Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-26

musical plates are sounded. There
are a good many Jews in China, who,
it is supposed. settled there after Alex
ander conquered the east. They in
habit the silk provinces, and are
thought to have introduced the silk
worm into the country. There are
also many Mahomedans in China, but
over 10000 were slaughtered in 1884.
The first christians to enter China
passed from India in 633 and were
| tolerated for two centuries, when they
were exterminated by order of the en-
peror Voo-tsong. In the thirteenth
century a number of christians enter
ed the country and erected church in
Pekin, since which time at different
periods many missionaries have locat-
ed throughout the country, but have
made slow progress on account of the
despotic nature of the government and
the tickle disposition of the natives.
There are many instances where one
emperor would permit christian doc
trines to be taught, and the next would
eXtirpate the converts and Danish the
missionaries, frequently causing them
to be put to death.
The LAwS.-I will treat the two sub
jects, that of government and that of
laws, under one head, as all laws ema-
nate from the emperor who is the SUI
preme head, and can make or abrogate
all laws at his pleasure-both penal
and civil laws being subject to his re
lection or confirmation. His sentences
are executed without delay; his edicts
carried out as if they were the divine
law. He is the source of all power; dis
penses all honors; appoints all officers
and designates his own successor. He
has six Tribunals under him. LIST.
Distributes the offices. end. Is that OF
Finance. 8rd Of ceremonies. 4th.
Tribunal of Arms. 5th. Tribunal OF
Justice. 9th. Tribunal OF Public
Works. The Mandarins, or governors
of provinces, are subject to the super
intendence of the royal commissaries.
The principal advisers of the emperor
are his women and eunuchs; sometimes
the princes of the blood are consulted.
The principal punishments are iiog-
ging, imprisonment, punishment, the
plllory, castratlon and decapltation.
For defalcatlon OF private or puDllc
money, restitution is required first, and
If the theft amounts to certain sum
liked, the punishment Is deatn py de-
capltatlon.
after legal marriage, wnlch is con-
cluded between the parents or relatives
OF the contracting parties, the husband
can take as many wives, concubines, or
landmarks, or by Whatever name ne
may choose to call them, as ne desires,
without any ceremony; put Lhey are
always subject to and subordinate to
the 1lrst wife. All persons who know
OF a crime and fail to inform, are liable
to punishment, except father, mother,
grandfather. grandmother, uncle, or
elder brother; these are punishable for
informing, even though the accusation
be true,-a wise and humane law. Inc
prisons are surrounded with hlgh walls
and guarded Dy soldlers, ana the prls-
oners allowed TO work Tor themselves
and ENJOY the fruits OF tnelr LABOR:
Each prisoner bears piece OF wood
upon his neck on which Is written his
name, CRIME ana punishment. flagel-
latlon Is Gne prlnclPal punisnment Ior
nosI oHehces, anu contributes more
IMAM any oIner cause TO uegraoe tne
people. :,
MILITARY.-Th army is assembled
Tor drill ana Inspection at every new
moon: They march IN very disorder
~ and tumultuous manner, Out handle
their arms, except artillery, with great
dexte1lty. Ihey, IN oattle, are drawn up
IN lines with sllght lnterval between
each soldier, and when those In front
have discharged their pieces they pass
TO the rear to reload, which is IN like
manner done by all the other lines IN
succession, thereby causing great con
fusion. They are divided into compa-
MES, each OF winch has triangular
standard ABOUT 1our rect hlgh, ana ev-
cry fifth and tenth man carries small
flag which is hXed upon stan at the
back of his jacket. Inc flags OF the
Chinese are generally green, While
those of the Tartars are of different
Goiors whlce' y1IoM, Iou anu oIue;
Every Queer anu soluier has snaii