Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-15
, THE HEAIHEN CHINEE.
How Celestial CuIprits are Pun.
= ~ I'll ~ ~ N fshed.

HOW Cetesual Cuiprits are A.un.
AAEIG ~ fshed.
The Mandarin of Pekin, who corr e.
spends in point Of power with an Ameri-.
can Trial Justice, only clothed with a
little more summary. jurisdiction, admin
listers justice morning and evening in his
own house. Attended by his SECRETARY
and inferior officers, some of whom bear
iron shackles, aud others paf-tsees, he
sits at the. table, while the hapless ac.
cused wallows on his unworthy stomach
upon the carpet at his feet A number
of small sticks lie on table before him
Being convicted of any petty offense,
the culprit is Immediately chastised and
released. The Mandarin signifies the
extent of the chastisement by throwiHg
one little stick after another upon the
floor, each one that fallsbeing signal
for Eve strokes of the bastinado.
In superior cases there is a multiplicity
of tribunals aud a delay of judgment
which the most iastidious criminal in
New York might well be content with,
the Emperor himself being at last in
voked to decide the thing.
When Celestial sinner is arrested a.
chain is put around his neck. aud fas-
tened with paddock, and on the small.
est resistance an inferior officer, who
precedes him, drags his head well nigh
off his body, whilst another, who brings
up the rear, jabs him scientifically in
the back When he is brought out for
trial man goes before him beating a
gong to attract the notice of the public;
a small red flag is stuck into each Of his
ears. with the same object, and two offi.
GERS run up behind him to keep his head
up by rapidly delivered blows with cleft
cane. frf ffFfs eF
APPLYING TIE BAsTINADO, aa.
which is the favorite award OF insigni6.
cant misdemeanors, is effected by
strengthening out the culprit on the
floor and laying on the pan tsee with
energetic precision on the posterior
The pau-tsee is thick piece of split
bamboo cane, the lower end of which is
about four inches in width and the upper
end small and smooth to render it more
convenient. A Mandarin always has
one attendant in his train, who always
accompanies him wherever he travels,
bearing pan.tsee, which, at the nod of
his master, be administers to any chance
offenders, and the best of the joke is
that the delinquent is no sooner released
from the bastiuado than be returns his
humble thanks to the Mandarin for the
good care he takes of his education.
Another punishment in favor for petty
offenses is by twisting the cartilages of
the ear in peculiar and most. painful
fashion. The Chinese merchant, or
tradesman, who is guilty of fraud or un.
warrantable knavery in business, is pun
ished by a swing of novel and excru-
ciating pattern. Two upright posts are
driven firmly into the ground, and a
cross bar fixed thereto, from which he is
suspended by the shoulders and ankles,
a situation so painful to bear that two
officers are kept in attendance TO peri
odically relieve his suferings by sup
porting him with bamboo passed under
his breast. A Chinese boatman being
convicted Of a minor crime, is compelled
to kneel, and whilst one officer of JUS
tice prevents him from hinching, an
other grasps bis pigtai and bestows
number OF blows upon each side oil his
face with a sort Of double battledore,
maui VI thANh Atdlhtls a. AAtCa PANNS
who ialsi6es his interpretations, is made
to keel, and large piece Of bamboo.
cane is placed behind his knees and
trampled upon by two officers of justice
standing on each end. and producing
more or lfss pain as they approach to or
recede from him. That grand embodi-
ment OF torture called
THE RACK,
is also a Chinese institution. This su-
premeiy diaboiicai invention is used
chiefly for the purpose Of extoriing con-
fessions, a circumstance which shows
that the Chinese are just three centuries
behind Christianity, and no more. The
instrument they use is composed of a
thick, strong plank, having a contriv-
ance at one end to secure the hands, and
at the other end double wooden wise
The wise is formed Of three stout up
rights, two Of which are movable. The
ankles of the eulprit being placed in the
machine, a cord is passed round the up
right and held fast by two men. The
chief tormentor then gradually introdu-
a. 4