88 
CHINESE VILLAGERS. 
horse-faced men. * These women were of low stature, had faces 
longer in proportion than those of the men, but so covered with a 
flesh-coloured paste, that I could not distinguish the tint of their 
complexions. There was a general air of languor about them, which 
was especially marked by the drooping of their upper eyelids, the 
interval between which and the lower ones was so narrow, as scarcely 
to appear sufficient for the purposes of distinct vision. Their inter- 
nal angles were more deflexed and lengthened than in the eyes 
of the men. Their hair was black, and neatly rolled up on the crown 
of the head, and ornamented with flowers. Their dress consisted of a 
loose blue cotton robe with long sleeves, and a pair of loose trowsers 
of the same material, but of a pinkish colour. The robe was fastened 
before by several buttons from the chin downwards, and fell below 
the calf of the leg. Its sleeves covered the hands. The trowsers were 
fastened about the ancle, and almost covered with their folds the 
small and tight shoe which peeped from beneath them. I had con- 
templated these curious objects for some time, when our mutual admi- 
ration was broken in upon by the appearance of some soldiers, who 
caused the fair ones to hobble off as fast as their crippled and stunted 
feet could carry them. 
No manners could be more simple and obliging than those of the 
villagers, when they were satisfied that there was nothing mis- 
chievous in my disposition ; for, in their first deportment towards 
me, they evinced the same sort of feeling which is sometimes expe- 
rienced in approaching an animal whose temper is unknown. This 
was strikingly displayed by the children, who, observing me much 
employed in collecting plants, immediately began to gather them. 
They then approached with caution, step by step, holding their 
offerings at arms’ length, and running off the instant I attempted to 
take them. When, however, I had once received any part of them, 
* By this appellation we were frequently known in China, in consequence of our com- 
paratively long faces and large noses. 
