218 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



fourth and fifth divisions of the Chinese army consist of native Chinese, 

 called Lu-ki, that is to say, troops of the green color. They comprise field 

 troops, and city and country militia ; and, except in important wars, 

 perform almost exclusively police service. The entire military force 

 amounts, by a moderate estimate, to 1,347,000 men. Powerful as it 

 sounds, this host is nevertheless little to be feared, as the Chinese are poor 

 soldiers, and even the Mandchoo and Mongol troops are no longer what 

 they formerly were. The weapons are bows and arrows, swords, and 

 muskets. Chinese troops are in uniform only when in service ; out of 

 service, they dress as citizens, and are engaged in civil occupations. The 

 uniform of Chinese infantry is represented in pi. 23, jig. 3. It very much 

 resembles the common dress of citizens ; the spencer (kurma) diflTers, and 

 must be of the same color with the standard to which the soldier belongs. 

 The uniform, however, of the so-called Tiger Guard is entirely peculiar. 

 It consists of a jacket, long trowsers, and a yellow cloth cap with dark 

 brown stripes. The cap has two ends resembling ears, envelops the 

 entire head, and its cape reaches down to the shoulders. A gaudily- 

 colored shield of bamboo wicker-work, and a sabre, are their arms. The 

 cavalry are mounted upon small horses, and make their attack in a 

 rash and impetuous manner. Their saddles are very soft, and as high 

 in front as behind, so that the rider cannot easily be thrown from his 

 seat. 



The Chinese manifest great industry and perseverance at their work, 

 and in the rational pursuit of agriculture are distinguished in a manner 

 altogether peculiar. Their land never lies fallow ; and, as a general rule, 

 the same acre yields three crops in the course of a year ; first rice, then 

 vetches, and lastly, wheat or other grain, or sometimes beans. The great- 

 est care is bestowed upon the manuring of the fields. The Chinese direct, 

 in particular, great attention to the cultivation of rice ; and this branch of 

 agriculture is pursued not only in the plains, but a certain variety of this 

 grain is grown upon the slopes of the mountains, where a system of irrigation 

 and trenching of the most ingenious character is employed. Pleasure and 

 flower gardens, on the contrary, are seldom found, the soil being too 

 expensive to the Chinese to be made use of for the gratification of luxurious 

 tastes, in a country so densely populated. The Chinese pay also but little 

 attention to the raising of fruits ; the cultivation of the sugar-cane, the 

 mulberry, and the tea shrub, on the other hand, is the more zealously 

 followed. Great quantities of kitchen vegetables are likewise grown. The 

 most flourishing tea plantations are in the province Fo-kieen, and the 

 adjoining section of the province Kiang-su. Tea shrubs are planted in 

 China, in part as inclosures for fields ; partly, and chiefly, in particular 

 grounds and gardens. In the third year the crop begins, and a single 

 shrub frequentl}^ furnishes from three to four pounds of tea leaves. Three 

 crops are gathered yearly, and each time the leaves are picked and assorted 

 according to the different kinds. The leaves are pinched oflfwith the nail; 

 in doing which, injury to the branches and buds is solicitously avoided. In 

 the preparation of hlack tea, the leaves are plucked with their pedicles, and 

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