80 
TIEN-SING. 
not a single instance of troublesome importunity occurred. Very few 
women were observed amongst them. Those of whom we caught a 
passing glimpse, were peeping from behind the men, and withdrew 
their heads the instant they perceived themselves noticed. A great 
many well-dressed and interesting-looking children were held up to 
see the procession pass : many of them had so little of the Chinese 
character in their faces, that they would scarcely have attracted atten- 
tion in an English crowd. The men were generally well made, and 
frequently tall ; and I did not observe in them that uniformity of coun- 
tenance which I had been led to look for in the Chinese. In different 
parts of the city, we passed through archways of considerable width, 
serving as entrances to principal streets. In these hung swords, 
shields, bows and arrows, and other arms. 
Having been carried about for nearly an hour, we arrived at our place 
of destination, and were immediately shown into a spacious apartment, 
formed of bamboo and painted matting, and erected for the occasion. 
It is difficult to describe the glittering and tawdry magnificence 
which now suddenly opened upon us. An immense number of 
painted lamps, pictures, and other ornaments, in all the colours of 
the rainbow, hung about us on every side ; whilst a crowd of Man- 
darins, in their dresses of ceremony, rendered the animated part of 
the scene no less striking. 
Lord Amherst, Sir George Staunton, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Morrison, 
having been shown into an inner apartment, to confer with the Legate 
and some other Mandarins, the gentlemen of the suite were left to 
contemplate at their leisure the objects around them. The room was 
of a broad oblong, approaching to an oval. At one extremity, a 
projecting canopy decorated with scarlet silk overhung a long range 
of tables covered with scarlet cloth. On these were placed rolls of 
silk and cotton of the most dazzling colours, intended as presents for 
the Embassy. The floor of this division of the room was raised above 
its general level. Immediately in front of it, two rows of small low 
tables were placed on the right and left hand for the feast, having by 
their side carpets and silk cushions for the accommodation of the 
