The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-01-25
5lNsIpE OF A CnlSEsE IiovsE.-l

ss38 8g5 lNSlDE -OE n AliiHF.SJs liSN So III
ga book recently published by a Ia
55dys&ho went out TO China as mis-
4 Esionary, we have the account Of
visit to Mrs. Pwan, the lady Of Pwan
ss,5fIngkwa, who, we arc told, is a
5S5sstsalt merchant of wealth, and some.
what favorable to foreigners"
ss..Pwan Tingkwa is employed in
1.-THE service Of the government: this
gives him4somc distinction He has
tentwives. The lady Of the house, or
ssssnumber one wife did not make her
appearance until little time had
elapsed. t.lcngth she entered the
room. and the others gave place willie
she received her visitors, and refused
{ to take her seat until every one Of
.5lier5 guess was seated. She was a
beautiful young creature, not over
twenty -onc years Of age. Ter hair
Mas arranged in their usual tasteful
51nanner and adorned with flowers,
a Hptafis, and other ornaments. She
was attircd in simple drcs, Of
grass cloth, tight about The throat, with
large sleeve, exposing n beautiful
l hand, and wrist ful Of bracelets. IN
Ederneath her grass cloth tunic, she
wore an embroidered skirt, that near
sly concealed her little feet. Her man.
1 llers were graceful and elegant 70
9sthe remarks of,hc ladies (hcr visit
sors) She responded courteou%!v, ncy.
/ Ser allowing Lcrsclt'to sit While any OF
S the ladies were STANDING
s.5$ Tea was served in smal! cups with
1 covers, but without milk or sngar.
Soon after this, We were invited into
another departments. Mrs. pwan.
our lady host, took Mrs. Parker bv
the hand, and led The way, while sew
eral other Of Mr.. pwm Tinhskwa's
ladies attended to the rest Of Us. and
We followed; the company Of re'a
tives, nurses, servants and children
succeeded, al! eager to satisfy their
curiosity BY gazing at us. a re.
past was prepared, consisting Of
jcllics, fruits. nuts, etc, which in the
east isscalled tillin; the Chinese call it
n Bit for the heart 1t was easy to
distinguish the lady cf the house: she
moved to be seated: while she pre-
sided. the Others standing, and thcA
7 servants flaming us willis We partook
!, Chinese ct;nncttc Mrs pwon n,s
sed some frnit or i,,Iv on Lnr C,,l! ~
her chop sti,l, to each laly and We
would rat,,rn ,hc cnnni;nnm, ~,
rising very gracefully and receiving it;
, yo5iir month
s.Tifin beina finished we rnn,;r.5 -
bcr4 nriyot. L,a-ro,r, I, ~ f,r
nisbcd vii, , ,nirrnr l,,rcsn h"ls,na,
with,mottrcs; tha hca.cInthns nnntIr
laid in folds and put a,iic in ,Ec
back nnrt Of the bed Wr f,IIowr6
Mrs. Pwan ali The ATTENDANTS asc,ni.
nanvina ns iLromnb ,hn IijI,, ,nr,o on,.,
inents of Ills snaeious hu:I.lin, s,ii,
unfinished Tie car, ;nr w,5 tln
rant. The rooms wcre rirri,hrf v.;,I
diyans centrc.tnbIns mirrnrs ,nI N ~.
sdeliers. The ceilings we're b b,ou,iful-
4 ly.paintcd with birds ana flowers
4 gallery was appropria;cJ t, the
sine.sona (rheatrc.j
sssIn going down the y,air.ca.r we
passed the room where Ills cyc,l}rn.
scy'iaud quests (thc gentlemen vLo no.
co;npnnisd usl we're rcpaIinr them.
selves with Refreshments: ,bny coull
not help t,,rninr thnjr ho f. ,.,,.h ,
glimpse Of tho ilii. Chinese Indies Al
,'rrItt 80, ' -
length the tune arrived tor Us to
leave; the females Of the house, one
and all, retired to the inner apart
11nents, and the gentleman conducted
us to our scdant$ On returning
home, we suffered onr faces % he
exposed, and gazas were not few,
eagerly s1riving to get peep at the
i.1au qHtpo (torclgn dcvI!'s "!IcS) as
Z tuhey stlSnlal'Zcd US
! could not ica"h lhat one in i'"an
lWingkwa,s household kne" how t"
read m her own language, ana rs
" their emPioymGh's, m"ch time IS
spent at the toI.ef, embroidery per.
ma maps occupy a part ana me" The
fs IA " t l. f