Chap. XVII. 



FLOWEEED CEAPES. 



355 



loom moving five pedals, and directing the shuttle 

 and all that needed to be done with the threads 

 that lay horizontal on the frame. The other was 

 perched overhead to superintend the pattern. This 

 he did by means of vertical threads tied np in 

 bundles, a large number of which, distributed 

 transversely through the threads of the horizontal 

 frame beneath him, were at his disposal. These 

 he raised according to the requirement of the pat- 

 tern, and thus caused thnt elevation in the threads 

 on the frame below that constituted the flowered 

 part of the piece." 



Like their countrymen all over China, the Hoo- 

 chow people are fond of the drama. During my 

 visit to the city a fine play was going on in one 

 of the temples near the north gate. I had many 

 pressing invitations, from individuals in the croM^d 

 who were following me, to go and see the play. 

 But having seen many of these exhibitions on 

 former occasions, I had no wish to see this one, 

 more particularly as I knew well that all the 

 rabble in the town are generally collected about 

 such places. My companions, however, rather out- 

 witted me, and gained their point before I was 

 aware of it. Having a kind of mania for collect- 

 ing ancient works of Chinese art, such as porcelain 

 vases, bronzes, enamels, and such things, I had 

 been making many enquiries regarding them as 

 we went along, and had already made several pur- 

 chases of considerable interest. I was now told by 

 a person in the crowd that he would take me to 



2 B 



