256 



CHINESE THEATRICALS. 



Chap. Xll. 



Cryptomania japonica^ which is remarkable for the 

 number of beautiful rings and veins which show to 

 great advantage when the wood is polished. 



In the afternoon the play began, and attracted 

 its thousands of happy spectators. As already 

 stated, the subscribers, or those who gave the play, 

 had a raised platform, placed about twenty yards 

 from the front of the stage, for themselves and 

 their friends. The public occupied the ground on 

 the front and sides of the stage, and to them the 

 whole was free as their mountain-air, — each man, 

 however poor, had as good right to be there as his 

 neighbour. And it is the same all over China : — 

 the actoi's are paid by the rich, and the poor are 

 not excluded from participating in the enjoyments 

 of the stage. 



The Chinese have a curious fancy for erecting 

 these temporary theatres on the dry beds of 

 streams. In travelling through the country I 

 have frequently seen them in such places. Some- 

 times, when the thing is done in grand style, a 

 little tinsel town is erected at the same time, with 

 its palaces, pagodas, gardens, and dwarf plants. 

 These places rise and disappear as if by the magic 

 of the enchanter's wand, but they serve the pur- 

 poses for which they are designed, and contribute 

 largely to the enjoyment and happiness of the 

 mass of the people. 



On the present occasion I did not fail to accept 

 the invitations which had been given me in the 

 earlier part of the day. As I did not intend to 



