csin 
 
 3tl(aca, JJtw ^atk 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 COLLECTION 
 
 CHINA AND THE CHINESE 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 CHARLES WILLIAM WASON 
 
 CLASS OF 187S 
 
 1918 
 
The date shows when this volume was taken. 
 
 To -01PW this Vif^ 
 
 Cornell University Library 
 DS 721.C51P7 1890 
 
 Bits of China / 
 
 ■■3I 924 023 241 031 
 
 ;^JBg^^fNEX 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 924023241 031 
 
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 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 / ^ BY 
 
 GENERAL TCHENG;KI-TONG, 
 
 MiUta/ry Attache to tlie Imperial Chinese Zegation in Paris. 
 
 liegatum %n Pans. 
 
 
 AN AUTHORISED TRANSLATION 
 
 
 R. H. SHERARD, 
 
 OP 
 
 LBS PLAISIRS EN CHINE. 
 
 ALL meSTS MESMItVED. 
 
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GEORGE 
 
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 THE SOUTH AMERICAN 
 
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 found a pleasant accessory." — The Grocer, May 22nd, 1875. 
 
 GEORGE WHYBROW, 
 
 Manufacturer of Pickles, Sauces, Bottled Fruits, etc 
 Importer of Capers, Salad Oil, Castor Oil. 
 
 ESTABLISHED OVER 50 YEARS^ #^ 
 
 SQUARE, LONDON. 
 
 1 M i''i s^ -) 
 ,YrELLqi4,OSE 
 
 ..'I,, .-1 1' .J 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 ClIAPTER. PAGE. 
 
 I. — The Chinbsb Home ----- 13 
 
 n. — ^Religious and National Fetes - - - 20 
 
 III. — The Fete or the Moon ■ - - - 27 
 
 IV, — The Feast op Lanterns - - - 33 
 
 y. — ^The Feast of the Two Stars - - - 39 
 
 VI. — ^Thb Feast ojf Flowers - - - - 43 
 
 VII.— New Year's Day - ... 46 
 
 VIII.- The End op the Year - - - - 55 
 
 IX. — ^Processions - ----- 61 
 
 X. — ^A Btjddhist Solemnity - - - - 68 
 
 . XI. — ^Rustic Pleasures. — Walks and Pilgrimages 75 
 
 XII,— Bathing - - . 83 
 
 Xin. — Kite-plying - - - - - 87 
 
 XIV.— The Illuminated Boats - - - - 90 
 
 XV. — Gardening ... - - - 94 
 
 XVI.— The Chase 103 
 
 XVn.— FisHQia - - - - - - 107 
 
 XVin. — L'Eternel Feminin. — Coqubiterie - - 112 
 
 XIX.— Fans - - - - 118 
 
 XX. — Celebrated Beauties - - - 123 
 
 XXI. — Serious Pleasures. — The Student - 128 
 
 XXII. — Poetical Competitions - - - - 135 
 
 XXin-.— Painters 143 
 
 XXTV— Chess - - - - - - - 148 
 
 XXV. — ^At Table. — ^Thb Pleasure of Drinking - 153 
 
 XXVI.— Tea-drinking ' ,- - - 159 
 
 XXVII.— Chopsticks ---**--- 165- 
 
 XXVIII.— Chinese Cooking - - - - - 169 
 
 XXIX. — Games op Skill. — Conjuring - - - 178 
 
 XXX. — ^Thb Evocation op Spirits - - - - 185 
 
 XXXI. — ^Phrenology and Chiromancy - - - 190 
 XXXII. — Dippbrent Games. — Oriental Shooting 
 Matches — ^The Candlestick — Shuttle- 
 
 cocks-^The Coin Game - - . 197 
 XXXin. — Games op Chancb.-^Card Games — Second 
 Game : Fishing — Third Game : The 
 
 Pecking Game - - . . . 202 
 
 XXXIV.— Lotteries 208 
 
 XXXV. — ^Public Pleasures. — The Theatres - - 214 
 XXXVI. — Animal Fights — I. Cricket Fights — 
 
 n. Quail Fights - - - - 219 
 XXXVII. — Conclusion. TT- The Pleasures op a 
 
 Philosophbe - . - - . 223 
 
J^BARBEIj* COMPANY. 
 
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 I't^'i ( Postal Orders from l/5 (o 10/6 ?;/n_y »;oio be had for One 
 Penny from all post-offices. 
 
 BARBEi; & COMPANY, 
 
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 61, BISHOPSGATE STREET, LONDON, E.C. 
 
 AND — 
 
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 King's Cross, N. The Borough, London Bridge. 
 
 BRIGHTON ;— 147, North Street. BIRMiNGHAiVI :— Quadrant. 
 
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 HASTINGS :—Havelock Road, and Robertson Street. 
 
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PREFACE. 
 
 Br 
 HJS EXCELLENCY- 
 GENERAL TCHENG-KI-TONG. 
 
 The friendly welcome accorded by tHe English 
 Public to my " Chinese Painted by Themselves " 
 has encouraged me to publish this translation of my 
 last work. 
 
 Old Epicurus summed up his philosophy in pleasures 
 well understood. The peoples of the world, all 
 ejiicureans in a certain measure, amused themselves 
 before him, and have amused themselves since, each 
 after his own fashion. 
 
 I do not think I shall displease .the people of the 
 Country often called "Merry England '' in bringing to 
 their notice "Pleasures in China." 
 
BUDGET 1890 REDUCTION. 
 
 NEVER 
 
 Sold in 
 
 England before 
 
 at the Price. 
 
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 BARBER & COMPANY, 
 
 274, Regent Circus, Oxford Street, 
 
 The Boro', I.o;idon Bridge, S.E. 61, Bishopsgate Street, B.C. 
 
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 AND AT 
 
 Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Bristol, Birmingham, Brighton, and Hastings. 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 " Pleasures in China." " Hum ; rather a frivolous title," the 
 reader may exclaim. "What Asiatic orgies, what Oriental 
 delirium, mil be revealed to me in this book, which I am sure no 
 mother would care to place in the hands of her daughter ?" 
 
 Be reassured. Our pleasures are not such as to shock modesty. 
 They are simple and honest, as becomes an ancient nation, which 
 has left the age of youthful follies long behind it, has due self- 
 respect, and knows how to amuse itself decently. 
 
 In my book, "Chinese Tales," I endeavoiu-ed to show the 
 minor details of the life of my compatriots, whose poHtical and 
 social customs I have described in my other book, " The Chinese 
 Painted by Themselves." The object of this new book is to give 
 a picture of oiu- private amusements and of our small pubHc fetes. 
 It belongs accordingly to anthropological literature, describing 
 as it does a series of ethnological phenomena, games, ceremonies, 
 and fetes, which, however much they may resemble those to be 
 seen in all other countries, have, nevertheless, a special character 
 in each coimtry. This character depends largely on the national 
 conceptions of the people under consideration. 
 
 Everybody amuses himself as he thinks best. Tluc alfirmation 
 is as true for nations as it is for individuals. Our joys and our 
 ways of manifesting them, are they not the expression of our 
 inividuality ? And when a whole people rejoices in a certain 
 manner does not that mean that it offers in its fetes a kind of 
 picture of its inner life, a synthesis of its dearest aspirations and 
 desires ? Oin: pleasures are determined by our moral and 
 philosophical, political and social views. 
 
 Religion has much also to do in fashioning them according to 
 her likeness. The character of a nalaon is never better shown 
 than in its enjoyments — its fetes ; in one word, in its pleasures. 
 Tell me how you amuse yourself and I will tell you what you are. 
 
 In the task I have laid upon myself of revealing the Asiatic 
 East to the European West, it seems to me that tliis new chapter 
 will not be out of place. In any case, the author wiU be 
 BuiEciently rewarded if the reader — albpit only for a moment — 
 finds some pleasure in turning over the leaves of the book he haa 
 viittea. 
 
BY PARCELS POST. 
 
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CHAPTER I. 
 THE CHINESE HOME. 
 
 I remember reading in Mr. Paleologiie's clever 
 book, "L'Art Chinois,'^ tlie statement "that China 
 never had but one single style of architecture,' 
 throughout all the periods of its history, for her 
 public and private, civic, or ecclesiastical buildings.'^ 
 Now, a close observer will notice in our buildings 
 a great variety of styles, the finesse of which naturally 
 is lost upon those who do not take the trouble to 
 examine them carefully. It is just like a passer-by 
 looking at some of the new streets in Paris, where 
 all the houses are built by one and the same building 
 company, and resemble one another externally; or 
 at the grand avenues in New York City, or the long 
 strassen in Karlsruhe, spread out round a central 
 square in the shape of a fan. At first sight one 
 
14 . BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 cannot help tlie exclamation that these buildings 
 produce a desperately monotonous impression. 
 
 But should you pay the architect a visit and 
 examine the plans of these various constructions, 
 you cannot fail to notice that not one interior re- 
 sembles another. The difference is as slight as the 
 physiognomies of different people, who have the 
 same features but have different faces. 
 
 It is true that long ago there was little variety in 
 our architectural styles, but in spite of that it can be 
 asserted that each of our cities has a special 
 character," and presents, as far as its buildings are 
 concerned, distinctive features. 
 
 There are many reasons for this, waiit of variety. 
 In the first place, those foreign elements which so 
 often so profoundly modified European architecture 
 have been almost completely wanting in China. 
 Then it must be remembered that oflcial prescrip- 
 tions regulate the style of houses for different 
 functionaries^ a custom which must necesSkrily limit 
 architectural originality and fancy; and then there 
 is" tradition," which is "so powerful in our country, 
 and which did not allow of any modification of the 
 pure Chinese style, which had been consecrated by 
 the use of -centuries. 
 
THE CHINESE HOME. 16 
 
 Let US now examine the different Mnds of Cliinese 
 liouses. 
 
 In the northern districts^ less favoured by Nature, 
 buildings are generally constructed of earth. It is 
 only the palaces and the houses of rich people of 
 which the framework is of wood. In spite of the 
 severi'ty of the climate and the quantities of dust 
 which are brought by the wind from the sandy 
 regions, these houses have^ generally speaking, two 
 stories, in which they differ considerably froni the 
 houses in the south,' which have rarely more than 
 one. The walls are low, with but a very slight curve 
 at the top," whereas in the south this curve, which 
 we style "the saddle," is very pronounced. These 
 
 waUs are called f' fire-walls," because they are 
 -intended to protect the house against fire. 
 
 The upper storey is called "the pavilion of the horse 
 races," a name I have never been able to account for, 
 as the staircases were never such as to allow of 
 horses brought up with them. This upper storey is 
 generally used as a place of pleasure, the ground 
 floor being preferred as an ordinary dwelling-place. 
 The Chinese love symmetry in all things, and so, no 
 matter the size of the ground on which they build, 
 their houses are always constructed so that the 
 
IG EITS OF CraNA. 
 
 drawing-room is just opposite the entrance door^ 
 and that on either side of it there be one or two 
 rooms exactly the same. Instead of speaking of our 
 houses as haying so many rooms, we say^ "It has 
 such a number of rooms on the front — three, five," 
 seven," &c. 
 
 The following is a description of a good average 
 middle-class dwelling : — 
 
 On entering you find yourself in a large ante- 
 chamber, flanked on the right and on the left by a 
 servants' room. Facing you are three doofsj one 
 large and two small, giving access to a courtyard, 
 which is entered by descending a staircase of three 
 stepsj On either side of the courtyard there is first 
 a paved gallery, then a room. Oiie of these rooms 
 is reserved for the children of the housed the other 
 is a smoking-room or small drawing-room. 
 
 The drawing-room is reached by ascending the 
 three steps on the other side of the yard. On its 
 left and right hand side there are one, two; or three 
 rooms. Behind the drawing-room is the dining-room 
 flanked also on either side with one, tw'o, or three 
 rooins. Then homes a second courtyard, with the 
 kitchen and lumber-room on the right and left. If 
 the house is a large one, you will find three, five^ or 
 
THE CHINESE HOME. 17 
 
 sereri more rooms ttehind this courtyard. The same 
 distribution may be repeated over and over again 
 where the habitation is very vast. The garden, -with 
 its kiosques and its artificial rockeries, is on one of 
 the wings^ and is surrounded with walls. 
 
 The rent of an ordinary house, such as the one that 
 I have just described, is about two pounds eight 
 shillings a year. 
 
 The roof is more or less elevatfed, but it always is" 
 very sloping aiid is' covered with overlapping tiles,' 
 so as to allow the rain to run off easily. 
 
 The windows are large, the framework being of wood 
 The panes are of glass^ silk, or transparent paper, 
 according to the part of the country. Instead of en- 
 deavouring to protect themselves against draughts, 
 the Chinese do all they can to procure currents of 
 air through the house. 
 
 The interior decoration is generally very luxurious. 
 
 The prominent parts of the wood-work are carved, 
 
 the flat parts are varnished. The walls are hidden 
 
 behind paintings representing historical scenes, the 
 
 wall which fronts the drawing-room is usually 
 
 painted with a subject referring to the rank of the 
 
 master of the house. On entering the drawing-room 
 
 tlie eye is at once caught by the sight of a gilt and 
 
 B 
 
18 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 carved box^ which hangs from the horizontal rafter 
 under the roof. On either side of it is a large gilt 
 di-agon, who seems to be guarding it. This box con- 
 tains the patents of nobility or commissions to offtcial 
 rank held by the proprietor. 
 
 The paper on which the words "Happiness " or 
 "Long Life," which are given to members of the 
 family by the Emperor according to their merits, 
 are also hung up in this place. 
 
 The furniture of the drawing-room is extremely 
 simple. There is a long, large table in the middle, 
 with eight chairs arranged on the two sides, between 
 each set of two chairs is a little square tea-table. 
 Then there are two squaije stools. 
 
 The places of visitors are arranged according to 
 tiieir rank; the stools are always reserved for the 
 master of the house. When the visit is a ceremonious 
 one, or there is a fete in the family, the chairs, whicli 
 are usually of marble or of bamboo," are covered 
 with embroidered red satin covers, which is just the 
 contrary of what is done in Europe, where the 
 furniture is uncovered for receiving. There are 
 always a large mirror, a vase of flowers, a plate of 
 decorative fruits, and a clock on the drawing-room 
 table. In the centre stands a scent-burner. 
 
THE CHINESE HOME. 19 
 
 On the walls are roUs of autographs or paintings 
 from the pens and pencils of celebrities of style or. 
 of art. Very few knick-lmacks are to be seen iii onr 
 drawing-rooms which we malie as severe and simple 
 as we can. Only occasionally does one see a few 
 knick-knacks in the little di-awing-roomi or in the 
 pleasure Idosk in the garden. The greater part are 
 hidden away in cupboards," and are only produced at 
 the Fete of the Moon, of which I speak further on," 
 or on certain religious festivals. 
 
 "We have neither cupboards in the walls, such as 
 are the delight of Parisian housewives, nor alcoves 
 in our houses in China. 
 
 This is a fair description of a Chinese honie. I do 
 not speak of the dwelling-places of the poor, which 
 are to be seen in China as well as here, and are as 
 sad and as little decorative. Happiness, it has been 
 said, has no history, T)ut it is wealth that alone admits 
 of description. Misery is not to be depicted, unless 
 as in Theophile Gautier's "Capitaine Fracasse," it 
 is lodged in an old castle, picturesquely in ruins- 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL 
 FETES. 
 
 It is terribly hot, forty degrees in the shaded and 
 summer has only just begun. It is the fifth day of the 
 fifth moon, the date on which the Fete of the 
 l)rngoii is celebrated. 
 
 The town changes its aspect completely. This is 
 o'wing to the numberless red papers which are stuck 
 on every door and on which can be read wishes of 
 happiness formulated in the most diversified manners. 
 At iilie side of these papers are two bunches of Indian 
 grass, with the roots tightly tied up with red strings,' 
 nailed to the door. It is a popular, belief that this 
 plant, with its sword-shaped leaves, drives away all 
 evil spirits. 
 
 After having performed the usual sacrifices before 
 tlie tablets of our ancestors, we have feasted in 
 family with the ceremonial dishes and have drunk 
 that wine, tinctured with orpiment, which, according 
 
RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL FETES. 21 
 
 to a A^ery general opinion, destroys the germs of 
 epidemic diseases for the wliole ensuing year. 
 
 "WJien noon strikes 'We hasten to put bowls of 
 ■water in the courtj'ard to catch the rays of the sun, 
 wliich is in the centre of the sky. It is said that 
 the water thus irradiated renders excellenb services 
 to women in labour. 
 
 After breakfast we go to the West Lake to see the 
 dragon canoe races. These are very long flat boats, 
 manned by from twenty to thirty oarsmen. The 
 figure-head is either a colossal di-agon or a prancing 
 hojse. A sailor astride on the animal holds in Jiis 
 hands a large flag, the movements of which serve as 
 commands to the helmsman who is standing motioii- 
 less at the stern. Behind the dragon is an orchestra 
 which Alls the air with the rolling of drums mingled 
 with the thunder of the tam-tams. 
 
 The goal is seen far off; sometimes it is a living 
 duck. When the boat approaches the bird dives 
 under and tries to escape, but it is usually caught 
 after a short chase, and brought up in triumph, 
 struggling and squealing. More often^ however, it 
 is a large piece of bamboo, to which is fastened a 
 piece of rich silk stuff, the offering of some society. 
 The winner keeps this as his prize. 
 
22 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 As soon as the signal has been given the struggle 
 begins; flags fly, waving now to the left, now to the 
 right, indicating the way to be followed to the 
 human statue, whoj seated at the helm, guides the 
 effort of the sailors. Urged on by the numerous 
 oars, the canoes glide rapidly over the water, like 
 gigantic centipedes, amidst the cries of the spec- 
 tators, crowding together on the banks, or on the 
 decks and in the cabins of the pleasure- junks 
 anchored along the river side. 
 
 Then may be seen the fluttering of a thousand fans, 
 beating in contre-coup to the hearts of the spectators. 
 The waves, driven up by the canoes running to the 
 banks, bury, for the moment, the lotus flowers and 
 waterlilies, which soon, however, reappear fresher 
 and more pure for their short immersion; the broad 
 leaves of the nenuphar rising up again, bring with 
 them some of the water of the river, and let it fall 
 off again in cascades of glittering pearls. Now they 
 are again immersed, once more to rise; in a continual 
 coming and going which lasts for many hours. 
 
 This is the Chinese nautical Grand Prix, and the 
 aspect of the lake is really faii-ylike. Imagine the 
 boxes at the Grand Opera in Paris, or the grand 
 stand at Longchamps, placed on floating flower 
 
RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL FETES. 23 
 
 barges iri the middle of a river, with panes of glass 
 of every colour; add to this picture, ladies in grand 
 toilettes, and men with radiant faces', and you will 
 have a fairly accurate idea of this very popular fete. 
 
 After the races the foot-passengers disperse and 
 the people disembark from the junks. The sun not 
 having yet set, everybody uses the rest of the after- 
 noon in talcing a little rest, or in enjoying the fresh 
 air of the country. Some go to the monastery liear 
 the lake, others repose under the great trees which 
 are round an old tomb. 
 
 The latter is the burying-place of ail ancient and 
 celebrated man of letters of the town, who, during 
 his lifetime' had his last abode constructed in an 
 admirable site on the banks of the water. Instead 
 of the usual inscriptions , which celebrate the virtues 
 of the deceased, the man of letters' caused to be 
 graven on the stones of his tomb his own poems and 
 those of his friends. 
 
 Here are two of the best-lmown lines' of his : — 
 
 Behind the carpet of the cornflowers and under the 
 
 shade of the pine trees, 
 I shall receive throughout all tinie th'e perfume of the 
 
 incense Tvhich my children will bring to me in 
 
 offering, 
 
24 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 I went with some frierias to the monastery, where 
 we were received in the most hospitable fasliion. Tlie 
 Buddliist priests offered ns first of all a cup of 
 delicious tea, and afterwards invited us to dine with 
 them. It was a dinner without meat — for the 
 Buddhist prijests do not eat meat— but an excellent 
 dinner for all that. First of all because it was a 
 change from what w^e were accustomed to, and then 
 becauie^ in spite of the fact that no meat is used, 
 the cuisine of these priests fully deserves its repu- 
 tation of exquisite delicacy. They prayed us to come 
 again in a month to taste the Lichi fruits, for, said 
 they, their garden possessed eighteen trees of the 
 best kind, which they called "the eighteen young 
 ladies.". 
 
 To depict to you the picturesque situation of this 
 monastery, it will be suf&cient for me to quote a 
 passage from a celebrated, poem, which is engraved 
 on a rock behind the altar to Buddha: — 
 
 Whilst the sound of the bells draws itself out and 
 seems to be lost in the green mist of the twilight, 
 
 The dreaming poet walks all alone amongst the ten 
 thousand trees. 
 
 As it is getting late^ we have made ifp our minds 
 Lo sleep at tiie monastery. 
 
EELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL FETES. 2o 
 
 I may as well mention here tliat in China the 
 monasteries are a kind of hotel. There is always a 
 large number of rooms set aside for the reception 
 of Yisitors. We took advantage of this, because at 
 nightfall the gates of the city are locked, and 
 accordingly we were locked out. We had no reason 
 to regret this, because in the evening we were able 
 to be present at the religious service of the Buddhists, 
 and could convince ourselves that once they have 
 finished with their religious duties these monks are 
 quite ordinary mortals, very gay, fond of laughter 
 and amusement. We made verses together, as we 
 sat drinking rice-wine, and we all came to the con- 
 clusion that these priests have nothing in common 
 \^ith their Puritan colleagues in Europe. 
 
 In our conversation, as well as in the poems we 
 composed, not an allusion was made to religious or 
 even philosophical subjects. Nothing was written 
 or spoken about but the moon, flowers, and 
 the beauties of Nature. These good people under- 
 stood that there is nothing more detestable than "to 
 talk shop." 
 
 One of my friends asked one of these priests how 
 he could live without any famil/j the Buddhist 
 
26 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 priests not being allowed to marry. Tlie priest 
 answered him in verse, saying — 
 
 I do not wish the mud to soil the leaves of the lotus. 
 I have a very sharp to cut the threads of the nenuphar 
 with. i 
 
 In short, they were all very gay, and our conver- 
 sation lasted after this fashion until break of day. 
 A most harmless and comme il faut debauch. 
 
 And that evening, seated on his lotus-flower^ with 
 his bald head and his stereotyped smile, Buddha did 
 not sulk. 
 
OHAPTEE III. 
 THE FETE OF THE MOON. 
 
 This fete is celebrated in the eighth month of the 
 year. It lasts five days, beginning on the 10th and 
 ending on the 15th, with the full moon. It is thought 
 that on that night the moon is larger than at any 
 other time in the year. 
 
 This fete is made the occasion of all kinds of 
 aiausements, and specially it is kept by sending to 
 one's friends all sorts of presents in the shape of 
 the moon, as also by the exhibition of knick-knacks. 
 
 One buys a quantity of little statues, representing 
 genii, immortals, Buddhas. All these celestials are 
 arranged on the landings amongst the objects' col- 
 lected by the family, treasures which, imprisoned all 
 
28 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 tlio year round,' are only produced on this solemn 
 occasion. The centre of the exhibition is always 
 filled by a large pagoda, which is illuminated, like 
 the hoiise itself, at every window. 
 
 Outside, fireworks are let off and crackers ex- 
 ploded. Indoors, music is played to cheer tlie re- 
 union of friends and of the family. Mutual invita- 
 tions ai'e issued to come and admire the richness and. 
 the good taste of the different collections. 
 
 At midnight on tlie 15th, everybody sits down in 
 the courtyard to a great banquet, with which the 
 fete is terminated. This banquet is specially given 
 to await tlie descent of tlie goddess of the moon. 
 The mytli wiU have it that on that day she leaves 
 her celestial abode to come down and listen to the 
 wishes of the mortals. Needless to say, that nobody 
 ever yet saw the graceful inliabitant of oiu" satellite; 
 but ifc is difficult to drive out of the people's minds 
 traditions which have been handed down for cen- 
 turies from father to son. 
 
 A. story is, however, told of an old woman who 
 was favoured one night with a visit from the 
 Chinese Diana, who asked lier what she wanted, and 
 who promised to grant all that she could wish for. 
 Dazzled by the splendour of the costume and the 
 
THE FETE OF THE MOON. 29 
 
 imposing beauty of the lady^ the old woman stood 
 speechless, and could not say a word. At last, en- 
 couraged by the kindly insistance of the queen of 
 the moon, the old woman summoned up enough 
 courage fo carry her hand to her inouth, meaning 
 thereby that she only wished to have enough to eat 
 for the rest of her lif e. 
 
 The apparition made a sign of acquiescence, and re- 
 mounted to heaven. The next morning the old 
 woman was seen wearing a gigantic^ full beard. The 
 goddess had not understood her gesture. 
 
 The moon is the patroness of poetry. Autumn, 
 moreover, the most beautiful of seasons," with its 
 wealth of chrysanthemums and oleas of sweet per- 
 fume in flower, furnishes also subjects dear to the 
 poets. This fete is accordingly more aristocratic and 
 more literary than the others, which have little to 
 offer but popular pleasures. TIiusj to celebrate it, 
 pretence is made of transforming the terrestrial 
 abodes into so many ci-ystal palaces to harmonise 
 with the splendours which are believed to exist in 
 the celestial regions. i 
 
 I have said that the moon is the patfoiieis of 
 poetry. It is she^ indeed, who, from the earliest 
 ages, has at all times known how to inspire poets — 
 
30 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 now with sad, how with joyous iongs. It is she who 
 unites in common contemplation the looks and tlie 
 thoughts of lovers separated by long distances from 
 each other; it is she who consoles the unhappy des- 
 pairing in their solitudes. The most intimate secrets 
 of the heart are confided to h^, the softest and 
 sweetest wishes are formed before her transparent 
 mirr'or. Who shaU then be astonished if poetiy 
 cherish tliis kindly queen of the night! 
 
 Here are some verses dedicated to tliis star by our 
 poets : — 
 
 Eaising my glass to drink with the mooir, 
 
 T notice that we are three — 
 
 The moon, my shadow, and myself. 
 
 The moonlight comes right up to my bed, 
 
 Covering the floor with a dazzling surface, 
 
 Which at first sight I take for ice; 
 
 Then, noticing that it is the moon, 
 
 I fall to thinking of my native land. 
 
 Tlie number of legends, attaching to the moon is 
 so large tliat it is impossible to relate them all. 
 Some say that the goddess who inhabits tlie lunar 
 palace is still unwedded. Others maintain that sho 
 is a tearful widow. The most original of these 
 legends tells us that th6 goddess is the wife of a cele- 
 brated archer^ of the reign of Han, named Haou I. 
 
THE FETE OF THE MOpN. 31 
 
 He had already sliot down nine suns ■\TitIi Ms terrible 
 bow, and was just going to fire at the tenth — the only 
 one that remains to us — ^wlien the sun-god said to 
 Itim, "Give me grace of this one, which I need 
 for tlie light of the world. In return I will give you 
 a magic draught which will giro you the power to 
 go and to dwell in the sun itself. At the same time 
 he told tlie archer the day and the hour on which ho 
 was to talie the enchanted potion. 
 
 Haou-I committed the imprudence of confiding his 
 secret to Ms wife, who, not willing to believe the 
 truth of what he said, tried the draught forthwith. 
 Immediately she grew light as a bird and flew away 
 to the moon. 
 
 ■ Is this not like reading Jules Verne^ perfected, in 
 the second century, for it is from that century that 
 tliis legend dates.' 
 
 Here is another myth," the trarislatiori of the poem 
 of which I have given elsewhere. I consider i,t very 
 graceful. It tells that Emperor Ming-Houang, of 
 the Thang dynasty, had travelled in a dream to the 
 moon. It was there that he learned a melody 
 entitled: "Dress of Eainbow and of Feathers.'' This 
 air was tlie cause of an insurrection, which nearly 
 upset Ms throne. Qne of his ofBcers, in love with a 
 
32 
 
 BITS OP CHINA. 
 
 favourite who sang tMs celestial melody in perfection, 
 revolted, and the Emperor could only preserve his 
 throne by sacrificing the life of his favourite. So 
 true it is that always and in all things one must seek 
 the woman, even in the mooUj 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 THE FEAST OF LANTERNS. 
 
 The Feast of Lanterns comes almost directly after 
 that of the New Year. It may almost be said that 
 one is the complement of the other, as the latter in 
 date takes place from tlie tenth day to the fifteenth 
 day of the first moon, and as the holidays of ,tli3 
 New Year are prolonged fi'om the twentieth day of 
 the twelfth moon of the djdng year to tlie twentieth 
 day of the first moon of the new year. 
 
 During this month of holiday, all official business 
 is suspended. The seals which represent the official 
 signatures are locked up in their cases. 
 
 It is the use made, in incredible quantities,' of all 
 sorts of lanterns tliat gives its name and its originality 
 to this feast. The Chinese are very fond of makrng 
 these lanterns, and give them a luxury of form, and 
 employ in their manufacture a variety of material 
 vrhich defy imagination. There is not on tliat day 
 a single nook of the mighty Empire which is not thus 
 lighted up. To carry out an illumination on such a 
 
 
 
34 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 scale it will be readily] understood that something 
 more is iaeeded than is seen elseT\herp when lanterns 
 are used for illuminations. ' 
 
 To get a more exact idea of the character of our 
 illuminations, imagine one of your large toy shops 
 filled with transparent lanterns — ^horses, lions, sheepj 
 elephants,' soldiers, horsemen,' parasols, flowerij 
 grotesque figures, fantastic animals, &c. All the 
 imitations of liTing things are associated with all the 
 Tarieties of fancy to transform light sUk or trans- 
 lucid paper into multi-coloured lanterns, how simple,' 
 now double. These latter turn round and round, 
 driven by the motion of the heated air, and display 
 the series of pictures with which they are filled. 
 There is not a thing in nature, or out of it, that does 
 not on that day take shape of lantern. 
 
 A gigantic lantern representing a dragon is carried 
 about in the public places to the sound of music. 
 This is composed of a framework of wicker covered 
 with transparent stuff, on which the dragon's scales 
 are painted. It is mounted on staves, which are held 
 by the bearers. Anybody can get the procession to 
 stop before his house, or he can have it enter his 
 courtyard if he wants a private representation. In 
 this case, all he has to do is to let off a certain number 
 
THE FEAST OF LANTERNS. 35 
 
 of crackers as the procession passes his housed so 
 as to let the bearers know that they have to stop. 
 After the performance, wliich consists in making tlie 
 dragon fly about in every direction, cake and wine are 
 offered to tlie musicians and to the bearers^ but 
 never money", for the procession is always composed 
 of people belonging to the highest classes of society," 
 who do this for their pleasure. The European torch- 
 light procession gives but a very feeble idea of our 
 dragon walk. 
 
 .When a marriage takes" place in a family-^ the fela^ 
 tions of the bride send her on her AVeddiug day al 
 lantern" representing a divinity holding a child in 
 his hand. If in the second year the wife has not had 
 a child, another lantern is sent her i-epresenting an 
 orange; the word orange in Chinese is synonymous 
 to the words "malie haste." The lantern thus consti- 
 tutes a Mnd of punning reminder to her of her duty." 
 Lanterns are also sent from the local temples to any 
 house in tie parish in which either a recent marriage," 
 or a birth, or a literary success has taken place. The 
 subjects of these lanterJis differ according to circum- 
 stances^ the bearers are always accompanied by an 
 orchestra,: One ^ees a large lantei-n» on Avhich arc 
 iBTitten enigmas, riddles, and puzzles in ahnost every 
 
 C2 
 
36 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 street. The passers-liy are supposed to try tlieir 
 skill at guessing these puzzles, and those who succeed 
 get as a reward some letter-paper, or some bi-ushes, 
 iuk, fireworks, sweety, &c. When the problem pro- 
 pounded is some clever jeu de mots, or a comic answer 
 is given; you can hear the whole street ringing with 
 shouts of healthy laughter. 
 
 Formerly under the dynasty of the Haus, it was 
 forbidden to be out in tlie streets of nights except 
 during these feasts. On these occasions the bridge 
 gates of the city remained wide open, and the pad- 
 locks of the bz'idge railings were unlocked all night. 
 
 roeti''y has celebrated tiiese nights of popular 
 gaiety:— 
 
 ^Th© trees on fire and the fl^ow&rs in silver form 
 bouquets on every side, 
 
 And the iron padlocks no longer exist on the star- 
 lit bridges. 
 
 A fine dust pui'sues on all the roads tlie perfumed 
 feet of the horses; 
 
 And the moon shining brilliantly," accompanies the 
 walkers; 
 
 These for the most part belong to the radiant youth,' 
 
 Who sing so joyously that one fancies one hears the 
 celebrated melody of Lo-Mei-Hoa, or the fall of 
 the petals of the plum-tree. 
 
 This night it is not forbidden to walk abroad^ 
 
THE FEAST OF LANTERNS. 37 
 
 Therefore let the waters flow slowly. au<i without 
 uudue haste. 
 
 Another poem says: — '■ 
 
 Two phenixes come down from heaven with their 
 
 triumphal cliariot; \ 
 
 Six dragons rise from the bottom of the sea beaiiu.:; 
 
 a mountain on their backs. 
 
 Does not tliis remind you of tbe Isoliue of Catulle 
 jMendes? : i ; 
 
 Let me quote a few more lines : — 
 [What charitable hand has scattered all these lotus 
 
 Wliich at one and the same time flower in every 
 corner of the city? 
 
 All this literature will show what a brilliant fete 
 it is. ■ I I ! ■ ' 
 
 T^ere are," of course," besides, family meetings^' 
 parties, where wine and poetry help to bring the 
 solemnity to its 'end indoors; while, ixs- the streets, 
 the pleasures of the joyous crowd are prolonged 
 until the morning. 
 
 Lanterns have this advantage over gas and elec- 
 tricity, that they give a softer light and present 
 ■piore of that variety and irregularity with wliich life 
 loves to surround itself, so as to escape as much 
 as possible from the monotony and uniformity 
 of ordinary existence. They lend themselves more 
 
38 BITS 0^ CHINA. 
 
 readily to poetry, and realise la a small way what 
 large illuniinations do en grand. 
 
 The members of the constituted bodies also take 
 part in the illuminations. When officials go out at 
 night, they are always accompanied by lanterns, on 
 wliich are written in red the name and titles of the 
 •lignitary. On the evening of the feast, these 
 lanterns decorate the house of the functionary, like 
 so many visiting cards, welcoming the public. 
 
 In conclusion, let it be said that the little folly,' 
 without whom there is no real pleasure," have also 
 Iheir roles to play and their part to take in the 
 general gaiety. Fruits are cut up for them, especially 
 oranges, and the children light these up with a little 
 candle," and caiTv their make-shift lanterns round 
 the streets. Some of these fruit-lanterns are wonder- 
 jTulIy and beautifully carved and decorated. 
 
 Everything, in one word, is lighted up. So that 
 could one take on that night a bird's-eye view of 
 China from the car of some balloon, she would show 
 like a sky starred with thousands and millions of 
 lanterns, aud the dazzled aeronaut would be forced to 
 admit, as he looked down on the last day of the feast 
 of the New Year, that in China at least we neveij 
 have a gloomy Xew Year's Day, 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE FEAST OF THE TWO 
 STARS. 
 
 The itwo stars7 called Niou-Lang the Sliepherd, 
 and Tsi-Nu the Wfjaref," are situated, the first on 
 the eastern shore of the Milky-way — ^the Tien-Ho, aa 
 we call it, or Eiver of Heaven — and the other on the 
 western shore According to ancient astronomical 
 observations they only meet once a year, and this 
 meeting is supposed to take place in tlie night of the 
 seventh day of the seventh moon. 
 
 Legend pretends tjS&t the ghepherd was married 
 to the Weaving Woman, and that to punish them for 
 some fault committed in the celestial regions — a^ 
 fault analogous to that of Adam and Eve — ^the 
 sovereign of the skies separated them eternally. Once 
 only in the year did he allow them to see each other 
 for an instant by crossing the stream of water which 
 
40 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 during the rest of the year put an in^surmountahle 
 barrier between their loves. On that day the mag- 
 pies, carrying straw in their beaks, go and buUd a 
 bridge over the river," which enables the lovers to 
 cross over dry-footed; I -will add that on that day the 
 magpies moult. A quantity of other legends naturaUj' 
 have been grafted on to this one. Thus it is said that 
 tlie rain which falls on the eve of this feast cleans 
 the chariot of heaven, -whilst if it rains on the day 
 itself it is said that that is the tears of joy of the two 
 lovers; if on the morrow, it is their tears of sorrow at 
 their fresh separation. The feasts celebrated on this 
 occasion vary slightly according to the locality. The 
 object of some of the celebrations is to beg of the 
 Weaving Woman for skill at tlie loom.' Others take 
 advantage of the fact that on tlie day of their re- 
 union the two stars are more friendly disposed to 
 implore their pity. ' ; 
 
 A table is usually spread on these occasions on the 
 balcony of the pavilion, and laid with fruits, flowers, 
 wine, candles, and incense. Low prayers are 
 whispered.: Those who pray are young women whose 
 husbands are absent. Those who wish to become 
 skilful T/orkwomen close a spider up in a box. When 
 they open the box on the morrow they can tell from 
 
THE FEAST OF THE TWO STARS. 41 
 
 the appearance of the web wh^ch tlie spider has spun 
 in the meanwhile whether the Weaving Woman has 
 heavd th6ir prayers or not. If the web is neat aiid 
 regular they may hope for skill also. ' 
 
 Formerly under the reign of the ThangsJ this 
 anniversary was celebrated with considerable splen- 
 dour in the palace of the Emperor. It is said that 
 towers about 1,000 feet in height — about that of the 
 Eiffel tower — were constructed of silk for the occasion 
 and that on these towers the favourites of the Em- 
 peror made music and song iu honour of celestial 
 loves. Girls vied with one another who should 
 soonest thread, by the light of the moon, needles with 
 nine eyelets, and the winnier was proclaimed the 
 most skilful of all. 
 
 A poem says:-r 
 
 It is easier to thread needles by moonlight than to 
 hold a thread straight while the wind is blowing. 
 
 There has been very much poetry written about tliis 
 feast. Some of the poems are in praise of the skill 
 of the Weaving Woman. Others lament he? too 
 ephemeral happiness, but the most numerous are 
 those in Avhich the luckless in love enA-y the lot. of 
 the lovers untied in heaven, and pray them to favour 
 tliem so that tliey also may have a time of meeting,' 
 
42 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 however short. The most celebrated of these poems 
 is one "written hy a sceptical philosopher who says: 
 
 They are immortals and yet tliey fear the water; 
 I am inclined to doubt that tiey are very skilful 
 people. , , 
 
 In shoi-t this feast is liked chiefly as a pleasant 
 holiday, and as affording a theme for the poets. 
 
 In the seventh moon the great heats have passed 
 away, and advantage is taken of the soft zephyr and 
 the purity of the sky, which is generally to be noticed 
 at this season of the year, to sit out on the balcory of 
 the house, and to enjoy the cool air whilst drinking 
 rice wine. The hypotliesis of these two invisible 
 beings inhabiting the two stars is rather a pretext 
 than a belief, I am inclined to thinks Long separa- 
 tions, always so sad, and tlie meeting again jvhiclil 
 is all the more delightful because it is so unfrequent 
 are symbolised in this legend. The two stars meeting 
 across the Milky-way in a clear sky,' under the burning 
 and envious gaze of the other stars,' and the light of the 
 ci-escent moon, foj-m a graceful picture which, by a 
 pretty celestial dream, charms our spirit, greedy as i; 
 always is of the ideal, and glad to escape foi 
 a while from the truer but often more disappointing 
 images pf worldly realities^ 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 THE FEAST OF FLOWERS. 
 
 This f eait falls oH the fifteenth day of the second 
 moon, but is,' in practice, prolonged until the end 
 of spring. It is also called 'j the feast of inild 
 warinth.". This is the best season of the yearj the 
 mildest and the most charming. The trees,' almost 
 all in bloom at that time^ alternating with the weep- 
 ing -willows," drooping down their long branches 
 laden . with green leaves, f orm together with the 
 picturesque pavilions perspectives which over and 
 over again have inspired the poet's song. There is 
 pot a private "garden in the land which is hot then 
 transformed into a horticultural exhibition. Poles 
 of different colours are set upj ornamented with 
 flags and laden with little bells, and in the niiddle 
 all sorts of games are played, amongst others the 
 game of buttei-flies. This game is unknown in 
 Europe, and, therefore^ merits a description here. 
 
44 BITS OF CHIKA. 
 
 Butterflies are "caughtj and a Hair is attaclied to 
 them: this hair is weighted Avith a scrap of paper, to 
 
 ■ prevent theift from flying away out of reach,' and 
 then they are pursued by the women armed with 
 their fans. " ! i i ' i , i i . 
 
 Otlier families go out into the country to picK 
 flowers, to run in the fields^ and to play the game 
 we call the "lawri game." We have had emperors 
 who were poets, and who, on that day used to dis- 
 tribute verses composed by them on different lands 
 of plants. It was on this occasion that the Minister 
 of lAgriculture used to present to tJie Sovereign 
 seeds of every plant under cultivation in his empire. 
 In private houses, this is the day chosen for mating 
 rice wine. The people of Su-Tcheang march out on 
 this day in solemn procession^ to tlie sound of musicj 
 to the rice fields, amidst crowds of spectators. This 
 fete used to be very brilliant under the dynasty of 
 the Thangs^ emperors who delighted in simple 
 pleasures in the midst of flowers. One of them used 
 to give his favourites pieces of silk, having the 
 colours of, the spring flowers, on this feast. The 
 silks were afterwards made into light spring dresses. 
 One year, when the feast fell in the midst of late 
 winter Weather, the Emperor had a glass house con 
 
THE FEAST OF FLOWERS. 45 
 
 structed, and had all the plants brought in to develop 
 in the heat, and to the sound of the drum. This is the 
 origin of glass-houses. 
 
 One of our noyelists relates that one of the 
 favourites of the Emperor fell in love with a young 
 man of letters who lived in the capital, and whose 
 garden was traversed by a brook which flowed out 
 of the imperial park. The young woman being shut 
 up in the palace, jealously watched, had no means of 
 corresponding with him whom she loved. But love 
 will always suggest ways and means, and it came 
 to her to write a poem on the petal of a peony and to 
 conflde it to the stream. The young man of letters 
 was lucky enough to find the peony-petal, and thus 
 learned that in spite of the separation he was still 
 loved. This feeling gave him so much courage that 
 he set to work with great diligence and an extra- 
 ordinary ardour, so that he was soon able to pass all 
 his examinations and to become a celebrated states- 
 man. In reward of numerous services, he asked the 
 Emjjeror to accord him. the hand of the young woman, 
 a request which his sovereign was unable to refuse. 
 Thus a simple flower gave a great minister to the 
 empire, and united two beings who thought them- 
 selves for ever separated. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 NEW YEAR'S DAY. 
 
 This is the Feast of the Three Eeginiiings— that of 
 the year^ the months, and the days. 
 
 From break of day, ^-hich is saluted in every house 
 with formidable detonations of crackers, all tlie func- 
 tionaries" of the capital betake themselves to the 
 Imperial Temple to present their respective congratu- 
 lations to the Sovereign in person before the tablet 
 which bears the name of His Majesty. This duty 
 accomplished, they present their homages in order 
 to the temples of Heaven, of Confucius, of the God of 
 Literature, and of the God of War. After this they 
 pay calls to each other, an exchange of courtesies 
 ■nhich lasts for four or Ave days. i ! ' I ! i ; 
 
 On entering a relation's house, it js the rule," first 
 
NEW YEAU'S DAY. 47 
 
 of all, to salute the tablets which represent the 
 ancestors. If the visitors are uewly married, besides 
 tea and cakes, a bag of oranges and watermelon seeds 
 is offered to them. Both these signify that it is hoped, 
 they may be blessed with a large family. 
 
 Parties are given every day in turn at the diilerent 
 houses of friends, and these are made tlie occasion for 
 games of every description. At the same time 
 presents are distributed amongst the seryants of one's 
 friends and relations, whilst to the children of one's 
 acquaintance one gives lingets of silver or pieces of 
 silver coin wrapped up in red paper, or coins threaded 
 on red strings, which are called lucky coins. I may 
 mention here, since I am speaking about children, a 
 stiiking peculiarity, which is specially noticeable in 
 the case of very young children — ^that is, that in China 
 we don't count people's ages by the number of their 
 days, but from year to year. Thus a child born on the 
 31st of December is two years on the evening of the 
 next day, that is, on January 1st of the following year. 
 
 The f ourtli day of the first moon is the Feast of the 
 God of Wealth and of Happiness. AH the drawing- 
 rooms are then lighted up in honour of these divini- 
 ties, which are represented either by images or by a 
 simple piece of writina on paueri 
 
^o BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 The seventh day is consecrated to the Feast of 
 Man, and the ninth to that of God, and so on, for tlie 
 feasts almost daily follow in quick succession up to 
 the end of the Feast of Lanterns; ' ; ■ _ ; ' ; ' 
 
 During this time all that tlie people think about 
 is to organise pleasures," and to give themselves up to 
 enjoyment. Debts have all been paid off at the end 
 of the old year, and the public and private holiday," 
 which is general, gives all the liberty needed. The 
 season of the year is not favourable to travelling^ 
 and so all that remains for pastimes are the games 
 everywhere considered the best way of hilling time. 
 There is a great deal of playing in China at the time 
 of year under consideration. Games are played 
 with cards, with dominoes, with dice, and with the 
 twelve beasts. There is also a more instTuctive 
 game^ which represents the steps of official promo- 
 tion. I need hardly say that music is not wanting 
 at these fetes.- : i - s ' i ; ■ 
 
 Many families do not eat ineat on New Year's Day. 
 According to Lie-Tseu this custom originated as 
 foUows: — I I 
 
 " The people of Han-Taiig," says this author 
 "had offered a pigeon as a New Year's gift to a certain 
 philosopher. He accepted the present, and giving 
 
NEW yeab's day. 49 
 
 •wing to tlie bii-d, said, _*A11 things should live happily 
 on this day.' " 
 
 This is a pretty tale •with a delicate sentiment. 
 Superstition is not, however, wanting. Witli regard to 
 tlie crackers which one might suppose are only let 
 ofE for fun, or in invitation to noisy revelry, it appears 
 that a good many people fancy that they serve to 
 frighten off evil spirits, -who would never dare to 
 knock at doors behind which such terrible explosions 
 are taking place; , 
 
 But there is more than this. Many people paint a 
 charm on th,eir doors, or draw a cock, or two 
 guardians,' Tvhich are thought to be capabtfS of 
 swallowing whole any demon who might take it into 
 his head to show himself. , , ' ' 
 
 The astronomical works published under the 
 dynasty of the Han family state that one can judge 
 from the wind that is blowing at daybreak on Ifew 
 Yeai:'s Day what kind of weather one is going to have 
 throughout the ensuing year. Thus a south wind 
 means general dryness, a southrwesterly wind partial 
 drought, and so on. An easterly wind on Xew Year's 
 Day moaning means war, a north-westerly wind agood 
 harvest, a north wind a moderate harvest. A north- 
 easterly wind indicates a peajCeful year, wind from the 
 
 D 
 
50 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 west warns one of coining floods, and from soutli-east 
 of epidemics. [ ■ • < ' 
 
 In the same way tlie first word that one writes oii 
 New; Year's Day gives its character to tlie whole 
 year, good or bad. So, to make sure, people always 
 begin their letters on tliat day Avith such words as 
 Happiness, "Wealth, Felicity, Long-life, and so on. 
 
 This manner of ensuring a happy New Year has 
 inspired a woman philosopher with the four foUow-i 
 ing lines: — 
 
 Everybody to-day dips the brush into inlc," 
 
 To write the words Happiness, Wealth, Felicity. 
 
 If I might give wise advice to the ambitious. 
 
 It is to bear the life that is laid upon us, and not to 
 
 ask for things which Trovideuce can impossibly 
 
 accord to all. 
 
 I may add that in spite of this excellent advice 
 everybody continues to ask for what is unobtainable 
 — the pauper for a little wealth, the rich man for' 
 more than he can have. 
 
 Fables which take something from superstition 
 know how to mingle with it a certain amount of 
 wisdom. I will give in proof the following story:— 
 
 A poor man of letters, who had not the where- 
 withal to celebrate the change of the year, was fast 
 asleep. In China also it is true that who sleep's 
 dines. In the cottage wliere he lived there was neither 
 
NEW year's day. 51 
 
 firej nor food, nor wine, nor light, liof pleasure in any 
 form. 
 
 Meanwhile his neighbours were celebrating the 
 feast with joyous revelry; the feast that was so sad 
 for the solitary man tliat w:e are speaking about. 
 
 AH of a sudden, at about midnight, somebody 
 IjEOcked at his door-. 
 
 "Who is there?" asked the man of letters, disagree- 
 ably wakened just at the moment when he was dream- 
 ing about Tictuals, drink, and luxurious apartments. 
 
 "It's I, the God of Wealth," 
 
 ."I am sorry to say that I cannot receive you.'J 
 
 f'And why so? Z 
 
 ^'Because I have no luck." 
 
 In spite of the insisting of the God of Wealtli, the 
 poor inari absolutely refused to open the door. 
 
 A few moments later another Icnocli was heard at 
 the door. 
 
 If Who are you ? " cried the sleeper, agaiii awakened 
 from his dreams. 
 
 « 'Tis I, the God of Luck." 
 
 The man of letters sprang oiit of bed and received 
 the visitor with open arms in the dark cabin. The 
 excellent god then wrote something with the tip of 
 his finger on the poor man's forehead, and then 
 disappeared. 
 
 The cottager had hardly time to get back to bed,' 
 when the God of Wealth again announced himself. 
 
 This timej he was received in the most cordial 
 manner^ and at once placed in the poor man's hand 
 treasures of great value. He then asked the poor 
 
 D 2 
 
52 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 man to tell liim \vhy^ aiier Having at first refuied to 
 receive hiin, he noTV gave him so cordial a reception. 
 " Oh; it's simple enough. No\v I have got luck,' 
 which I hadn't a short while ago. I knew that you 
 ahvays follow the God of Luck, and so it was him that 
 I waited for.'! 
 
 It is evident that this meani that without luck" 
 fortune itself is worth nothing. 
 
 The God of Wealth, whose good works we have just 
 related, is nowhere more feted thaii in the town of 
 Canton. Every evening,' after the shops are closed,' 
 candles are lighted and incense is burned before his 
 altars, which are fitted in niches on the outside of 
 the shops. The whole town is illitminated and per- 
 fumed. This is an universal adoration to which no 
 inhabitant of the Chinese empire gives himself up 
 more fervently than the Cantonese^ who are the most 
 commercial of the Chinese. Now, the God of Wealth 
 is also the God of Commerce," and that is as it should 
 be, for commerce is money" after all; at least, money 
 is the object of trade and of traders. Plutus is the 
 complement of Mercury. 
 
 The spring equinox," which we call the beginning 
 of spring, often falls on the first days of the ioew 
 year. Then, there is a great fete. , I - ; 
 
 A veritable procession is organised in each town. 
 
NEW YEAE'S DAT. 53 
 
 At the head come the prefects and srib-prcfects^ and 
 all the members of their official staff in gala uniform. 
 Each holds in his hand a spray of artificial flowers,' 
 representing the peony, the flower of the spring. 
 They ride in their open sedan-chairs, escorted with 
 music and soldiers. By their side are carried tablets, 
 on which are written their titles and the services they 
 have rendered. , 
 
 This is the procession of the ipring ox. 
 
 Behind the official procession is carried the gigan- 
 tic statue of an ox, made of clay, which is plastered 
 over with papers of many colours. Each colour 
 stands for some atmospheric change — ^fine weather,' 
 drought, change," and so on. ! 
 
 Behind this statue copies the real ox^ all gay with 
 ribbons and rosettes. A statuette is stuck up on its 
 back, which represents the coming year. Its dress 
 also portends the weather that is going to be preva- 
 lent throughout the coming year. If it has shoes on 
 its feet, that means that the year will be a dry one; 
 if it has clogs, that the year will be rainy. A clog on 
 one foot and a shoe on the other, mean that the year 
 will be a temperate one. 
 
 The whole procession makes its way towards the 
 temple of the God of Agriculture, where the sacrifices 
 
54 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 take place. Tlie ox is slaiiglitefed and its flesh is 
 distributed amongst tlie crowd. 
 
 Thus in the extreme East the "spring ox" is lieing 
 led in i^rocession at about the same time that the 
 Parisians are leading round theu- Carnival "fat ox." 
 The two ceremonies are evidently agricultural feasts,' 
 such as formerly were celebrated in Egj-pt with the 
 ox ApiS; Man is the same everywhere, his customs, 
 languages," and institutions are different, but those 
 are only differences of form, tlie substance is every- 
 where the samo. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 THE END OF THE YEAR. 
 
 The liolidays begiii ten days before tlie end of the 
 year, so tliat everybody may have time to prepare for 
 this great solemnity. For in China there are no legal 
 holidays, and busy people only get a rest during the 
 three great feasts of the Dragon, the Moon, and the 
 change of the Year. There are five days holiday 
 during each of the iirst two feasts, and thirty days 
 during the last. 
 
 It is on these dates that bills usually fall due, and 
 Tvhen they must be paid. 
 
 The last feast that Ave have spoken about includes 
 several religious ceremonies. These consist in 
 offering banquets to each one of the gods in thanks- 
 giving for tlie good things he has accorded during 
 the year that has passed. On the twenty-fourth 
 
Ob BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 day of the twelfth moon a touching ceremony is 
 performed in the richest and the poorest houses 
 alike. It is that of the adieu addressed to the 
 household god and the reception given to the new- 
 comer. It appears that this god only holds 
 his tutelary office, during one year, and has then to, 
 make place for a successor. 
 
 The altar of this god is always placed in the 
 kitchen; candles are lighted before him erery day,' 
 and incense is burned. At night a night-lampj 
 which is called the fire of long life, burns before his 
 altar. '*$.]. 
 
 On the evening of tiie twenty-fourth,' a grand dinner,' 
 with, cakes of the most varied descriptions and fruits 
 of every sort, is spread out before this altar for the 
 guests to partake of. ' ' 
 
 After having poured out the wine of libation and 
 let off the crackers, without which no fete is com- 
 plete in China, oats and corn are thrown on the 
 roof of the house for the horses of the god to feed 
 upon," and it is at that moment that he is supposed 
 to take his departure. 
 
 The table is then cleared, and a fresh repast is 
 laid out before tlie altar for the refreshment 
 and welcome of the newcomer. Ilis name is at once 
 
THE END OF THE YEAR. 
 
 57 
 
 inscribed in tlie i?lace of that of Ms predecessor; or it 
 is the images of himself and his wife that are placed 
 in the stead of those of the gods of the previous year. 
 
 This is our Christmas Day, after a fashion. It is 
 this day that the children look forward to, in the 
 expectation of fruits and sweets. 
 
 Preserves are made of the dishes that are left over 
 from these two repastsj and these sometimes last 
 over the whole of tjie first month of the first year. 
 The richer a family is the more of these preserves 
 will it make. Parties' and fetes follow ieach other 
 in unbroken isuccession^ I '; ' 1 i 
 
 On the last day a large pot of rice is put out of 
 doors. The rice is garnished with cypress leaves^ on 
 which imitation lingets of gold and silver are placed. 
 These are in paperj which is covered with lettering, 
 meaning long life; honour, health, happiness, and so 
 on, cut out in red paper. On the rice are heaped 
 various kinds of fruit, symbolic of prosperity. 
 
 This rice femairis standing on a table in the open 
 air until midnight. It is called tlie 'J, rice of the old 
 year.'; At midnight it is replaced by another pot 
 of rice, garnished in the same way. This is the rice 
 of the new year; and it is allowed to stand in position 
 for two or three days. Alucky day is then chosen 
 
58 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 in the calendar,' and on this day the rice is reraoyed 
 and eaten. i ; j 
 
 It is unnecessary to say that the same sacrifices 
 take place every day before the tablets of the an- 
 cestors, who are never or on any occasion forgotten. 
 
 Formerly a number of superstitious customs were 
 observed. According to an old liand-book of hygiene, 
 a man had to lie down secretly by the side of the 
 family well on the New Yeai''s Eve, holding in his 
 hand a flowering branch of the pepper tree,' and, 
 when midnight struck, to throw this branch into the 
 well, if the family wanted to have pure and micf obe- 
 less water to drink during the ensuing year. 
 
 Under the reign of the dynasty of the Han family, 
 a procession of one hundi'ed and twenty children, 
 aged from ten to twelve years', and dreised in 
 grey clothes with red hatsj used to march thi-ough 
 the streets, each child being armed with a drum, 
 with the beating of which he was supposed to drive 
 away all evil spirits. 
 
 This procession was much more iiriposing under the 
 Shungs in the sixth century. The military took part 
 in it, dressed in bright uniforms and carrying gilt 
 lances and the banners of the dragon. These marched 
 at the head of the procession, all more or less 
 
THE END or THE YEAR. 59 
 
 hideously masked. Meanwhile, out in the country 
 the farmers used to form a torchlight procession, with 
 torches stuck in the end of long bamboos, and went 
 running through all their fields, begging the gods 
 for a good rice harvest and an abundance of silkworms. 
 In some provinces children used to run about the 
 streets, saying that they had their want of intelli- 
 gence for sale, and, of course, found none to buy 
 of them'. All these things have now been done away 
 with. Only the religious ceremonies of which I have 
 spoken above remain in force to-day, as well as the 
 vigils for seeing the new year in. I do hot speak of 
 certain eccentric customs which only form excep- 
 tions to the general habit. Thus,, for instance, the 
 poets will sometimes place their works on an altar 
 in their house and make sacrifices before them. 
 Others inelt their gold and pour it into water, pre- 
 dicting the future from the curious shapes of the 
 inetal as it cools. 
 
 In short thos'e are," to-day^ only occasions for 
 amusements. ■ 
 
 There_is a literary piece by Han-Wong-Koung, an 
 adieu to the God of Wretchedness^ which is very 
 much read in China during the feast of the end of 
 the year. It is too long to be quoted here, but can 
 
30 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 be read by all with great satisfaction. It gives ex- 
 cellent advice to the poorj and teaches thein hoTv to 
 fight against the demon of poverty. Some read it 
 lo learn how to remain happy," others how to console 
 themselves for their wretchedneii and how to get out 
 of it. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 PROCESSIONS. 
 
 In China the Taoists alone haAC religious proces- 
 sions, which is logical enough, as it is their custom to 
 represent their gods in human figures. To mention 
 only the principal ceremonies, I may allude to tlie 
 procession of the god Tai-Tchang, of the god Tcheng- 
 Ilouang, of the gods of epidemic diseases, and tlie 
 goddesses who protect women iu labour and little 
 children. 
 
 Tai-Tchang is the god of the mountain of the same 
 name, a function which he combines with that of 
 seyenth high judge in Hades, which has ten such 
 judges. 
 
 The processions of Tai-Tchang take place during the 
 tliird moon. The terrible figure is brought on the 
 appointed day, surrounded by an imperial pomp. He 
 
62 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 deserves all tliese splendours, seeing that Ms title 
 is that of sovereign of the mountain. 
 
 He is preceded by his colleagues, the othei* grand 
 judgejs, Ms son,s and god-cMldren, Avho ai-e all 
 reputed princes of his family. Each of tliese divinities 
 has its special escort, Avith tviro large lanterns and 
 10, number of tablets,' on which are inscribed the 
 various titles of the god. 
 
 Next come the orchestra' and the followjers all 
 dressed in gala clothes. Some carry a vase full of 
 flowers, others a smoldng incense-bowl. 
 
 Besides these, the procession is followed by numbers 
 of private individuals, carrying in their hands re- 
 duced models of the various instruments of torture,' 
 handcuffs, chains, hooks, &c. They hope by this 
 means to draw down on their devoted heads the 
 punishments wMch ithe god may be intending to 
 inflict on those dear to them. 
 
 !A.t Fou-Tcheou young girls also take part in tiiis 
 manifestation, but in tlie other cities women arc for- 
 bidden to do so. ! 
 
 The procession takes its way to a vast building 
 situated on the outskirts of the towH, which is called 
 the Prison of the Ghosts. There is siich a prison near 
 every city. The object of this visit is to release fi-oni 
 
PROCESSIONS. 63 
 
 their captivity the spiritual captives," so that during 
 the Feast of the Dead they may be able to take part ir 
 their fainily celebrations, and perform the sacrifices 
 which are expected of children to their ancestors. ', 
 
 The same procession is repeated on a smaller scale 
 a few days later. Tliis time its object is to bring bacl; 
 to their prison the ghosts who had been temporarily 
 released. i 
 
 All along the way do'rw'ii which the proccssioii 
 passes, the faithful place before the door of their; 
 houses tables on which lighted candles and incense 
 are burning, with flowers and fruits. Everybody 
 comes out of the house to admire tlie immense march 
 past, which is moreover a kind of walking exhibition, 
 as the members of the different societies whicli takq 
 part in it, and which all belong to different trades 
 carry with them all the new productions of the year 
 The crowd covers at least from two to four Idlometres' 
 with its long moving column, for each god has his 
 subalterns and each of these subalterns has the righi 
 to a magnificent escort. Toy ani sweet merchants 
 profit by the occasion to displaj' their wares in the 
 'streets, offering their goods to the children who 
 always take a very large share in festivities of thi.^" 
 sort. 
 
61 BITS OF CniNA. 
 
 At Fou-Tclieou there is a pefeuliari^ty wMch is 
 particularly interesting. The feast lasts two daj^s" 
 and the second day's ceremony is an exact 
 repetition of the first. However,' on the second 
 day an excursion is made out to the suburbs' 
 of the town where Tai-Tchang's mother-in-law is 
 supposed to live, the god being brought as a respectf a 
 son-in-law to pay his respects to tlie good lady. Happy 
 god, happy mother-in-law! , ' 
 
 Legend relates that a young peasant girl, daughter 
 of a butcher^ having witnessed the procession,' went 
 home and died immediately. During her short 
 agonyj she told her parents that the god, only 
 recently having become a widower, had noticed her 
 great beauty, and had chosen her for his wife. She 
 was an only daughter. Her death threw her family 
 into despai^ and in their rage her parents set oat 
 to revenge themselves on the god by setting fire to 
 his temple. Tai-Tchang, however, taking human 
 shape, appeared to them, and pacified them by saying 
 that he had married their daughter, and that he 
 owed her parents all the respect due from a good 
 son-in-law. As a proof of this, he gave orders that a 
 procession should take him every year to the house- 
 where the butcher's wife, the mother of his divine 
 
PROCESSIONS. 65 
 
 companioii and quceri, lived. This shows that Tai- 
 Tchang was a very sensible god, free from all 
 aristocratic prejudices, and the very type of the 
 cunning son-in-law, diplomatic enough to be able 
 to soften down the anger of a mother-in-law," who in 
 her rage had nearly become an incendiary. 
 
 In the summer similar processions take place in 
 honour of the gods of the epidemical diseases. We 
 enjoy in China the sad privilege of owning live 
 epidemics, which are local and indigenous. The 
 figures of these gods, which never vary in appearance, 
 can be seen in every street, and in every quarter 
 there is a temple consecrated to tliese terrible 
 divinities. The processions in their honour are, in 
 consequence, daily occurrences, as each part of the 
 town performs this ceremony in turn. 
 'Although the procession is less imposing than the 
 one that follows Tai-Tchang, it is nevertheless of 
 great richness in the larger quarters. At the head 
 come the five gods, each preceded by his subalterns. 
 Behind them is carried an immense paper boat, very 
 sldlfuUy made. It is mounted by the same gods, also 
 in paper, who are placed in the cabin in the centre, 
 whilst in another cabin are shut up paper images of 
 all the other demons. A man walks at the side of 
 
 E 
 
66 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 this DOat, carrying on his shoulder, by means of a 
 water-carrier's pole, two buckets filled with debris 
 of meats and offal of all kinds that are known to 
 engender disease. These buckets are called ironi- 
 cally the buckets of happiness. The procession goes 
 straight to the sea-shore, or to the banks of the river. 
 Once there, the buckets are flung into the water, and 
 the ship and its passengers are set fire to and bm-nt. 
 The epidemics are then supposed to have been 
 driven right out of the town. Mutual con- 
 gratulation and a banquet terminate the fete. 
 This is doubtless doubly symbolical. The 
 buckets represent hygienic measures, the boat and 
 its gods and demons figures the expulsion of all 
 diseases, carried away by the river or destroyed 
 by the fire. 
 
 Tcheng-Houang is the god of the provinces. His 
 image may be seen everywhere, just as in Paris we 
 see on the Place de la Concorde the statues of the big 
 cities of France. The difference is that Tcheng- 
 Houang is a real personage, not merely a personifi- 
 cation. His ceremony is about identical with that 
 of Tai-Tchang, except for the fact tliat Tchang- 
 Houang has only right to the title of Governor. 
 
 The procession of the goddesses who protect women 
 
Processions. 67 
 
 in labour and children usually takes place at the 
 beginning of the year. The chair on which the 
 statue is seated is all covered over with floweri, and 
 as it is carried round by its bearers all the childless 
 women of the town come crowding round imploring 
 the divinity to give them childi'en. The women take 
 from the chair the first flower tliat comes into their 
 fingers. If it is a red flower they may hope to have 
 a daughter; if it is a white flower that means that 
 they will have a boy. At the same time, the would-be 
 mothers make vows to present the goddess with 
 tapestry or clothes, or some decorative object should 
 she hear their prayer. 
 
 Kich people often invite the • goddess into their 
 houses as she passes their doors. Fireworks are then 
 let off and flowers are added to those on the chair. 
 Then tea and cakes are handed round to the members 
 of the procession, and after this the Cliinese Lucina is 
 allowed to resume her peregrinations to visit other 
 houses if she be so disposed. Throughout the month 
 women crowd into the sanctuary of the goddess in 
 an unceasing stream, some to fulfil their vows and 
 bring their votive ofl:erings, and others to implore in 
 their turns the intervention of the Chinese Genitrix 
 goddess. 
 
 £2 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 RUSTIC PLEASURES. 
 
 WALKS AND PILGRIMAGES. 
 
 Tlie districts in China most faToured by nature 
 are, ■without doubt, Hang Tclicou and Sou-Tdicod. 
 The fii'st possesses the lali.e of Sou-IIoii, rich in 
 beautiful surroundings. The river Tcliinu-IIoiiai 
 flows tlirough the second. 
 
 A very popular Chinese prorerb says ~: — 
 
 Heaven is what is most beautiful in the skies, on 
 earth it is Sou and Hang. 
 
 In ilie cA'ening, the lake and the river are covered 
 witli iUuniinatel pleasure boats. Songs and laughter 
 eclio on every side. The banks are covered with 
 villas glittering with light, where hai>])y faces and 
 charming features may be seen. 
 
 These villas are inhabited by the most beautiful 
 women, who come to this wonderful land to admire the 
 
A BUDDHIST SOLEMNITY. 
 
 6& 
 
 platter. During this bath, which lasts for lialf-an- 
 hour, the priests are in adoration, and all tlie musical 
 instruments are heai-d. Then comes a rather lengthy 
 pause. At midnight the ceremony of consecration 
 begins. The candidates who, either by vocation or by 
 sudden impulse, have chosen this career, have to live 
 two or three years in one of the monasteries, and after 
 this before being qualified to exercise the function of 
 minister, must submit themselves to a somewhat 
 painful formality. 
 
 The great hall of Buddha is brilliantly lighted up. 
 On tables placed side by side are set out the images 
 of the different Buddhist apostles, and all kinds of 
 religious emblems. Before each of these statues 
 there is placed a kind of prie dieu stool to which' 
 tlie name of one of the candidates is attached, and 
 it is on this stool that after a long hour of meditation 
 the candidate Icneels down. His head is shaven 
 completely bald, and on the naked skin are placed 
 three pieces of tinder soaked in incense, to which 
 the chief sets light. The candidate continues praying 
 quietly whilst the conical-shaped tinder candles on 
 his head burn out, burning away the skin of hig 
 head withal. This is the reason why one always 
 sees cicatrices on the heads of the Buddhist priests. 
 
70 BITS OP ClllNA. 
 
 Rome have tliree, some six, some nine, some even 
 more, according to the degree of their devotion^ 
 
 On the morrow another ceremony takes place, 
 that of the reception of the priests. Tlie old give 
 welcome to the new. 
 
 I relate all this because this sight is one in wliich 
 in China a great deal of interest is taken. It is 
 considered quite a pleasure to be able to witness it. 
 
 "When I was a boy of nine years the chief of the 
 Buddhists, who was to ofliciate at tlie ordination 
 that year, being a friend of my father's, I asked to 
 be allowed to be present at the ceremony. 
 
 It was a beautiful af tei-noon. After crossing fichls 
 bordered with high trees, and where the cry of the 
 crickets could be heard on erery side, we entered into 
 a wood in the centre of which stood the monastery. 
 ,We were well received by the priests, who told me 
 that no child of my age had ever been present at 
 the feast. The scene that I was to see was one 
 Mhich might turn me either into a fanatical Buddliist 
 or a bitter enemy of that religion. However my father 
 insisted, and I was allowed to enter. "^Ve first of 
 all partook of a dinner without meat consisting of 
 bamboo sprouts, salt vegetables, and a puree of beans, 
 all of which seemed delicious to mc. Vre were after- 
 
A BUDDHIST SOLEMNITY. 71 
 
 w^ards allowed to bo present at tlie great dinner 
 of the priests. Their immense dining-room resembled 
 very much that of a barracks, ^^■ith this difference, 
 however, that during the meal the strictest silence 
 was observed. This silence was only broken by the 
 prayers that were sung before and after each course. 
 I was very surprised to see how healthy these monks 
 looked in spite of their bad food. I have since learnt, 
 however, that a vegetable diet is quite as nourishing 
 as meat, and now understand what at the time i)uzzled 
 me. On leaving the diaing-room I took a turn in 
 the passage of meditation. Each priest was seated 
 Avith liis legs crossed under him, his eyes closed, and 
 liis hands locked together, on a bed placed in an 
 alcove which was separated by screens on eitlier 
 sides from those of his neighbours. The priests 
 seemed to be lost in the most profound meditation. 
 Child that I was, and not knowing what importance 
 they attached to their silence, I tried to get the monks 
 to speak to me, ia spit« of my father's forbidding 
 mo to speak to them. But not one of them gave 
 me any answer, not one of them moved a hair.^ Some 
 time was spent in this way, after which we betook 
 ourselves to the great hall of consecration where the 
 ordination ceremony as described abo\'^e took place. 
 
72 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 The net result of my excm'sion was that I passed 
 a veiy unpleasant niglit, and that I have still 
 before my eyes the horrible sight of hundreds of 
 Buddhists in their grey robes with their bald heads 
 flaming hideously. 
 
 As soon as ever day broke I begged my father to 
 take rife away from this sinister spot, and in spite of 
 the heavy dew that lay on the grass, and the chilliaess 
 of the spring morning we set out at once. As we reached 
 ' a little pathway which separated two fields, I just 
 escaped treading on two snakes who were wriggling 
 in battle together, and who passed from one field 
 into another between my very legs. 
 
 The impression that I carried away was so 
 deplorable a one fhat, but for an incident which 
 happening some days later showed nle that their 
 fanaticism was far from being so absolute as I had 
 imagined, I should never have felt anything but 
 aversion to these fanatical madmen, as I then con- 
 sidered them. One day, some time after our visit 
 to the monastery, one of the priests whom we had 
 met there paid us a visit at our house, and stayed to 
 dinner. I cannot express the stupefaction I felt in 
 seeing him partake of the dishes of meat, that were 
 served, with the greatest relish and appetite. I could 
 
A BUDDHIST SOLEMNITY, ^ ' 73 
 
 not understand. I knew that the Buddhists were 
 strict vegetarians, and that they forbid tlip use not 
 only of flesh and fish, but even of eggs, fat, milk, 
 and butter. I could not help expressing my astonish- 
 ment, cliild that I was. The priest merely smiled, 
 and said, "Buddlia is such a liindly god, my child, 
 that he pays no attention to these minor details." 
 
 Euddlia, indeed, is the god of gladuess.* I need 
 only look at his face to be conyinced of that fact. 
 This face Avith the fat cheeks, lighted up with an 
 eternal smile; tliis well-fed body comfortably seated 
 on tlie lotus flower, that flower that the god holds in 
 his hand; that quiet attitude of happy bon-vivant — 
 all these thuigs made one think rather of some fat 
 monk from .Rabelais tlian of an ascetic emaciated 
 with prayer and self-inflicted punishment. 
 
 The Buddliist story relates," moreover, that the fii-st 
 Buddlia was a man of kindly feelings towards his 
 fellows, whose only mission it was to save all mortals 
 from their wretchedness, and to make them enter 
 the "western heaven," which is that of pleasure. 
 
 The other day my friend Cernuschi gave a children's 
 ball in Taris. There was a large Buddha in" the 
 drawing-room. I happened to be present, and when 
 I was asked whether I was not horrified at seeinf 
 
Ti Bits of cuka. 
 
 such frivolities taking place before the statue of a 
 god, I answered in the negative. "Ah," they ci'ied, 
 "you are more tolerant than Ave are. Our priests 
 TS'Ould never permit us to dance before a crucifix." 
 
 "That is quite different," I answered. "Clirist 
 was a martyr, and it Avould certainly be wrong to 
 indulge in frivolous gaieties before his image. 
 Buddha, on the other hand, has only one desire, and 
 that is that each and all should be happy. Besidesj 
 this excellent god is on a holiday in Europe, and that 
 is all the more reason why he should be glad to see 
 people amusing themselves, since he is here for 
 amusement." 
 
CJIAPTEB, X. 
 
 A BUDDHIST SOLEMNITY. 
 
 It is on the eiglitli day of the foiu-th moon — ^AYhich. 
 corresponds to the month of May of the Gregorian 
 calendar — ^that the great ceremony of the ordination 
 of the Buddhist priests, also called the Feast of the 
 IJath of Buddha, is perfonned. 
 
 On the eve. of this day all the candidates gather 
 together in the monastery in each town to prepare 
 themselves for the solemnity of the mori-ow. At 
 about eight o'clock in the evening a bell is rung. The 
 priests are in their places, each on his knees before 
 the statue of Buddha. First a prayer is recited, and 
 then hymns are sung. After this tlie chicf-ijriest 
 takes down off its lofty pedestal a little idol^ a 
 statuette of Buddha, places it on a platter of gold or 
 of carved silver, and pours over it water oijt of finother 
 
7G BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 beautiful scenery, and to be admired in their turns. Tt 
 lias been said — such is the reputation of this enchant- 
 ing spot — ^tliat at Hang-Tcheou the moon, instead of 
 being sad at times, is always very happy, as if to 
 share in the general gladness. What songs of love 
 has she not inspired, what poems, what music, born 
 of the contemplation of her orb, more beautiful here 
 than anywhere else. I will add that the prettiest 
 women in China are born in these two provinces. 
 
 Sou-Tcheou has, besides its river, a lake called 
 Tai-Hou, in which are a number of mountainous 
 islands. The most celebrated of these are the Toung- 
 Ting-Chan group, which are much loftier than the 
 others. In autumn, when the Virginia creepers have 
 turned to red amidst the green of the pine trees and 
 the bamboo, the aspect is a most picturesque one. 
 
 To tiie west of the town there is a mountain liuown 
 as " the magic rock," where there is the grotto of 
 Si-Si, the favourite of Prince Ou-Ouang of Sou- 
 Tcheou, the most beautiful -^oman in China, and 
 quite close to it are the Lake of Flowers, the Path- 
 ways of Pleasant Odours, and the King's Peak. From" 
 the top of this peal?, a view of the Toung-Ting 
 mount.ain, rising a mass of green out of the snow- 
 white lake, may be obtained, 
 
RUSTIC PLEASURES. 77 
 
 There Is another mountain to the north-east, called 
 Fou-Kiou, or the Tomb of the Panther. TJie story 
 is that when Emperor Tchin-Sse-Houang wanted to 
 break into the tomb of Prince Ou-Ouang, a tiger 
 appeared on the tomb and'protected it, whence its 
 name. Lowei' down is a tomb wliich has been pre- 
 served for over eight centuries, and wliich contains 
 the body of a young woman renowned for lier mis- 
 fortunes in love. The few poems of hers that have 
 survived are so very sad, that all persons of a roman 
 tic tyi-n of mind who have read them, never fail to 
 pay a visit to her tomb and to cover it with flowers. 
 
 Here is a short poem written by this heart-broken 
 woman : — 
 
 I prostrate myself before the Buddhist Virgin "so full 
 
 of pity and of charity. 
 To beg her to grant that in my future life I may 
 
 neither revisit earth nor tarry in Paradise; 
 I pray that she may bless me with a drop of dew at 
 
 the end of her willow branch, 
 So that I may become a double lotus blossom. 
 
 The third line contains an allusion to the Buddliist 
 ceremony of aspersion. The double lotus flower is 
 supposed to bear on the same stalk a male and a 
 female blossom. It is the emblem of the union of 
 two hearts and of happy loveg. 
 
78 
 
 EITS OF CHINA. 
 
 The marble of the tomb is covered with inscrip- 
 tions made by the visitors. Most of these are in 
 verse, of the same metre and with the same rhymes 
 used by tlie dead poetess. 
 
 Some way off is another mountain, where Lao-Tse 
 spent a long time in meditation. In the centre of 
 this m.ountain is a large lake, known as the " Celes- 
 tial Lake," where, in summer, lotuses of extraordi- 
 nary size may be seen in flower. It used to be said 
 that by eating these flowers one attained immortality. 
 
 All this district is full of celebrated places and of 
 historical sites. Generally speaking, there is a 
 monastery on the top of each of the mountains. In 
 the middle of the spring aU the ladies of the district 
 make offerings to Buddha. 
 
 Those who admire pretty women take advantage 
 of this custom to come and stare at the ladies. 
 
 The monastery is reached in sedan-chairs. The 
 ladies go down again backwards. I never could 
 understand the reason of this strange custom until 
 chance brought under my notice these two lines 
 written in the seventeenth century by a woman :— 
 I go down stepping backAvards, and you foUow 
 
 me face to face. 
 So that it is not necessary for me to turn my head 
 
 round at each step. 
 
There are eycn more celebrated places at Ilang- 
 
 Tclieou. In the first place there is Si-Hou, mentioned 
 
 above. An avenue of weeping willows surrounds 
 
 the whole lakej and the branches of the trees droop 
 
 down into the water. Behind is an immense pano- 
 
 I'ama of. mountains — the Phoenix Mountain, the 
 
 Momitains of the Screen of Stone, the Solitary 
 
 Mountain, and the Mountain of the Tumpkin, which 
 
 was the favourite walked Emperor Tchin-Sse-Houang. 
 
 This destroyer of books used often to land at the 
 
 foot of this mountain, leaving his boat on the lalte 
 
 while he made his excursion. Then there are the 
 
 Mountain of Music, against which the current breaks 
 
 and is driven back with terrible noise; the Mountain 
 
 of the White Dragon, the Mountain of Sans-Souci, 
 
 where may still be found the utensils in which the 
 
 inmiortals, according to the legend, used to i)repare 
 
 their magic remedies in the old days. I may also 
 
 name the Celestial, Pillar, the Fist, the Eye of 
 
 neaven, and the Marble Mirror, which is formed of 
 
 a huge round rock so smooth and polished that one 
 
 can see his reflection in it as in a mirror. Emperor 
 
 Tchiao-Tchung, of the Thang family, used cft^n to 
 
 give dinners on this marble table. The guests used 
 
 to spread their cloaks out on the rocks which stand 
 
80 filTS OF CHINA. 
 
 around, and on this account the Emperor called 
 these rocks Marechal-I-King, which means the 
 embroidered garment. The following story is told 
 about the Flying Mountain: — An Indian priest, 
 seeing it for the first time, appeared quite dumb- 
 founded with astonishment. He was asked what was 
 the matter. " This mountain, " he answered, " belongs 
 to my country. I do not know when it can have 
 flown here." 
 
 Beyond the summit of the Ten Thousand Tme 
 Trees, we sec the Mountain of the Red Twilight, so 
 called because in the spring the peach trees with 
 which it is covered blossom ^^ith their pink flowers, 
 and give this mountain the appearance of being 
 bathed in the ruddy glow of dawn or twilight. 
 
 In this district there are a number of little lakes 
 and merry rivulets, which have poetic names. A 
 part of the shore of Si-IIou is called the Quay of 
 Master Sou, because Sou-Toung-Po had nenuphars 
 and other flowers planted there. Many poets have 
 written about this lake. The most celebrated is the 
 following, which was written by Sou-Toung-Fo: — 
 
 Compare the lake to Si-Si. 
 
 It is more simple and prettier b(!cause it is less 
 made up. 
 
RUSTIC PLEAStJKfia. 81 
 
 A more modern author "says : — 
 
 Tte traveller finds himself in the middle of a 
 
 picture, and can easily heliere that all these 
 
 picturesque constnictions are made of embroidery, 
 
 So I am no longer surprised that the Choung dynasty 
 
 Preferred this lake to the half of their empire. 
 
 The following is still more enthusiastic:— 
 
 Ten leagues of lotuses and an autumn rich in koue 
 
 flowers 
 Attract the soTereign to them". 
 The new melody, entitled, "Song of the Willo-vVs," 
 Is sung by every mouth. 
 
 This is what has changed the capital of the empire. 
 And has caused Tien-Theou to be deserted for Hang- 
 
 Tcheou. 
 
 Another poem, the las't, saj^sT — 
 
 The perfumed zephyr embalms the light of the 
 
 moon, 
 Athwart the tweh'e stories of the mountain, 
 The Court ascends in the night to the Pavilion of 
 
 Leisure, 
 Enjoying the panorama from above," 
 Which offers a chai'ming view at the moment when 
 
 all the houses are lighting u£. 
 
 This wiU suffice to give an idea of these landscapes, 
 the most beautiful in China. The views are of 
 infinite variety, and each point has some natural 
 
82 
 
 BITS OP cnciA. 
 
 charm or has attaching to it some memorable event, 
 historical or legendary. So it is very dif&cult to 
 describe all tliat is to be described here, eren with 
 the paint-brush. Man is unable to describe all the 
 beauties which nature, the real artist, so prodigiously 
 displays. 
 
CHAPTER XII. > 
 
 BATHING. 
 
 There was a tropical heat that day, not a brcathj 
 of wind stirring, and not a sha(]y corner to be found 
 anywhere. It was one of those stilling and suffocating 
 daj's of our Chinese summer. I was trying to find 
 some place where to spend the afternoon witli some 
 degree of comfort, when someone knocked at my 
 door. 
 
 They vrerc friends of mine wlio had come to ask mo 
 to go bathing with them. They had been considerate 
 enough to bring a sedan-chair for my use witli tlicm, 
 and so off we went. 
 
 Beyond the N.E. gate of Fou-Tcheou there is a 
 warm sulphurous spring which is very much fre 
 quented by the inhabitants of tlie town. Some gO 
 and bathe in the common pool which is reserved for 
 the cure of diseases of the skin, others, avIio come 
 either for cleanliness or merely for pleasure, take 
 
84 . BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 private cal)ins. I need not say that tliere are separate 
 pools for the two sexes. ; 
 
 Tliere is nothing picturesque about tlie bathing 
 pools, and so I "will not describe them, but I should 
 like to say a few words about the inner arrangements, 
 iwhich have nothing in common with those in sipiilar 
 establishments in Europe or Turkey. 
 
 The house is always built in tlie middle of lofty 
 trees, and its foundations are sunk wherever pos- 
 sible in a running stream. The building which is 
 one, or, at most, two storeys in height, is reached 
 through a vast peristyle. The shape of the house 
 is either round or square, either all in glass, or else 
 abuudantly lighted Avith windows made of silk, or 
 of transparent paper, in carved wood frames. Against 
 the windows on tlie front are placed little tables spaced 
 out like tliose in a restaurant. The cabius are behind. 
 !As soon as tlie batliers arrive they are received by 
 tlie employes, and when they have taken their seats 
 tea and pipes of tobacco are served. At the same 
 time eaeh batlier receives some water-melon seeds 
 to help him to while away the time whilst he is wait- 
 ing for his bath. Then the water-carriers begin to 
 busy themselves, carrying smoking pails of hot water 
 which tli<^y have just dra^vu from the sprins. 
 
BATHING. 
 
 85 
 
 There is a round bath in each cabin, and across it 
 is laid a planli on which the bather sits ^s^ithout 
 plunging his body into the water. He is provided 
 with a large sponge and uses it to sponge liiniself all 
 over with the hct water in the bath; As soon as the 
 bath is finished tlie batlier dresses and returns to his 
 table, where a lunch is served composed of light and 
 exquisite dishes. Here the bathers drink wine, laugh, 
 and talk or play at the game which, resembles tlie 
 Italian game of "morra," where you have to guess the 
 number of fingers ^vluch are held up by the players. 
 The loser has to di-ink. Fortunately the cups are very 
 small, or it wouldn't be possible to lose very often. 
 After dinner card games are played, or chess, or 
 dominoes. An orcliestra attached to the establish- 
 ment plays its sweetest melodies; 
 
 Thus the rest of the afternoon is spent in the fresh 
 air, under the shadow of the high trees, with their 
 tlaick leaves. It is, as you see, a kind of hydropathic 
 casino. As soon as 'the sun has set, and before the 
 moon is too bright, a move homewards is made across 
 the fields in the sedan-chairs. 
 
 In the north the baths are inside the towns and 
 thus are not so well situated as where they are in 
 the country, The arrangements are, however, almo:t 
 
85 EiTS OP tniNA. 
 
 the same as those £ have described, except that incenso 
 
 is burned in each cabin, and in such quantities that as 
 
 you enter the thick smoke gets into your eyes and 
 
 makes them smart and water. The reader will notice 
 
 that I only speak about warm, baths. I must explain 
 
 that the Chinese do not like cold baths, which they 
 
 consider to be very bad for the health. It is only 
 
 the children of people living by the riversides who 
 
 take cold baths. Cold water is so generally disliked 
 
 in China, that ]ukc"i\arm water is almost always used 
 
 for washing. ,Wo won't even drink cold water, and 
 
 jthat is one of the reasons why tea is so largely used 
 
 at home, the infusion giving us an excuse for drinking 
 
 hot water* 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 KITE FLYING. 
 
 Kitc-flying, -whicli since the earliest ages fia-S been 
 popular in China, is, ■without possible contradiction, 
 the game which best exercises tlie bodies of children. 
 The boy runs back, comes, goes, pulls at the string, 
 ■winds it up, inhales the fresh air -with all his lung- 
 po-wer, and develops his strength and his skill at 
 one and the same time. 
 
 In northern and Central China it is in the spring 
 that this pastime is indulged in; in the south it is 
 in the autumn. Our kites, as a rule, are much larger 
 than those used in Europe, and ■we designate their 
 sizes by the number of pieces of paper that have 
 been used in their manufacture. Thus v^e speak of 
 " two-paper," " three-paper," and " tliirty-two- 
 ]iaper '_' kites. The last are very much taller tJian a 
 man. 
 
8S Bits of china. 
 
 The form varies very much. Our " paper eagles,", 
 as we call them, are made in every conceivable shape, 
 butterflies, beetles, birds of the most varied sizes 
 and species, monsti-ous dragons, are all in tarn 
 modelled in the manufacture of these charming toys. 
 
 The strings vary, according to the size of the kite, 
 in thicliness, from the finest thread to cord often 
 several millimetres thick. In the season, the sky is 
 clouded Tvith these artificial birds, casting fantastic 
 shadows as they float in the ethereal blue. 
 
 It is said that, one day7 a player having to absent 
 himself for a moment, tied the string of his kite to 
 the cradle in which his child was sleeping. When 
 ho came back he found that his kite had got away 
 carrying the cradle and the child with it. Ifeither 
 were ever seen or heard of again. 
 
 The very large kites do not always carry children 
 away," but, oii the other hand, they often are very 
 quarrelsome beings. The kites which are intended 
 for the purpose of aerial warfare can be recognised 
 by the colour of the paper that they are made of. 
 One can thus see at once what is the character — 
 pacific or bellicose — of each new comer. Often, the 
 two possessors of the fighting kites cannot see each 
 other, but only the two kites they are fighting with. 
 
KITE FLYING. 89 
 
 Each child tries by skilful manoeuvring of the string 
 to get his kite behind that of his adversary, and hook 
 it on to the other. When he has done this, he 
 draws his string in, and, if he is the stronger, is able 
 to bring both kites doAvn to the ground, cuts the 
 string of the enemy's kite, patches up its wounds and 
 adds it to his collection. Other kites are more peace- 
 ful, devoted as they are to music — ^the civilising art. 
 A bow, crossed by several parallel chords, is fastened 
 to the three strings which cross tlie face of the flying- 
 machine, and the wind, playing through these cords,' 
 causes them to vibrate, giving the music of the 
 Eolian harp. Some children get to be very skilful at 
 this game, and it is really an interesting sight to see 
 them vieing in force and ruse with each other to 
 obtain these never bloody victories. 
 
cnArTLn XIV. 
 
 THE ILLUMINATED BOATS. 
 
 Our forefathers used to say that to find pleasure 
 it must be sought for either on the mountaius or on 
 the water, and ifc is quite true tliat if you want to 
 enjoy flue weatlier, you must look out for some place 
 ■^here the vieTV's are raried. Bat, as Mahomet very 
 wisely remarked, the mountains won't come to us 
 and we must go to the mountains. It must also bo 
 remarked that there are many flat districts in China 
 where there are no mountains to be found, wliilst 
 water can be found everywhere. Besides, mountain- 
 climbing is fatiguing, whilst excursions on the water 
 In flower-decked canoes, comfortably fltted, afford 
 both repose and pleasm'e, cradled as one is by tlia 
 rhythmic cadence of tlie oars. When the wind is 
 strong enough to allow of a sail being hoisted, you 
 feel almost as light as a bird flying in space, and let 
 
The ILLuiilNAtEb BoAfS. 01 
 
 the illusion last eTcr so short a time ycu fancy you 
 have been transformed into a member of the aerial 
 ■world of genii pursuing in cloudland a life of eternal 
 happiness^ 
 
 My countrymen have in all ages taken special 
 pleasure in excursions on the water. Under the 
 dynasty of the Sungs — ^that is, in tlie twelfth century 
 — Lake Loi was very much frequented. The shores 
 were planted all round with weeping willows, and 
 the moon seemed to lose seven-tenths of her bright- 
 ness under the gleam of the numberless illuminated 
 boats sailing along to the sound of joyous music. 
 
 A poet has said: — 
 
 By moonlight on the twenty-four bridges, 
 
 The sweet melody may everywhere be heard, the 
 
 melody of flutes, sonorous at the lips of charming 
 
 women. 
 
 The river Tchiang-Hang became the favourite 
 excursion under the reign of the Thangs. At the 
 beginning of the spring people used to go out to it 
 to collect aquatic flowers. This is expressed in these 
 two verses: — 
 
 On the third day of the third moon— the birth of 
 spring— the banks of the river Tchiang-Hang are 
 lined wil!i pretty women. 
 
92 biTS of CHINA. 
 
 When Sung came to the throne he used to make his 
 excursions chiefly on Lake Si-Hou, the beautiful 
 lake in the we&t, Avliich vce have already described. 
 The skiffs fiew like fly-shuttles across the loom, 
 cutting thi-ougli the light mist that rose from the 
 vater; and'biue flags weve to be seen on every tree. 
 The lake used at that time to be called the Crucible 
 for Melting Gold, a metaphor -which is not without 
 point. ■■:;■;■ i ' 
 
 Three centuries ago^ under the reigii of the Mings, 
 the river Tching-Houai began to grow fashionable, 
 and as the moon rose with the tide tliousands of boats, 
 covering more than ten lis (Chinese miles), could be 
 seen hieing hither, with their pearly blinds casting 
 shadows which trembled on the trouble of the waters. 
 All that has disappeared to-day. One must have been 
 in these boats to understand the real pleasure of a 
 taskless and careless life. They are like floating 
 houses, furnished with the most refined luxury. 
 Each boat is rowed by six oarsmen, and is fitted in 
 the centre with a deckhouse^ which is divided off 
 into several drawing-rooms. Nothing more artistically 
 and comfortably arranged can be found even in the 
 wealthiest houses in Europe. In the evening bright 
 lights shine through the window-panes of all the 
 
THE ILLUMINATED BOATS. So 
 
 cabins, and it is as if tlie water were furrowed up 
 witli tliousands of meteors shedding their joyful 
 brightness far and wide. No; there is no better 
 mode of locomotion. On the water there is no dust; 
 you do not run, you skim along, and the slow progress 
 of the skiff gives you time to enjoy the varied aspects 
 of the country, studded as it is with clusters of 
 sombre and silent trees. Then all that a carriage 
 can do for you is to convey you; you can't settle down 
 in a carriage. These boats, on the other hand, are 
 so many houses where whole families or large parties 
 can meet together and dwell. To conclude, the boat 
 alone deprives the landscape of its immobility, 
 animates it, and gives it movement and life; it renders 
 Nature herself more gay and more poeticalj 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 GARDENING. 
 
 A rather curious coincidence exists in the trvo 
 antipodes of the glotoe. In France when a man 
 retires from business or from official life, he says: 
 "I am going to plant cabbages." In China we say: 
 "I am going to retire into the mountains, or into 
 the forest." This is another way of saying tliat he is 
 going to gi^'e himself up to gardening. This coinci- 
 dence is caused by the fact that the same tastes 
 exist everywhere. When a man has had enough of 
 the occupations of an active lif* he is glad to with- 
 draw completely from them, aad to devote himself 
 to innocent plcasui'e which provides exercise for 
 the body and rest for the mind, and chai-ms with 
 peace the last days of his life. What is called 
 
GARDENING. 95 
 
 the world differs but little. When one is tired of 
 its battles it is tliat other world, the world of nature, 
 that alone one yearns after. 
 
 In our history, as in our poetry, we are constantly 
 reading of men of the widest fame who only lived in 
 the hope of being able to retire at last. They often 
 used to be heard saying that tlieir gai'dens were 
 running to waste for want of cultivation, and this 
 thought is so popular a one that even those who 
 cling to their offices follow the example of the others, 
 and constantly repeat that they are dying with the 
 longing to go and cultivate tlieir gardens. A philo- 
 sopher thus characterises this contradiction between 
 the word and the act: — 
 
 Everybody expresses the desire to retire," 
 
 But in the middle of the forest I ne\'er meet anybody. 
 
 However this may be it is certain that a number 
 of people do caress this dream of a rural life, and do 
 finally put it into execution, 
 
 "0 rus quando te aspiciam," is true in every age 
 and in every land; on the banks of the blue river as 
 well as in the severe landscapes of ancient Rome, 
 or on the sunny landscapes of modern France. 
 
 JThe poet Tou-Fou himself, when hig jfunctiions' 
 at Court allowed him a few moments of leisure took 
 
96 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 great delight in donning gardener's clothles, as is 
 shown by the four following lines: — 
 
 I met Ton-Fou at the foot of the Fan-Kou mountain' 
 wearing a straw hat in tlie full heat of the sun. 
 
 ".Whj- are you so thin," I asked him. 
 
 "Cecause," he answered, '_'I have been making too 
 many verses of late.'! 
 
 Tao-Yen-Ming, the man of letters is the author of 
 a long piece entitled " Back in the Country," of which 
 the following is the principal passage: — ; 
 
 My garden was just beginning to run wild, 
 But happily there still remain pines and chrysan- 
 themums. 
 Having cultivated myself I return home, 
 Where my young boy jumps into my lap. 
 And a vase of wine awaits me on the table. 
 
 And this man of letters in spite of repeated in- 
 A itations from the Emperor, contented himself with 
 living and dying in the midst of his chiysanthemums 
 which he loved passionately. 
 
 "NV'e are not, however, satisfied in China with mere 
 cultivation but have succeeded in developing our gar- 
 dening operations into a real work of art. What with 
 watering, grafting, the selection and scientific com- 
 binations of species, the great varieties both of our 
 f'lants and our skill in shaping them into the most 
 
GARDENING. 97 
 
 varied and most fantastic sUapes, onr gardens are 
 veritable master-pieces of the art. Tlie Chinese gar- 
 denere know how to transform tlieir gardens into zoo- 
 logical ga,rdens, cutting and bending their trees as 
 they do into lions, dragons, and every other kind 
 of animal. .We are so fond of flowers that a single 
 spray is considered sufficient for a bouquet. One 
 never sees those round bouquets of several kind's of 
 flowers, which are fashionable in Europe, at home. 
 
 Listen to the following verses written by an 
 amateur gardener irr: 
 
 JVhat an admii-able sight is this sunset," 
 
 Which like Bengal Are shows everything ['en rose.'' 
 
 The flowers seem much prettier, 
 
 jAjid the birds hop about chirping on the branches of 
 
 the bamboo. 
 The wind has calmed down, tlie trees are wrapped 
 
 in silence, 
 And shades are stealthily creeping over all the land. 
 My breast swells but as much with fresh air as with 
 
 gladness. 
 But, alas, the day approaching its end holds no further 
 
 prospect of happiness 
 
 Do not think that to be happj the Chinaman must 
 have a large estate. It is the quality of the 
 philosopher to be satisfied with very little. A small 
 plot ef land is all sufacient for his happiness, pro- 
 
98 BITS OP CHINA. 
 
 Tided he has a few square yards of soil in whicii to 
 plant his bamboo and his favourite flowers. 
 
 The following is a poem written by a man of letters, 
 who lived in a cottage, and consoled himself in this 
 wise: — 
 
 There is no reason why the mountains should be 
 
 lofty, 
 It is celebrated by the genius who inhabits it. 
 IWater need not be deep if it is inhabited by a dragon. 
 My home is only a cottage sheltering my virtue and 
 
 my person. 
 Moss covers the steps ; and the green of the lawn 
 Is reflected through my window-blinds; 
 But only men of letters come to laugh and to talk 
 
 with me. 
 No vulgar man ever sets his foot here. 
 We can have nice games of Mn. 
 We can read nice Buddhist books. 
 No sound of music troubles my ears. 
 No political element absorbs our minds. 
 I compare my cottage to the celebrated cottage of 
 
 Nan- Yang, 
 J)r to the historical pavilion of Si-Seu. 
 
 Moreover, has not Confucius written as follows? 
 
 f There is no misery where there is no complaint."- 
 
 I pause here to tell an anecdote : — 
 
 A foreign diplomat told me one day, whilst we were 
 sitting chatting and smoking cigarettes in liis study, 
 that under tlie reign of Frederick the Great a 
 
GAEDENING. 
 
 99 
 
 Chinese dignitary came to Berlin. He was well 
 received at Court, and introduced forthwith, to a 
 sinologue, who enjoyed a great reputation in the 
 German capital for his translations of Chinese litera- 
 ture and his lessons in the Chinese language. 
 
 The mission of this Chinese dignitary lasted 
 several years, at the end of which time a real sino- 
 logue arrived from abroad. He was at once brought 
 into the presence of the Chinese professor. 
 
 Imagine his stupefaction when he discovered that 
 this individual was not a professor at all, and 
 that his real profession was that of a gardener. 
 He had been forced to play the role of professor 
 against his will. He was taken to be a savant, 
 and a savant he had to be. On his arrival in 
 Germany he had been at once considered a 
 man of letters on the strength of his appearance 
 only, without having to give any proof of his capa- 
 cities or to pass any examination. Not to injure this 
 victim of a mistake and to take advantage of his 
 talents, he was appointed gardener at Sans-Souci,' 
 where, as it happens, I noticed several specimens of 
 Chinese gardening operations. ■ 
 
 I cannot vouch for the truth of the preceding 
 anecdote, but, true or false, the story is amusing 
 enough to be related. After all, the man only had to 
 change the course of his studies, and from being a 
 professor of Chinese developed into a professor of 
 Chinese gardening. 
 
 g2 
 
100 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 A man of letters, named Ko-To-Tao (To-Tao means 
 the humpback, a soubriquet given to the Bian whose 
 real name nobody knew, and who seemed to enjoy his 
 nickname), used to dwell in the Tillage Foun-Lo 
 (fertility and joy), which lies to the west of Tchiang- 
 Nyang. He used to cultivate trees which were so 
 beautiful tliat they were the envy of all the rich 
 people of the province, and that all the traders 
 bought from liim. All the incomparable plants which 
 came from his garden, flourished and grew much 
 quicker than any others. Someone asked him what 
 was the secret of his success. He answered that 
 there was no secret in the matter. All that he did 
 was merely to study the individual character of the 
 plant, and to treat it accordingly. 
 
 " When you plant a tree," he said, ''■ you must 
 make it comfortable, give it plenty of room to grow 
 in, and see that the soil in which it is planted is rich 
 and solid. Then you must leave it alone, not move 
 it about. From time to time, treat it with the cart 
 that you would show to your own child. Don't 
 spoil it, when it is in want of nothing. Thus brought 
 ap the tree is free, and thrives as it is !ts nature to do 
 I do not prevent its development, which comes of its 
 own accord. Others who plant trees often change 
 
GARDENING. 101 
 
 tlie earth round it, mjiking it sometimes too strong, 
 Eometimes too poor, and spoil tlieir pupils by too 
 much care. Not satisfied with looking at them, they 
 touch them^ sometimes even they cut into tlie bark 
 to see if they are living or dead. No sooner have tne 
 buds sprouted than they examine them to see if they 
 will turn into fruit. The tree is not free, and its 
 character changes. You think that you are showing 
 love, but you are destroying. You are trying to show 
 care, and you are dealing death. That is why my 
 system is superior to all others. But; in aU that I 
 have no particular merit." 
 
 He was asked if the same system could be applied 
 in government offices. 
 
 "No; I know nothing about anj'thing but trees. 
 It is not my trade to govern nations. I have seen 
 good governments, who, instead of leaving people 
 free to work, took them under their protection. 
 Then each day brought with it its sheaf of decrees 
 and laws, ordering people into the fields and to their 
 trades, and regulating their customs and ways of 
 living. The peoplej being no longer master of itself 
 or of its movements, comes to no good. As for myself 
 I am old and infirm, and occupy myself with my 
 trees alone," 
 
132 
 
 HTS OF CHINA. 
 
 The persoii who had been talking with him," de- 
 lighted to have learned the true system of gOTern- 
 ment, whilst endeavonring to learn how to plant 
 trees, wrote down the conversation for the instruc- 
 tion of the government of&cials. 
 
 After all, there is little difference between the 
 education of a tree and of a man. Our forefathers 
 used to say that it takes a century to complete the 
 education of a man, and that the proper education 
 of a tree lasts at least ten years. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 THE CHASE. 
 
 HIccording to the Book of Rites, the Emperor and 
 the Eoyal Princes had to go to the chase whenever 
 politics allowed them any leisure. As for the people 
 the chase was a military exercise which they took 
 after harvest-time. The book of verses mentions 
 stalking in carriages. Emperor Chuang-Ouong, after 
 having reconquered the territory, used to hunt id his 
 caiTiage with his feudal princes, so as to see which 
 of them were likely to become the bravest soldiers. 
 Holidays were selected for hunting excursions. There 
 was also at that time a special government depart- 
 ment whose duty it was to see to the preservation 
 and propagation of certain kinds of animals. !■ 
 
 In the winter it was the wolves that were hunted, 
 in the summer the deer, in the spring all otlier kinds 
 of animals. Birds were hunted in the autumn. Bows 
 and arj:ow]s were used^ aad the sp ortsmen had reached 
 
104 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 to such a degree of skill in archery, that they could 
 transfix a leaf at the top of a tree. A celebrated 
 hunter named Kia-Kieng only shot with a bow which 
 was so strong and tough that it needed a force of 
 ithree-hundi-jed weight to s,tretch the string. One 
 day he was asked to fire at a buffalo at a distance 
 of one hundred paces. His first arrow grazed the 
 animal's back, tearing away a few haii's, the second 
 grazed its belly. The archer was told that that was 
 n,ot good shooting. He said that it was just Ma 
 supei'iority that he knew how nob to pierce the 
 animal. i'But if you like," he said, i'l will do so." 
 His third arrow killed the buffalo. 
 
 With every shooting party were taten an eagle and 
 dogs, the latter wearing golden bells round their necks; 
 At an official chase the Minister of .War himself stood 
 up on a high platform, and a large standard was 
 displayed at his back. The hunters, who were always 
 accompanied with a noisy orchestra, and standafd> 
 bearers carrying flags of every colour, pm'sued the 
 quarry, as soldiers pursuing an enemy. 
 
 Excess in all being a fault, many official hunters," 
 owing to the encouragement held out by the State,' 
 gave tliemselves up entirely to this sport, totally 
 neglecting aJl public budnessi In consequence of thia 
 
THE CHASE. 105 
 
 the Censors and otlier reasonable people advised the 
 sovereign to moderate the laws, preferring to deprive 
 themselves of their pleasure in the interest of the 
 commonwealth. The chase was accordiagly some- 
 what restricted by law and began to be neglected. 
 An Emperor of the dynasty of the Liangs noticing 
 ■when he was out one day shooting that a flock of wild 
 duck had settled down in the field before him, drew; 
 his boAv, and was just about to fire, when a peasant 
 passed in his line of fire. In spite of the cries 
 of the attendants the peasant walked on his wayl 
 deaf and blind to their cries and their signalsj 
 Meanwhile the birds flew away. Tlie Emperor was 
 Tcry angry and spoke of shooting the peasant. One 
 of his ministers who was out sporting with him, said, 
 ."Don't kill a man because game is wanting. A king' 
 must not be as savage as the beast that he hunts." 
 
 Ilis Majesty, recovering from his anger, smiled and 
 took tlie arm of his councillor to re-enter his carriage. 
 .When he had reached home empty-handed, he said: "I 
 have had a very successful day, for instead of bringing 
 home a good bag I have had a good lesson.", i 
 
 Under the present dynasty the Court used to go 
 out to the chase from time to time, and men of letters 
 used to take part in these excursions. .Whenever .1 
 
106 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 member of the Academy of Hau-Lin sJiot a stag, he at 
 once received a decoration of peacock's feathers^ 
 Since about thirty years, however, this institution has 
 been neglected, as "we have only had minors on the 
 throne. But as the reigning sovereign has recently 
 reached his majority, it is probable that before long 
 he wiU return to these plesures, which are as useful 
 as they are agreeable. 
 
 There are no game laws in China. Everybody has" 
 the right to shoot wherever game is to be found, n 
 is quite usual for a landowner to see sportsmen walk- 
 ing 'about his estates with their guns oil their 
 shoulders, doing as if they were on their own lands. 
 The golden pheasant is found in great quantities in 
 China. It is one of tlie favourite pastimes of E\iro- 
 peans who live in China to shoot these splendid birds. 
 'Amongst other feathered game that we possess in 
 China I may mention woodcock, snipe, quail, wild 
 duck and wild goose. In the way of fur we have 
 stags, deer, roe's, rabbits, and hares; besides foxes,' 
 jwolTes, bears, panthers, and tigers. Imitators ofl 
 Nimrod will find plenty of sport in China. 
 
GHAPTEE XVII. 
 FISHING. 
 
 If a certain number of men of letters take refuge 
 in the pleasures of gardening, fishing also has its 
 number of votaries. The bulk of these are men who,' 
 having lost all the illusions of life, and finding tliat 
 politics are^. after all, a hollow mockery," give them- 
 selves up to a quieter and less disappointing pastime. 
 
 The philosopher, Tchang-TseuJ used to fish on the 
 banks of the river Han every day of his life. The 
 Prince of Tchou, having heard hiin spoken about, sent 
 an ambassador one day to the philosopher to beg him 
 to enter the political life. Tchang-Tseu, his rod ia 
 his hand, spoke to the fish without condescending to 
 give any answer, finding that it was not worth while 
 to do so. !Another, stUl further back in history — 
 by name Lu-Chan — ^used to pass his days in fishing 
 in the river Pien. Emperor [Weng-Ouang went one 
 iday in person to beg him, to become of his councillors,' 
 
•'■^^ BTTS OF CHINA. 
 
 and appointed liini, on tlie spot, Guardian of the 
 Sovereign. Lu-Chan accepted the offer, and helped 
 his master to rule his empire. The dynasty lasted 
 eight hundred years; so solidly had the basis of the 
 government been established by the fisher-minister. 
 His master was the first emperor of China who got 
 the name of Saint. The people were never happier 
 than under his reign. So great was the general 
 prosperity, that even nowadays, when they want to 
 Bpeak of a happy people, the Chinese say— "As if 
 they- were walking about under the reign of VVeng- 
 Ouang,'^ 
 
 'Another fisher, of Tsou-Kiang who always 
 traificked his fish and wine, used to drink his fill, and 
 then dance and sing in his boat on the water, think- 
 ing himself the happiest man on earth. The prefect 
 went to ask him if he was a genuine fisherman, or 
 whether he concealed his identity under this disguise 
 and was a person of importance, i' Never you mind,", 
 he said to the prefect. '.' Historical persons fish for 
 titles, 1 satisfy myself with fishing for fish.", i ^ 
 
 Under the reign of the Thangs," a man of letters,' 
 named Thiang-Tseu-HoJ withdrew on to the water 
 and set up his abode on board a boat, which he called 
 his floating-house, and gay,e himself the title of 
 
tisnrs'G. lOS 
 
 Fisher, in tlie midst of tlie waves and the mist. He 
 publislied a quantity of songs for flsliermen and 
 oarsmen, T\-hich he was in the habit of singing on 
 his aquatic excursions. The emperor, taking pity on 
 his solitude, sent, as a present, two sei'vants, a young 
 man and a young woman. The recluse married the 
 two together, giving the name of Fisherman to the 
 lad, and that of Shepherdess to the lass. The one 
 looked after the fishing tackle and rowed the boat^ 
 the other used to go into the forest to gather dry 
 wood and bamboos to make his tea. 
 
 History mentions the names of several fishermen 
 of this philosophical class. There are besides tliese 
 only professional fishermen, good folli who work hard 
 and live on very little. 
 
 Everybody knows that we hhxe a goddess of tho 
 sea, but her story is not so generally luiown. She 
 was the daughter of a family of fishermen who lived 
 On the ^ore of Mei-Tcheou, quite close to Fou- 
 Tcheou. Her father and her brothers used to go 
 out fisliing on the sea every Aay, each in his own 
 boat, whilsit she stayed at home to weave in the com- 
 pany of her old mother. Slie was adored by her 
 parents whom she loved very much. One day duiing 
 a storm which made everybody feel drowsy, she was 
 
^1^ BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 dozing at tlie table, when she dreamed that her father's 
 boat was just going to sink in the angry sea, and 
 putting out her hand she caught hold of the painter 
 to di-aw it into land; Meanwhile she saw that the 
 boats on which her brothers were were in the sam^ 
 danger. So, putting the first cord between her teeth; 
 she caught hold of tlie two others in her hands, and 
 began walking tlirough the water towards the shore. 
 But before she could reach the shore she began to 
 groan and cry, and her mother began to stake her,' 
 calling her by name. To answer her mother |she 
 opened her mouth and let the cord that she held 
 between her teeth escape. When she woke up she 
 thought that this was a nightmare, but that evening 
 >vhen her brothers came home they told her that her 
 father had been drowned. The young girl in despair at 
 not having been able to save her father, who had died 
 through her fault, rushed out and threw herself int(> 
 the sea. Some time after she was often seen in visions 
 by fishermen in moments of distress, and it was 
 noticed that whenever she appeared the danger was 
 overcome. Out of gratitude her proteges erected a 
 .little teinple in her honour. Little by little her 
 miraculous protection was extended to the shijis of 
 teavfillera of great .officials^ and even to the navyj 
 
FISHING. 
 
 Ill 
 
 For eacTi service rendered to the State a title was 
 given her, and little by little she became known byj 
 the appellation of "Holy Mother of Heaven," a title 
 which is accompanied by as many honorific qualifi- 
 cations as are worn by the sovereigns who deligtit to 
 do her honour. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 L'ETERNEL FEMININ. 
 
 COQUETTERIB. 
 
 One is iione the less a woman for being a Cliihese 
 woman, "Woman is tlie same everywliere. It is she who 
 charms us— not to say who rules us. And no matter 
 in what part of the globe, it is she who is always the 
 great attraction of life. 
 
 They all know it ; and without any need of a 
 general understanding amongst themselves, all the 
 sisters of the universe do the best they each can to 
 render tliemselves more beautiful, or -prettier, or 
 merely more agreeable. They need for that no other 
 master than that instinctive desire to please, which 
 is a special feature of the female nature. Albeit our 
 women know neither how to grow fat or thin, or how 
 to dye their hair, or how to make use of a thousand 
 other tricks, which beauty uses to repair the irre- 
 
i/eternel feminin. 113 
 
 parable ravages of time; they know how to paint 
 themselves and how to adorn their persons. They 
 are very skilful in the use of red paint for the lips, 
 of black for the eyebrows, and of white for the face. 
 The particular taste of each racg modifies the forms 
 of coquetterie. In Europe you prefer large eyes 
 and a Grecian nose. In China, small eyes and a thin 
 and delicate nose are considered the most beautiful. 
 On the other hand, we agi-ee with you in admiring 
 fine white teeth, and little wrists and ankles. ,, ,, 
 
 It is said, in China, that a woman's ieyebrows 
 sliould be elongated and thin, like the silhouette of 
 distant mountains, that the eyes should be limpid as 
 water is in autumn, and the lips red, like dawn of 
 day. Dimples are greatly admired in China. JVe 
 call them the " wine hollows.". 
 
 The flush of the cheeks is called ^the colour of 
 drunkenness.". 
 
 From nature, let us pass on to art. 
 
 Formerly, women used to dress their liair high up 
 
 on their heads, the coiffure being built up on a 
 
 framework of iron wire. Little by little, this style 
 
 was modified, and to-day the greatest siniplicity is 
 
 the rule. Our ladies dress their hair almost in the 
 
 Greek style, with this difference, that the hair 
 
 n 
 
114 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 always remains smooth, curls never having been in 
 fashion in China. I may add, that natural ctrls are 
 quite unknown at home. A gold or silver pin, shaped 
 like a double spatula and bent in the middle, is fixed 
 in the centre of the cliignon, so as to keep the hair 
 in place. Sprigs of flowers are fixed round this 
 pin. Sometimes, in the spring, a little wreath of 
 scented flowers is put on the back of the head. 
 These simple ornaments are so much appreciated, that 
 many ladies have a standing arrangement with a 
 gardener to bring them fresh flowers every morning. 
 A poet has said about this custom: — 
 
 After having finished dressing her hair she casta 
 
 another glance in her mirror. 
 To see what kind of flowers will best suit her hair. 
 Therefore, before changing her morning toilette. 
 Behold her setting forth for the garden with a pair 
 
 of scissors in her hand. 
 
 When flowers are wanting^ butterfli^ made in 
 every conceivable shape, and of all kinds of materials, 
 are placed in the hair above the temples. At grand 
 ceremonies imitation flowers, made in jewels, are 
 used instead of natural flowers. 
 
 The forehead is always left free. .Only youiig girls 
 wear fringes, the rest of the hair being allowed 
 
l'eteenel feminin. 115 
 
 to fall down loose at the back of the head, or being 
 gathered up into two bunches on either side. The 
 enormous coiffure that you see in pictures, and which 
 forms a kind of bull's head, is known as the coiffure 
 in the style of the crow with outstretched wingSj 
 It is now only to be seen in Canton. 
 
 Ladies in China never wear hats or bonnets. At 
 ceremonies they wear a helmet-shaped crown, and 
 on less solemn occasions a little band of embroidered 
 stuff, which crosses tJie forehead and terminates in 
 points behind each ear. In the centre is a large 
 pearl or other precious stone, and round it a single 
 or double row of pearls is entwined. Women wear 
 shorter clothes than the men, the shape being about 
 the same for both sexes. The clothes come down to 
 the knees. On special occasions a petticoat which 
 comes down to the, feet is worn, while indoors a pair 
 of trousers is added, which in the north is fastened 
 round the ankles with ribbons, and left loose in the 
 southj The upper garment has wide sleeves, with 
 facings of embroidered satin. The uniform — ^fop 
 ladies in China wear a uniform on grand occasions 
 suited to the rank of their husbands — consists in a 
 dress of red sating embroidered with dragons, over 
 .which is a garment shaped like a jvaistcoat, also 
 
 e2 
 
no 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 embroidered. If the husband has a high rank, the 
 ■wife also wears a pearl neQldace. Whatever may 
 be tlie rank of the woman, she always makes her own 
 shoes. There are no shops in China for the sale of 
 women's shoes. 
 
 Jewels are never used for trimming dresses, at tlio 
 very outside a few gold or jewelled buttons are 
 sometimes used; but bracelets are worn in great 
 numbers, according to tlie position and fortune of the 
 wearer. Some young girls wear anlde-bandsj also 
 necklaces in the shape of collars, either in silver 
 or gold, and fastened with a locket in the shape of a 
 padlock. 
 
 The general custom of wearing the nails very long 
 has caused the use of a special nail-glove, which is 
 made of gold. It is shaped like a thimble, open at 
 both ends, and is prolongated by a gold nail, which 
 is intended to cover the real nail and to protect it. 
 I may mention that in China, as everywhere else, it 
 is the demi-monde that creates the fashions. But 
 fashion varies considerably in the different provinces. 
 Only a few ladies, Avho have travelled a great deal, 
 know how to combine the various styles, often with 
 the happiest effectj As a rule one can tell at a 
 glance to what province a woman belongs. 
 
l'eternel feminin. 117 
 
 One of the most feared of our censors,' a man 
 before the severity of whose criticism the whole 
 world used to tremble, and who was all the more 
 feared that nobody could find any fault in him, was 
 one day surprised in the act of painting his wife's 
 eyebrows. I leave you to judge how delighted his 
 enemies were to be able to tell the Sovereign that 
 this rigid guardian of public morality was, after all, 
 but a very frivolous man. The Censor was sent for 
 and asked if the report were true. 
 
 ."Yes," your Majesty," he answered; ",but Avhat is 
 there frivolous in that? Is not everything allowed 
 between man and wife?'i 
 
 The Emperor was, quite satisfied with this answer, 
 and the matter dropped. The story is repeated every- 
 where nowadays as symbolic of domestic felicity. I see 
 in it above all things the triumph of feminine coquet 
 terie, which knows how to subjugate mankind, even th 
 most austere, and enslaves us to its delicious 
 trivialities and its irresistible frivolities. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 FANS, 
 
 I say faas in the plural, because we have two kinds, 
 the folding fan and the round fan, which in Paris is 
 called I'ecran. We use the former during the mild 
 seasons and the latter during the very hot weather. 
 The reason of this is not easily understood, as the roun( 
 fan fans much less effectively than the other one. 
 Doubtless it offers this advantagie, that it can be used 
 as a substitute for the parasol, which we never carry, 
 and thus plays a double part. I may add that in 
 summer men and women alike go out bareheaded, so 
 that some protection, such as is afforded by the screen 
 fan, is needed. As a general rule there is a picture 
 on one side of our fans and some writing on thb 
 other. Common folk buy their fans ready paintec 
 and written upon, whereas people of fashion buy 
 their fans blank and ask distinguished people tc 
 illustrate them with a painting or a piece of writing 
 Some collectors possess hundreds of fans, which re- 
 
FANS. 119 
 
 place witK us the autograph albums that you hav€ 
 in Europe.' 
 
 Faus are given as presents to one's friends. They: 
 are always given by schoolmasters as prizes to their 
 scholarsj 
 
 The folding fan has a varying number of stems, 
 Women's fans have generally thirty thin stems. The 
 most common are made of bamboo; the best arei 
 made of ivory, betel, or sandal wood. They are car- 
 ried in a case of embroidered satin, which is fastened 
 to the belt by a ring of jade. The round fan is usually 
 made of silk, with ivory or bamboo handles, the pro 
 longation of which is either hidden between a double 
 mask of stuff, or is visible on one side only. Ladies 
 use them at play for catching, butterflies, or fireflies 
 at night. On such occasions tliey fasten a satchet of 
 scent to the end of the handle, which scents the air 
 as the fan is moved. 
 
 The portrait of the fasliionable poet of the day is. 
 always to be seen painted on the fan, tlms Lu-Fong 
 Oun, the popular poet of the thirteenth century, was 
 sumamed Buddha of the Thousand Families, because 
 his porti-ait was to be seen everywhere, and because 
 his light and graceful verses could be understood 
 by everybody. It is a very usual thing to compare a 
 
120 BITS OF CHINA, 
 
 friend to a fan because of his refresMng influence on 
 the mind. A woman who fancies that her husband's 
 heart is hers no longer will compare herself, as ^Ye 
 shall see, to a fan cast aside in the autumn. 
 
 A favourite named Pan-Tie-Tsu, beloved at one 
 time by Emperor Hiao-Tcheng, seeing hers^f de- 
 serted, sent a fan, to her master on which she had 
 written the following lines :-:r 
 
 I have just woven with my own hands this" white silkj 
 
 White as the snow and as the ice. 
 
 I cut it to make a fan of it, 
 
 Eonnd as the full moon is. 
 
 I would wish that it might be with you wherever you 
 
 may go. 
 And that the air it gives you may, from time to time,' 
 
 refresh your memory. 
 I foresee^ however, that when autumn comesj 
 Or the cold weather shall reduce the heat of the day; 
 It wiU be cast aside into some box, and removed from 
 
 the favour of your Majesty, 
 Even as she is who gave it to you.' 
 
 Another woman who had been disfigured by disease 
 
 sent her lover a fan, on which she had written the four 
 
 following verses:— 
 
 Oh, the fan! Oh, tlie fan! 
 
 You serve to hide my unhappy face. 
 
 I am hideously ugly; 
 
 And I am ashamed to present myself before my lover. 
 
FANS. l^'- 
 
 Besides these two kinds of fans, there is also the 
 feather fan, which was first made in the time of 
 dynasty of the later Hans. 
 
 The Prime Minister, named Tsu-Kia-Liang, used 
 this fan for all his military commands. It was, in his 
 hands, a substitute for the field-marshal's baton. 
 
 It is also said, that the first fan of this kind was 
 introduced into China by the King of Siam, who sent 
 it with other objects, by way of tribute. But Tsu- 
 Kia-Liang still,' to-day, is represented with a feather 
 fan in his hand, the baton with which he directed 
 the orchestra in the symphony of the battle. 
 
 Betel leaves, cut into the shape of a fan, are also 
 used in China. As this dry leaf can neither be 
 written nor painted upon, it is "decorated with en- 
 jgravings, either of pictures or of writing, which are 
 traced upon it by means of a lighted stick of incense. 
 This delicate and diflcult work is generally done by 
 women. Both leaves and incense come, from 
 Formosa. 
 
 Another kind of fan is made in Canton. A bamboo 
 stick is takeuj of which one end is left to serve as 
 handle. The upper end is shredded into very fine 
 threads which spread out into the shape of a lyre, 
 Bilk is passed over these, and the lower pai-t of tho' 
 
L22 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 lyre is consolidated -with a piece of curved ■wood; 
 through a hole in wliich the handle passes. It is a 
 very pretty kind of fan, and wears very vyell indeed, 
 
 All these varieties are fancy articles. In ancient 
 China, the round fan alone was known; the folding 
 fan has only been known since the last five centuries. 
 It was first presented by the Corean ambassadors to 
 Emperor TJng-Lo of the Ming dynasty. The sove- 
 reign found it not only pretty but very convenient, 
 and less troublesome to carry, and gave orders for 
 the manufacture of a large -quantify to be distributed 
 amongst the oflSicials of his empire. 
 
 This is all that I consider it necessary to say about, 
 fans in China. It may be found that I have used a 
 great many words about very little. But how can 
 words be better used, since it was said of them by an 
 ancient Eoman that they fly, than in spealdng about 
 winds and fans? 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 CELEBRATED BEAUTIES. 
 
 Beautiful women are called in China flowers, or 
 jade jewels, or stUl better, the destroyers of the 
 empire, or the destroyers of citieSi The latter nick- 
 names originated in a poem of the celebrated Li-Yan- 
 Nein, of the dynasty of Han, thus conceived:— 
 
 A beautiful woman lives in the north,' 
 
 Whose beauty has never in any age been rivalled; 
 
 To see her is to lose the empire. 
 
 If one sees her twice the kingdom no longer e^ctiS. 
 
 But I may add that one prefers to lose both empre 
 
 and kingdom 
 Than to renounce the beautiful woman whom one 
 
 ynU never see again. 
 
 The poem fell under the eyes of the Emperor, who 
 immediately asked if such a woman really did exist oj- 
 was only the creation of the poet's imagination. On 
 receiving an affirmative answer he expressed his 
 
124 
 
 BITS or CHINA. 
 
 desire to know this beaiity, and it was upon her that 
 he afterwards bestowed his exclusive favonr. An 
 Emperor is no less a man. 
 
 One of the favourites of Emperor Han-Wou-Ti,' 
 
 named Li-Kiang — ^pretty girl — conquered the heart cf 
 
 her soveteign at the age of fourteen. Her beauty was 
 
 perfect and her body was of extreme delicacy. She 
 
 clothed herself alone in the lightest tissues, for fear 
 
 that coarser stufE might iujure her very delicate sMn. 
 
 Her master built for her a crystal palace, so that 
 
 as he said, no dust should come to stain the whiteness 
 
 of her darling person. Her breath was so sweet that 
 
 >vhen she sang aU the flowers in the garden danced. 
 
 Emperor Ouei-Weng-Ti having heard it said that a 
 
 young girl named Sie-Ling-Yung was reputed to be of 
 
 incomparable beauty, wrote to the Prefect, bidding 
 
 him to send her to the capital. On bidding good-bye 
 
 to her parents, Sie-Ling-Yuhg wept red tears, which 
 
 were tears of blood. 
 
 Her reception at the capital was an extremely 
 
 brilliant one. The Court sent out ten carriages to 
 
 meet her, and sandaJ leaves were burned all along the 
 
 way she was to pass through. A lofty tower was 
 
 erected for the .occasion and was illuminated, as 
 
 .were aJl the houses in the city. 
 
CELEBRATED BEAUTIES. 12S 
 
 It was a laemorable night, and is still mentioned in 
 onr histories. His Majesty went out in person to 
 meet the beautiful woman, driving in a carriage of 
 carved jade. At regular intervals bronze milestones,' 
 two metres high, had been erected. At last this 
 mar\-eUous woman was received in the arms of the 
 sovereign,' who gave her the name of Ye-Lae, 
 which means " She who came in the night.'! 
 
 She was an incomparable artist at embroidery.- 
 She could embroider in the dark masterpieces which 
 could not be imitated in daylight by any other 
 woman. On account of this she was also called i'The 
 Genius of the Needle." 
 
 The celebrated poet Soung-TJ says, in a poetri about 
 
 his neighbour: — 
 
 All the beautiful women in the world 
 Are not worth my lady neighbour of the "west. 
 .Were you to add one inch to her height she would 
 be too taU; 
 
 ,Were you to reduce her statue by one inch she would 
 
 be too small. 
 Powder would give her too white a colour, 
 Veimilion would make her look too red. 
 Her eyebrows are like the lightest featliers, 
 Her skin is like the purest snow; 
 Her waist is small as a piece of silk, 
 And her teeth resemble a row of pearls'. 
 Wlien she condescends to smile the most T-easo'iablo 
 
 man is troubled. 
 
126 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 It is a matter of great regi'et in Cliina^ that the 
 poet did not even mention the name of this beaiity, 
 ■who, according to his account, must have been as 
 desirable a person as she was desired by him. 
 
 When the famous Fi-Yen — ^The Flying Swallow— i 
 was presented to Emperor Yang-Ti, he was trans- 
 ported with joy. Not only was she beautiful, but 
 her body was so light that the ting used often to 
 take her up on one hand to play with her. In a moment 
 of effusion the Emperor said that he had only one 
 ambition in life, and that was to live and die by the 
 Bide of her whom he loved, and that, unlike his 
 ancestors, he should not commit the folly of seeking 
 for the land of clouds, by which he meant Paradise. 
 
 There 'have been so many celebrated beauties in 
 China, that it is quite impossible to mention all their 
 names here. Let us be satisfied by saying, that some, 
 when they wash their hands in the streams, scent the 
 water; that othei-s found their beauty improved by 
 a little wound on their faces; that some shamed the 
 flowers themselves, and that one of them compelled 
 the moon to hide her face. All those who deserved 
 the name of beautiful woman, owed all tlieir charms to 
 nature; those that.tried to imitate them only rendered 
 tliemselves ri.Iicu'.ous. History relates apropos of 
 
CELEBRATED BEAUTIES. 127 
 
 this, that the beautiful Si-Si used to have the habit 
 of laying her hand to her heart, which gave her an 
 additional charm. Another woman, who lived in her 
 village— thinking that it was this gesture alone that 
 caused her neighbour to be so much admired — imi- 
 tated it, and got laughed at for hei* trouble; for, as 
 it was pointed out to her, she had overlooked the fact 
 that what is natural is beautiful, whilst what is 
 f orcod is often absurd. 
 
 Men used to be magnificently gallant towards these 
 beautiful women. Some housed them in golden 
 palaces, otliers sheltered every step that they took 
 with tents of gauze, so as to protect them against 
 the sun and the wind. Others had screens of pearls 
 carried before their lady-loves,, more beautiful than 
 the pearls which were intended for their adornment. 
 It will be seen that our writers did not lack in meta- 
 phors for the celebration of the eternel feminin. 
 They were in the right. The flowers of rhetoric are 
 never better employed than when applied to those 
 women which the gallantry of our language has 
 baptized with the name of flowera. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 SERIOUS PLEASURES. 
 
 THE STUDENT. 
 
 Wlien a child in China reaches the age of five o^ 
 six years, his parents, no matter what their position 
 may be, begin to think about giving him a master, 
 so tliat his education may be commenced. Although 
 instruction is not compulsory in China, I do not 
 know of ary children who do not go to school. Of 
 course, more or less time is spent there by the 
 different scholars, according to their several intel- 
 ligences or the position of their parents. 
 
 A lucky day at the beginning of the year is chosen, 
 and on this day the child is sent to some celebrated 
 man of letters to receive his first lesson, which 
 consists in learning the three first lines of an 
 elementary book called gan-Tse-King, In whicl) every 
 
SERIOUS PLEASUEES. 120 
 
 sentence consists of three syllables,^ and wliicli 
 resumes tlie history of China and the duties of man. 
 This task haying been accomplished, the boy is 
 sent to school, -where his real instruction commences, 
 for the course we have spoken about is a mere pre- 
 liminary formality, undertaken by an honorary pro- 
 fessor. As soon as he has got safely through the 
 San-Tse-King, the boy passes on to a second book 
 called the Tsien-Tse-Weng, a work which contains 
 one thousand different letters. At the same time 
 the scholar has to paint over in black letters drawn 
 in red in his copy-book by the schoolmaster. At 
 first the child is taken on the knees by his master, 
 who guides his hand, but little by little he is left to 
 himself; Later on, he is given a copy to trace 
 through ti-ansparent paper, and so on. A more 
 serious «ourse of instruction, including the four 
 classical works of Confucius and of Meng-Tse, and 
 the five King, or sacred, books follow this pre- 
 paratory course. Whilst these studies are going on, 
 the professor instructs his scholars in the poetry of 
 the land. As an exercise, he gives as a daily task a 
 line of seven words, the child having to compose a 
 parallel verse. As aii example, heaven, earth, moun- 
 tain, water, and so on. When a child is able to give 
 
 I 
 
130 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 the parallel of a line of seven words his intelligence 
 may be considered to be fairly "weU developed, as 
 •we shall see. 
 
 I remember one day at school the professor gave 
 us the following theme, which in Chinese is a line 
 of seven words, and which was suggested to him by 
 a phenomenon which he had just witnessed. 
 
 "The flexible body of the bee bends round a drop 
 of dew on a flower." 
 
 My comrade, whose turn it was to answer, reflected 
 silently for a long time, until at last, providence 
 helping him, he cried out, seeing before his eyes a 
 scene that was being enacted in the garden outside: 
 
 ^"The oblique eye of the sparrow stealthily watches 
 the caterpillar curled up in a leaf." 
 
 I need hardly say that he was vigorously applauded 
 by his comrades and handsomely rcAvarded by the 
 professor. 
 
 As soon as the books mentioned above have been 
 done with, besides certain selections from historical 
 and literary works, the scholar begins to try Ms 
 hand at difficult composition,, which is preparatory 
 study for our general competitive examinations. 
 These dissertations are composed after the method 
 of the Babou, which are the eight rules to be 
 
SERIOUS PLEASURES. ISl 
 
 followed in composition. Subjects are taken from 
 philosophy or politics, being always chosen from 
 celebrated classical authors mentioned above, and 
 especially from Confucius. Concurrently with these 
 the student practises his hand at poetical com- 
 position, very difficult tasks being set. 
 
 The young candidates have to present themselves 
 in the fii'st place at the annual examination which 
 takes place at tlie sub-prefecture; this examination 
 being for the degree of bachelor of arts. The exam- 
 ination is a written one. Candidates must, before 
 attaining this degree, undergo another examinatiou 
 before an Imperial examiner, specially commissioned 
 for this purpose. The examination for the licence, 
 or second degree, only takes place once every three 
 years, as does also the examination for the third 
 degree, which is that of doctor. The two examination 
 do not, however, take place in the same year, or a 
 the same season of the year. The second examination 
 is held in the autumn in the different provincial 
 cities., the third being held at Pekin in tlie following 
 spring. It is a very usual thing to see a young man 
 who has passed these ithree examinations one after 
 the otJier, return home in tiiumph to his parents who 
 up till tiien have been occupying some very humbh 
 
 I 2 
 
132 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 position; for in China these competitive examina- 
 tions are open to all except such, persons as have 
 followed dishonourable tradesj The family of a 
 common worltman who have had the good fortune to 
 possess Qi son who has passed these examinations 
 becomes noble de jure, and the same honours are paid 
 to tbe parents as to the son. In order to understand 
 to what a degree public sympathy and encouragement 
 are with a successful candidate, and the anxiety that 
 every student has to pass to get his degrees, one must 
 see the reception given to the successful students. 
 When the names of the prize-winners are made puWic, 
 the official employes come up in great state carrying 
 the nominations of the winners printed on huge pieces 
 of red paper, which they sticli up on the houses of 
 the lucky ones. They are received with crackers and 
 squibs, and candles and incense are burned before the 
 ancestors and the light of day, in tolcen of gratitude 
 for the distinguished favour accorded to the candi- 
 date. A day is fixed for the due celebration of the 
 victory, and all the candidates who have passed are 
 present at this feast. From early dawn the families 
 of the successful ones decorate their houses with flags, 
 and await the arrival of their fi-iends and neighbours 
 who come to bring their gongratulations. The can- 
 
SERIOUS PLEASURES. 133 
 
 didates go round in person to pay calls on all their 
 friends, riding in sedan-chairs, and dressed in special 
 clothes sent them by their parents-in-law, or in the 
 case of bachelors, by tlieir nearest relations. Those 
 who have won the degree of bachelor wear a blue silk 
 dress, the licentiates one of dai^ker blue, while 
 the doctors wear violet silk. A stiff kind of capei 
 embroidered in gold and coloured silks, is worn 
 over the shoulders, and two sprays of flowers 
 decorate the hat. In front of the sedan-chaii" men 
 walk,' carrying banners of red silk attached to 
 bamboos still in leaf, while the musicians play their 
 most joyful airs. The auspicious day is called 
 the Day of the Eeception of Flowers. For it appears 
 that formerly women used to strew flowers in thjS 
 paths of tlie young scholars. The procession fills 
 many hearts with envy. How often have I not heard 
 mothers saying to their children: flYour turn will 
 come some day if you will only work.'J 
 
 Succeiss at these examinations opens every door 
 to tlie young man, and the only thing that is feared 
 is non-successi Once tlie examination passed tlie 
 career and tlie fortune of the young man are assured. 
 The bachelor man of letters wiu at once receive offers 
 of marriage from rich families. This will explain 
 
134 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 why no laws of compulsory education are necessary 
 in a country where by study a man may from one day 
 to another transforms the social position of his family. 
 Ambition urges people on to secure a good edacation 
 for their cliildren. Our students are sober folk 
 There is no Latin Quarter for him to frequent 
 politics disturb i™ not, and the only amusements 
 that he knows of are poetical competitions and ex- 
 cursions into the country. His life is one of work and 
 retirement, but he is never heard to complain, and 
 has indeed no reason to do so; for future smiles upon 
 him, and the dusty volumes witli which he is sur- 
 rounded hold out to him tlie promise of what a 
 familiar locution describes as "the highest honours 
 the most beautiful women, and the happiest life," 
 
CnAPTER XXII. 
 
 POETICAL COMPETITIONS. 
 
 In literary circles in China, the most popular 
 amusement is to make verses. Instead of shooting, 
 or playing lawn-tennis, or croquet, or of indulging 
 in any of the many pleasures enjoyed in Europe, 
 our literary folic, as soon as a certain number of them 
 have a little time to spare, meet together in turn at 
 each other's houses, and give themselves up to poeti- 
 cal tournaments. For, in China, open rei^eptions, 
 political meetings, and public lectures, are totally 
 unknown, and the only way that people have of in- 
 dulging the fancies of the mind is in the culture of 
 pure literature. These poetical tourneys take place 
 all over China, but it is especially in the province of 
 Fou-Kien that they are most common. Thus, when 
 the late Imperial Commissioner of the arsenal of Fou- 
 Tchcou, -s\ho was also Viceroy of Nankin, could 
 spare a moment from his ofiacial duties, it was his 
 habit to call in his subordinates and compose poetry 
 
136 BITS OF cnns'A. 
 
 witli them. There are many kinds of verses, and 
 before the opening of the contest, it is decided what 
 kind of verse is to be written. A historical or a fancy 
 subject is set, and each of the competitors is asked to 
 write a poem of four or eight lines on this subject. 
 Sometimes two subjects are given, and these must be 
 treated in parallel verses of seven syllables each, 
 each line specially treating one or other of the two 
 subjects. Another way is to choose two words, 
 which must appear in a certain place in two parallel 
 lines of poetry. I give below some examples, which 
 ;will help the reader to understand these rules. As 
 soon as all the competitors have met, a vase is passed 
 round. This vase contains, written on bits of 
 paper which have been rolled up into balls, words 
 denoting certain functions connected with the 
 toiirriey, such as examiner, copying-clerk, candidate, 
 &c. Each candidate draws one of the papers, and 
 thus it is decided who shall compete and who shall 
 form the committee. Two examiners'; and four or 
 eight clerks are chosen, according to the number of 
 candidates. One of the examiners then takes up a 
 book and opens it at hazard. Another names a 
 number," say nine. The examiner then reads tlie 
 ninth line of the page at which the book is open. 
 
POETICAL COMrETITIONS. 137 
 
 and from this line a phrase, or sentence, or Word is 
 selected to form the subject of the composition. ,!A.s 
 soon as the subject has been decided uponj another 
 vase is placed upon the table, to which a bell is 
 attached. A thread hangs from the bell, and at the 
 end of the thread is a lighted stick of incense. In 
 about half-an-hoiir the incense burns out, the thread 
 catches fire, and, as it snaps, tets fall the counter- 
 weight of the bell, which rings, and the lid of 
 the urn falls to. It is then too late for any more 
 poems to be entered for examination. The copying- 
 clerks now empty the vase of the poems," which have 
 been put into it by the competitors, and copy them 
 out, all on one and the same piece of paper, to be sub- 
 mitted to the examiners. By this means anonymity 
 is strictly protected. These make a selection, and 
 when they have decided which of the poems is the 
 best, one of them gets up in a kind of desk and sings 
 forth the prize poem. Each competitor iriay write as 
 many poems as he chooses on the subject that has 
 been set, but has to pay a small fee for each entry. 
 This money is used for the purchase of paper,' 
 brushes, ink, and the prizes which are awarded to 
 the winners. Assoonast]ieprizeshavebeenawarded,a 
 fresh competition of a different kind is commenced. 
 
138 BITS OF cniNA. 
 
 Tlie t-^vo poets whose verses wore considered the 
 best in the previous coinpetition assume the func- 
 tions of examiners in the second tourney, and this 
 arrangement continues throughout. In the evening, 
 a dinner brings the fete to an end. I will now 
 submit some specimens of the kind of poetry which 
 is written at these tourneys. 
 
 MIDNIGHT. 
 (Eight-lined Poem.) 
 
 The moon shines at midnight 
 
 At the top of the white wall. 
 
 Over which sway the leaves of the bamboo, 
 
 Casting their shadows on the earth; 
 
 Whilst the blinds of the windows remain dark and 
 
 silent. 
 The hairpins alone gleam in the scented dew. 
 Be careful not to walk near the pond. 
 For fear of awakening the amorous swans. 
 
 THE EETUEN OF THE LABOUEER. 
 
 (Quatrain.) 
 
 The mantle of palm fibres and the hat of bamboo 
 
 leaves are both spotted with water. 
 Drops of rain, lilic very fine threads, fall on the 
 
 plough. 
 It is the best season of the spring. 
 The peach tree blossoms gleam at the corners of the 
 
 walls, and the cuckoos are Finging. 
 
tOETICAL COMPETITIONS. 139 
 
 THE BLACK PEONY AND THE WAX TArER. 
 
 (Double Subject foi- Tarallel Verses.) 
 
 His nature is wealthy, so it is a matter of small 
 
 import to him that he is black. 
 His will is bent, how long will he remain red? 
 
 There is a double jjlay of words here. The name of 
 peony alludes to the modesty of its position; the 
 peony is sufficiently beautiful not to be afflicted 
 thereby. Red is the aristocratic colour, and, at the 
 same time, the colour of flame. The taper may con- 
 sider himself a very brilliant object; the time must 
 soon come when its flame must be extinguished, and 
 it will fall back again into obscurity and darkness. 
 
 Here is another: — 
 
 THE dhy bamboos and the death of 
 
 THE sovereign. 
 
 Two sticks planted in the gi-ound as drying jioles 
 
 for the red sleeves. 
 A thousand families weep heavenwai'ds, -N^hilst they 
 
 put on white gai'ments. 
 
 Dried bamboo stalks are generally, used as drying- 
 poles in China, and are set up for this purpose in 
 every courtyard. A cross-stick holds up the sleeves 
 of the garments that haA'e been hung out to dry. 
 
140 • BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 Numerous families put on wliite clothes. White 
 Is the colour of mourning in Cliinaj 
 
 There is a contrast between the mourning white 
 and the gaj red of women's garments. 
 
 Now, here is a poem of a different kind. In tliis 
 tlie object was to place certain words in a position 
 designated beforehand. The words given are 
 palace and battle. They have to be placed at the 
 end of each verse: — 
 
 The name of old servants is familiar to the parrots 
 
 of the palace; 
 The merits of great generals are known to the 
 
 chargers of battle. 
 
 Another," where the task was to place the words 
 great and autumn at the beginning of the lines: — 
 
 Great snowfall yesterday made me drink up all 
 
 my wine. 
 Autumn rains prevent neighbours and even the 
 
 best friends from calling upon each other. 
 
 I have had to recur to inversion, and so have some- 
 what spoiled the appearance of these lines to get the 
 words into their right places. Many people will 
 find these pleasures of ours very simple, too simple 
 perhaps. Whatever may be said, they are prefer- 
 able to gambling. Besides, Europe, which also has 
 her simple pleasures, will not blame us for ours. 
 
OHAPTEE XXIII. 
 PAINTERS. 
 
 China has had its great art epochs, but for the last 
 few centuries, education having been a purely literary 
 one, art seems to have lost ground to a certain ex- 
 tent. However, it must be admitted by those who 
 care to look into the matter, that all is by no means 
 lost. If we have not progressed during some cen- 
 turies past, and if we have limited ourselves to the 
 reproduction of certain types which were created long 
 ago, if, in short, we show no originality, but only 
 elegance and ease in our artistic productions, it 
 must, at least, be admitted that we have scrupulously 
 followed our ancient traditions. 
 
 Art flourished at its best in China in the reign of 
 the Thang famUy. The poet, Tou-FouJ was an artist 
 alsoj whilst the painter, Ouang-AVei, was a poet. 
 Painting could be found in the poetry of the one, and 
 poetry in the painting of the other. Although our 
 
142 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 old masters did not pay any attention to the laws of 
 perspective, the works of their imaginations have 
 always been highly appreciated. Some of their 
 pictures are exceedingly rare, and like the two 
 spoken about in the following poems of Tou-Fou, 
 have to-day a priceless value: — 
 
 I. 
 
 On a painting representing some horses, executed 
 oj General Tcliao. 
 Since the accession of our dj'nasty. 
 There have been many painters of horses 
 And the most celebrated of these is General Kiang- 
 
 Tou, 
 Your reputation as a painter is now thirty years old, 
 And thanks to you we Once more see the beautiful 
 
 mounts. 
 Our late Emperor greatly appreciated your talents. 
 And your name ran through the capitals like the roU 
 
 of thunder. 
 The decrees of the "Gazette" were never silent ia 
 
 your praise. 
 Generals after their triumphs have been rewarded, 
 Eich people after the rivalities of their luxury, 
 Cannot assert that they are quite contented. 
 Unless they have your pictures hanging on tlieir 
 
 walls. 
 Formerly Enipefor Tai-Thoung was an "amateur of 
 
 horses. 
 And at the present day the Ko family is also so. 
 
PAINTERS. 14.3 
 
 In your new picture the two torses 
 
 Are the envy of all sportsmen. 
 
 They have. the appearance of war-chargers, 
 
 Which can hnrl themselves one against a thousand. 
 
 f heir white hair tlu'ows itself into the wind and the 
 
 dust. 
 The others, quite as extraordinary, resemble 
 Now a cloud, now snow whirling in space. 
 Their delicate legs seem to run alongside the pino 
 
 tree forest, 
 Whilst the spectators who see them pass applaud. 
 Their heads aloft, their proud appearance, and their 
 
 look, which expresses both pride and obedience. 
 Who is able to appreciate these beautiful horses? 
 Excepted Oui-Foung and Tsse-Tong. 
 I remember that when the Emperor used to go to the 
 
 Talace of Sin-Foung, 
 Flags and parasols coming from the east clouded the 
 
 sky; 
 Then 30,000 liorses, some trotting, some galloping', 
 
 resembled the horses in this picture, 
 Whilst this splendid ca\'alcade passes away into 
 
 memory. 
 The same forest where this Imperial and important 
 
 procession was seen 
 Resounds to-day only with the song of birds, 
 Which harmonises witli tlie whistling of the winds. 
 
 II. 
 
 You are the descendant of the Emperor Ouei-Ou, 
 Reduced to the state of simple citizen. 
 
144 BITS OF cniNA. 
 
 The splendour di your ancestors has disappeared, 
 But blood and features perpetuate themselves. 
 Your literature has reached the degree of perfection, 
 And your painting makes you forget honours which 
 
 you do not covet. 
 Emperor Kal-Yung knew your glory, and received 
 
 you several times at his palace. 
 Thanks to your paint-brush, aU our statesmen live 
 
 again in their portraits on the walls of the Palace 
 
 of Ling-Yen. 
 The Ministers brilliantly wear the crowns of their 
 
 wisdom. 
 The Generals have their arrows in their quivers. 
 One might say that their Excellencies Pao and Mo 
 
 are moving their hair and their beards. 
 Just as if they were returning from those battle- 
 fields where they fought so brilliantly. 
 As to the splendid horse of his late Majesty, nobody 
 
 knew how to paint his exact portrait. 
 A decree ordained that he should be brought before 
 
 the palace so that you might fix him on a piece of 
 
 silk; 
 And when yo\ir work was finished all the horses of 
 
 the universe seemed to be plunged into darkness. 
 The Court already possessed the most beautiful 
 
 horses; 
 It now possesses also the most beautiful picture. 
 The reward which you have now received is the 
 
 admiration of all.. 
 Your scholar, Han-Kang, is already on the way to 
 
 perfection, but the horse he has painted is only 
 skin with nothing beneath it; 
 lie is far from possessing your genius. 
 
PAINTERS. 145 
 
 This Is a somewhat enthusiastic apercu of our 
 old paintings. We have a great number of amateur 
 painters in China, chiefly amongst tlie literary 
 classes, who paint pictures to give to their friends. 
 
 These pictures are precious because poems are 
 always written by the side of the paintings. ■ ' 
 
 I remember having seen two celebrated pictures 
 which would not be parted with at any price. One 
 represents the open sea^ in the middle of which a 
 fisherman is seen in his boat, wliich is covered with 
 snow. It is accompanied by a poem which fully 
 equals the "Pauvres Gens" of Victor Hugo. The other 
 represents a mountain with its top hidden in clouds. 
 In the middle of the mountaia is a stream, which 
 runs down to its foot, and floating in the water is 
 seen a cabbage leaf. The poem that is written on 
 this picture ends with the. following line: — 
 
 Behind the white cloud there were still people living. 
 
 And, sure enough, the cabbage leaf bespeaks the 
 presence of man, who alone could transport cabbage 
 leaves to the top of a cloudy mountain. 
 
 The allusion is suflftciently concealed; but, in China, 
 tliis habit of veiling one's meaning is a very common 
 one, and it is specially to be noticed in tlie pictorial 
 
ua 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 art. On the other hand, such subjects as tlie folW- 
 ing are often suggested to painters:— A red spot in 
 the midst of green. One painter would paint on 
 this theme a forest with a stork isolated on one tree; 
 another would paint a red sunset in the green sea; 
 another, a woiran with red lips in a bamboo wood. 
 
 Artists, in China, never sell their pictiu-es. They 
 are always amateurs and give their pictures away. 
 The only art-wares which are traflScked in China are 
 produced by workpeople, and belong to the category 
 of decorative art. Sculpture is less cultivated at 
 home by our amateurs, and one must know our 
 sculptors to understand their ways. One of them 
 once offered to make my bust. I went to his house, and 
 he made me sit down in front of him. We were 
 separated by a table, which was covered by a cloth 
 which reached down to the ground. A very animated 
 conversation began between us. My friend was a man 
 of a very quick intelligence, and had a very original 
 turn of thought. I was quite taken up with what he 
 was saying to me, but I still did notice that he kept 
 his hands under the table, and this surprised me all 
 the more that I observed after watching him some 
 time that he was moving them with feverish activity. 
 Aft6r I had been there about an hour, which hal 
 
PAINTERS. 147 
 
 passed very quickly, thanks to otir gossip, T was jtist 
 going to rise, when my friend produced a mass of 
 clay from beneath the table and said, " Do you think 
 that it is like you ? ': 
 
 I was not a little surprised to see that it was my 
 bust, which, in spite of the rapidity with which it 
 had been modelled, was very resembling; a thing 
 which was very curious, as the artist had never once 
 looked at the clay, but at my face alone. He must 
 have had a wonderful skill to be able to use his 
 fingers both as eyes and as tools, touch replacing 
 sight. 
 
 1:2 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 CHESS. 
 
 This game differs very much from the one played 
 in Europe, and which is the delight of tlie habitues 
 of tlie Cafe de la Eegence. In our game there are 
 three hundred and sixty-one pawns, divided into two 
 camps, one white and the other blaclq These pawns 
 are like round draughts. The game is played on a 
 square chess-boai'd which has nineteen squares on 
 each side. The players set down pawn after pa-n'n, 
 and the one who succeeds in closing his adversary in, 
 so that there is no possible issue for him, wins the 
 game. The skill jn this game consists in closing 
 your adversary in. and in taldng as many of his pawns 
 as possible — ^advancing wedge like into his territory, 
 without losing any of your own forces. Ithas been said 
 
CHESS. 149 
 
 that tliis game^^the board of which reiJresented tlie 
 firmament, the stars being represented by tlie three 
 hundred and sixty-one pawns — ^was invented by Em- 
 peror Yao, and used by him to instruct his children 
 and teach tliem to think. It is, at the same time, 
 a military game representing a battle-field, and 
 two hostile camps each doing its best to conquer 
 the other. In short, it is rather a game of patience, 
 for each game lasts a very long time, the reflection 
 of a quarter or half-an-hour being sometimes needed 
 before playing a pawn. On this account it is called 
 ."game of conversation," for the player who is waiting 
 for his adversary to play has plenty of leisure to talk. 
 It is also Imown by another name, that of "meditation 
 in solitude," which seems a vei-y good name for it. 
 It is Wi favourite pastime of literary men, ladies," 
 and especially of people who have retired from 
 business. The noise of the pawns as they are placed 
 down on the different squares of the board, which 
 is often engraved on a marble bench, under the shade 
 of leafy trees, is considered a very poetical noise. 
 The three things that one loves to hear when one 
 wishes to turn one's thoughts towards what is pure 
 and delicate, are the sounds of water falling, tlie 
 wind among the trees, and the rattle of tliis game of 
 
150 BITS Of CHINA. 
 
 chess. It has been said that under the reign of tlie 
 Tchiug dynasty a wood-cutter met two young men 
 ■\vho -were playing, at chess at the top of a mountain, 
 lie watched tliem, and one of them gave him a land 
 of candied fruit which he swallowed. Before tlie 
 game had been finished he noticed that the handle of 
 liis axe had rotted away. He made haste back to 
 liis village, and could recognise none of tlie people 
 he met, for several centuries had passed away since 
 he had gone out. History also tells us that a states- 
 man named Li-No was a very impatient man. But 
 once seated at the chess-board his character com- 
 pletely changed; so that each time he felt that he 
 was going to fly into a rage his friends used to sug- 
 gest a game of chess, and at once his good humour 
 returned to him. One day tlie Emperor asked 
 why he wasted at chess time which might be so much 
 more profitably employed. He said that the moments 
 during which a man forgets his worries are tlie most 
 precious of aU. 
 
 I read a very amusing little story in the "Memoirs 
 of Sou-Toung-Pao.'^ Emperor Tai-Tsung used to 
 play cheiss "with one of his Ministers. The sovereign 
 used to give him three pawns. But the Minister 
 always managed to lose one at the end of each 
 
CHESS. 151 
 
 game. The Emperor, noticing that he was being 
 allowed to win, said at last, "If you lose this one more 
 game I shall hare yon revoked.". The gam6 was played 
 and ended in a di'aw. "One more game," said tlie 
 Emperor. [' If you win it I will grant you tlie lionoiir 
 cf wearing a i-ed robe, but if you lose it I will have 
 you dragged in the mud." The game agahi ended in 
 a draw. His Majesty, in a great rage, was jmshing his 
 Minister towards the pond to tlirow him into the mud 
 v.hen the Minister cried out, "Softly, softly, your 
 Majesty, I have got one pawn left over in my hand." 
 The sovereign smiled, and gave him the red robe that 
 he had promised. The game is usually played in 
 daytime in the summer and at night in the winter. 
 Do not think that chess is played on any kind of 
 table. The game demands a much more poetical 
 setting, either trees or rocks, or a daintily furnished 
 drawing-room, with tea and wine to be served between 
 the games. It is considered a pleasure to watch the 
 games, and it is etiquette never to give any advice 
 to the players. Basides this game of cliess Ave have 
 another variety, which resembles the one played in 
 Europe more closely. It is played on a draught- 
 board which has nine squares one way and ten thg 
 other, \nih. two sets of pieces which ere arranged in 
 
152 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 three rows; five pawns in the front row and behind 
 them two cannons. Three rows further back is tKe 
 king, having on one side and the other two councillors," 
 two elephants, two horses, and two carriages. Th§ 
 two camps, which cover each a space of nine squares,' 
 are separated one from the other by a single row 
 of squares. The rules of this game are almost the 
 same as in the European game. The pawns can only, 
 advance straightforward, and on only one square at a 
 time; the cannons must always pass over a piece in 
 a straight line; the carriages go straight ahead; the 
 councillors go diagonally, and may not leave tlieir 
 camps; the elephants go straight ahead, baclcways 
 or sideways — ^like the castles in the European game; 
 the horses are moved lilie your knights; and, finally, 
 the chief is played just like the king in tlie game 
 here, and equally when the king is placed so tliat 
 he is in check from one of the pieces of his adversary,' 
 without being able to get away or to take the piece, 
 he is mated, and the game is lost. The pieces are 
 not represented by figures but have their designations 
 written on them. Our industry,, so profoundly artistic, 
 has neglected to occupy itself with this game. On tlie 
 other hand, we manufacture figures of carved i^'ory 
 for export sets of chess. 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 AT TABLE. 
 
 THE PLEASUEE 01" DEINKIXG. 
 
 Wine was first manufactured in China by a func- 
 tionary, named I-Ti, under the reign of Emperor U 
 (22,000 years before Christ), from fermented rice. 
 The sovereign was tlie first to taste this new beverage. 
 He found it delicious, and said: " I am sure that 
 hereafter there will be families of kings who will 
 lose their thrones thi'ough drinldng wine." But 
 his prophecy was never realised in spite of his pro- 
 phetic tone, and literary men continue to indulge 
 themselves in wine to theii- heart's content. There 
 is no party without wine, and no wine-party with- 
 out poetry. But by no means do we intoxicate our- 
 your adversary in, and in taking as many of his pawns 
 ever drink wine. I remember that, some years ago, 
 a German deputy criticising the laAV against di-unken- 
 
154 BITS OF CHUTA. 
 
 ness .pronounced these -words:—" If your law is 
 piLSsed, the people alone will suffer, for the rich, 
 after getting drunk on champagne in their private 
 houses, can always manage to escape the notice of the 
 police, for, if they have to go out, they can go out in 
 their carriages.". The law was not passed. There 
 woiild be no necessity for such a law in China, 
 because the people tliere never get drunk. Our 
 custom of seeking for happiness in drinking Avine 
 dates from the time of two celebrated poems, written 
 by Li-Tai-Pe of the dynasty of the Thang family. 
 
 Do you not see that the water of the Yellow River 
 seems to come down from heaven. 
 
 And throws itself into the sea without ever return- 
 ing to its sources ? 
 
 Do you not see also that the mirrors In our drawing- 
 rooms beweep our hairs, 
 
 Which, black this morning, are noAV already white ? 
 
 When one is dissatisfied pleasure takes wing ; 
 
 The golden- jug must not stand tliere motionless and 
 untouched before the moon. 
 
 Heaven has given us talents to make use of — 
 
 Thus the money that we spend will always rctuiri 
 to us. 
 
 Let us slay the sheep, let us r^ast beef for our 
 pleasure. 
 
 When we meet, we will each empty tliree hundred 
 glasses. 
 
AT TABLE. 155 
 
 ,You, Master Kien, and you, Ten-Kiou — ^the literary 
 
 man — 
 Lift your glasses ■^\itliout ceasing. 
 I wish to sing to you, and I beg you to listen to me. 
 Long since honours have ceased to have any value; 
 I would rather be drunlc than awake. 
 Sages and philosophers were always too sad, 
 Whilst topers remained gay. 
 Prince Tcheng was not fond of music; 
 lie preferred to spend ten thousand crowns to buy 
 
 a measure of wine. 
 Do not say that you have no money — 
 Continue to supply us. 
 Take my horse, my fur coat, and go and exchange 
 
 them for good wine, 
 For I intend to forget, in your company, the cares 
 
 of eternity. 
 
 The wind brings with it the blossoms of the willow, 
 
 which scent the whole room; 
 And the beautiful lady who invites us to keep on 
 
 drinking her wine. 
 The people of Nan-King are there to bid farewell to 
 
 their friends. 
 Who, having to go, have not yet gone. 
 Ask you of the water that flows to the east,' 
 If it is deeper than is the sorrow of our separation. 
 
 Another poet of a later date used also to give, 
 himself up to immoderate drinking. His wife 
 advised him to moderate his passion. He asked for 
 
156 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 live jugs as the price of this sacrifice, aiid when he 
 had drunk them he went to sleep. On wating, he 
 asked for five more jugs of wine, and having emptied 
 these, he wrote the following quatrain for his wife: — 
 
 Heaven has created Liou-LingJ 
 
 "Who cannot live without wine; 
 
 And as to the advice given him by hig wife, 
 
 He should pay no attention to it. 
 
 Grape-wine is unknown in China, and the only 
 allusion to it that I knox of is to be found in the 
 following lines, which were written by a warrior, 
 who lived in tlie North of China, under the reign of 
 the Yang family : — 
 
 Grape-wine gleams in the glasses at night — 
 
 I should like to diink but the guitar urges me to go. 
 
 Do not laugh at me if I fall asleep on the field of 
 
 battle. 
 For since ancient times ho-sj many warriors have 
 
 returned from war ? 
 
 Li-Tai-Pe made an abusive use of wine. He found 
 friends everywhere, even when he was alone, for then 
 the moon and his shadow were his friends. But in 
 spite of that, he knew how to associate with the 
 pleasure of drinking the most delicate sentiments 
 and very lofty philosophical views, as may be seen in 
 thQ following poemi— 
 
AT TABLE. 157 
 
 ON BOAED. 
 
 What lias become of the towers and the flags of 
 King of Tsou which formerly were accumulated 
 on the tops of hills now deserted. 
 
 When drunkenness elevates me, I lower my paint- 
 brush and my songs shake the fiTO mountains. 
 
 I am glad, and am proud, and I laugh at all greatness. 
 
 Power, wealth, honours,' before your duration shall 
 be sufficient to merit my esteem. 
 
 The Yellow Eiver will be seen starting from the 
 west to flow towards the north. 
 
 Since that time a kind of drinldng game has been 
 invented. A tube, in the shape of a cylinder, is 
 placed on the table. It contains a number of ivory 
 rods, each of which is inscribed with an ancient 
 verse. Each player draws one of these rodsj and 
 according to the verses on them, it is decided which 
 player is to drink. Here are some examples: — 
 
 Alas ! Where is the handsoirie face to-day ? 
 
 (The most bearded player has to drink.) 
 In love with a shadow or a sound. 
 
 (It is the shortsighted man's turn to empty his 
 glass.) 
 We see each other without hearing our voices. 
 
 (The deaf man drinks.) 
 There is still half the time left' for contemplation. 
 
 (The player who wears spectacles drinks'.) 
 
158 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 The beaded blinds hide the faces of the roses. 
 
 (The pock-marked player drinks.) 
 He who is in love with the flowers regrets t'aat they 
 
 have no voices. 
 
 (The silent man di-inks.) 
 The cries of modern ghosts mingle with the cries of 
 
 ancient spectres. 
 
 (The doctor drinks.) 
 
 It Avill be seen that in China the pleasure of 
 drinking does not lack in those gaieties with which 
 wine is always accompanied. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 TEA-DRINKING. 
 
 Thfit tea, is our favourite drink is very generally 
 known, but people may perhaps ignore the consider- 
 able part that it plays in our lives. I will not speak 
 here either about its cultivation or the process of 
 its manufacture, which are pretty well known. I 
 wiU limit myself to telling the use that is made of 
 this precious aromatic plant. Since tea has been 
 known in China, a part of the first pickings of the 
 harvest is sent each year to the Emperor by the 
 authorities in the producing districts. This is called 
 "The Tea Tribute." Formerly, the Court -used to 
 distribute tea to the ofl&cials, and the usual presents 
 consisted of tea. Another thing shows the import- 
 ance that we attach to this article, and that is that 
 we have tea-inspectors, just as we liave salt-super- 
 intendents, who are high functionaries specially 
 commission^ct for -(L.. j^urpose. Instead of cafos, as 
 
160 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 here, v^'e have notliing but tea houses in ChinaJ and 
 these may be seen everywhere. It is at these tea- 
 houses that people meet to talk, to rest, and to 
 enjoy the cool air. When yon caU on a friend the 
 first thing that he does is to offer you a cup of tea. 
 When you write an invitation to a friend to come 
 and spend some time at your house, the formula you 
 use is "The tea is ready." 
 
 Whilst you are waiting in a shop for your orders 
 to be executed, the shopman hands you a cup of tea 
 to help you be patient. In the very hot weather," 
 charitable people in towns always put outside tlieir 
 doors great urns of tea for thirsty passers-by to 
 drink from, and these urns are refilled as soon as 
 they have been emptied. Those are mir piiblic 
 fountains. There is always tea ready in the work- 
 rooms and other places where woi'kpeople meet; 
 Tea is tlie only drink used by the people. Amongst 
 the highest in the land there, are also numerous tea- 
 drinkers. It is thought that this beverage has tlie 
 gift of rendering one's mind more lucid. It is always 
 green tea tliat is drunk in the upjper classes — the 
 little leaves taken from the bud at its first opening 
 and di'ied in the sun. This is our Chateau-LafittO; 
 As to black tea, it is made of leaves which have 
 
TEA-DRINKING. 16i 
 
 reached maturity and have been dried artificiallyw 
 Tlds is all the difference that there is between tlie 
 two kinds. No artificial colouring of the leaves is 
 ever resorted to. Qualities vary, of course, according 
 to the localities in wliich the tea is grown, just as 
 is the case with wiue. The best tea is that grown 
 on a tree which grows in the garden of a mouastery 
 'which is situated on the Ou-I-Mountain, iu the 
 interior of the province of Fou-Kien. The j)nests 
 do not sell it, but keep it for the use of distinguished 
 visitors. They give you about ten leaves iu a cup 
 not much bigger than an egg-cup, and pour on it 
 water taken from an excellent spring which is 
 situated near the monastery. The cup is covered 
 for a few moments to allow the tea to draw. The 
 scent that rises from the cup when the tea is ready 
 is most exquisite, and a cup of this tea not 
 only produces a feeling of great bodily comfort, 
 but also has a most exhilarating effect on the mind: 
 I once amused myself by placing a few grains of 
 boiled rice in a cup of that tea. The rice was almost im- 
 mediately dissolved. This inake ihe understand how 
 energetic is. the effect of this beverage, its beneficial 
 action on the human body, and the impossibility of 
 di'inking much of it. Tea is so essential a factor iu 
 
 L 
 
l6^ trfs OF dllJus'A. 
 
 Chinese alimentation tliat authors like Lu-TJ have 
 published whole books on the way of preparing this 
 drink. These books are our Mrs. Beeton's. Tea, as 
 a matter of fact, to be good, must be made with rain 
 or spring water heated to a certain degree of heat. 
 The water should not be allowed to boil more than a 
 few minutes, and, when bubbles begin to rise, it 
 should be taken off the fire. The utensil in which 
 the water is boiled should be made of certain mate- 
 rials and no others. True connoisseurs only use pots 
 made of Ni-Hing, a kind of terra-cotta ware which is 
 not varnished inside. - Thus prepared, the tea is an 
 economical and healthy beverage. It is di'unk con- 
 tinually and at all hours of the day, even just before 
 going to bed. Its eilect is never an exciting one. 
 Apropos of this, one of my compatriots has said that 
 the Europeans, and specially the English, do not 
 know how to make tea. In the first place, they let 
 it boil. Secondly, they add strong spirits, which 
 destroy its taste; or sugar, which makes it lose its 
 savour. Tea should be allowed to infuse for five 
 minutes at the most, and should be of a clear colour, 
 barely yellow in hue, The U-Tchien, or Jade- 
 Spring, Monastery is situated in the province of 
 King-Tiou, in the midst of rocks and waterfalls, and 
 
rEA-DRINKING, 163 
 
 is surrounded with tea plantations^' wMcK produce 
 tea-leaves of the size of a man's hand, wliich aro 
 called "The Tea of the Hand of the Immortals," An 
 octogenarian who lived in that neighbourhood had 
 the face of quite a young man, and enjoyed the very 
 best health, and used to tell anybody who would 
 listen to him that he owed Ms good health and his 
 youthful appearance to the use of this tea. It is not 
 surprising that so beneficial a di-ink should have 
 inspired the poets. There is an innumerable quan- 
 tity of single lines about tea in our literature. Here 
 are a few specimens of these proverbial sayings' 
 which refer to tea, 
 
 To make your friends pass a pleasant evening thei 
 poor man offers them tea. 
 
 To make tea with snow is to taste celestial savours. 
 
 When you make tea in the forest, l^e smoke drives 
 the storks away. 
 
 The harvest tinie varies according to the district. 
 In some parts the harvest is picked before the rainy 
 season. In others," it is begun at the sound of the 
 first clap of thunder; in other parti, the first cry of 
 the cuckoo is the signal for the pickers to begin 
 their work. All sorts of stories are told about our 
 
 tea, amongst othersi that the tea we export has already 
 
 L 2 
 
i64 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 been used and dried again. That is a mere fable. 
 The tea we export is of average quality, and is so 
 abundantly to be had that there is no necessity for 
 us to take recourse to the disgusting expedients sug- 
 gested. I may add that the export trade is almost 
 entirely in the hands of European business houses. 
 Besides^ all our old tea-leaves are used in China as 
 seaweed is used here— for stuffing . mattresses^ 
 cushions,' and so on. Thus^ tea] after having forti- 
 fied our bodies during the day, affords us a bed at 
 night. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 CHOPSTICKS. 
 
 Although our chopsticks may have some resm- 
 iblance to magic wands, the pui'pose they fulfil is a- 
 much more prosaic one, and, at the same time, a much 
 more useful one. They are the auxiliaries which help 
 us to convey to our mouths the food which we peed 
 for our bodies, the coal required by the hiiSan 
 inacliine. It is generally thought in Europe' that we 
 use two chopsticks — one in each hand — for taking 
 up the morsels' of food, and for conveying these to 
 our mouths. That is a mistake, our knife and forls 
 exercise is much less "complicated. The chopsticks 
 are held in the right hand. Maintained by the thumb' 
 and the ring-flngerj they are worked by the indeS 
 and the middle finger. One remains motionless; 
 the other manoeuvres and catches up the ifrag- 
 ments. of meat, and even tlie smallest particles of 
 rice. When rice is eateuj the bowl containing it 
 Is brought veiFy close to the mouth. The chopsticks 
 
166 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 work with feverisli activity, for rice is our dail^ 
 bread, and we can admit of no slip ibetween the 
 cnp that contains it and our lips. It may be thought 
 that the use of the chopsticks demands very great 
 skill, but that is only the prejudice of those ac- 
 customed to the use of the fork. A child can learn 
 how to use the chopsticks as easily as the utensils 
 in use in Europe; It may be mentioned that 
 we also make use of forks for roast meats, and of 
 spoons for taking up liquids. The Book of Eites,' 
 which deals with all the acts of life, mentions that 
 chopsticks are to be used for all purposes except foi* 
 eating soup. The use of the spoon was thus conse- 
 crated many centuries ago. The chopsticks are not 
 plain,' shapeless pieces of wood. They are made of 
 bamboo, or of more precious woods, and also of ivory 
 and silver. The top part, which is from eight to ten 
 inches long, by from four to six broad, is square, the 
 remaining part being roundj On one of the sides of 
 the square top part, poems and pi(jtures are engraved. 
 Under the reign of the Han f amilij', the emperor was 
 dining one day at a political banquet with his minis- 
 ters, when one of them — Tcheng-Liang by name—" 
 rose to his feet and said: — "Your majesty's cause 
 is lost. I have just consulted my chopsticks." And 
 
CHOPSTICKS. 167 
 
 as it turned outj the emperor's plan of conquest 
 failed. Even to-day the cleverness of this, states- 
 man, who knew how to disguise his own opinion in 
 the form of a revelation by his chopsticks and to pass 
 off his own advice as the result of a Divine inspira- 
 tion, is much admired. 
 
 Some centuries later, the famous dictator, Tchao- 
 Tsao^ was dining with a rival of his, who tried to 
 hide his ambition under the most modest appearance. 
 Tchao-Tsao was anxious to publicly expose the de- 
 signs of his rival whom he had seen through, and 
 began to talk of the bravest men of the day. Each 
 mentioned certain names^ and finally Tchao-Tsao said: 
 "We two alone are really, courageous nien." Hearing 
 himself thus directly named, Liou-Pei, as the rival 
 iwas called, di'opped his chopsticks just as a clap of 
 thunder was heard rolling through the sky. He 
 tried to hide his emotion and said: — " All ! how 
 great is the power of heaven. I really was frightened." 
 I3ut he was unable to divert the suspicion to which 
 his terror had given rise. 
 
 .Under the reign of the Thangs, Kai-Yarig presented 
 a pair of gold chopsticks to his Minister of State 
 Soung-King, saying that he made him this presenl 
 not on account of the intrinsic value of the gold 
 
168 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 but because the cliopsti«;ks were symbolical by tlieir 
 shape of the straightforwarduess of his chai'acter. 
 
 It is recorded of a gourmet, named Ho-Tseng, who 
 used to spend a large sum of money on his food, 
 without ever being able to satisfy his tastes, that he 
 fed like a prince, and tliough he spent upwards of a 
 thousand crowns on his table, did not consider a 
 single dish worthy of his chopsticks. 
 
 The number of historical anecdotes told about 
 chopsticks is far too large to be given here. Let me, 
 however, quote one of these anecdotes: — 
 
 A sea-shell which had the elongated form of a 
 stick, and which is known as the soleu or razor is 
 greatly appreciated in China. It bears a mark on 
 its side. It is» said that an Emperor having taken 
 a solen up in his chopsticks, cast it into the lake. The 
 mollusc multiplied, but each jpf its descendants 
 preserve the traces of the chopsticks of Emperor 
 nan-Ou-Ti, 
 
 Let me conclude with four lines of poetry about the 
 chopsticks^ which were writteij by one of pur philo- 
 sophers :— ^ 
 
 I often wish to consult my chopsticks^" 
 
 iWhich always taste what is bitter and what is sweet 
 
 before we do. 
 But they answer that all good savour comes from the 
 
 dishes themselves,' 
 .Ajid that all that they do is to come and to go.- 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 CHINESE COOKING. 
 
 So many dreadful things have been said about 
 Chinese cooldng that I think it indispensable to devote 
 a chapter to the rehabilitation of our culinary art. 
 I do not pretend to make your mouths water, but 
 I should like at least to be able to show you that my 
 countrjTuen do not eat the extraordinary things at- 
 tributed to them by certain prejudiced travellers. Our 
 ordinary meal consists of eight dishes — ^two vege- 
 tables, eggs,' a fish, some shell-flsh, a bird, two dishes 
 of meat, pork and goat in the south, and mutton and 
 beef in the north. Besides this, a large tureen of 
 soup is served with the rice, which takes the place 
 of bread at our tables, and is our substitute for wine 
 and tea, which are only served on very great occa- 
 sions at meal times. Food being extremely cheapj 
 
170 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 the coit oT three daily meals, similar to the one de- 
 scribed, never exceeds fivepence per person. A pound 
 of meat costs only twopence halfpenny, or three- 
 pence, whilst the price of a good fowl is sixpence, 
 or, at the most, sevenpence. 
 
 In 1882, I embarked on board a Chinese ship at 
 Hong-Kong, on my way home. Not being able to 
 accommodate myself with the fare on board, I told 
 a servant that I should like a chicken for lunch, and 
 gave him a dollar to buy it with, this sum represent 
 ing the usual cost of a chicken in France. A minute 
 or two later he came to ask me how he was to pre- 
 pare it. i' Cut it up and stew it in its juice,'! I said 
 ."and season well." Shortly afterwards he brought 
 me a huge trencher, resembling a tub, filled with 
 a fricassee of little pieces of sinoking chicken, 
 
 J_' What? All that? 'J_ I cried. 
 
 i'Yes, sir. With your dollar I got twelve chickens, 
 and have cooked them as you told me to do.". 
 
 At the sight of tliis quantity of meat, and of the 
 pantagruelic dish in which they were served, my 
 jappetite disappeared, and I made him carry the 
 dish away, and distribute it among the servants 
 in tiie kitchen. I mention this to show how little 
 provisions cost at home, A workman earnins on» 
 
CHINESE COOKING. 171 
 
 franc, or tenpence, a day can keep a wife and two 
 children in comfort, and still put by lialf his earnings. 
 When I was at the military school, where the 
 cadets mess like officers, all I had to pay for my 
 food was fourpence a day, and was so well fed for 
 this money that I never had any cause for complaint. 
 It is easy to understand the reason why things are 
 so cheap in China. There are no taxes at home on 
 articles of food. According to statistics; each in- 
 habitant of the Empire pays two francs, or eighteen- 
 peuce, in taxes per annum, but no part of this sum 
 represents any tax on food; Europeans who com- 
 plain that they spend far too much money in China 
 have only themselves to blame. I have never heard 
 of any European who cared to live as we live. 
 Parisian dishes, already very expensive in this 
 country, are naturally trebly so in China, in spite 
 of the fact that raw materials cost so little. Besides, 
 the cuisine of each country depends on its climate. 
 Since I have been in France I have accustomed 
 myself to French cookery, reputed the best of all, 
 Whenever I return to China, and am invited to 
 dinner by French people, I get quite upset, and 
 often feel quite ill after dinner. Coffee irritates my 
 stomach, and cigars make my nose bleed. Now, 
 
I7a BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 when I am in Europe I cannot do witliout my coffee 
 and my cigar after dinner. It is not surprising, 
 then, that Europeans cannot enjoy life in China,' 
 persisting as they do in eating only what suited them 
 at home. When a friend calls on you in China to 
 take pot-luck with you, you usually ask him to a 
 restaurant, and order a dinner in his honour. These 
 dinners usually cost six dollars," that is to say^ 
 twenty-four shillings for eight persons. The dinner 
 is a very complete meal, as may be judged by the 
 foUovidng biU of fare: — 
 
 Four plates of hof s d'oeuTres. 
 Four plates of dried fruits. 
 Four plates of fresh fruit, according to the season; 
 Four large dishes — a whole duck, sharks' fins, 
 
 swallows' nests, and some kind of meat. 
 Four middle-sized dishes — ^poultry, shell-fish, and 
 
 meat. 
 
 Four small dishes or bowls, containing mushrooms, 
 
 morels, which we call ears of the forest, rice of 
 
 the immortals, which is the name we give to 
 
 a kind of mushroom, and the tender 
 
 sprouts of ithe bamboo. 
 
 Four large dishes, containing fish, sea-stars, and 
 
 mutton. 
 
 These last four dishes finish the repast. As a 
 rule, nobody toudies them, and their appearance 
 
CHINESE COOSfflG, 173 
 
 on the table is the signal for rising. The price of 
 ceremonial dinners rarely exceeds twenty dollars, 
 or four pounds, for eight persons. The list of 
 dishes is a much larger one, and includes two roasts,' 
 which are served at the middle of the dinner, together 
 with little pieces of bread cooked in the bain-marie. 
 
 A servant armed with a very sharp carving-knife 
 removes the skin of the roast, be it wild duck, goose, 
 or sucking pig, and serves each guest with a little 
 in a saucer. At the same time, another servant 
 hands each guest a small cup, into which he pours 
 rice brandy. I forgot to say that the table is cleared 
 before the roasts are served, just as here before 
 coffee is brought on to table. Pastry is always 
 served at our dinners, and is brought on between 
 the courses. With salt pastry^ containing meat, a' 
 cup of chicken broth is served, whilst with sweet 
 pastry almond milk is handed round. I must add that 
 dinner always begins' with hori d'oeuvres, including 
 fruit, and ends with a bowl of rice, which may be 
 eaten or not, according to the tastes of the guests. 
 Tea is serted immediately after dinner,' and at the 
 same time each guest receives a napkin djp])ed ui hot 
 water. i 
 
 The diners sit at a square table, two on each side. 
 
174 BITS OP CHINA. 
 
 The first and third face the second and fourth, the 
 sixth and the fifth face the conrtyaird, to which the 
 seventh and eighth turn their backs. The eighth 
 is always the master of the house, "whose special 
 function it is to fill the glasses of his guests with 
 ■wine. When there are more than eight, several 
 tables are used. If four tables are needed, the third 
 and fourth are near the courtyard, whilst the first 
 and second are near the drawing-room. Hors d'oeuvres 
 include, besides fruit, ham, gizzards, grated meat 
 grilled, dried shrimps, and preserved eggs. The 
 latter, tlianks to their coating of lime, will keep for 
 an indefinite period; * after twenty-five years they 
 are exquisite to the taste, having undergone a kind 
 of transformation, the result of which is that the 
 yellows have become a kind of dark brown in colour, 
 and tlie whites, also brown, resemble meat jelly. I 
 once made some European friends of mine taste some 
 of these eggs, as well as other Chinese dishes, and 
 they were delighted with them, all prejudice apart. 
 Once, however, a Berlin lady, after having found 
 that our cooking was delicious, asked the name of 
 each of the dishes of one of our interpreters,' who, not 
 knowing the exact translation of tlie technical ex- 
 pression,: H' sea-islug/'i answered that the dish in 
 
CHINESE COOKING. 175 
 
 question was '^a hedgehog," or See-Igel in Gferman, 
 This was enough to disgust our amiable guest, who 
 refused to continue her dinner. I was sitting next 
 to her, and she told me that slie could feel it crawling 
 in her throat still, which shows how great is the 
 force of imagination. Marquis d'Hervey de Saint- 
 Denys gave a Chinese dinner during tlie Exhibition 
 of 1867, and Cham, the famous caricaturist, drew 
 the menu. There were some a,bominable things in 
 this bill of fare, and the faces of the guests after 
 they had glanced at it was a sight to be seen. It 
 took the marquis all his eloquence to reassure them. 
 I will not deny that there ai'e people in China who 
 eat these extraordinary dishes, but these are the 
 exceptions to the rule. I repeat here that never in 
 my life have I seen or heard of anyone who ate cat 
 or dog^ a practice which only quite recently a writer 
 in the "Figaro'^ accused us of. Apropos of this, I 
 must relate a very curious thing that befell us, when, 
 in the spring of 1878, our Legation first settled in 
 Paris. One day I received a call from a footman in 
 livery, who desired to speak to me in the name of 
 his mistress; a Polish countess of very high posi- 
 tion. This lady had amongst her pets twelve little 
 Chinese dogs, those hairless little bow-woAvs that 
 
^^^ BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 everybody lias seen. She loved them dearly,' 
 and, being frightened lest the Chinese colony might 
 eat up her darlings, sent me word, considering us 
 apparently as wild beasts or savages, to the effect 
 that if one of her pets should disappear she would 
 set fire to the Embassy building. I reassured tlie 
 good old lady, and sent her word that none of my 
 countrymen had an appetite for dog-meat, and that 
 should she miss one of her pets one day it would 
 be much wiser on her part, before committing the 
 crime of arson with premeditation, to go round to 
 the police-Station or to the dog's home. 
 
 In short, we eat very much as you do^ with rathCT 
 
 more variety, thanks to the productiveness of our 
 
 country and of our sea. But never are disgusting 
 
 or even curious dishes seen on our tables. It is true 
 
 that we prepare our dishes in a different manner. 
 
 For instance, we cut the food up into very little 
 
 pieces, in consequence of which the nature of the 
 
 dish is not to be recognised, but our dishes are none 
 
 the less delicious on that account. I could call in 
 
 witness of what I assert all Euroepans who have 
 
 lived in Chinaij 
 
 Cooking,' moreover, is in exact ratio to the state 
 of civilisation of each nation — ^the more developed 
 
CHIKESE COOKING. 177 
 
 the one; tlie more recllerche and the more perfect the 
 other. France is the country in Europe which was 
 civilised the first, and its cuisine is the most perfect 
 in the West. So, instead of asldug us whether we 
 are in the habit of preparing such and such a 
 fantastic dish, the European would do better to ask 
 from what year our civilisation dates. The answer 
 to this question would at once show him that it is 
 absurd to attribute to us the consumption of dis- 
 gusting dishes, and that this is the work of mere 
 imagination, vivid perhaps, but completely in the 
 wrongj 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 GAMES OF SKILL. 
 CONJURlNa. 
 
 There are no theatres in China, like the Egyptian 
 Hall in London, that is to say," conjuring theatres. 
 The conjurer has to perform in public, in the squares, 
 and places like his European brethren at the different 
 fairs. Conjurers are often hired to perform at family 
 parties, and never fail to win great applause. The 
 Chinese conjurer is at the same time an acrobat, and 
 knows both his trades very well indeed. The pro- 
 verbial skill of our artists is really astonishing. The 
 performance is generally opened with acrobatic feats, 
 and after having swallowed swords, juggled witli 
 weights, and gone through exercises of this descrip- 
 tion, the acrobat transforms himself into a magician. 
 He throws off his gown, and as it falls to the earth,' 
 asks the spectators what object they would like to 
 see. Something very difficult to produce is naturally 
 
GAMES OF SKILL. 179 
 
 chosen^ and the sorcerer begins to ir.ate strange 
 gestures witli his fingers. He then approaches tha 
 gown, niutters some mysterious word of command to 
 it, mesmerises it with strange mesmeric passes, and 
 suddenly the gown is seen to rise from the earth, and 
 rises and rises until the master, drawing back this 
 ihoving curtain, discloses beneath it smokinj; dishes, 
 or a large bowl filled with water, in which quantities of 
 gold and silver fish are disporting themselves. This 
 is one of the tricks that I have seen performed, and 
 have never been able to understand how it was done. 
 But one of my friends told me of something that he 
 had seen which was much more astonishing. One 
 day, in the course of one of these performances, the 
 conjurer asked his audience to name what they 
 desired to see. One of the spectators asked for a 
 pumpkin. The conjurer, at first, pretended that that 
 was out of the question as it was not in season. Bat, 
 the public insisting, he gave way. He then took a 
 pumpkin seed and planted it in the earth, and made 
 his son— a lad of four or five years — ^lie down, and 
 thrust his knife into his throat, as if he had been 
 slaughtering an animal. The blood poured out into 
 a pot, and when it had been collected, the conjurer 
 watered with it the spot where he had just planted 
 
 m2 
 
180 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 the seed. He then covered the corpse up with a 
 cloth, and placed a wooden bell over the seed. A 
 few moments later a spront was seen rising from the 
 soil, which grew and grew and burst into flower. 
 The flower fell, and the pumpkin showed itself, 
 growing with extraordinary rapidity. When it was 
 ripe, the magician picked it off its stalk, showed it 
 to the public; and began making his collection. He 
 then lifted up the cloth from his son, and instead • 
 of disclosing a corpse, brought to light a very healthy 
 youth, who did not bear the vestige of a wound. All 
 this was' done with surprising neatness. 
 
 Another of my friends told me, on Ms return 
 from Pekin, that he had seen still more extraordinary 
 tilings. One day, af^er the literary examinations^ 
 the candidates clubbed together and sent for a troup 
 of conjurers. The chief, having shown certain tricks,' 
 asked if the audience would like to see some rare 
 thing that they might choose. " A peach," cried one 
 of the spectators. It was then the month of March, 
 when the land is still ice-bound, especially in the 
 north of China. " A peach ! '.' said the conjurer, 
 that is the only fruit that ii is impossible for me to 
 procure. At this time of the year, peaches can only 
 be found in paradise."- 
 
GAMES OF SKILL. 181 
 
 " Bat as YOU are a magician," was the answer, 
 " you jouglit to be able to bring one down from 
 lieaven." 
 
 After grumbling a, good deal, the conjurer said lie 
 would try what he could do for them, and began 
 weaving a roll of ribbon, which he cast into the air, 
 and which took the shape of a ladder, which went 
 up and up to a tremendous height. He then placed 
 a child on this ladder, who ran up the riings with the 
 agility of a monkey, and was soon lost to sight in 
 the clouds. Some moments passed, when suddenly a 
 peach fell from the skies. The magician picked it 
 up, cut it into slices, and offered it to the audience. 
 It was a real peach'. Hardly had the peach been 
 eaten, when something else fell froni the skies. 
 Horror ! It was the head of tlie child, which was 
 speedily followed by the trunk and the limbs. The 
 sorcerer picked theni up with tears in his eyes, and 
 said that the audience was to blame for the loss of 
 his child by its absurd request, and that the 
 guardians of paradise had taken his child for a thief, 
 and had cut him into pieces. The spectators, touched 
 at the sight of his sorrow, and belieYing that they 
 were really to blame for a inurderj and wanting to 
 do all in their power to comfort the unhappy father, 
 
182 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 made ii collection and pfeiehted him with a hand- 
 some sum of money. Meanwhile, the magician had 
 placed the fragments of his son's corpse in a box 
 which he always carried round with hini. As soon 
 as he had received the amount of the subscription, he 
 opened the box and cried out : — 
 
 "Come forth, my child, and thank these kind 
 gentlemen.". And out sprang the youth alive and 
 well. 
 
 In concluding this chapter, I must tell a story 
 
 about a ventriloquist. It was at a dinner given by 
 
 a gentleman, who, as a rule, was very unhappy in 
 
 life, and bored himself dreadfully when alone. He 
 
 used to s<ay that when he had no friends to talk to, 
 
 the softest carpets appeared to him like bundles of 
 
 needles and the most beautifully decorated walls 
 
 like bucklers. He used to write poems to kill time. 
 
 "When people knocked at his door he used to ask them 
 
 to stay to dinner, whether he knew their names or 
 
 not. That day not one of the guests who sat at the 
 
 table knew any of the others. The conversation 
 
 turned on the question which sound was the most 
 
 agreeable. One of the spectators said, "It is the 
 
 sound of the shuttle as it flies across tlie loom, or 
 
 the voice of a reading child." 
 
GAMES OF SKILL. 183 
 
 "No, no; that is too serious," said tiie licit. 
 
 f Then it is the neighing of horses or the concert 
 of lady musicians." 
 
 "No; that is too noisy," said the host. 
 
 i'The rattle of the pawns at chess played by 
 women.'i 
 
 "Nor that. That is too monotonous.'^ 
 
 The fourth guest 'said nothing, but continued 
 quietly emptying his glass. 
 
 " What is your opinion," asked the others. 
 
 "I have no opinion to give," said he; "but I should 
 like to tell you about the sounds I heard in Pekin. 
 They seem to me to be much superior to any others. 
 They were the different noises emitted by a ven- 
 triloquist. He was seated behind a screen where 
 there was only a chair, a table, and a fan, and a ruler. 
 He rapped the ruler on the table to enforce silence^ 
 and, when everybody had ceased speaking, there 
 was suddenly heard the barking of a dog; then the 
 movements of a woman, waked by the noisy brute,' 
 who shook her husband to say tender things to him. 
 We were just expecting to hear a duet of love 
 between the two spouses when the noise of a crying 
 child was heard. Then we heard the mother giving 
 the breast to the baby, and the sound of it drinking 
 
184 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 and crying at the same time. The mother tried to 
 console it, and then rose to change its clothes. 
 Meanwhile, another child, waking in its bed, hegan 
 to make a noise; its father scolded it, whilst the 
 younger child continued crying at its mother's 
 breast. Then the whole family go back to bed and 
 faU asleep. The patter of a mouse is heard. It 
 climbs up some vase and upsets it, and we hear the 
 clatter as it falls. The woman" coughs in her sleep. 
 Cries of "Fire, fire," are heard. The mouse has upset 
 the lamp, and set fire to the bed-curtains; The 
 husband and the wife wakened, begin to shout and 
 scream," the children cry, thousands of people come 
 running up, and vociferate; thousands of children 
 cry, flogs ,barlc, the 'walls come crashing dojwn, 
 squibs and craclcers explode — ^it seems a general 
 sauve-qui-peut. The fire-brigade comes racing up; 
 water is pumped up in torrents, and hisses in the 
 flames. It was all so 'true to life that all present 
 were about to rise to their feet and run away, 
 thinking that fire really had broken out, when a 
 second blow of the ruler was struck on the table, 
 and the most complete silence ensued. We rushed 
 behind the screen, but there was nothing except the 
 ventriloquist, his table, his chair, and his ruler. 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 THE EVOCATION OF SPIRITS. 
 
 [A] number of people jDelieve in spirits, and make 
 it a pleasure to summon tliem into their presence 
 by way of pastime. A cylindrical box, containing 
 a number of little sticks, each of which bears a 
 number," may be seen in every temple and before 
 the altars of every god. When a man wants to 
 know his futiire^ he first of all burns candles and 
 jiucense before the god; then he kneels down at 
 the altarj holding one of these boxes in his hands. 
 He then asks the question that he wants to have 
 answered, and shakes the box gently until one of 
 [thie little sticks fall |out. This hie picks up, and 
 places it before the god; then he takes two hemi- 
 spheres^ and throw's them to the ground. If they fall 
 on the flat side that means that the little sLick is the' 
 right one, but if on tlie convex side," that means that 
 the stick is no good, and the thing' must begin over 
 
186 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 again. If the stick has been recognised to be right 
 it is taken to the guardian of the temple, who gives 
 a. number corresponding to the one printed on it. 
 This number has written on it a motto such as you 
 see in crackers in Europe, and it is according to this 
 motto that the future is r'ead. yoinetimes mo'slj 
 extraordinary results are obtained by this means; 
 at other times, however, the answer has no sense or 
 portent. 
 
 Sometimes a plate is taken and a piece of paper 
 carefully wetted is applied to it. A . taoist priest 
 is called, who begins by making mysterious gestures 
 over i±.e dish, and then rubs' the paper on it with a 
 piece of paper tightly rolled up. This rubbing pro- 
 duces a quantity of figures and scenes, and from these 
 figures and scenes the future is predicted. Supposing 
 a theft has been committed. The plate will show the 
 scene of the theft, with the portrait of the tliief. A 
 cheap and easy way of detecting crime, it must be 
 admitted. More than that it shows what punishment 
 inill befall the guilty man. If a "needle is taken and 
 the eyes of the portrait of the thief in the dish be 
 struck Avith it, the real, offender in&tantaneiously 
 l)ecomes blinds 
 Ke have also a number of Inspired hypnotic me- 
 
THE EVOCATION OF SPIRITS. 187 
 
 diums aad lucid somnambulists.' They go to sleep, 
 tlie spirit moves th.em,' iOidy rise up and predict wliat 
 is going to happen, or cure the sicli:. They can be 
 prickecj with pins without feeling any pain, and can 
 walk on burning coals without burning themselves. 
 
 We have no want of literary gods. A large dish 
 is taken filled with sand, and then the two ends of a 
 carved stick of wood are moved over it. The god 
 guides the points, and a number of acrostic sentences 
 and poems are the result, writtea'in tlie sand. The 
 spirits of well-known literary men of gone-by ages 
 are called for, and they ure begged to attend the 
 meeting and to give so.me specimens of their poetic 
 talents. Let me describe one of these scenes. 
 
 The brush, after having moved about for some timej 
 announces that a literary god is approacMng. At 
 once it begins to trace out the following quatrain : — 
 
 Twilight covers half the mountains. 
 
 The tired birds return to their nestS; 
 
 The stork, di-iven by the azure zephyr, 
 
 Comes down from heaven through the clouds. 
 
 Next a goddess presents herself and writes: — 
 
 The distant mountains are Been against the sunset,' 
 
 now bright now pale, 
 A sound of bells seem to wish to pierce the aurora 
 
 borealis. 
 
188 
 
 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 My existence resembles the light cloud -vfliicli in one 
 
 moment crosses a thousand hills, 
 Which permits me to contemplate tlie ten tJiousand 
 
 mountains in one moment. 
 
 The goddess asked at the same time that all those 
 present should submit their poems that she might 
 applaud or condemn them. Each man gave a poem, 
 which was Immediately burned, so that it niight 
 reach in wraith the goddess. 
 
 Suddenly the friend of the goddess put in her 
 appearance^ or rather manifested herself. Her name 
 was Siao-Ling, which means' Yoxmg Lotus. This is 
 what she WTote: — 
 
 Yesterday evening tJie brilliant snow and the iCT 
 
 wind cut lilte scissors. 
 I opened my door to contemplate the distant view. 
 I noticed that my plum tree had added to its 
 
 blossoms^ 
 
 We tlien asked her if at that time of the year they 
 were Yerj busy in heaven. 
 
 "No," she answered; "all our days are like each 
 other. It is only on New Year's Day that there is a 
 great reception at the house of our Sovereign 
 Master." 
 
 "Do the gods keep Lenten fasts?," 
 
 "Our Master before becoming a genii used to 
 
THE EVOCATION OF SPUUTS. 189 
 
 abstain from rice. Once immortal, he gave up food 
 of all kinds. As regards the food of the gods, it is 
 composed of yenison, of dragons' livers, of niountain 
 flo^wers, and fruits of paradise, and so on." 
 
 "Is it true that besides heaven there is liell?" 
 
 ."Jlell and heaven are in the minds of men — one 
 represents what is good, the other what is bad." 
 
 This exchange of questions and answers went off 
 as easily as a conversation between friends. The 
 answers were given much more quickly than at 
 table-turning seances. Our amusing game lasted 
 until long past midnight. 
 
 The above is a very accurate description of thia 
 kind of spirit seance^ as generally practised in China. 
 Of course, in different places the language and tlie 
 way of thinking differsj It is because of the 
 elevated style of the language used at these meetings 
 that they enjoy so much favour with our literary 
 men. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 PHRENOLOGY AND 
 CHIROMANCY. 
 
 In no country; so mucli as in China; Has tlie belief 
 in phrenologists and in chiromancists been go general. 
 According to these men of science," every mark on 
 Jhe face and body has its meaning. In consequence 
 as such and such a sign, "say, on your left eye, may 
 be counter-balanced by some other sigh," say, on your 
 right cheek, it will be seen that a whole series of 
 combinations and calculations has to be gone tlu-ough 
 before the definite diagnosis of a. person can be 
 obtained. >Vhen one goes to consult these oracles,' 
 they first of all examine your face, then the hands," 
 and then the body, just as a doctor Avho wishes to 
 thoroughly examine a patient. ' After that they 
 ask you to walk with your usual step, which is 
 another factor in the combination. According to 
 their loroj tlie various acts of life have significance — 
 
rilRENOLOGY AND CHIKOJIAKOY. 191 
 
 thus, slow eating, quick digestion, heavy sleepj and 
 laziness in dressing are aU very bad signs. A dark 
 forehead means mourning for a near relation. A 
 long face on a short body indicates a man of a calm 
 and quiet life. A head short set in shoulders and a 
 fat round stomach betoken a Tile man. Long ears 
 with the lobes ball-shaped are sure signs of a states- 
 man. Large ears bent forward show that their 
 owner leads an agitated and fatiguing existence. 
 The famous Lao-Tse, the founder of tlie Taoist 
 religion, had ears seven inches long. Thick and 
 bushy eyebrows mean that their possessor will be 
 rich ia brothers and sisters. Each break in them 
 means the loss of one brother, and the nearer the 
 break is to the! outer end the younger that brother 
 will be. When the eyebrows are longer than the eyes 
 that means that you have a literary man before you. A 
 spot at the side of the eye means that the person wiU 
 have tears to shed. The nose should be large and 
 thick, It is then "The Spring of the Mountain," 
 the "Devil's _Well," the i'Lake of the Genii,", or the 
 f Tower of the Soul." 
 
 All that because the hose is considered the princi- 
 pal feature; and because many of our sovereigns had. 
 very large noses, and lotabJy emperors Fon-Hi-U and 
 
192 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 Han-Kao-Tsou. The latter was further "endowed with, 
 a thick, black beard, and besides having the face of 
 a dragon, had seventy-two black mother marks below 
 liis hip. Another emperor^ Weng-Ouang, who lived 
 at an earlier date, had four breasts. It will be seen 
 that teratology plays its i)art in China. To all these 
 persons, as to Lao-Tse, the high places that they 
 afterwards occupied were foretold. When the beard 
 is bristly, the wearer is a sly man. A long beard is 
 the sign of a long life. A brown beard betokens a 
 general. A Buddhist high-priest, whose beard 
 reached down to his knees, had his lofty position pre- 
 dicted on that account. A big mouth 'will always 
 have food. A black spot at the corner of the mouth 
 promises good cheer for ever. A sly and deceitfid 
 man has thin and pinched lips. Red lips betoken 
 good birth. White and equal teeth are signs of 
 aristocratic connections. Hard teeth foretell pre- 
 mature old age. A soft tongue is the tongue of an 
 orator. A rough voice7 like that of a wolf, and 
 Waspish eyes belong to pitiless ^.nd unfeeling! 
 people.' 
 
 A number of tokens are to be read in the hand. The 
 observations of our chiroma'ncists being almost iden- 
 tical with those of their European confreres, I will 
 
PHKENOLOGY AND CHIROMANCY. 193 
 
 therefore^ not enter into these details,' but will 
 break the monotony of this description with a few] 
 anecdotes. 
 
 A literary man," named Tao-Kan, had a line of: 
 happiness which went in a perfect straight line froH 
 the wrist to the middle of the first joint of the middle 
 finger. He was told that, if this line lengthened out 
 any raiore, he might expect the highest honours. He 
 conteiited himself with pricking the extremity of 
 this line with a needle, and writing the word "duke"j 
 with the blood; and as it happened he was created a 
 duke. 
 
 Another, named Li-Kou^ one day consulted a plifen- 
 ologist, who pointed out to him tliat his temple-bones 
 were very pronounced, and tliat they reached out 
 to behind his head, iand that, in consequence^ he 
 would be raised to a place honour. This prophecy 
 was duly realised. 
 
 A prefect of Ho-Nari, named Tcheou, met a phren- 
 ologist, who spoke to him as follows : — ^In three 
 years you will be appointed minister and general- 
 issimo, and one year later you will die of hunger. 
 The prefect laughed, and said, that once in so high a 
 positionj he could not starve. But the phrenologist 
 insisted that such was Ids destiny, and that he could 
 
 N 
 
194 BITS OF circfA, 
 
 hot escape, basing his assertion on the fact that the 
 little reins, which usually flow vertically towards the 
 mouth, had a horizontal position in his face. All 
 that had been predicted happened. After having 
 risen to be minister and commander-in-chief, the 
 former prefect had to retire in disgrace, and died 
 of a disease which prevented him from taking any 
 food. 
 
 Duke Ouang-Kirig-Tche," whose mother was a phreil- 
 ologist, was born in a violet caul. When he was a 
 little older, two long breasts grew under his arms. 
 Q'he mother announced a brilliant future for her ion,' 
 and events proved that she was right. 
 
 It had been predicted to the mother of Empress 
 Wou-Hao, of the dynasty of the Tliang family, that 
 she would have a child who would reign on the 
 throne. As she was a simple middle-class woman 
 she did not place much faith in tliis piece of news. 
 She had a daughter which she showed to a phrenolo- 
 gist, and told him that it was a boy. He made the 
 child walk, and said, "If it be a boy, it wiU one day 
 become emperor." As a matter of fact, the child 
 became empress, and after the death of her husband 
 mounted on the throne. She was one of tlie two 
 empresses who have reigned over China. 
 
fHEENOLOQY AND CHlEOMAKCY. 19S 
 
 An eHperor, of the dynasty of the Tchiugs, had no 
 children. He sent for a phrenologist, and asked 
 him to tell him which of the ladies in the palace 
 could make him a father; The plirenologist pointed 
 out one, but added that after having given birth to 
 a child she would be devoured by a tiger. Theyoung 
 iwoman in due time presented the emperor with a son. 
 This point having been realised, the second pre- 
 diction was thought about. Nobody had seen any 
 tiger, and nobody thought that the prediction could 
 be realised. The picture of a tiger was sent for, so 
 that people might see what kind of ain animal it 
 was that was to prove fatal to the empress, and the 
 young woman, wishing to destroy her enemy, struck 
 the picture with so much force that she wounded 
 herself, and died of gangrene in the arm. 
 
 A man aged thirty years had already lost two of 
 his brothers. His mother, fearing for his life, also 
 went to a phrenologist, and asked if her last child 
 was not also threatened •^■ith the same fate that 
 had befallen his brothers. The phrenologist said 
 that in order to answer hemjist pass one night with 
 the" young man. During his sleep he listened 
 attentively to the breathing of the sleeper, 
 and noticed that his breath seemed to come out of 
 
 n2 
 
19G 
 
 EITS OF CHINA. 
 
 Ms ears. Tlie phrenologist then comforted the 
 mother, and said, i'YoTir son will live long and 
 happy, for he breathes like a tortoise." 
 
 There are, of course, numbers of quacks in the 
 profession. The following is a story about one of 
 them. It is rather amusing: — 
 
 The Governor of a province oiice sent for a phren- 
 ologist, and asked him to select amongst a number 
 of ladies, who were all dressed in the same way, 
 ■which was his wife. The phrenologist looked at 
 them for a long time without being able to answer. 
 At last he cried out, "It is she out of whose forehead 
 a yellow cloud has just issued forth." Of course, 
 everybody turned round to look, at the real lady, 
 and the phi;enologist equally, of course, guessed at 
 once which was the Governor's wife, and pointed 
 her out witji the most i>rophetic of gestures. 
 
 
CHAPTER SXXII. 
 
 DIFFERENT GAMES. 
 
 ORIENTAL SHQOTINa MATCHES, 
 
 These matches were played with little rods," which 
 the players had to throw; into a long-necked and 
 narrow-mouthed vasej 
 
 According to the Book of Rites," the host at a 
 dinner party had to offer these arrows to his guests, 
 and it was their duty to refuse them ixt first, but 
 after some pressing to accept them. A servant theu 
 brought a vase on to the table, and the guests threw 
 each two or four "arrows into its mouth. At rich 
 dinner parties each arrow that entered the vase was 
 saluted with a burst of music from the orchestra. A 
 horse or a carriage was given to the player ^ho 
 succeeded in putting all his arrows into the vase, 
 pur forefathers asserted that the character of a man 
 could easily be told by his manner of playing this' 
 
198 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 game. Suspicious and timid people threw their 
 arrows' for the most part askance, whilst weak- 
 minded men invariably missed the mark. To 
 succeed once and to miss twice was a sign of a want 
 of perseverance, for to get the arrow exactly into 
 the mouth of the vase a sharp eye and a good aim 
 are necessary, and it will not do to do too much or 
 too little. The throw must also be straight, and the 
 aim exactly at the centre^ and this, in conformity with 
 human principles about straightforwardness and 
 moderation^ Our forefathers used also to think that 
 the activity put into play at this game resembled 
 that of the conscience. To miss one's aim with an 
 arrow was equivalent to neglecting a dutyj The 
 rule was to reflect with prudence and to throw; with 
 measure. He who did this was fitted to become an 
 able statesman; 
 
 One wins without manifesting pride or showing 
 his delight. Another cheats or tries to draw too 
 hear the mark. These different ways' of acting 
 enable one to distinguish between honest and dis- 
 honest people. 
 
 ' To conclude, men used thus to be judged formerly' 
 by trifles of small importance in themselves, bu* 
 which became powerful auxiliaries of truli. And 
 
DIFFERENT GAMES. 199 
 
 it was for that reason tha'b our aacestors included 
 this game in their rituals. 
 
 THE CAOT)LESTTOK.: 
 
 This game is also a very ancient oiie,' and consists 
 
 in getting a person to gUess what object is hidden 
 
 undei" a bell of non-transparent material, metal or 
 
 china. Those Tvh.o guess' must not name the object 
 
 directly, ' but must compose a quatrain referring 
 to it. 
 
 For instance^ supposing a lizard has been hidden, 
 
 this is how. a clever player would tell us that he had 
 
 guessed it:i^ 
 
 It is not a dragon,' for it has no horns; 
 
 It is not a serpent, for it has feet; 
 
 It can divide itself, and ib can climb up walls. 
 
 It is a lizard. 
 
 One day three objects were hidden under the bell 
 —a swallow's egg, a piece of honeycomb, and a 
 spider. The following were the quatrains which 
 revealed the nature of the hidden objects:— 
 
 ffhe first is one of the beloved of spring, who 
 1 climbs on the roofs of the drawing-rooms. 
 [When the male or the female is fledged. 
 It at orice spreads out its wings. 
 It is a swallow's ecrDr. 
 
20 D errs of china. 
 
 Tlie second is a house hung upgide down. 
 It has a multitude of doors and -windowSi 
 The sweetest fluid is stored up in it, 
 And its inhabitants multiply in it. 
 It is a honeycomb. 
 
 The third resembles a long-footed slug. 
 It produces threads for making nets," 
 Into which all falls for its nourishment. 
 It is night which ma^eg it happy. 
 It is a spider. 
 
 Other guessers were still more skilful, albeit they 
 did riot compose quatrains. 
 
 A sovereign had placed a white bird under a bell 
 and ordered liis Minister to guess. He answered that 
 the emperor could not force him to guess. When 
 he was asked why not, he said, 1' J^et Mm, first of all, 
 let his white bird escape." 
 
 On another occasion a rat waS hidden. Everybody 
 said it was a rat. But one very clever player 
 insisted that there were four rats under the boll. 
 The bell was removed, and it was found that, true! 
 (enough, there were four rats. Whilst she had been 
 in confinement, the rat had given birth to three little 
 ones. 
 
 Guessing is done by means of the Koua, oi; 
 diagrams^ of which I have spoken elsewhere. 
 
DIFFERENT GAMES. 
 
 201 
 
 SHUTTLECOCKS. 
 We also play with shuttlecocks, made of foiir duck 
 feathers, the ends of which are passed through tlie 
 square hole in the centre of one of our coins and 
 bent down, which renders them very elastic. Ladies" 
 play with battledores; gentlemen use their feet, as 
 in the English game of football. 'A certain height is 
 fixed ^^pon; and the player who fails to reach it loses 
 the game. The same game is played with leathei" 
 balls stuffed with cotton. 
 
 THE COIN GAME. 
 
 A coin is thrown against the wall. The player 
 whose coin springs back farthest from the wall 
 begins. He throws his coin in any direction^ and it 
 is agreed upon that the other players must throw 
 their coins so as to fall at such or. such a distance 
 from the place where his is lying. Those who 
 manage to do this, or get closest to the mark, win, 
 those who are farthest ofO lose. ^ 
 
 This game used formerly to be played by the ladies 
 of the Court, but nowadays it is only played by 
 children in the streets. 
 
CHAPTER XXXin. 
 GAMES OF CHANCE. 
 
 CARD GAMES. 
 
 Oiir card games are more complicated tlian tliose 
 played in Europe. One of the reasons of tliis is the 
 number of cards in the Chinese pack, which contains 
 120, subdivided into foiir classes, corresponding with 
 four colouTsJ and into thirty species. There are thus 
 only four cards of each species, and thirty of each 
 class. 
 
 The pack includes nine cords'; the first cord, the 
 second cord, and so on, up to the ninth cord; nine 
 cakes; nine faces; a red man; a civilian; and a 
 butterfly. 
 
 Difterent kinds of gaimes can, of course^ be played 
 with the same Idnd of cards. 
 
GAMES OF CHANCE. 203 
 
 FIRST CAED GAIIE.— AWAITING THE CAEH. 
 
 Five player's take their places at the table; the 
 cards are shuffled, and are cut into eight packs of 
 fifteen each. Three dice are castj and three of the 
 packs are removed in the order designated iSf the 
 numbers on the dice. A third cast of the dice 
 
 determines who is to take the first of the five remain- 
 ing packs. Tlie playfef on the right takes the iecond, 
 and so on. The three packs that were removed, are 
 placed in a box^ and the bottom card of all is turned 
 round and given to the happy possessor of the first 
 pack. Each takes his cards,' and arranges theiri ac- 
 cording to the kinds and values of the cards, thus: 
 ■first cord, second cord, third cord, and so on; or, first 
 inah,' second man, third man; or, first cake^ second 
 cake,' third cake; or, second cord, second man, second 
 cake. To win, a player must have one of more sets. 
 There are seven sets, composed as follows: — : 
 
 ni. — ^Eighth cake," second cord," second man. 
 
 II. — ^Ninth man, eighth cord, butterfly. 
 
 ■V. — ^Ninth cord, the civilian, ninth man. ', 
 
 rV. — ^Ninth cord, the civilian, the red man. 
 
 VI. — Seventh cake, third cord, third man. 
 VII. — ^Ninth cake, first cord, first man. 
 I.— ^First, secondj and third cakes. 
 
204 BITS OF CHIJSA, 
 
 The caj-ds must be arranged in sets7 as soon ai they 
 have befin picked up ofE the table. If a jilayer has 
 oiily two cards of one set, he must hand an isolated 
 card to the placer on his right, who takes it, if it i^ 
 of any service to him^ and, in his turn, hands one of 
 the cards in his hand to his neighbour on the right. 
 If, on the other hand, he has no use for it, he rejects 
 itj and takes the bottom card off the pack in the box. 
 This he keeps and hands another card to the playef 
 on his right, and so on. 
 
 >Vhen one of the players has managed to get to- 
 gether all the seven sets, with the exception of one 
 set, wliich only lacks one card to complete it, he lays 
 down on the table the leading card of one of the sets," 
 and this gives himi the right to take aU the cards 
 which are taken out of the boi to complete his sets. 
 If he succeeds in doing so he wins. 
 
 The number of sets held by the winner are then 
 counted, and he is paid, according to the amount 
 fixed upon at the start," so iriuch for each set. 
 
 Sometimesj also, it is the first card at the top of 
 the pack placed in the box that is turned round. 
 This card is called gold, and every player, who has 
 a similar card in his hand, may use it instead of any 
 other card that may be wanting to complete any set 
 in his hand. 
 
GAMES OF CHANCE. 205 
 
 SECOND GAME.— FISHrS'G^i 
 This game is played by three players. \ 
 The cards are divided into eight packs of f OTorteeri 
 cards each, and eight cards remain over. The dice 
 indicate whick three packs are to be placed in the 
 box. Two packs are chosen at haphazard,' and are 
 added to the eight cards that remained, over. _ 
 
 A second cast of the dice determines tt^ 'diifribii- 
 tion of the three remaining packs; which each player, 
 is to take. ■' 
 
 The player who takes the last of these three packs' 
 must spread out on the table, face upwards, and 
 according to their values^ all the cards in the pack 
 which is composed of the two selected packs, together 
 with the eight cards that remained over, so that all 
 the players can see what they are, just as is the case 
 with the dummy at whist. 
 
 In reward for his trouble^ the rule of the game 
 awards him a privilege. He receives, at once, the 
 top card in the box, which otherwise he would only 
 have had later on, and so he knows at once what card 
 to expect. 
 
 The first to play taiies one of the cards in his hand 
 to flsh for one of the cardsj which he hopes will be 
 the same number (it is not necessary that it should 
 
208 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 have the saEe picture) on the table with it. He then 
 draws another card from tlie bottom of the pack in 
 the box. Each of the other players does the same in 
 turn. If the dummy is dead, that is to say, if none 
 of its cards is of the number you want, you do not 
 fish, but you throw out a card— or hooli--without 
 taking anything. 
 
 When all the cards have beeii drawn; eadi player 
 coiihts his sets he is able to make up oiit of the cards 
 he has fished. These sets are the sanie, ai in thei 
 preceding game,' with 'the exception of number V. 
 and number VI., which do not exist in this game. 
 Each card, in set number I. counts as thirteen point^' 
 in set number II., for twelve points; in set number 
 III.; for eleven points; in set number IV., for thirteen 
 points; and in set number VII., for ten points. Out- 
 side the sets; each card is worth only the same 
 number of points as its numerical value. The first 
 ,Qard is worth one^ -the iecond two^ and so on. 
 
 THIRD GAME.— THE TECKING GAME. 
 
 The same cards are used and two persons play. 
 The cards are all placed togetlier on tlie table, and 
 ieach player takes three cards, of wliich he turns one 
 up, so as to see wliich is to begin pecking. The first 
 plajer Jhrpws pfle (bard f>ti the table jEyid tlie o,0\er 
 
Games of chance. -^^^ 
 
 does the same. If the player whose turn it i s to throw 
 sees tliat Avith the cards in Ms hand and those on the 
 table he can make up a set he piclvs them np, and 
 so the game goes on; thB cards being tateri' tlu'ee 
 by three from the pack until aU have been drawn. 
 ;When that is done the number of points held by 
 each player, according to the system of counting 
 described above, is countedj 
 
 In all tihese games, besides the stake, each player 
 may place a sum of money or a single coin before him 
 on tlie table. If he loses he loses this money also, 
 .whilst if he wins each player has to pay him an 
 equivalent sum. This is betting added to gambling. 
 We have also cards representing chess figures, in 
 which the cannon, tlie carriage, and tlie horse form 
 a set, as do also three similar cards, or the general, 
 the councillor, and the elephautj 
 
 These cards are played in the same way as the 
 otliers." Chinese cards are always much smaller than 
 [those i\sed. in Eurjope, jneasnring about one inchi 
 by two. These cards were invented under the reign 
 of the Haa dynasty, as a pastime and as a relief in 
 solitude. But nowadays they liave become a social 
 game,' even in parties where people are fax from want- 
 ing subjects of amusement* 
 
CHAPTEE XXXIV. 
 
 LOTTERIES. 
 
 JY.e taTe no official lottery, ami, iinless I am gre&tly 
 mistaken, ^ve never did have one. The private lottery, 
 however, which fs generally very advantageous to 
 its promoters, does exist in Cliina. When a person 
 is in want of money, be it to pay for the funeral of 
 a relation, or for the expen,ses connected with a 
 marriage in his family, or to help one of his relations 
 to go to Pekin for the examinations, he gets forty or 
 fifty friends and acquaintances of his together, and 
 begs them to take tickets in his lottery. These 
 tickets cost so much, payable in fractions at each of 
 the drawings. The first prize-winner is, of course, the 
 organiser of the lottery, aiid the amount at stake for 
 the first drawing becomes his without any drawing 
 being necessary to determine his right. That is iu 
 reality only an advance or loan to be repaid by in- 
 stalments, for at all the subsequent drawings he pays 
 
LOTTERIES. 209 
 
 just like liis frieuds, and cannot "vvin a second prize. 
 The second and subsequent drawings determine the 
 prize-'winners according to the number of points 
 obtained by each player with the dice box. Six dice 
 are used. At each of these parties, which take place 
 once a quarter or once every six montlis,' the prize 
 winner al\Vays gives a dinner to the others. Every- 
 thing is done so straightforwardly that in the end 
 nobody loses, as each player can oidy win once. No- 
 body may play until he has paid the amount due on 
 his ticket. The highest throw takes the whole stake,' 
 without deduction either for commission or interest,' 
 a small amount being retained for the dinner alone. 
 In China we do not invest our money as is done 
 everywhere else,' and accordingly the last winner 
 has no reason to regret that his turn to win 
 only came at the end. On the contrary, this invest- 
 tnent of small sums paid away from time to tinie," 
 resulting in the acquisition of a lunip sum at the 
 end, is a very good saving operation. It helps to 
 buy a piece of land, and at the same time he has the 
 satisfaction of knowing that he has helped a fiiend 
 in need. The use of these lotteries is very general 
 amongst the middle classes, that is to sayj amongst 
 vtery honourable and very solvable people, who don't 
 
 
 
g]0 BITS Of CflliJfA. 
 
 like to place tlieiliselves under obligations by astiug 
 for other kinds of loans, and are too proud to accept 
 alms. Being in want of money they make use of this 
 system of borrowing, with the obligation of repaying 
 the sum received in a certain number of annuities. 
 In the upper classes money is never needed, whilst 
 among the lower classes the lottery system cannot be 
 employed because there is no guarantee of the sol: 
 vability of the organiser. Amongst the latter class, 
 however, there is another kind of mutual help "which 
 renders the greatest services to the less fortunate 
 members of Chinese society. Supposing that a work- 
 man has lost his father, his colleagues immediately 
 subscribe enough to pay the funeral expenses. Or 
 supposing that he wants to get married, arrange- 
 ments are made to supply him at once with the funds 
 he may require. Supposing his son passes his ex- 
 aminations, instead of sending him presents in kind, 
 his friends send hini money, so that he may have the 
 means of paying his expenses connected with the 
 celebration of his success. Thus we have no public 
 charity funds. These are replaced by a friendly and 
 solidary understanding between people of the same 
 . class and position of society^ who know "each other's 
 means and understand how. to help each other. Such 
 
LOTTEEIES. 211 
 
 matual services are never refused. A respectable man 
 can always count on the help of his friends under the 
 circumstances mentioned; And this simple organisa- 
 tion forces each man to be kind and helpful towards 
 his neighbour, for nobody is sure of to-morrow. One 
 does as one would be done by. Thus when oiie of 
 these associates in benevolence hajjpens to die, his 
 widow and children continue to profit by it, and 
 receive together with the inheritance of the deceased 
 the tokens of gratitude from those he has helped, 
 and which, had he lived, he,, would have enjoyed in 
 due time. We have in this system a kind of pension 
 and life insurance fund. Our system, howevef, 
 forces every one — and just because he has ho special 
 right to anything — ^to be good and kind towards 
 aU his neighbours. Besides these regular and useful 
 lottery organisations, there are others which are 
 trtregular and mischievous. These are msre forms 
 of gambling pure and simple. I wish to speak in 
 the! first place of the game of the Thirty-six Beasts, 
 about which there has bieen so much talk .of late-=-^ 
 perhaps more so in Paris tlian in Camboja. This 
 Cambojan roulette has been described over and over 
 again, and is, it may be mentioned, an importation of 
 iCliiflese qrigin. We do .not play this game with' 
 
 i35 
 
212 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 figures as our neiglibours do, but with couut'ers, on 
 which the names of the animals are written. A group 
 of individuals announce tliat they are going to open 
 a bank, and this without any formality of any sort. 
 The news is discreetly and rapidly hawked about the 
 town" by the help of nunierous agents. Every morn- 
 ing the bankers hoist up on to a high pole a bag, into 
 which one of the thirty counters has been placed at 
 hapliazard. Tlie public stake their money on any 
 one of the thirty-six beasts, and those who have 
 backed the beast whose name is inscribed on the 
 counter in that bag that day^ win thirty times what 
 they have staked. The six last names are exclusively 
 reserved to the bank. Needless to say that the 
 players almost always lose. Superstition, which 
 always goes with gambling "games, is not wanting 
 here either. To guess the right nainej players will 
 ,put the list before their godsj or before Buddha, and 
 beg him to give a sigii by which they may know 
 which beast is the winning one. Ashes of incense 
 ifalling on one of the iiames in the list, or the burning 
 caused by a spark froni one of the altar candles, are 
 considered sure straight-tips to the gamblers, who, 
 no matter under what sky they live, are always far 
 iriore siniple than intelligent. 
 
LOTTERIES. 213 
 
 As inay Tie seen from this" rapid analysis," the game 
 of the thirty-six beasts is ia kind of roulette, in which 
 the names of animals are used instead of numbers. 
 It is forbidden by law. Doubtless^ it is only another 
 kind of lottery, but the daily drawings are too ruinous 
 for those who are carried away by their passion for; 
 gambling. This is the reason why," in the Middle 
 Empire^ this dangerous game is forbidden. It is 
 never let out to authorised speculators, and is always 
 carried on in a clandestine manner, and is invariably 
 very short-lived. If the organisers fall into the 
 clutches of the law, they are vei^ severely punished; 
 Several years' imprisonment is not considered too 
 severe a punishnieht for these harpies on the purses 
 of the poor. On the other hand, the mutual help 
 lottery is considered by aU as a useful and respect- 
 able undertaking, so much so, that, should it be found 
 impossible to get a sufficient number of people to put 
 their money into one of these speculations, the public 
 officials may be applied to, and are always found 
 ready to contribute their mites to an undertaking 
 which is purely of self-help^ and which has often 
 relieved those miseries to which, alas ! our poor 
 human race is exposed in every clime and at every age. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 PUBLIC PLEASURES. 
 
 • THE THEATEES. 
 
 The theatre in China is always a private liStitii- 
 tion. We have no State - supported theatres," 
 but, on the other hand, many rich people have 
 theatres in their houses. In the north of China the 
 public has its theatres the same as in Europe, where 
 regular performances of fashionable pieces are givenj 
 and where people may dine in the boxes or on the 
 balcony. Everywhere else tliere is nothing to be had 
 in the way of theatrical representations, except from 
 troupes of strolling actors, wih© play in the temples^ 
 restaurants, or private houses. A set stage is to 
 be seen in every templ£^ and performances are given 
 
PUBLIC PLEASURES. 215 
 
 on it on tlio feast day of the patron god of the feltiplcj 
 or for the accomplishment of certain vows. In both, 
 cases a troupe is sent for and a piece is selected. 
 .Whilst the organisers are taking their seats in the 
 side balconies, which are onr equivalent for your stagei 
 boxes, the public is admitted gratuitously, and may 
 ^place itself either in front or arbund the stage. At 
 the end of each act — as a rule, only one-act pieces are 
 played — an actor, disguised as a woman^ offers the 
 organisers of the fete a certain number of sticks to 
 choose from. On each stick is written tlie name of 
 one of tlie plays in the repertory of the troupe. !^ 
 performance always includes live acts,' or,' as id 
 usually the casej and generally means the same 
 thing, five pieces,' which have to be played through 
 in the course of the evening. On the Emperor's or 
 Empress's birthday similar performances are given 
 before the houses of all the public officials, and take 
 place accordingly in the street. This is a pleasure 
 for the people,' who may attend without paying. 
 There are stages in our big restaurants, and perform- 
 Buces are given there twice or three times every weeK. 
 The public seat themselves ra parties of four or of 
 six at tables,' which are arranged in parallel rows 
 to the stage, and in such a jyay ^at nobody^ 
 
210 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 lias his back turned to the stage. As the 
 customers of these restaurants are all rich 
 people, the actors often get down off the stage 
 to serve wine round, and to asli what piece they 
 shall -play. Should the piece thus chosen be found 
 a success and well-playedj the person who chose it 
 rewards the actors with cash. The actor takes tho 
 notes and places them on a tray,' which he shows 
 to the public in proof of the generosity of the giver. 
 Should the piece be badly played, or any portion of 
 it be badly simg, the public remains absolutely 
 silent, without manifesting feeling of any kind. The 
 practice of hissing is never indulged in in Chinese 
 theatres. The silence of the public is the rebuke 
 administ^ed to the actors. If, on the other hand, 
 the piece has been creditably performed, there is 
 only one voice among the public to applaud. All the 
 Spectators rise to their feet as of one common accord, 
 and shout "Lao, Lao." This shows that in China 
 5ve are both polite iii our disapproval an,d prompt 
 to enthusiasm when we are pleased. This national 
 trait is the key to the conduct of the majority of the 
 Chinese under all circumstances. They never 
 criticise directly; t^ey never noisily disapprove of 
 anything, nor givs Yeot to criei of anger. .Silence 
 
PUBLIC PLEASDEK5. 21 
 
 suffices for them; silence which in itself alone ha 
 
 the eloquence of the severest comments, the mos 
 
 indignant exclamations, and is -withal dignified 
 
 Silence which condemns without discussion an( 
 
 without appeal. A peculiarity of our theatre! 
 
 which may be noted here, is that the orchestr£ 
 
 instead of being placed in front of the stage ii 
 
 always behind it, and plays no matter Svhat piec( 
 
 of music, and always without notes. Tlie conductoi 
 
 wields' no baton, but has a kind of tambourine in oiu 
 
 hand and a pair of castanets in the other. The 
 
 first indicates the time, the others changes in tlie 
 
 tone. The actors always play by heart without the 
 
 help of a prompter. We should laugh were we to 
 
 see a musician using notes, or a gentleman hidden 
 
 away in a kind of kennel whispering words to an 
 
 actor at the moment perhaps when he is in the finest 
 
 frenzy^of passion. In front of the stage, on the two 
 
 pillars which face the public, there may be generally 
 
 seen amoiigst other decorations two bills inscribed 
 
 with philosophical reflections. 
 
 3^he following is one of the best known:— ^ 
 
 / you may consider this performance as true or as 
 false. It is always an image of life and of its con- 
 clusions. 
 
218 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 Besides our big tlieatres we have also puppet 
 slioTvs, in wliich tlie puppets are tied to strings 
 and worked by people hidden in the flies. Punch 
 and Judy worked by the fingers of an actor concealed 
 behind a curtain are very popular iu China. These 
 miniature theatres are much in favour with the 
 people of places which cannot support a real theatre. 
 The performances are exactly the same as on the 
 -large stages, and are always accompanied with music 
 and songs from behind the stage. The only differ- 
 ence is that the actors are in cardboard instead of 
 being of flesh and blood, and are very small instead 
 of being very big. A matter of little consequence 
 after all. Humanity is constantly giving herself in 
 spectacle. The size, the costumes, and the sub- 
 stance of the actors may be overlooked, for all that 
 is merely superficial and a deceit of the eye. The 
 truth — ^the great and immortal truth — is that our 
 desires and our passions, our joys, and our woes, are 
 always the same, and never, never, change. In. 
 every clime and in every age do we see the eternal 
 human comedy repeat itself . 
 
 iKE^-ss-' >• — H 
 
CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 ANIMAL FIGHTS. 
 
 I.— CEICKET FIGHTS. 
 
 China never knew those horrible arena fights which 
 were the passing pleasures^ and will be the eternal 
 shame of ancient Rome. We never gave for the 
 amusement of our refined folk the sight of bloody 
 fights between men and wild animals,' " the whilom 
 joy of the young vestal virgin." So it will be useless 
 to look in China for any statue of a dying gladiator,' 
 or to search the ruins of the colosseuni. IN^or has 
 the bull-fight — last vestige of the tragic Circenses of 
 long ago — ever been seen in China. "We do, however, 
 have animal fights, but it will be seen tliat there is 
 nothing very terrible about theni. i , I ( 
 
 1 To begin with,' we set crickets to fight against each 
 lother. Yes, crickets. The modest denizens of the 
 jgrass are terrible fighters', good company as they also 
 
220 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 are. Tlieir fights, though wanting in irise en scene, 
 are none the less interesting, and the people crowd 
 to witness them. The crickets, once collected for the 
 purpose in the fields, are very carefully trained. 
 Each i>risoner is lodged in a little bamboo cage. Itsfood 
 consists of grains of rice, to which a few leaves of 
 salad are added. After having been trained in this 
 way for some days, the captive is set at liberty 
 temporarily, that is to say, and in a very relative 
 manner. The object of his release, as a matter of 
 fact, is only to give him the opportunity of trying his 
 strength against some veteran of the cricket-ring. 
 The two combatants are placed in a bowl, which is 
 generally made of wood, so as to prevent them from 
 slipping about too much. The trainer tickles their 
 heads with a hair, to work them up to a sufiicient 
 degree of hatred and bad feeling. When this point 
 has been reached, they dash violently against each 
 other, and the first shock upsets one of the com- 
 batants, and decides the victory. The vanquished 
 withdraws," ashamed and resigned. The victor, in- 
 toxicated with delight, claps his hands, and cele- 
 brates his triumph with piercing cries. As soon as 
 the fighting powers of the different insects have been 
 tested by successive rehearsals, the more robust are 
 
AXBIAL FI.HTS. 221 
 
 picked out, and on tliese devolves the honour of 
 appearing as champions in the public arena. Bets 
 will be made on each of them with as much interest 
 and passion as in Europe are made about horses. I 
 hasten to add that these bets never exceed a few 
 pence in value. The bettors are thus able to indulge 
 themselves in their favourite pastime more frequently. 
 
 II.— QUAIL FIGHTS. 
 
 We have just witnessed a very bloodless tourna- 
 ment. There are others of a more serious nature, and 
 in which the combatants get rather more hurt. I 
 speak of our quail-fights. Tlease do not think tha^ 
 I am about to describe such sanguinary "spectacles as 
 are afforded, for instance, to the English, In their 
 cock-fight. The quails fight, but only with the 
 weapons with nature has provided them. They have 
 no artificial spursj and none of those perfections 
 which add to the natural ferocity of the kings of the 
 poultry-yard. The birds are trained for a few days, 
 until tlieir owner thinks them sufficiently prepared 
 for the fray. The hour of battle has sounded. The 
 quails, placed face to facej are excited by their 
 masters. At last, they djlsh at each other, each 
 trying to seize his adversary while protecting him- 
 
222 
 
 BITS ot caiSfA. 
 
 self against the otiier's blows. They chase each 
 other, pursue, follow, run, jump, dodge, return, 
 escape again. At last they seize each other, feathers 
 begin to fly, a body to body fight begins', until, at last, 
 one of the combatants is obliged to own himself de- 
 feated, and hastens to escape, with drooping wings," 
 from the beak of his cruel vanquisher. 
 
 There is little cruelty in all this — ^it is rather a 
 struggle than a fight. The combatants rarely hurt 
 each other much, and^if there is yictor and van- 
 quished, it may at least be said, as was said in the 
 French comedy : "We know how to kill each other, 
 and ueittier will iiie." 
 
CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 THE rLE4SUIlES QF A PHILgSQPHER. 
 
 There are perhaps in China alone more philosophers 
 than- conld be found in all the rest of the world 
 put together. To give an idea of the ways of 
 thinking of these thinliers, who take their pleasure 
 where they can find it, I will let one of them speak: — 
 
 The song of birds and the cries of the SAvallows 
 announce the advent of spring; the fine weather in- 
 vites one to walk abroad. I should have liked to 
 respond to this caJl from natui'ej.my daily occupa- 
 tions have prevented me. I met yesterday at the 
 flower cottage a friend who blamed me for having 
 failed to keep an appointment. I answered: "Ah, I 
 am not free as you are to do what I choose. I live 
 dependent on another, to whom I am sxibjected as 
 
224 BITS OF CHINA. 
 
 a minor is to Ids guardian. Ah! if you could only 
 know how many writing brushes and how much 
 paper I use in the course of one year. In the face' 
 of this beautiful weather, where nature is developing 
 with renewed vigour, I can only envy the pleasures 
 of others without being able to share in tliem myself. 
 But in compensation I find pleasure in passing my 
 days of leisure in the bosom of my family surrounded 
 by those I love. 
 
 When seated by my fireside, I drink wine with" 
 my wife, and hold my children on my knees, I feel 
 no other human ambition, and do not believe tliat 
 the spirits in heaven are a whit happier than I am. 
 Sometimes,' as a change, we go and drink a cup of 
 tea in the cottage, or look at the flowers in the 
 garden. We are thus surrounded at home with joys 
 which endure and do not change. 
 
 As regards what you call pleasure^ it is only the 
 result of a combination of circumstances, and may any 
 day change and completely disappear. Good dinners, 
 excellent wines, horses, games — all those things are 
 but instantaneous metamorphoses, where no solid 
 basis ensuring their eternal dui'ation exists. That 
 resembles a beautiful orange which might contain 
 nothing but a spongy and savourless tissue. After 
 
TOE PLEASURES OF A PHILOSOPHER. 225 ' 
 
 the fireworks have died out, night rules again, and 
 the darkness appears only all the darker. 
 
 Have Tou read the story of X — , who played the 
 heavy swell, and threw money out of the window 
 by handfuls. His friends besieged his house without 
 interruption. His servants were prouder than the 
 noblest lords. Xight and daj' the only thought was 
 what pleasure party should be arranged for the 
 following day. One might have imagined that his 
 house was built over a gold mine, to see the life he 
 led. 
 
 But at the end of a certain number of years his 
 resources began to fail. He could not, however, 
 change his way of living. 
 
 He first of all resorted to loans from his generous 
 friends, and next went to the pawnshop. When 
 all their resources had been exhausted he ran 
 away. 
 
 Oh! my friend, the number of I'icli dishes teaten 
 by that man with an air of complete satisfaction. 
 Oh! my friend, the number of beautiful women who 
 were proud to be styled his friends even for a day. 
 His name was known every where, in the theatres, ii^ 
 society, and everywhere where fashionable people 
 meet together. Oh! the many fashions that he 
 
226 BITS OF CHINA, 
 
 invented merely in colours and hues of silk. And 
 the jewels that he distributed right and left. 
 
 All that was done with the money of other people, 
 since his bills have not yet been paid. Is tliat 
 pleasure ? Come, you will admit that it is not. 
 
 Instead of gleaming for a short while and being 
 eternally disgraced thereafter, . I prefer during my 
 moments of leisure to light my incense-burner on 
 my little table, and to sit at it chatting with our sages 
 through my books. It is there that solid pleasures 
 are to be found, far preferable to those which are 
 only superficial. All that can be felt and seen h.as 
 already been described, and costs nothing to read 
 about. Songs, music, beautiful women, I see them 
 and hear them in these admirable pages. Why, 
 then, go running again through the grey dust to 
 those places where your personality is effaced and 
 money alone reigns in uncontested mastery? 
 
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BSTAB. 
 
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 C'Optimus' Bapid Hectili- 
 near) sent for review is really 
 
 an EXCELLENT ISSTRUMENI.'" 
 
 —Photographic News. 
 
 " I should strongly recom- 
 mend Bayment's Camera. 
 It is LIGHT, COMPACT, very 
 KlCfiD, and extends to about 
 double the usual focus." — 
 Amateur Photo. 
 
 "Optimus Bapid Suryscope. 
 
 5x4 7X5 8x5 9x7 10x8 
 
 63s. 94s. Gd. 110s. 126s. 220s. 
 
 " Optimus " Wide Angle Eiaryscope. 
 
 5x4 7x5 9x7 10x8 
 
 63s. 94s. 6d. 126s. 220s. 
 
 "Optimus" Bapid Rectilinear. 
 r I , J I ^ V « H ii 
 
 38s. 45s. 49s. Gd. 64s. SZs.Gd. 127s.Gd. 142s.6A 180s. 225s. 
 " Optimus" Wide Angle Symmetrical. 
 T i f V -J J It if- 
 
 39s. 52s. 6d. 82s. Sd. 127s.ed. Ii2s.ed. 182s. 225s. 
 " Optimus ' Quick Acting Portrait. 
 Diam. ... 2 Inches. 2f inches. 3j inches. 
 Price ... 90s. 120s. 180s. 
 
 IB 2B 3B 
 
 Bayment's Patent Camera (.Long Focus). , 
 
 Price includes 3 Double Dark Slides. 
 4iX3^ I 5x4 I 6ix4| I glxeil 10x8 I 12x10 I 15x12 
 120s. I 126s. I 145s. I 168s. | 212s. | .258s. | 314s. 
 
 " Optimus " Camera (.Lo7ig Focus). 
 
 Price includes 3 Double Dark Slides. 
 
 ^X^i I 5x4 I 61X4| I 8ix6l I 10X8 | 12><10 I ISxlS 
 
 130s. I 133s. I 137s. | 175s. | 227s. | 275s. | 333s. 
 
 Portable (A.B.) Camera. 
 
 Compact, Bigid and of Excellent Finish. 
 
 4ix3|^ I 5x4 161x41 1 8ix6i I 10x8 I 12x10 I 15x12 
 
 102s. I 104/9 1 ll«s. I 146/3 | 174/6 | 216s. | 274/6 
 
 " OPTIMUS " Wide Angle CAMSRA (Long Focus). 
 Price includes 3 Dark Slides; 
 5x4 I Cix4f I 8ix6| I 10x8 I 12x10 I 15x12 
 ' 146s. 165s. 188s. 233s. 288s. 253s; 
 
 PRICE LIST POST FREE. 
 
 99, Hatton Garden, London, E.G. 
 
DSTAB. 
 
 1852. 
 
 PERKENjSON & BAYMENT,'^^?.°r 
 
 MANUFACTURING OPTICIANS, 
 
 Trade 
 
 [NOW READY, 6rf.] 
 SECOND EDITION, 
 
 Jievised, Enlarged. 
 
 Bound in Cloth. 
 
 BEGINNER'SGUIDE 
 
 TO 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHY. 
 
 •OPTIMUS' SETS OF 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHIC 
 
 APPARATUS 
 
 Fitted Complete in Cabinet, with THpod 
 Stand, 
 
 Quarter Plate Size (3ix3i) £116 
 
 Half Plate Size (6ix4) 3 10 
 
 Quarter Plate Size (4| x ii), as dia. 
 Half Plate Size '(6jxj|) 
 
 Superior Camera, Eack & Pinion 
 
 Focussing Adjustment- 
 Superior Quarter Plate(4ix3i)... 3 8 
 Half Plate (6lx4j)... 5 15' 
 „ Whole Plate ('ixel).,. 9 10 o 
 
 'OPTIMUS' 
 
 ENLARGING APPARATUS. 
 
 Patent Quick Acting Mack Adjustment. 
 
 This Apparatus comprises superior Ma- 
 hogany Body Lantern and Long Bellows 
 Camera adjusted by Hack and Pinion^ 
 The Lantern is iitted with powerful Re- 
 fulgent Lamp, with 3 wicks, ^ving bril- 
 liant illumination. Compound Condensers. 
 If with Russian Iron instead 
 Condenser. of Mahogany Body. 
 
 5-in., no front lens 100/-, 5-in., nolens 75/- 
 5-in.,with superior :, 
 
 portrait lens ...127/-, 5-in., and, 
 6-in., no front lens 133/-, 6-in., no , 
 6-in.,with superior 
 
 portrait lens ...151/-, 6-in,, and, 
 7-in., no front lens 155/-, 7-in., no , 
 7-in.,with superior 
 ' portrait lens ...173/6, 7-in., and, 
 8-in. „ ^ „ ...256/-, 8-in., no , 
 9-in. „ J „ ... 290/-, 9-in.,' „ ,, 
 10-in. „ t„ ...360/-, 10-in., „ , 
 12-in. „ „ ... 580/-, 13-in., „ ,, 
 
 Mark. 
 
 GRAPHIC, December 1st, 7S55.— "The 'Beginnfr's Guide 
 to Photography ' (Perken, Son & Eayment), by a ' Fellow 
 of the Chemical Society, is a useful little manual for ama- 
 teur photographers . It contains brief and concise direc- 
 tions for taking, developing,' and printing the negative, 
 while frherei s a valuable article on that' bugbear of all ama- 
 teurs— ' BxpQSure,' by Mr. A. S. Plaits, containing some 
 useful exposure tables-" 
 
 ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, September 8th, 1888.— 
 "The 'Beginner's Guide to Photography, published by 
 Messrs. Perken,,Son & Kayment, of Hatton Garden, treats 
 clearly and concisely of the apparatus and requirements 
 necessary to engage in the delightful pastime of photo- 
 graphy, and will be found most useful to amatturs." ^ 
 
 99, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C. 
 
SPECIAL 
 
 Cheap Edition, 
 
 HOW I LOST 
 
 £250,000 
 IN TWO YEARS 
 
 BY 
 
 ERNES! BENZON,. 
 
 THE 
 
 o- TT IB X x. z: xs x>.x. XT sr <3- x: 
 
 
 PRICE 
 
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 in the Daily Xelegraph, Jan. 17th, 1888. 
 
 JXJST OTTT. 
 
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 BY 
 
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 About 230 pp. Illustrated Coloured Picture Cover. One Shilling. 
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 HARVEST. Illustrated Picture Cover, One Shilling. Fifty-first 
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TRISCHLER & CO., 
 
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 THE ROMANCE OF A STATIOIT. 2 vols. By Mrs. Camp- 
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 Thp Daily Telegraph, in pprakiiig about Mrs. PraPd's **ltomance of a Station,' s«y«: 
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 hf iutiiition,. that impt-Js the unfaltering hand to stay at the right moment in the process 
 of characterisation to give the required accent of li^Ut or nuance of shade, with the 
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 THE SOUL OF COUNTESS ADRIAN. By Mrs. Campbeli. 
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 THE aUEEN OF THE BLACK HAND. By Hugh Coleman 
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 Green Hills by the Sea." 
 
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 Willie issued shortly 
 
 THE PITY OF IT. By Mrs. Michael Sihth. . Cloth boards 
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 TIT-FOR-TAT. By the same Author. The same prices. 
 
 Note. — These works were issued in Three-volume form ten years 
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 The Tima, in criticising " The Pity of It," says : " The book is a clever book. Above 
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 BTTBY; or. How Girls are Trained for a Circus Life. By 
 
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 Mr. Gainsford Britcb, Q.O., M.P., writes: — 
 
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 IN THE PRESS. 
 
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 BITS OF CHINA (Les Plaisirs en Chine). By His Excellekcy 
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 The Ttaity Telegraph, in "Pan's Day by Day," says : "General Teheng-ki-Tong wijl 
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 any foreign writer on the same subject could be expected to do General 
 
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 there is no doubt that bis book will be read widely in France. '* 
 
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TRISCHLER & CO., 
 
 MADAME MIDAS. 150th thousaud. 223 pp. 
 
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