Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-05-09
fFrsm fAs AiigsaasiHs ZsiiHne.l
RECOLLECTIONS or PEkIN.
~ a russrAS TRAVELLER.

costume 81 the Chinese Fortunately for u.s. one her
need trouble himself with that Of what he shall put on
end wse wiibal he shall be clothed, thing that dsurb
many head the intellectual capitals OF Europe
foe the truly pntena maternal Government OF China re
leases ita subjects from this anxiety The wonderful,
complex Chinese wardrobe with all it, divisions and subdi
VISIONS subjected certain rigid and nvariabe laws, ant
changciu caprces Of fashion. The vcssi
ndes VI the determine the regular periodical chan
yes Of dress aud they observed with the punctua
obedience the dictates Of the tickle deity by the fair t
oBaes" of Paris London There is either fol
the feeling Of rreversnt mirth, with which some
times disposed to regard the cut OF coat
for grandfather, father and all habod in garments
of the iashon-and Imperial proclamation an
the cgcs Of the Celestial Empire when the time
has arrived for exchanging the OF spring for that OF
summer and that again for what behts the autumn ohe
point, however, has been left ungiarded LIKE Achilles,
they vulnerable in the heel and the ashion oil shoes II
continually varying.
We no sooner found ourselves equipped in full Chinese
costume by law established, than We sailed forth in
small hired crafty curiosity with sight OF Pc
KIN We drove past palace Of the Emperor, who how
ever only passes the here but the spring,
iner, and n country residence IL miles OIL the
the capital. The palace occupies immense space
and consists of vast assembnge of houses OF story
high. covered with tiles. Each OF these is separate, and
has IT, particular destination. In one, the Emperor lives
another business third Is the residence OF the
Empress; fourth OF the widow Of the deceased Emperor
fifth contains the concubnes at the reignng sovereign
sixth those the departed Others inhabited by their
children eunuchs and attendants in countless swarins-
Each house surrounded with high wall, within which
none may without permission. These again en-
closed general wnl the gates OF which open only
the coure and the enclosure alone ~ Tree 10 De
entered by the public.
The shining yellow tiles covering the roof OF the palace
were all destined behold OF ~ and, turning
away after this scanty qualification, We drove through
which, like all the principal Ones was distinguished
Tor breadth aud regularity, but none are paved In the
middle OF every the earth is thrown mp To the
height Of about three for passengers and light
rges those heavily laden, and drawn 10y from FIVE
mules pass along the paths at the side next
the houses; but when, after heavy these become filled
advantage OF the raised road which, being broad would he
convenient enough, it hcmmed in by tents aud
hooi encroachng much the pathway scarcely To
leave for carriages To drive abreast When the
Celestial Majesty goes take drive, which happens
several times during the year, these booths arc all cleared
away, aud the road snooIhed and covered with yellow
sand that the Inconvenience OF the streets oi the capital
may not be experienced by its ruler
The immense population OF Pekn occasions the streets 10
be filed the whole day with uninterrupted succession OF
vehicles proceeding two lines nopposle directions, audit
sometimes happens that the whole procession brought
standsu by nothing than question OF poliIcness.
Ii Chinese, when driving meets acquaintance on foot,
h. necessarily dsnount from his carriage let the
weather hu dirt be what may, inquire after his friend
health and invite the equipage. The pcdes
tran cousse equally bound pursue his way. The
Of the carriage however, will getin u the walker
has passed aud he his part think passing
I'LL other has got in. This ceremony will sometimes
py hafan hour; and the should happen be of
dgu6cd ocnl personages the Chinese it, conclu
with marvellous patience. Now and then, however, the
different On this first drive 1t happened that
ragged dirty fellow, in kind OF greasy smock rock, who
diving sory looking machine, drawn by loan mule
detained all quarter OF hour with his grimaces
meeting acquaintance but this much for his
long suffering cOuntrymen, and they bawled TO him
short his pOiteness and drive
Although the principal streets are have said, suiii-
cienty wido the by-seets that
Tages IN them, and adve obliged entering
them To call out, that no may enter at the time
the opposite end Formerly, every point OF intersection
between these streets there stood gate closed night but
though many these gates still standing, the has
Ueeu discontinued.
The houses OF the Chinese have monotonous appear.
ance being mostly surrounded with high walls OF gray half
baked BRICK above which nothing but their peaked roofs
be The only exception this uniform gray
color offered by the imperial palace which covered with
smooth green ues. Besides this, eight prncey
abodes offer variety of color, but the unvayng dusty
hue Of the would become unexpectedly wearsome,
for the relief afforded by the projecting shops
Before the entrance OF each of these hangs vanished
black board covered with gold letter., but there little de-
coraiiOn any other than the sweatmeat shops. The
whole fronts Of these almost always covered with gd
ing enriched with sprawng dragons and other figures and
their splendor is rendered still striking from the con-
presented unrequenty by the runou hove aud
broken down wall adjoining.
Gardens walks for public do exist in Pekn,
and among the buildings the only worthy of notice
ihe temples which proiusely painted with yemion
Among the sins OF the Chinese certainly be
ted that OF OF ceremonial deyoton for these
temples are almost always empty newly-nppoined Of
fetal sometimes 10 consider duty when the place
obtained lucrative one, 10 visit all the temples IN the city,
and he then goes work in the following lie
the temple bundle apers made of the bark
aud sweeiscened OIL and kndes them before the
idols. whilst the priest strikes with stick the metal
plate. The worshipper then makes a few prostuions,
throws down money, and the business is settled The
common people the temples but particular
occasions, suc Tor instance, time O great drought,
when they thner IN troops TO pray for rain OF any
other prayer than supplicaton for immediate temporal
benefit they do not seem to have any idea.
During certain days in every year, indeed, the temples
much requented but for the purpose Of trade, Of
levou1u. The then filled with traders who dis
'ay their goods, principally OF the ornamental kind, aud
lac scrs stroll about make purchase, fair En-
'rmous prices demanded on these occasions. For
tone Of grass green color. much valued by the Chinese
rings, bracelets, &c merchant asked me $50 Ian, (up
wards Of El0O) and took &c The is further emily
ned by the exhibitions OF conjurors throwing knives
iler walking their hands and other similar diversions
lu by the evening the temple again left silent and desc
ute. The priest alone had the ceremony 20 perform 1T
uruing times the day small taper before the idols
ir1srlung himself at the time Should this duty be-
Oncruus he sends OF his scholars do for
and II the scholar should happen be in the way
'erhaps common day aborer As long the tapers
ghted at the proper time. and the due portion Of prusa-
pn performed, all is right II be a very unreasona.
be idol that would require
Ii the houses Of religious worship usually stand empty
ho houses Of public entertainments the other hand,
most full The prices charged these places enor.
n'1sly hugh, and among the young OF the wealthy
I.-s, 10 D. 10y no means uncommon tor supper party of
hT'r or four 10 spend 80 uns, C23 Osl The daintios
Consumed on these occasions very recherche de-
cupuon, and principally recommended 10y the difficulty Of
r'. which D. enormously DEAR very few cooks possess
Doe 7iII and deHteuy required for It's preparation. a lump
81 ef D. taken upon sieve, and after being quickly enyel-
ps1 IT paste made of sugar, eggs and spices b.
plunged into pan full Of boiling pork fat lard. The
grand p1iut D. then % up before the ice has
m' 90 melt What may be the peculiar attraction uf
ni' dainty dish % would be hard say; for, though
frozen inside. burns the mouth when first tasted
slnH paioiu costs SIX lans, (about 36s The Chinese
'nHn in general dsaRrecable European, they
EN- nos uae sl boz The cookery and do imnoderno
quantity Of pork iat b.des ginger and garlic The roast
h''' however be must be- admitted. form honorable
.fpI1n, and a0'd be acceptable the table OF 81
aln easfr0HDms. The immense number Of tavcrus .or
'ons n Pekin ind want Of support as IL the Gus
''H 60 entertain guests there nnd private houses
"Nsh relationship ~ very particular intimacy alone
gov, cliu Go Boz invited banquet Of these hOu
On ''nid'red 10 bc necessary conclusion 10 the plea
'. q" henircni entertainment which Be- generally
~ .A Do 'ne evening beginning al eleven Do the forenoon
~ ~" nihhef. or .upPsr the handsome boys who pay
W 'sn'e paris are frequent guests, and they allowed
'' 'e'' 'e dshe' Their choice Oh may be supposed
u'n Rul'd u{ economy, and indeed t occasionally hap
l'" N in'y have au understanding with the master Of the