142 Notice of a Chinese Geographical work. [Feb. 



mer backwards, and knotting it behind the neck in a band an inch broad 

 or more ; when the hair gets too long, they cut it. The women 

 do not use chi,* or flour, f Nor do they wear fresh flowers [in their 

 hair], nor flowered cloth and silk, nor head ornaments, nor ear-rings ; 

 —only tortoise-shell combs. The young damsels are [numerous] as 

 the clouds ; all day they bathe and perfume themselves. They curl 

 their hair before and behind. Their finger nails are extremely clean ; 

 they dread all impurity. Nevertheless, the complexions of the men and 

 women are not to be compared with those of the lovely Central Land, 

 although beyond comparison superior to those of all other countries. 

 Verily, the east produces gay and etherial spirits ! 



The people of that country have all double sur-names, only the 

 Choe fu have single ones. The Choe fu unite the young men and 

 young women in marriage. Those who dwell on the spot, are called 

 Choe ke chcen ; their burial place is at Hong tsi shdn. The men of 

 this nation become impotent after fifty years of age. Nu is the name 

 of the tribe ; hence they are called Wai nu. They in general venerate 

 Full,! and respect the priests of the Central Nation. They constantly 

 sweep the family temples and the tombs of their departed ancestors. 

 They procure sweet smelling flowers and delicate fruits [for offerings] ; 

 or failing these, with venerable priests of Fuh they approach the ances- 

 tral tombs. 



These people hold their lives cheap. If they have transgressed the 

 law, and the matter become public, they go to a sequestered spot, and 

 destroy themselves, § so as not to involve others. The laws are extremely 

 severe against quarrels and strife. They speak very gently to each 



* A vermilion salve used by Chinese ladies for the lips. 



t To improve the complexion. 



% The Chinese transcription of Buddha. 



§ This account is confirmed to the letter by M. Titsingh, who says, " When a 

 person is conscious of having committed some crime and apprehensive of thereby being 

 disgraced, he puts an end to his own life to spare his family the ruinous conse- 

 quences of judicial proceedings. This practice is so common that scarcely any no- 

 tice is taken of such an event. The sons of all people of quality exercise themselves 

 in their youth for five or six years, with a view that they may perform the operation, 

 in case of need, with gracefulness and dexterity ; and they take as much pains to 

 acquire this accomplishment, as youth amongst us do to become elegant dancers or 



