The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-21
The KOo.tOo,


kow.tow, q degrading ceremonial on
being formally presented to the EN-
peror OF China, has been n fertilesource
OF discord, few ambassadors from any
European court being willing to submit
to so very odious IN act Of abasement.
Lord Mccartney, in 1888, condescended
to go through the ceremony in per-
functory WY, which was accepted as
sufficient. Lord Amherst, however, in
1876, declined TO do even so much, and
it is doubtful il any English Ambassa-
dor will ever again be expected to per-
form the koo-too in proper style. Any
one wishing to know what theceremony
really is, may satisfy his curiosity by
perusing the account given Of the re-
ception Of an ambassador from the Car
Peter OF Russia, in 17l9, the writer
being John Bell, Of Autremoney,
Scottish gentleman attached to the
Russian Court "on the day." says
this amusing chronicler, "appointed
for the public audience OF the Emperor,
horses were brought to our lodgings for
the Ambassador and his retinue the
Emperor being then ut q country house,
called TZanshuyAng, about six miles
westward from Pekin. We mounted at
s IN the morning, and about 10 arrived
at court, where We alighted ut the gate,
which was guarded by strong party OF
soldiers. The commanding officers
conducted us into large room, where
we drank ten, md stayed about half m
hour till the Emperor was ready to re-
ceive us. We then entered q spacious
court, inclosed with high brick walls,
and regularly planted with several rows
Of forest trees, about eight inches in
diameter, which l took to be lines.
The walks aro spread with small
gravel and the greatwalk is terminated
by the hall OF audience, behind which
are the emperors private apartments.
On each side Of the great walk are
hower.pots and canals. As We advanced,
we found all the ministers OF state, and
officers belonging to the court, seated
upon fur cushions, crosS-legged, before
the hall, in the open air among these,
places were appointed for the ambassa-
dor and his retinue and in this situa.
ton We remained, in n cold, frosty
morning, till the emperor came into the
hall. During this interval, there were
only two or three servants in the hall,
and not the least noise was heard from
any quarter. The entry to the hall is
by seven marble steps, the whole length
OF tho building. The floor is finely
paved with n neat checker-work Of white
and black marble. The edifce is quite
open to the south and the roof sup.
ported by n row OF handsome wooden
pillars, octangulNr, and finely polished;
before which is hung large canvas, rs
a shelter from the heat Of the sun or in
clemencies OF the weather.
After we had waited about q quarter
Of IN hour, the Emperor entered the
hall ut the back.door, and seated him
self upon the throne, upon which oil
the company stood. The master OF the
ceremonies nowdesired the ambassador,
who was at some distance from the rest,
TO walk into the hall, and conducted
him by one hand, while he held his
credentials in the other.
Having assembled the steps, the letter
was laid on table placed for that pur.
pose, rs had been previously agreed
but the Emperor beckoned to the an
bassador, and directed him TO approach,
which he no sooner perceived than he
took up the credentials, and attended
by Alloy, walked up to tho throne, and,
kneeling, laid them before the Emperor,
who touched them with his hand, and
inquired after his Czarish majesty's
health. He then told the ambassador
that the love and friendship he enter
tanned for his majesty were such that
he even dispensed with m established
custom Of the empire'in receiving this
letter.
During this part Of the ceremony,
which was not long, the retinue contin-
ued standing without the hall, and We
imagined, tho letter being delivered,
all was over. But the master OF the
ceremonies brought back the ambassa-
dor, and then ordered all the company
to kneel md make obeisance nine times
to the Emperor. AT every third time
We stood up md kneeled again. Great
pains were taken to avoid this piece Of
homage, but without success. The
master Of the ceremonies stood by and
delivered his orders in the Tartar Ian
guage, by pronouncing the words
jforg,ie and boss the first meaning to
bow, and the other to stand two words
which I cannot soon forget. CHAM
Jers'S Journal.