National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-07-18
The kOO.tOO.

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The performance of the koo-too or
kow-tow, degrading ceremonial ON
being formally presented to the En-
peror OF China, has been fertllesource
of discord, few ambassadors from any
European court being willing to submit
to so very odious an net OF abasement.
Lord Mccartney, in 1898, condescended
to go through the ceremony in per-
functory way, which was accepted M
sufficient. Lord Amherst, however, in
1916, declined to do even so much, and
it II doubtful if any English Ambassa-
dor will ever again be expected to per-
form the koo-too in proper style. ANY
one wishing to know what the ceremony
really is, may satisfy his curiosity by
perusing the account given OF the re-
ception of an ambassador from the Gear
Peter of Russia, in 1919, the writer
being John Bell, of Autremoney,.
Scottish gentleman attached to the
Russian Court son 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 retinne; the
Emperor being then ut country mousse,
called Tzanshuyang about six miles
westward from Pekin. We mounted ut
8 IN the morning, and about 10 arrived
at court, where we alighted Mt the gate,
which was guarded by strong party OF
soldiers. The commanding officers
conducted us into large room, where
we drank tea, and stayed about hall an
hour till the Emperor was ready to re-
ceive us. We then entered spacious
court, inclosed with high brick walls,
and regularly planted with several rows
of forest trees, about eight inches III
diameter, which took to be lines.
The walks are spread with small
gravel and the great walk is terminated
by the hall of audience, behind which
are the emperors private apartments.
On each side of the great walk are
flower 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 cold, frosty
morning, till the emperor came into the
hall. During this interval, there were
only two or three servants III 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 the building. The floor is finely
paved with neat checkerworko OF white
and black marble. The editice is quite
open to the south and the roof sup
ported by row of handsome wooden
pillars, octangular, and finely polished;
before which is hung large canvas, as
shelter from the heat of 'he sun or IN
clt mencies of the weather.
After we had waited about quarter
of an hour, the Emperor entered the
hall at the back door, and seated him
self upon the throne, upon which all
the company stood. The master of the
ceremonies now desired 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 a table placed for that pur-
pose, as had been previously agreed
but the Emperor beckoned to the am
bassador, and directed him to approach,
which he no sooner perceived than he
took up the credentials, and attended
by Alloy, walked up to the 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 an established
custom of the empire in receiving this
letter.
During this part of the ceremony,
which was not long, the retinue contin-
ned standing without the hall, and we
imagined, the 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 and maze obeisance nine times
to the Emperor At every third time
we stood up and 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
.Norg,te and boss the first meaning to
bow, and the other to stand two words
which | cannot soon forget. "-Chdna-
bers's Journal