1859.] Memorandum on Education in China. 53 



Female education is not so widely spread : the female members of 

 a family having their cookery and embroidery to fill up the hours, 

 which, in the absence of all amusement, the boy is compelled to 

 devote to his books ; but girls nearlv always receive some instruction 

 from their parents, and if of good family are expected to be able to 

 read and make verses. 



There are instances of Chinese ladies devoting themselves to 

 literature, and some of their best histories are written by women, 

 but as there is nothing tangible to be gained by female learniug, the 

 Chinese ladies rarely go beyond the four books, even if they go so 

 far, and having accomplished this, they return to their kitchen, where, 

 more fortunate than their husbands, they acquire at least one useful 

 science. 



Save in the Province of Kuangtung (Canton) there are no girl- 

 schools in the Chinese Empire, and as the Ex-Commissioner's 

 modesty prevented his investigating their internal arrangements, 

 we have no certain knowledge on this point ; it is also customary 

 in some places for daily Governesses to be employed, but the Ex- 

 Commissioner is also quite unable to give any information respecting 

 them. 



