1803. } Specimen of a 
of the commodity in its way to market, 
they (being already fupplied at a ftated 
price) will have an intereft in advancing 
the value of the commodity, becaufe, in 
the fame gradation as that rifes in the mar- 
ket, will their profits be increafed upon 
the quantity of which they have poffeffed 
themlelves. The fellers will readily co- 
operate with thefe ufeful allies! 
The twenty perfons who are yet unfup- 
plied, thinking that all the others are in 
thefame ttate of neceffity with themfelves, 
will be anxious to fatisfy their own wants 
from a quantity which appears to be fo 
very infufficient to fatisfy the wants of all. 
Hence will arife a buftle and aétivity, the 
caule of which is only known to thofe who 
have an interelt to conceal it. The effect 
will be foon operated on the market: the 
maturity of evil isat hand: the avidity of 
thefe twenty buyers produces the appear- 
ance of an extraordinary demand: the 
feller is now confirmed inthe fame mifcon- 
ception as his cuftomer ; both think that 
there is lefs of the commodity than what 
is really wanted : the price is immediate- 
ly advanced ; and every confumer will be 
ultimately called upon to pay fome part of 
the addition. From the conclufion of this 
trading pantomime, it is eafy to perceive 
that the performance of it, like that of all 
theatrical entertainments upon a large fale, 
mutt lead to great contributions from the 
public. S. 
sae 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
SPECIMEN OF A CHINESE DRAMA. 
ihe dramatical compofitions of the 
Chinefe may be divided into two prin- 
cipal clafles, long hiftorical pieces, and fhort 
comedies or farces. The latter are mot 
frequently exhibited by the ftrolling com- 
panies of players. The theatre is 
ufually of a very fimple conftruction, being 
badly put together, and raifed upon 
props, like the ftages of mountebanks at 
fairs. The interior of a houfe and the 
fireet are often feen at the fame time ; and 
it is fometimes difficult to decide in what 
place the feene is really laid. When a 
door is to be opened, the astor makes a 
motion with both hands, in the fame man- 
ner as when one throws back the two 
wings of adoor. When he has to repre- 
fent a warrior mounting his horfe and rid- 
ing off, he lifts up his leg as if vaulting in- 
to the faddle, is then feated on his horfe, 
&c. In the part that is fung, the acting 
comedian gives an account of what he is 
performing before the eyes of the others y 
but, probably, this ought tobe related ‘by 
Monrury Mac. No. 97. 
Chinefe Farce. 25 
the chorus, which is in general ftationed 
behind the ftage, and chants the fame notes 
as the performer. 
The orcheitra likewife plays in unilony 
and is ftationed on the flage. When two 
armies are engaged, the noife with the lo’s 
and drums is moft horribly loud and dif. 
cordant ; and the mafks of the warriors 
and demons fhockingly diftorted and be- 
daubed. In the following little piece, the 
Chéu (buffoon) has indeed his face paint 
ed ; but his drefs is that ufually worn by 
a Px-kang, or mender of broken earthen- 
veflels, when he marches about the ftreets, 
carrying the whole of his tools and work- 
fhop. 
The Pe, or natural fpeaking, is altered, 
augmented, and improved accdérding to 
the fancy of the actor, whole alterations, 
however, are frequently far from being 
improvements of the text. The Chew 
bawls forth his fong with all his might = 
but the Prima Donna (Tan)* mut fing 
witn great delicacy. 
5 PU-KANG.} 
THE POT-MENDER-e 
Cheu.t (finging.) ; 
Hard, hard is the lor of Ho-/ang-eulb, 
Daily muft he goabout the ftreets a-bawling 5 
For thereby alone earns he his bread. , 
(Speaking )—Yes, Yes! Iam Ho-lang-eulb. 
—The weather is favourable to-day, {£ muft- 
go my rounds in the city. Quick, forth, 
forth !—There is no avoidingit. 
(Staging) Ho-lang-eulh with alacrity lifts up 
his burden with the Tiao-tan || 
Thus I run through every part of the town, 
From the eaft to the weft, from fouth to the 
north gate, 
At all the four gates, at all the four corners 
Tve been, 
From one place to the other I’ve wandered, 
And no one hascall’d the Pu-kang ! 
* Tanisthe aétrefs. In this piece fhe is 
called Vang, to which the title of Ta-niung 
(lady, mifs,) is added. 
+ Pu kang fiznifies a pot-mender, In the 
Chinefe cities there are a great number of 
thefe people, who for a trifling recompence 
repair earthen and porcelain veflels, by boring 
holes into the pieces, and joining them toge- 
ther with wire. ' 
{ Chex is the aétot who plays the comic 
part, nearly the fame as the /rlichino of the 
Italians: but not quite the jack-pudding or 
clown in this piece 5 ftri€tly adhering to the 
charaéter of a Pu-kang. The pot-mender, 
whom he reprefents, is called Ho-lang-eulb. ° 
|} The Tiao-ram is a ftick with which he 
carries his workfhop and whole apparatus on 
his fhoulder. At one end of the ftick hangs 
a fmall box, orcheft, which likewife ferves 
him for a table : at the other end it is coun- 
terpoifed by a wooden ftool, 
D : 
4 
Tie 
