The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-26 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

CHINA and the CHINESE; their Religion, Cha-
racter, Customs, and Manufactures : the Evils arising
from the Opium Trade S, fc. 6-c. By Henry Charles

Sirr, MA., Barrister-at-Law.

The history of so strange and peculiar a people as
the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire must at all
times excite interest, but now, when we have planted
a young colony amongst this extraordinary race, and
opened new sources of political and commercial inter-
course, an examination of their customs, character, and
climate must prove unusually important as well as
useful to the inhabitants of Great Britain. The author
of the present work has supplied matter to amuse or
interest every class of reader; every object of the
smallest interest has been most minutely described.
The antiquarian, the entomologist, the poet and
the painter, the lover of birds and flowers,—all
will find much to interest them in these com-
prehensive and beautiful volumes. In short,
he has omitted nothing, from the pencilling of a
lady's brow to the most occult wonders
of magic. He appears as much at home
in the atelier of the painter as in the war-junk of the
mandarin. His descriptions are simple and graphic,
displaying much practical knowledge and minute ob-
servation. His denunciations of the iniquitous opium
trade are as just as they are humane and Christian-
like—this poisonous and debasing drug is, indeed, the
curse of China. The slave trade was too odious, too
horrible to be endured, that vile and unnatural traffic
in human flesh has been abolished at the loud call of
indignant humanity ; British traders can no longer
with the whip and the chain coin human flesh into
gold—this unnatural sacrifice can no longer be
offered at the shrine of mammon. Yet the chain and
the whip merely tortured the body, while this
abominable poison destroys the soul, and reduces man
below the level of the " beast that perisheth." Both
policy and humanity call aloud for such stringent
measures as will entirely put an end to this iniquitous
traffic. The visit to the war-junk, and the mandarin's
proposal to purchase the English lady, is exceedingly
amusing; the warning to curious ladies may prove
useful, some of them may perhaps agree with
us that a crumpled dress and well-pinched skin is too
high a price for an exploratory visit into the odorife-
rous regions of a Chinese lady's boudoir. The de-
scription of a Chinese feast will no doubt be accept-
able to many of our readers ; we shall, therefore,
trrnscribe it, in the graphic words of the author :
" Invitations and the mode of sending them vary ac-
cording to the rank of the guest, or the respect intended
to be paid to him, by the comparative value of the
material on which the invite is written, being either
inscribed on paper, silk, gold, or siver tinsel, and by the
length, is to be measured the respect intended to be paid
and accorded to the guest.
" This missive is borno by one or more servants, where
great respect and ceremony is paid and observed, the
domestics invariably expecting and receiving a douceur.
This document sets forth all the posts and dignities of
the individual invited, is compressed into narrow folds
and enclosed in a silken cover and tied round with cord
of the same material. The Chinese code of etiquette is
most punctilious, and would outvie the usuages of the
most ceremonious court of Europe. The moment a guest
alights from his sedan chair, the host steps forth into the
verandah to salute the ♦isitor; this is done by compli-
mentary speeches, bowing the head until the chin rests
upon the chest, bending the body and knees, joining the
hands.

" In front of the person, and with them knocking the
chest, when the master of the house intends to honour
a guest most especially, he takes the visitor's hands be-
tween his own, gently tapping or striking them against
his breast, this being the Chinese mode of shaking
hands. Now follows a contest for precedence, neither
party choosing to enter the dwelling before the other ;
after various and divers bowing:, bendings, knockings,
and genuflexions, this point is settled by host and guest
entering the house together. After entering the same
ceremony takes place as to where each shall sit, and who
shall be seated first ; and this overstrained courtesy
is
observed with each guest, therefore equals are only
i assembledin-
vited to t :leas e
is feasts.
handed Ar
round
usoon
in ass
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cup,
uaprse,
are
which cbhe
beautifully
f ul
ly placed
choa
chased
'd vrstands
with filagree work.
aTsh
thin cupss were
rq,u eo
fp oar cpeul nexceeding
lyevrafleuceodl,
i I ore ornamented
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pandntoinrgnambeeinntgedonlyithpefirgcuepretisb,lethewhdeenlietahtee
tissue
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tracery and painting
vessel is filled with liquid. After the tea had been im-
bibed, and a little talk indulged in, a tribe of servants,
clad in long white grass-cloth robes, entered the room,
drawing back the silken curtains of the door-way
leading leading to the eating-room. The host then
begging the guests to enter the room, where a humble
repast had been prepared, which he hoped they would
deign to partake of. Now began another battle of cere-
mony, which was settled by the host placing himself
between two of his guests, ie others preceding. The
btaebtlteer stwtaasleaid for six, and nothing could have been in
or more elegantly arranged—chairs of equal
size and form were placed round the table, and the
whole party acknowledged their equality by taking their
seats at the same moment. The table was of a circular
shape, stud on it waa spread a silken cover, the edges
being bordered with an embroidery of gold and silver,
porcelain jars, of exquisite form and brilliant colours,
were filled with the choicest flowers of the orange, citron,
lemon, camellia jap)nica, and china aster, these flowers
being so disposed in the jars as to form various patterns.
Interspersed between these ornaments were representa-
tions of animals, the frame-work made of split bamboo,
and covered with tube-roses, jessamine, and other small

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flowers, so as completely to conceal frame. :Various
descriptions of dried spices, preset ',el:fruit, and sweet-
mints were tastefully arrarg-ed in c red ivory and tor-I.
toiiesliell baskets, whilst pine-apples, t nbelnws, glf2Vai,
m:tridarin oranges, kiehees, and bananas,
bowls and sauces about the table ‘44.1-tlg regard
to effect. I:. would be impossible to describe the
exquisite appearance of this dinner-table lorded with
the most exquisite flowers and the most luscious fruits
of China, the variety and arrangement of the colours
producing a pleasingly novel effect upon a European.
All the viands are cut into small square pieces, and
served up in a rich gravy, the food being placed in bowls,
instead of dishes; the sauces, sueh as oil, soy, vinegar,
and capers were placed in small bowls, which stood upon
silver trays, very finely embossed. Sam-shoo—a sort of
spirituous liquor extracted from rice—both hot and cold,
and the native wine of china—resembling in flavour
weak and acid Madeira—were put into highly chased
silver pots, of a slender, upright form, with handles and
spouts, which were dispersed round the table at equal
distances; before each person was placed a small em-
bossed silver cup, about two inches high, to drink the
sam-shoo and wine from, and by the side of each of
those elegately minute tankards was an embroidered
silken case, containing a knife and chop sticks; the latter
were of ivory, but the handles of the knives were richly
carved and composed either of Jaid-stone, ivory, sandal-
wood, or chased silver. The first course was serried on
antique white porcelain ; a small bowl containing
boiled rice and an empty bowl to eat his food
from, being placed before each guest. This course
consisted of salted and highly seasoned meats of
various kinds, pounded shrimps and other fish
moulded into the shapes of various animals, there w;.s a
stow of sharks' fins and bkhe de met, and a kind of soup,
which was made from the fresh water tortoise, very like
turtle. It has been asserted that earth worms are to be

found at the table of the luxurious. This we believe to
bo incorrect, but we saw on this occasion what might
easily be mistaken for them—the grubs which are to be
found at the root of the sugar cane, and which are consi-
dered a delicious morsel by the Chinese epicure. The
food is eaten from a bowl with the chopsticks, and after
each dish a little warm shampoo is taken. The mode of
taking wine is somewhat like our own, the host rises
from his chair, challenges a guest, who rises also, the
parties bow lowly and empty the cups, tapping with
them on the thumb-nail, to show they have been com-
pletely emptied. The next course was served on coloured
porcelain, and consisted of variously dressed poultry, cut
into small pieces in the forms of birds and other animals;
with this course appeared the celebrated birds'• nest soup,
which is made from the gelatinous lining of the swallow's
nest, and tastes like unflavoured calves'-feet jelly, until
the various sauces are added, when it becomes exceed-
ingly piquant and palatable. The succeeding course was
served on white porcelain, with a green dragon por-
trayed on the white ground. These beasts had but tour
claws, those with five being only used by the Em-
peror. This course consisted chiefly of water-
fowl, among which was the mandarin duck, fattened to
an enormous extent, salted, dried, and smoked. It is
then cut into small pieces, stewed in a rich gravy, and
esteemed a great delicacy by the Chinese. The rice-
bird was also on the table, which is one delicate delicious
morsel of fat of a gamey flavour. The vegetables are
dressed with a quantity of oil and toy, or stewed in
gravy, and but few aro used by the wealthy. The water-
chestnut, the stem of the watcr-lily, the root of arrow-
wort, and the sweet potato or yam, are in vogue among
the wealthy. Next followed a course of pastry and
. .

sweetmeats, all being placed in bowls; the contonts of
these basins were formed into the shapes of animals,

birds, beasts, fishes, and flowers coloured, to represent
nature in a very correct wanner. The interiors of these

nice creatures were filled to repletion with the sweet-
meats, and although the idea is not a nice or a delicate
one, the internals cf these pastry animals were very
pleasant and delicious. This course was succeeded by
others, the numbers and variety of which would only
weary in description; each following course was served
as the preceding one, the contents of the bowls only
being varied. In such a feast of ceremony the masti-
catory process continues for four or five hours. The
greatest mark of attention on the part of the host is to
press his guests continually to eat more; sometimes he
will transfer morsels from his own bowl to that of hut guets,
at other times he will with his chopstick at once
deposit the tit-bit in the mouth of the favoured one.
The Chinese mode of living and cooking is so luxurious
and luscious, that the digestive organs of a European
should be in good order to enjoy it with impunity. As
soon as the lengthy repast is over, tea is handed round
as before. The host then ushers his visitors to witness
theatrical representations and pyrotechnic displays. The
costumes of the actors were rich; each character advanced
to the front of the stage, and informed the audience
whom he represented and what he was about to perform.
The Chinese are proficients in pyrotechnic art; and the
fireworks which were exhibited at the end of this enter-
tainment were] chef d'oeuvre of skill, the four elements
having been called into requisition to furnish animals,
birds, fishes, and reptiles, both real and imaginary, from
whose bodies issued streams of flame. Fire-dragons as-
cendrd into the air, and were metamorphosed into fire-
vomiting lions; a huge bird of some unknown species
fluttered in the air in a sheet of flame; presently a huge
serpent crawled from the beak of the bird, and was lost
to view in many tinted flames; one large lantern ascended
in a mass of fire, from which smaller lanterns issued,
which, in their turn, sent iorth various and
innumerable forms. On the back of an enor-
mous fish was seated a portly mend Irin, from
whose aldermanic corporation burst forth the
streams of fire, which appeared to cause intense delight
and excite the greatest merriment amongst the spec-
tators. The last firework was by far the most beautiful
and perfect, being completely artistic in its details. This
represented a mandarin's house. with the whole of the
adjacent buildings belonging to the residence, the roofs
being ornamented with bells and figures. This burned
for some abort time, and then changed into a mandarin
seated in his sedan chair, with the usual train of atten-
dants, bearing flags, beating gongs, and carrying lan-
terns. The effect, of this mass of many-coloured flames,
defining the outline of the various forms, Wilds descrip-
tion; and as the last spark died away we could have
been tempted to follow Oliver Twist's example, and
asked for more.'"

Such is the author's very interesting and graphic
account of a Chinese feast and its amusing accompa-
niments. The astounding and wonderful feats of
Chinese jugglers remain still unexplained by the
most acute speculators on the mystic art, and for our-
selves we confess we are unable to guess whether
these wonders are the result of dexterity in legerde-
main, and that we labour under a deceptic visus, or
that these strange beings are still really in possession
of that occult science which was known to the magi
of old, and enabled the Egyptian sorcerers to imitate
the miracles of Aaron. We shall extract one or two
feats performed in the author's own house :
" The room in which the performance took place was
denuded of matting and every article of furniture except
chairs, which were arranged close to the walls for the
spectators, leaving a clear and wide area for the per-
former. He was attired in the oid•nary dress of the
middle ranks of the Chinese, a loose jacket and trousers,
white calico stockings, and black silk shoes. lie had no
covering on his head, and was followed by his coulee or
servant, bearing an unpainted teak-wood box, about
three feet by two. The juggler advanced to the middle
of the room and delivered a pompous oration in Chinese,
to the effect that he never before exhibited the mysteries
of his art to any save natives of China and mandarins of
the first rank, &c.; that he was chief and head of all
professors of his art, &c. He then commenced opera-
tions by placing the box at his side. He stripped off his
jacket, leaving himself nude from the waist upwards,
a ith the exception of a white cloth• which was twisted
about his loins. He then twined his long tail of plaited
hair around his head. He then took from the box an
ordinary earthenware bowl or basin, about 18 inches in
diameter. He then placed the box in the middle of the
room, completely exposed to view. The basin was then
examined by each person successively, the juggler all the
time muttering an incantation in Chinese. All were sa•
tisfied that the basin was an ordinary one, and empty. He
then placed the basin on the floor, about five feet from
the box, untwisted the cloth from about his loins, and
throw it over the basin, continuing the incantation
during the time. Ho spread it out smoothly. This
magic cloth was about a yard and a half long, by
one wide. Before three-quarters of a minute had elapsed
he raised the cloth from the basin, when lot it was
filled with limpid water, with a living, veritable fish,
three or four inches long, swimming about in it. We
satisfied ourselves that there was no deception, neither
false bottom nor lining; and the performer never ap-
proached it from the time of placing it on the floor till
the cloth was withdrawn. Be next took from the box
a flower-pot filled with mould, about 12 inches in height
and 18 in diameter. He then handed round for our
ared an ordinary
in-
spection the flower-pot andwhat a
seed. He then made a cavity in the
with the earth.
seed in it, and covering it over carefully
here
the bowl had pre-
He then placed it on the floor
.n
'"meould, placing the
which lasted about teu
lamogu't two inches abovo the
• He then withdrew the cloth, and we beheld a
minutes.
viously rested, covered it manner with the cloth,
. It was of a delicate bright green colour, with
yanoudunrffecoamndmetnecnedderhisplmanutt,tear
Nthe appearance of a plant that had just sprouted from
its parent earth. He then replaced the flower-pot on
the ground, and recommenced his incantation for about
rising until it had risen about a foot and
twenty minutes; during this period we observed the
gradually
t had become a small shrub, clothed with
a half, when the cloth was again withdrawn, and the
clothtenderp
verdure, and having its branches covered with buds and
leaves. After due examination, the pot was again re-
placed, re-covered, the incantation renewed for about
half an hour, when the cloth was once more removed,
and, to our amazement, the shrub was now clothed with
blossoms and flowers, in appearance resembling those of
the China aster."
We regret our space will not allow us to extract
the more astonishing feats that followed, we must
only refer our readers to the work itself; and a more
readable, amusing, or instructive book it has not
been our good fortune to meet with for a long time.

His Royal Ilighness Prince' Albert has arranged
to lay the first stone of the additional Pauper Lunatics
Asylum for the county of Middlesex, at Colney Hatcb,
on Tuesday, the Bth of May, at twelve o'clock. The ma-
gistrates and their friends will be admitted by tickets,
issued by the visiting justices—the public,,ithout tickets.
Colney Hatch is situated about nine miles north• east
from London, near the village of Southgate. In conse-
quence of the building being only two stories high, it
will range nearly a quarter of a mile in length. It is
intended to accommodate 1,000 patients.
PIiDESTRIANISM.—C. FERGUSON AND W. YAPP.--•
This match, six miles,
.for 20L, was brought to a conclu-
sion yesterday, at Harlington Corner, Ferguson receiving
one minute start. This advantage he kept, for on turn•
ing the last mile he was above 300 yards in advance,
and finally came in, an easy winner, in 54 minutes.