials. The father was a hale old man, hardly 

 distinguishable from a well-to-do Chinaman, but his daughters 

 were the picture of health, and full of vivacity ; the difference 

 was so striking, that before I noticed their feet, I was struck 

 with their unusually healthy look and easy manners. It is 

 curious that, owing probably to this distinction, the Manchus 

 have, unlike all previous conquerors of the country, never 

 freely intermarried with the natives ; they are still physically 

 superior, though apparently still intellectually inferior, and 

 they appear to have lost the conspicuous energy that enabled 

 a handful of foreigners to overrun the country two centuries 

 ago. They seem to be gifted with a dogged bravery, but, 

 evep to a greater extent than the Chinese themselves, to be 

 wanting in initiative. Possibly this is due to the fact that 

 they are, to all intents and purposes, pensioners of the State. 

 Their numbers are too few to cause much jealousy in the 

 native Chinese, who see theni thus specially favoured. They 

 form the nominal garrisons of the principal cities, as in the 

 days immediately succeeding the conquest ; but they live in 

 a quarter apart, as they and their families have done for 

 generations, without intermingling with the rest of the people. 

 They are forbidden to hold land, and do not trade, and 

 lead a life of indolence on the pittance doled out to them. 



* There is now an influential European society throughout China 

 (organized by Mrs. Little) to oppose this evil practice, and innumerable 

 Chinese societies formed in imitation of it. Three viceroys have already 

 condemned the practice, and numbers of little girls are already growing 

 up with natural feet, not to speak of grown women, who have unbound. 



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