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Cuapr. VIII.] PRIVATE THEATRICALS. 139 
* lady-looking,” and so well were their appearance 
and dresses arranged, that it would have required a 
practised eye to have detected the difference. 
The voices of the actors were not musical, at least 
to English ears, but the whole was in unison with 
the noisy gong, and the wind instruments, like bag- 
pipes, which are in common use amongst the Chi- 
nese. In fact, noise seemed to be the thing which 
produced the greatest effect, and we certainly had 
enough of it. 
I was struck by the various figures made by 
the actors on the stage, intended, no doubt, to 
represent something like those scenes or pictures 
which are so much studied in our theatres at 
home. A quadrant seems to be a great favourite, 
and was constantly made by them in the different 
acts. They have no scenery to assist the delusion, 
only asimple screen, which is sometimes used to re- 
present a room out of which some actor is to make 
his appearance. Fencing is much practised, and is, 
perhaps, the most curious part of these exhibitions. 
Each individual has two swords, which he swings 
about his head in the wildest manner, at the same 
time throwing his feet and legs about in a most 
fantastic way, as if they had as much to do in the 
business as the hands and arms. The exhibition or 
play lasted for three hours, and then we left the 
theatre and retired into another room. While we 
were there the servants were busily employed in re- 
arranging the theatre, which was now to be con- 
verted into a dining-room. 
