The porcelain tower, or, Nine stories of China

Transcription

%is<ii^>^
3 1735 060 217 449
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Dar.
PR5349
S286
Darlington Atemorial Litrary
T-'ki'/d.
5^.^ .:^x^
,,W^^j^ ^.^
//^c^%
o////iS'^/^/2^
.
;
LIFE IN CHINA.
PORCELAIN TOWER
OR,
NINE STORIES OP CHINA.
COMPILED
FROM ORIGINAL SOURCES.
By
" T. T. T."
To raise a tower your arts apply,
And build it thrice three stories high;
Make every story rich and fair
With blocks of wood, in carvinga rare
With such its ruder form conceal.
And make it strong with plates of steel.
;
From
the
Song of the Pagoda, Jy— SheLorh.
EMBELLISHED BY
J.
LEECH.
PHILADELPHIA:
LEA AND BLANCHARD.
1842.
5
^'
^
TO
HIS FRIENDS IN GENERAL,
AND TO
THE PUBLIC
IN
PARTICULAR,
THE ACCOMPANYING SPECIMENS OF
REAL CHINA
ARE RESPECTFULLY PRESENTED,
BY THEIR MOST OBSEQUIOUS SERVANT
THE MANUFACTURER,
WHO TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY OF INFORMING ALL PARTIES,
(and PARTICULARLY SMALL TEA-PARTIES,)
THAT
HIS "services"
ARE ALWAYS AT THEIR COMMAND.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Fum-Fum
and Fee-Fee before the
Frontispiece.
peror,
Ho-Fi caught
Em-
own
page
8'2
-
57
-
112
Si-Long's arrival at the Philosopher's,
124
Faw-Faw and Fee-Fee
united,
-
233
Fum-Fum smoking
own
-
260
)
"
^^^
)
-
2S5
in his
Din-Din suspended in
Hyson
flailed
Hey-Ho
Fun
by
trap,
his office,
his father,
his
discovers Fun,
"
-
^
)
tail,
'
lowered from the window,
1^
')
)
CONTENTS.
Page
.....
Invocation,
.
,
Preface,
,
viii
.
x
THE FIRST STORY.
Ho-Fi of the Yellow Girdle,
13
.
.
THE SECOND STORY.
Kublai
Khan
;
or
The
Siege of Kinsai,
60
.
THE THIRD STORY.
Fashions in Feet; or the Tale of the Beautiful
To-To 86
THE FOURTH STORY.
Hyson and Bohea,
.
107
.
.
.
THE FIFTH STORY.
The
Porcelain Bath,
,
.119
,
,
THE SIXTH STORY.
The Emperor Hwang-te;
or the Plough and the
Loom
163
THE SEVENTH STORY.
Marriage in a Mask; or the Cunning Shaver, Chin,
185
THE EIGHTH STORY.
The
Student of Hanlan
The
Feast of Lanterns,
a Tale of
;
Opium-Smoking 229
THE NINTH STORY.
Notes,
.
,
,
.
.
.
.
262
.307
INVOCATION
TO THE MUSE OF TEA.
Muse
of the Central Land,
whose soothmg power
Celestial bards drink in at twilight's hour;
Who,
cheerful promptress of discourse and smiles,
Deign'st even to dwell in these barbarian
A
household
And make
thine oft-filled urn
who
dost deliver
stream more potent than Castalia's
And
To
even, great
Muse of Tea!
river.
canst strength impart
milk and water;—hear, where'er thou
Perchance even
Ah!
if it
Oh!
let
be so,
me
my
now
let
in this
me
stir
me, whilst
Brace,
if
fill
seventh good cup;
thee up.
thy breath inspire.
I
prayer, and let
Of rich " outpourings"
And
my
art!
not thine aid in vain require!
Inspire thou
List to
isles,
to serve us,
our poets warm, our prosemen nervous;
Thou from
A
hand
spirit still at
thou canst,
my
me
be possess'd
strained from thy full chest;
my
strings,
and give them tone,
leaves with virtues like thine
own.
PREFACE.
Recent events have directed towards the Chinese
a degree of inquiry, which, however strange
we
be that
it
may
should have been wanting in attention to
the politest of all people, they never before excited
among
engaged
to learn
in the
China
those
had troubled themselves
instilled into
them
from the pages of Goldsmith and Guy, con-
cerning the Celestial
inhabitants,
ing out,
trade,
much beyond what was
at school
ruin
Few, except
the dwellers in the West.
—
when
Land and
no
its
less celestial
the startling fact of a
war
break-
a war which might probably involve thq
and death of some thousands of our own country-
men, and of some hundreds of thousands of our
brethren in the East, and
price of tea,
to
still
more
the rise in the
—excited a sudden and general anxiety
know something
of the character and resources
of the four hundred millions
whom we
two cock-boats and a walnut-shell
Demand always produces
had sent our
to conquer.
supply;
this, at
least.
PREFACE.
—mendicants,
rakish young gentleman, — who have brought
though denied by some,
creditors,
the test of the JVovmn Organon,
many
with
of our poUtical
is
and
it
to
a favourite axiom
economists:
and au-
thentic works, giving detailed accounts of the coun-
try and
in
its
upon us
peculiar people, have lately been poured
until the booksellers'
which have thus been carted
houses are almost
Many
converted into China shops.
of the tomes
into the literary
are very excellent library volumes; but
which
is
adapted for the study,
is,
for the
market
furniture
most
part,
too heavy for the drawing-room or boudoir.
We
were sorry
to
observe that so excellent and
well-bred a people as our Chinese,
from, were at least
into
which
little
regarded
if
not excluded
in those
the Chinese only could
apartments
convey additional
refinements; and the belief that this resulted chiefly
from the gravity of the
attire in
usually appeared in this country,
ment
to try the
which they have
was our
induce-
experiment of presenting them
in
a
livelier dress.
The
dress,
however,
in
which they are here pre-
sented, though the colours are lively
light,
arc
made up
exclusively, as will be perceived,
of real Chinese materials.
was
at first
and the fabrics
We
will confess that
it
our intention to assume the credit of the
PREFACE.
entire fabrication
but
;
lege* might detect us
litic,
therefore, to
We
we
feared that King's Col-
and we have deemed
it
po-
acknowledge our obligations
the Celestial writers,
adhere
;
XI
and
in
all
to
other particulars to
strictly to truth.
would have
it
understood, then, that the
lowing stories have been compiled from
original sources;
purpose,
and though, consistently with our
now abandoned,
of making over to our-
selves the fee-simple of this literary property,
have altered the
fol-
various
style, that
the
might not be detected thereby,
we
Chinese authors
— we
have neverthe-
scrupulously adhered to the course of the nar-
less,
ratives, to the characters of the agents,
and
to
what-
ever might be essential for conveying just notions of
the
manners and customs, and minds of our brethren
in the pigtailed East.
The
title
of the volume
is
adopted from a work,
nearly similar in plan, by Klam-Klae; but the
is all
we have borrowed from
that writer, as
we
title
did
not find his stories worth the labour of translation.
It
das
may
in
height,
China are either of seven or nine
stories in
and that the celebrated Porcelain Tower, of
Nanking
*
be as well to observe here, that the pago-
consists of
There
is
Nine Stories.
a Professor of Chinese at Kinii's College.
THE PORCELAIN TOWER.
HO-FI
O
OF THE YELLOW GIRDLE.*
wretch,
tliat
Woulds't seek
with malignant fang,
some mortal pang;
t'inflict
Bethink thee well how bowstrings twang,
How
swords do smite and hemp doth hang
I
Slang.
More
than
graceful than the bamboo, and fairer
rice,
was
philosopher
*
The
story of
the well-known
as our
So-Sli, the daughter of the
Ho-Fi
is
selected from
Hou-de-Kaw-Lim
own Anon.
Her
Poo-Poo.
He
;
foot
among
was no
the romances of
a writer as prolific and various
resembles that writer,
too, in the
ill
for-
tune which has militated against his obtaining the fame due to
his
genius and industry, from the authorship of
excellent
all
his
inost
works having been uniformly claimed by unprincipled
and shameless persons, who have succeeded
boo-sprigs from his brows.
patriarchal age.
No
He
in
tearing the bam-
though arrived
at a
library can be considered complete without
a collected edition of his works.
2
is still living,
;
14
when
longer than her finger, so that
walked she
manner, and was obliged
to seek the
and
so helpless
so lovely
was her
light
was her
face,
that
air,
support
So
of a reed or of a hand-maiden.*
was her form, and
she
most engaging
tottered in the
when
she
appeared abroad she attracted the notice of
all,
as a straw
which a juggler of Shanghi
balances on the tip of his nose.
were arched
Her brows
like the feathers in the tail of
the domestic bird of the river
;
her eyes were
smaller than the kernels of the almond, and
were
free
from the disfigurement of lashes
her hair was like a cobweb of the black
spiders of Chen-si
beautifully flat
;
her nose was small, and
;
her lips wêre as two large
pink caterpillars which the cooks of Pecheli
have prepared in the banquet
Heaven.
The fame
for the
Son of
of her loveliness
had
spread throughout the province Kiang-Si,
and many a manly
her, even
upon the
spirit
yearned towards
report of her beauty.
* See note, A,
HO-FI OF
Many were
father for the
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
made
the solicitations
to
hand of the lovely So-Sli
he mischt have married her
both
civil and military, as
But
old
thropist,
15
to
;
her
and
mandarins,
many as he
pleased.
Poo-Poo was a sage and a philanand had devoted himself much
human
the investigation of causes of
to
happi-
ness and misery, and had determined that
marriage might be highly conducive
or to the other, according as
should not
scientific
scientific principles
upon
marriaore should be conducted, he had
formed a theory of his own
;
and
had been
it
a source of the deepest regret to
him
he had not devised his theory until
own
one
should be, or
conducted upon
Of the
principles.
which
be,
it
to
that
after his
marriage.
was now dead,
that
had become a matter of comparatively
little
However,
as his wife
importance.
ter should
He determined
have the
from his idea
;
that his daugh-
full benefit to be derived
and, for a Chinese,
it
must
be conceded that his principles exhibited
16
much
liberality of feeling.
This was
parti-
cularly evinced in one of his theorems
;
a
theorem which, however, appeared in the
eyes of his countrymen so extraordinary, that,
but
for
some charitable doubts which were
entertained as to his sanity,
bly have brought
it
would proba-
down upon him
the heavy
displeasure of the government.
He was
the
first
of the celestial people
had ever questioned
or doubted the propriety
of a marriage between persons
who had had
no previous acquaintance with each
He was
other.
rash enough to start and maintain
this opinion
that
who
;
and farther more, he considered
a certain
should subsist
somewhat of congeniality
between, and be discovered
by, the parties, before they should proceed to
bind themselves indissolubly together.
determined, therefore,
not
only that
He
his
dauofhter should see her future lord before
she became a wife, but
—such was the pecu-
liar tenderness of his paternal affection,
and
so far had the heresy of innovation possessed
IIO-FI
him,
OF THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
—that she
should not be
any person towards
whom
17
made over
to
she manifested a
decided dislike.
Two
great mandarins,
Hang-Yu and
Yii-
be-Hung, and a certain rich merchant. Tin.
had sent
costly presents to her father;
and
the eloquent Tung, a graduate of the college
of Hanlan,* had composed ten volumes of
moral sentences in praise of the beauty of
So-Sli; but though he perused the books,
and graciously accepted the presents, Poo-
Poo
rejected these applicants,
far off to
make
lived too
their addresses in person.
fared no better with
—
who
many
of various rank,
manufacturers, and proprietors of
grounds, silk-feeders, barge-owners, and
cers, civil
It
riceoffi-
and military, who, dwelling in the
neighbourhood, had opportunities of seeing
and of being looked upon by the lovely eyes
of So-Sli.
She had expressed
being by no means averse
to
Hang-Yu
or
to
Tung or to
Yu-be-Hung but
:
See note, B.
2*
herself as
Tin.
these she
;
18
had never
seen.
whom
Those
no favour in her
another was too short
she saw found
One was
sight.
too
a third was too
;
tall,
fat,
a
fourth too thin; this too gay, and that too
serious;
Tin-a-ting's voice
Ding-Dong's was too loud
of sweet potato
liked
:
—and
too gentle,
one was too fond
sweet potato she dis-
another not sufficiently partial to dog,
and dog was her favourite
Sii
;
was
was by no means easy
Here we may pause
multiplicity of presents
to
dish.
In
fact,
So-
to please.
remark, that the
which for a long time
poured in upon Poo-Poo, were well nigh
procuring converts to his system among old
gentlemen who had marriageable daughters
but at
sents,
last suitors
grew chary
and withheld them
till
of their pre-
an interview
with the young lady should have sealed
their fortune.
In the town in which dwelt Poo-Poo and
his lovely daughter, So-Sli, there resided a
young man who boasted
his relationship to
the imperial family, being in fact a descen-
dant from an emperor
who had
occupied
IIO-FI
and
the throne about a hundred
19
years
fifty
before.
The Emperor
mendable
of
tions,
of China looks with com-
upon
affection
whom
all
his poor rela-
he keeps an inventory of
about ten thousand
;
and, according to their
several degrees of affinity, he allots to
all,
by
a graduated scale, certain annual stipends^
and permits them
to
wear some badge by
which they may be distinguished
as being
This badge, whether
cloak, or
of his kin.
shawl, or belt, or cap,
colour, yellow
of Ho-Fi, the
was a
;
is
of the imperial
and in the particular instance
young man
of
whom we speak,
whence he was known
neighbourhood as Ho-Fi of
silken girdle,
throughout that
the Yellow Girdle.
He
farthermore enjoyed
an allowance of three dollars and two sacks
of rice per month.
Being thus a cousin, though a distant one
of the son of Heaven, he
ceived
it
much
would have con-
beneath his dignity
to
have
followed for his livelihood any profession or
trade
;
and as he had desires and ambition
to
20
which
his
was driven
means were quite inadequate, he
to
curious shifts at times, in the
vulgar words of the west, to procure
salt for
his porridge, or indeed porridge for his salt.
Ho-Fi heard
all
the tongues in the neigh-
bourhood eloquent in praise of the beauty of
So-Sli
;
but he heard them likewise no
less'
voluble in condemnation of her whimsicality
and waywardness.
day
Fresh
stories
told of her rejection of
suitor
;
were every
some meritorious
and as none seemed likely
to
prove
altogether agreeable to her very fastidious
taste,
those
who would have been
glad
to
obtain such a prize became shy of advancing
their claims.
But Ho-Fi, with
less intrinsic
worth than many, was not of a character
to
be daunted by the fear of the negotiation
proving unsatisfactory, and he resolved
to
one of the competitors
for
enlist himself as
the hand of So-Sli.
Ho-Fi, though quite a young man, had
already been six times married
;
and on every
occasion had had the misfortune to lose his
wife within a few weeks after their union.
IIO-FI
As seven
is
21
accounted a particularly fortu-
nate number,
not to be wondered at that
it is
he was desirous to adventure once more.
His six dear wives were
together,
" to
and he wanted one
make up
Ho-Fi
on the shelf
all laid
other, in order
a set."
rejoiced in
many advantages, which
had already several times stood him
stead in circumstances
somewhat
those in
which he was about
tactics.
He was
similar to
to exert his
possessed of what his lovely
countrywomen were prone
handsome
in good
person.
His
to
consider
by virmanaged to
finger-nails,
tue of well-contrived splints, he
maintain an inch and a half in length
was
his
a
quite free from whiskers or beard
;
he
;
and
head was always kept cleanly shaven,
except the usual tuft at the crown, which, of
peculiar blackness and strength, and neatly
tied
up with
silk,
depended down his back
He was
almost to the bend of his knee.
particular, moreover, in his dress
;
and as
it
was well known
that his funds were of the
most limited,
wâs a
it
matter of surprise
;
22
among
his neighbours
how he became
pos-
sessed of so very respectable a wardrobe.
And
if this
wonder
that
was a mystery
I,
your conjectures, and
some among
my
it?
I feel
leave
I
dress,
it
will
it to
sure that there
countrymen
to
whom
solution will be intuitively easy.
and
am
a stranger and barbarian,
quite imable to explain
are
them, what
to
a
Person
be admitted, serve as two
powerful talismans in such adventures as
that
upon which he was going
to set forth
but he was possessed of other advantages
These were,
incalculably more important.
a limitless assurance, and that determined
perseverance, which, disregarding repulses,
returns again and again to the charge
which
for
;
or
in simpler phrase, " will not take no
an answer."
To
these
adaptability of disposition,
in with the
humours
of
may
be added an
which could
all
readiness in discovering the
parties,
weak
fall
and a
points of
the enemy, and directing an attack accordingly.
" 'Tis but venturing," said Ho-Fi
;
" and
HO-FI OF THE
if I fail, I will
tail like
YELLOW GIRDLE.
23
up by
my pig-
not iiang myself
a Boo-Bee, nor run myself through
Boo-Bee
with a thumb-nail like a Ni-Ni."
and Ni-Ni were two celebrated Werters of
China.
His design thus formed, he
cally to
work to carry
it
set systemati-
into effect
;
and began
by picking acquaintance with the philosopher
Observing that venerable person
Poo-Poo.
cheapening the hind-quarter of a prize polecat in the meat-market, with his usual ease
and address he managed
sation with
him and by
;
to fall into conver-
a
little
banter, from
time to time agreeably directed to the butcher,
soon obtained
for
the philosopher that
abatement in the price of the tempting morsel for
which Poo-Poo himself might
Having
de-
predilection for polecat,
and
bably in vain have striven.
clared his
own
pro-
particularly for the hind quarter, he led the
discourse
by easy gradations from
to weasels,
from weasels
to rats,
polecats
from rats
to
dogs, from dogs to pigs, from pigs to his fair
countrywomen,
and so
to
the
celebrated
24
beauty So-Sli, the daughter of the sage PooPoo.
Of
philosopher himself he ex-
the
pressed great admiration, and regretted that
he was not so fortunate as to enjoy his acquaintance, nay, that he did not even so
much
as
know him by sight.
Poo-Poo was a lover
of
wisdom
—but what
philosopher was ever
yet proof against adulation? or would not
feel gratified at
over-hearing his
in cases like the present,
own
praises
where they could
Ho-Fi had
not be intended as flattery?
al-
ready secured himself a high place in the
philosophical estimation of Poo-Poo.
It will readily
was not anxious
be supposed that Poo- Poo
to
turn the conversation out
which
of the channel into
had thus
acci-
dentally flowed; and he sounded his
new
friend's opinions
it
on the subject of his pet
matrimonial theory.
This Ho-Fi of course
applauded "to the very echo,"
expression
is
Were you
which
intended that his words were
mere mockery, vox
"
—by
to
et
prceterea nihil.
ask me," said he, "
the greatest of ancient or
modern
who
is
sages, I
;
HO-FI OF
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
Were you
should answer, Poo-Poo.
me who,
of
likely to
be extensively beneficial
man
you
all,
25
me
ask
ask
has advanced a theory most
to the
for a
hu-
Were
race, I should answer, Poo-Poo.
to
to
word synonymous with
Nor
come when
philosophy, I should answêr, Poo-Poo.
do
doubt but that the day
I
the
wisdom
of Poo-Poo will be universally
admitted, and his
name be adduced
clusive settlement of
when,
if
will
any one
all
shall
as a con-
disputed questions
be asked his reason,
he will answer, Poo-Poo;
if
he be asked his
authority, he will answer, Poo-Poo;
criticism will be condensed in those
syllables
Poo
two
syl-
Poo-Poo; and when those same two
lables,
ticism
when
;
Poo-Poo
in short,
will suffice to upset cri-
when he
that speaks Poo-
the loudest will be the best logician, and
when
all
discussion wall be but a matter of
Poo-Poo."
That day Ho-Fi dined with Poo-Poo on
the hind quarter of the prize polecat.
The
morsel was small, but
Having
3
so soon
and so
it
was
choice.
easily insinuated
26
himself into the good graces of the father, he
next sought an opportunity of winning his
way
into those of the daughter.
He
boldly
expressed his desire to Poo-Poo; and a day
was
settled
upon which he should be form-
ally introduced to her,
—a
ceremony not
to
be conducted with too great precipitation.
In the interval he was careful
information regarding the
to collect all
whims and
preju-
dices of the lovely So-Sli.
He
came, he saw, he conquered; or
we
should rather write, he came, she saw, he
conquered.
gant,
His
attire
was studiously
ele-
and he had selected such colours as he
had found, from the report
of
some of her
acquaintance, were the most agreeable to
her.
His beautifully embroidered
of crimson silk
was well calculated
the feminine fancy
won
^petticoat
;
his shawl
to take
might have
the heart even of an English lady
;
his
cap he had procured from one of the most
eminent modistes of Pekin
;
and the
which formed part of outdoor
the most costly fur.
dress,
tippet,
was of
His long black hair
;
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
HO-FI OF
was carefully
his
plaited,
and hung
back he wore a necklace of
;
27
far
pearls,
down
much
coveted by his young competitors in fashion
was replenished with the
essence and he carried a valuable
his scent-bottle
choicest
fan,
;
which he
fluttered with peculiar grace.
This attention
to
externals produced at
once a favourable impression upon So-Sli,
who was
herself particular
She usually wore
in
her
attire.
a long frock-coat of blue
or green cloth over a pink waistcoat,
and her
trowsers were always of the newest cut.
went
to considerable
She
expense to procure the
most elegant pipes, and piqued herself upon
her nice judgment in her choice of tobacco.
The
town, like some other Chinese towns,
was upon the point of surrendering
formidable " demonstration"
enemy
;
but
to
the
made by
the
when he opened upon
it
simul-
taneously, the light artillery of flattery
and
the heavy artillery of gifts, (the latter consist-
ing of two great guns, the one a gold
snufl"-
box, and the other a Chinese poodle,) the
28
gates flew open and he
into
the
citadel,
—his
marched
lady's
vanquished So-Sli kept the
in
triumph
The
heart.
ate
snuff"-box,
the poodle, and accepted the heart and the
hand of Ho-Fi.
They were
married, and a fortnight flew
by in two days
made some
or perhaps the
:
cranium,
this.
we would
dwelling-house of the soul
is its
time-piece
day in
to
its
wind up
pair
miscalculation, as the almanacs
had not predicted
The
young
;
but
Each was
it
is
the
the organ of time
;
when
back-rooms,
its
observe,
the soul
sits all
sometimes forgets
clock.
constantly devising
to
and the only occasions of
gratify the other;
strife that arose
means
between them were when
each endeavoured
to force
upon the other
the choicest morsels of fox, or ferret, or frog,
or whatever constituted their delicate
meal
little
for the day.
One morning, Ho-Fi
for a
while absented
himself from his beloved So-Sli, and went
HO-FI OF
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
When
into the city.
29
he returned, he took
from his pouch, or reticule, a small packet
of
tea.
"My
dearest So-Sli," he said, " I have a
who is particular in the cultivation of
plants.
With so much skill and care are
friend
his experiments conducted, that he has suc-
ceeded in obtaininor bananas from his orangetrees,
and in converting a pine-apple into a
goose-berry.
He
tention to the
improvement of a young
tree.
He
manured
has lately directed his
planted
it
it
with a
at-
tea-
silver spade,
with silk-worms and doves' mar-
row, and he daily waters the earth around
with roe's tears and cinnamon
hitherto
juice.
it
He has
gathered but two ounces of the
leaves, one of
which has been presented
to
the Emperor, and the other he has trans-
mitted to me, as being the oldest of his
friends.
I
ing So-Sli.
have brought
As you
sion of its leaves,
"
you
Nay,"
it
love me,
my darl-
make an
infu-
and drink."
said So-Sli. "if
shall drink
here for
it,
not
I.
3*
it
be so choice,
What
exceedingly
30
curious leaves
ble
is,
what
!
and,
what
most remarka-
is
that they are exactly like others.
is this
" That,"
dust upon them
But
?"
answered Ho-Fi, "
a substance
is
derived from the silkworms, and
is
what, had
they not been buried, would have formed the
down on the wings when they became moths.
But you must drink
have prepared
sion
;
and
to refuse it
I
most dainty infu-
this
purposely for you,
it
would be
to
show how
little
you loved your tender Ho-Fi."
Whilst speaking-, Ho-Fi had poured hot
water on the leaves
;
and he
offered to his
beloved the cup containing the fragrant infusion.
drink
She, however, insisted that he should
and an
it;
affectionate contest took
place between them, each wishing to give
to the other all the
a draught.
to taste a
enjoyment of so exquisite
So-Sli at
drop
first
would take
the remainder
positively refused
then she would consent that
;
he should leave one sip
that if he
up
:
for
half,
her
;
and then,
she would drink
but Ho-Fi was obstinately
determined that she should have
all,
or at
HO-FI OF
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
At
least should take the first draught.
began
their affectionate entreaties
to tones of
settle the
anger and impatience
to
;
31
last
change
when,
to
matter at once, So-Sli took the cup,
and, proceeding to the open window, emptied
it
it
in her husband's view, declaring that, as
had become a cause of quarrel,
should
it
not be tasted by either.
Their anger blew over, and several times
since they had taken tea together in perfect
One evening they were
amity.
and Ho-Fi had
that important occupation,
just finished his first cup,
seated to
when
So-Sli ob-
served she did not think the tea so good as
Ho-Fi agreed with her
usual.
in opinion,
and using a common Chinese imprecation,
wished a rotten root
"
What !"
to the tree that bore
said So-Sli, bursting into a
of uncontrollable laughter,
" after
all
it.
fit
the
pains your poor friend has taken to nourish
it
with silkworms and spice
that
?
Oh
!
now
too cruel a desire!"
is
Ho-Fi
"Why
stared,
and turned somewhat
do you revert
to
pale.
that subject?" he
—
32
"Methinks
said.
it
were better
such
to let
a matter rest."
"
Nay," said
lently,
So-Sli,
"I said you should drink the tea
when I pretended to
I
laughing vio-
still
poured
it
and
only into an earthen pan which
lay outside.
now but am
;
pour it from the window,
have had
I
sorry
you
it
like
Ho-Fi turned very pale
warmed
it
;
for
you
so little,"
and
his pigtail,
" with the effect of fear," stood out horizontally
and
moments
stiffly
from his head.
For a
few-
he was struck motionless, but anon
he started up, and called loudly
for
warm
water.
" Perfidious
woman !"
he shrieked, " hast
thou poisoned thy husband?"
"Was
"Poisoned!" said So-Sli.
then poisoned ?
I
remember
the tea
that white dust
—but can moth's feathers be poison?"
"It burns!
frantic
it
manner.
burns!" cried Ho-Fi, in a
"
For Fo's
an emetic, a stomach-pump
not yet invented
any thing
!"
—but
sake, bring
—
me
no, no, that
blisters,
cataplasms
is
Ir^^^ A/!'^
I'3,t
./(c
,A
fv///f//)/ / //
///,)
r/r^/
na/f
HO-FI OF
He was
for;
put in bed
he raved
till
lay asleep, or
When
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
:
physicians were sent
he was exhausted, and then
of the expressions he
He
distilled
to
explain
said that the tea
wonderful potency as
of reason
he became aware
had used, and being
he endeavoured
away.
some hours.
insensible, for
his sense returned,
calmer,
33
to
was
them
of such
have deprived him
more rapidly than the strong
spirit
He had
from rice could have done.
fancied in his delirium that his wife had put
poison in his cup
ciated
;
but he
now
fully appre-
absurdity of such a
the
should write to the friend from
fear.
He
whom he had
received the leaves, a timely intimation, that
Emperor swallow
should the
the infusion
intended for the bodily solace of that celestial
person, he, the unfortunate cultivator of this
ardent
tea,
death by
would unquestionably be put
all
the ingenuities of torture.
Ho-Fi had a strong constitution
him
to
to
support
against poisoned tea and three Chinese
physicians.
effects.
He
slowly recovered from their
S4
He was
wife
self,
restored once
but, fond as she
;
more
to his fond
had always shown her-
So-Sli could not prevent the intrusion
into her
mind of an unpleasant suspicion
that
her affectionate husband had offered her poi-
soned
tea,
from a too lively solicitude
to
put
her quite out of reach of those ugly custom-
Long
and sorrow.
ers, care
riage, surmises
before her mar-
had been whispered which
had even reached her
ears, that at least a
few
of his former six wives had been dealt with
unfairly
but no one, wife or otherwise,
;
volunteered any evidence against him; and
the Chinese had not arrived at those refine-
ments in chemical science which enable our
western luminaries, by distilling a bone, or
making a
fricassee of a muscle, to detect the
millionth part of the
one
It
who
is
supposed
shadow of nothing in
to
have died by poison.
could hardly have been hinted that a
man was such
a Bluebeard, without strong
reason assigned for so supposing.
to
some minds, the mere
Perhaps,
fact of his
having
been married six times, and having in every
;
HO-FI OF
become a widower
instance
may
months,
but
if
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
36
two
within
suffice to justify a suspicion
a motive should be sought that could
render such heinous villany probable, it might
be mentioned that on the marriage of a Yel-
low Girdle he
is
allowed by his cousin, the
Emperor, a sum of one hundred
taels (in ad-
dition to his usual stipend,) to assist in fur-
nishing his house; and on the death of his
wife one hundred and twenty more, to assist
in furnishing her sepulchre.
was by no means the
first
of
And Ho-Fi
whom
it
had
been reported that he sought by a succession
of such profitable marriages and deaths to
raise his
very inconsiderable income into a
handsome competency.
So-Sli could not avoid a suspicion
;
but as
she had really loved Ho-Fi, she tried to
repress
it,
and not
thoughts as must,
if
to
entertain such evil
confirmed, have given a
death-blow to her affection.
haunted by a
fear that
by other devices
to lay
his former wives.
Still
she was
he might endeavour
her on the shelf with
The "shelf" whereupon
36
his former wives
were
laid,
was a
shelf of
rock at a small distance from the city a place
;
upon which such persons
to
purchase ground
as could not afford
for the burial of their
deceased friends, availed themselves of the
common right of disposing
He had,
coffins.*
therefore, appropriated to himself a portion
of this ledge,
where the
six coffins of his
wives were ranged side by
est order, like so
side, in the neat-
many volumes
of one book,
that might, not inappropriately, have been
termed
collectively, "
Upon each were
of Ho-Fi,"
The Works of Ho-Fi."
inscribed the words,
"Wife
and the name besides of the occu-
pant, as a brief table of contents.
I
am
to sorry, that
had So-Sli been more
suspicious than she was, she would therein
There
have done her husband no wrong.
was nothing he
have his
so earnestly
new volume
wished as
firmly put
up
camphor-wood binding, and neatly
to
match the
others.
See note, C.
in
to
a
lettered
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
HO-FI OF
37
Ho-Fi remembered an incident in a famous
Chinese tragedy,* an original device
for dis-
posing of an obnoxious person, which he
imagined he might turn
He
to felicitous account.
procured a savage dog, and having pur-
chased a lady's dress of peculiar colours, and
another of similar appearance, although of
inferior
he
quality,
straw, bones, and
fierce
The
filled
offal,
the latter with
and encouraged the
animal to tear this effigy in pieces.
creature
was well pleased with the
prize
he discovered within, and Ho-Fi repeated
his experiment
on several successive days.
When he considered the dog to be sufficiently
familiarized with the figure, he tied
him
up,
and kept him
for
The
Yellow Girdle then made a
insidious
some time without
food.
present to his lady of the other and choicer
dress, expressing a
immediately indue
until she
desire that
it.
had examined
hensive eye, she did
:
she might
This, not however,
it
with an appre-
and he affected
• See note, D.
to be
38
much
gratified at beholding her in her
new
He, however, pretended
have
garment.
business which would call
for
to
him from home
an hour, and begged that she would wait
his return in a grotto in the garden ; but
particularly requested that she
no one
to
he
would allow
open a chest which he had had
placed in a court of the house, and of which
he said the fastening had been accidentally
broken.
to
Excusing himself from explaining
her just then what
it
contained, he pro-
mised that he would do so by and by.
When So-Sli was left alone, she communed
" Who knows," she said,
with herself
" what man-trap or spring-gun my beloved
husband may have prepared
orrotto
?
It will not, I fear,
ture thither.
for
me
in the
be wise to ven-
And, what can be enclosed
within this chest which he wishes to keep
secret from
me ?
Now
I
would wager
six
pots of pickled earth-worms that he has concealed in that the grave-clothes
which he
intends for his affectionate So-Sli.
then, resolved to
examine the chest
So-Sli,
forth-
HO-FI OF
with.
But
first
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
39
she went to a cage, in which
was her husband's bird of good-luck, a white
necked crow.*
yond all
it
Ho-Fi valued
:
he had made
to
him, and he
his earthly possessions
tame, and had attached
it
this bird be-
considered that whilst he possessed
material ill-fortune could befall him.
Sli frequently fed
of her also, from
that
its
and
which
it
it
So-
had become fond
was
to
be believed
kindly influence would extend to her.
She took
on her
it,
no
it,
it
now from
wrist,
which was
its
cage,
and placed
and having tendered
affectionately received
procated, she
went
it
a
kiss,
and
reci-
it
into the yard to discover
the contents of the mysterious chest.
unhesitatingly raised the lid; but
She
let it fall
again with great precipitation, as with a loud
growl a savage dog attempted
to
spring from
within.
So-Sli
is
was off with greater expedition than
by the
frequently practised
of the
Flowery Land
;
footless ladies
and the cover of the
* See note, E.
40
chest having fallen on the back of
—such was
ruped, — she
before he
It
Bou-Wou,
the
name
was
able to gain a few paces
of the fierce quad-
had struggled from beneath
would
soon, however,
over with poor So-Sli,
—
it.
have been
for
all
the dog had
caught a glimpse of the dress so familiar
to
him, and would, therefore, have mistaken his
mistress for his daily bread,
— had
she not,
with great presence of mind, seized Ho-Fi's
bird of good-luck
it
by the neck, and whisking
rapidly three times round, thrown
her hungry pursuer.
snap at
closing
this,
it
ral bolts.
When
As he jumped
it
to
aside to
So-Sli reached the door, and,
against him, secured
it
with seve-
»
Ho-Fi returned, So-Sli
that a savage dog
had got
told
him
loose in the court,
and that his bird of good-luck had disappeared.
"
As
denly
I
I
looked in the cage," she said, "sud-
beheld him
wax
paler and paler,
till,
having become thinner than mist, he passed
HO-FI OF THE
between the
after I
bars,
cannot at
YELLOW GIRDLE.
and what became of him
all tell."
Ho-Fi was inconsolable
bird.
41
for the loss of his
" Better," said he, " to lose nine wives
than to lose a bird of good-luck."
wardly he feared
lest
And
in-
the bird of good-luck
having thus evaporated in the presence of
So-Sli might indicate the calamity he most
dreaded
—that he should
lose
no more wives.
In a few days, however, his invention was
again in active exercise.
Sli's suspicions
Perceiving that So-
were awakened, he judged
best to send his
dog back
to
it
the place in
which he had been trained and he would not
;
try a fresh
experiment with him.
Another week had passed
;
it
was evening,
and the shadows of the western
hills
were
gradually extending eastward over the richly
cultivated fields.
We
mention
this,
not as
necessary to the elucidation of our story, but
merely because an erroneous opinion seems
to
have possessed the minds of many, that
shadows are unknown in China.
The artists
of the celestial empire exhibit their hopeful
4*
42
character
by omitting the dark
picture.
They would make you believe that
side of every
Peter Schlemihl's friend had walked through
the land, and bought shadow and
every inch of the commodity.
shade,
Foreigners,
however, have not discovered that nature, in
framed
this particular, has
for
China laws
from those in operation over other
different
portions of the globe
really to
:
but the Chinese seem
be unaware that shadow exists
among them
;
and in
and
their writings
course, as in their pictures,
dis-
always represent
their country as an all-enlightened land.
It
was
was evening
;
and the beautiful So-Sli
sitting in a verandah,
engaged in embroidering a
ing betel,
when Ho-Fi
very diligently
dress,
and chew-
approached, and as-
suming an appearance of sudden alarm and
solicitude, exclaimed,
"By
futtsze,
the pig-tail and thumb-nails of Con-
me what ails my ever
What sudden and malevo-
explain to
sweetest So-Sli
!
lent disease is endeavouring to pick the lock
of
my
casket of a thousand jewels
?
Your
HO-FI OF
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
complexion, sweet mouse of
my
43
bosom,
is
your eyes are as dull as a stewed
shark's fiu, and I see well that you must be
like silk,
under the
Saturn
:
evil influence of the melancholic
thence cold has gained a predomi-
nancy over heat in your temperament, and
dryness over moisture.
your chamber
also those of
;
avoid
Go, therefore, to
all
yellow objects, and
gloomy white
;
you had
better,
indeed, put out your lantern, and close
your
window, that you
may
see nothing but a
lively black about you.
lest
the hue of
my
I will
go hence,
girdle exercise a malig-
nant effect upon you; and
if
you
will betake
yourself to bed, I will send hither a physician of great skill, who will feel your pulses,
and determine from the
stars
what medicines
you should use."
The Chinese
many secrets of phyunknown to the philoso-
possess
sical science quite
E urope. Among others is the mysdependance of particular colours upon
phers of
terious
particular planets
yellow upon Saturn, for
example, and black upon Mercury.
White
;
44
is their
opposite,
mourning colour
must needs,
among them
as
;
and black, as
its
therefore, be regarded
having a particularly gay
and agreeable character.
A
Chinese physician
not content with
is
feeling one pulse of his patient
From
many.
;
he must
feel
each he learns somewhat of
the disease, and he needs no other indications to guide him.
It is a
removes most of the
European doctor
nosis
:
simple plan, and
difficulties that beset the
in the formation of his diag-
pulse with
him
is
every thing
the Brahmin, he lives upon pulse.
sults,
indeed, the planets, as
century since
bles our
yond
;
we
He
like
con-
did some
but in one thing he resem-
—that
be-
he believes in the healing
vir-
modern pharmacopeists,
all stars
;
tues of Mercury.
So-Sli wondered what the solicitude of her
husband might portend.
Was Bou-Wou
awaiting her in her chamber, and preparing
a dose of bark?
easily,"
''You don't
bite
me
so
thought So-Sli; and she entreated
Ho-Fi that
if
she should immediately betake
HO-FI OF
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
herself to bed, he
same time.
would
He
retire to rest at the
himself on the
excused
ground that he must forthwith
cian
and though
:
for a
45
a physi-
call
while she
made some
objections to this, having ever entertained a
great dislike to doctor's stuff and doctor's
learning,
which she classed together
as stuff
and nonsense, she could not but give in
as he insisted
last,
upon
with
it
at
the ear-
all
nestness of affectionate solicitude.
Ho-Fi accordingly went
sician
and
;
to
So-Sli, taking a lantern,
having glanced in a mirror,
of
what
that she
all
seek the phy-
and
to assure herself
along she had strongly suspected,
was
7iot
so yellow as silk,
and that
her eyes were not so dull as a stewed shark's
fin,
proceeded to her chamber, and very cau-
tiously opening the door,
before she
were
would
threw in a bone
enter, to find if the coast
clear.
As no dog snapped
at the bone, So-Sli felt
sufficiently assured that her canine
was not
into
it,
in the apartment.
therefore, but
enemy
She ventured
moved about with great
46
circumspection, and she examined the room
with the utmost
care, to discover
ger might be concealed within
had
fully
made up her mind
what danfor
she
that there
was
it;
some.
She looked up the chimney she pryed
;
every corner
chairs
;
in
she turned about the table and
she looked in the oven under the bed.
;
Yes, truly
to place
the oven
;
it is
a
was under the bed.
common
practice in the Chi-
nese empire, and unquestionably
acute plan
:
in one side of a
arched recess, in which
So
is
it is
chamber
is
an
an
placed the bed on
a raised platform and beneath that the oven.
What
a very cosy thing upon a winter's
The warming-pan as large as the
mattress.
You put your bread in the oven,
night
!
and have a hot
practice
roll in bed.
But perhaps this
may have done something
towards
making the Chinese rather a crusty people.
So-Sli was not yet satisfied.
"What,"
said she, ''an' if I find needles in
and the mere idea gave her a
side.
She
my
bed?"
stitch in her
lifted the bed-clothes,
but
let them
;
HO-FI OF
fall
again
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
much more
quickly
she was
;
She gave
frightened, but she did not shriek.
utterance only to a
little
47
gasping cry, such as
might proceed from a
"sucking-
terrified
dove;" and she did not run away,
though
for
she had arrived at womanhood, her feet were
as those of an infant.
However, she tottered
back a few paces, and then paused
sider
what she should
to con-
do.
But what had she seen in the bed? Had
any of you seen it, my fair readers, the apparition of the old gentleman's
it
which
bore a very marked resemblance, could
scarcely have'frightened
a
tail, to
huge black adder.
ever, suppose that,
celestial
you more.
You must
though
startled,
lady was scared at
all in
degree that you would have been
that she
with
;
It
was
not,
how-
our
little
the same
by reason
had been on most familiar terms
many
of his kinîn the kitchen.
So-Sli hobbled quietly out of the room;
she called a female servant, and sent her into
the court to bring a
to its leg
young
rat
from the coop
they tied a small stone, and put
it
48
in a large, long earthen pot with a small
neck
;
under the clothes of
just peeping
and
the bed to see whereabouts the adder lay,
they thrust this in with the mouth towards
They
him.
listened,
cied that they heard
this
and
after a
him
glide into
was confirmed by a
little
time fanit,
and
squeak from
the rat; so, cautiously lifting the clothes, they
suddenly raised the
upon the end, and
jar
put a stopper over
its
The
mouth.
adder
could not but perceive that he was rather
awkwardly
thought he
coil
about
situated
;
but
it
shall *go to pot,'"
was of no use
to
make
a
it.
So-Sli sat
up
to
loving and liege lord
little
"I
:
yet," she said;
wait the return of her
:
"I
shall stay
"an adder
by him a
shall not be
our divider."
Two
back
:
or three hours elapsed ere
he had forgotten the physician.
As he
entered he seemed startled at be-
holding her.
"
how
he came
is it
"My
that
dearest So-Sli," he said,
you have not
as I requested?"
retired to bed,
HO-FI OF
"
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
49
Whilst you were absent from me," she
answered,
"
how
could I have rested
?
I
should have been haunted by dragons, and
demons, and cockatrices.
Besides,
ex-
I
pected to see the physician, and I was not
willing that he should visit
chamber.
How
is it
that he
me
in
my
bed-
comes not with
you?"
" His
own
son," replied Ho-Fi; " is
on the
him
that you
point of death, and I could not induce
to leave his bed-side
:
but he desired
should not rise from your couch whilst the
cold influence
to
was upon you.
spend the night in watching and fasting;
and
at
midnight
to
gather certain simples on
the hill
without the
row he
will prepare
jure you, then, as
to
He bade me
city,
from which to-mor-
your medicines.
you love
I con-
my yellow girdle,
go to bed without more delay.
So-Sli at last assented to go to bed alone;
but she would not do so until he should have
partaken, with her, of a soup,
she had prepared for
believing that
it
which she
him with great
would be agreeable
to
said
care,
him
!
50
after
being so long exposed to the
To
the night.
this, so far as
damp
of
himself was
concerned, Ho-Fi had no reasonable objection to urge
it
;
but for her sake he wished that
had not been made, and he earnestly ad-
vised her
by no means
The
thereof
to
take any part
night air had given Ho-Fi an
appetite.
So-Sli promised; and they sat dovv^n on
bamboo
either side of a small
tern
was placed upon
duced
it,
and the soup,
was put
in a covered bowl,
placed his hand upon the cover,
Ho-
He had
when
So-
knocked the lantern from
the table, and the light
She
lan-
intro-
before
Fi that he might help himself
Sli accidentally
A
table.
was extinguished.
rose suddenly from her chair in great
alarm, and in doing this upset the
so that the soup-bowi
lap of Ho-Fi.
was thrown
meals, and this he held
it fell.
into the
Ho-Fi had on a skin apron,
which he usually wore when he
per as
little table?
up
But alack
his supper caught
sat
down
to
to catch his sup-
for luckless
him by the
Ho-Fi
wrist,
and
HO-FI OF
made him
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
roar with agony.
51
knew
So-Sli
had
his partiality for viper soup, but
forgot-
ten to have the reptile cooked.
But So-Sli did not escape with impunity.
Ho-Fi chased her around the apartment, and
driving her at last into a corner, beat her
with his knotted pigtail in an unmerciful
manner, until the pain of the
made him
ceived in his wrist
the
floor,
bite
fall
he had
re-
down upon
and grind his head against
it.
Whilst he was so employed his wife stepped
upon
his shoulder,
and jumping over him,
The
escaped from the house.
was
in gave her
fore her legs
power
to
had carried
fright she
run as never beher,
and
that, too,
Fright does not always
without crutches.
thus assist us in getting out of a hobble.
When
the
first
impetus supplied by fear
had abated, she assumed somewhat more of
her ordinary walk.
hailed
by the watchmen
through the
proceed
Several times she was
;
streets;
and
as
she
passed
but they allowed her to
at last, sorely spent
with the
52
fatigue of her long and unsupported tottering, she arrived at her father's house.
The
philosopher had already retired to
He was
rest.
angry
at
being thus aroused,
but his indignation was beyond
when he heard
low
;
and we
bounds
his daughter's story.
will appeal," he said, " to
matter
all
will
Peking
hang Ho-Fi
''
I
in this
in his yel-
girdle."
Ho-Fi, meanwhile,
ysms
when
the
first
parox-
of pain had subsided, sent for a barber-
surgeon, and had his wrist, which was swollen to the size of the calf of his leg, examined'
and
dressed.
Moreover, having no doubt
heard of that ancient practice in chirurgery
which cured the wound by anointing the
weapon, he had the viper dressed also and
;
revenge furnished an excellent sauce, and
greatly improved his supper.
Poo-Poo, according
to
appeal to the Emperor.
promise,
made
his
As Ho-Fi boasted
his relationship to the imperial family, this
was the properest course
;
though the
local
HO-FI OF THE
YELLOW GIRDLE.
53
courts were not forbidden to exercise jurisdiction
similar
in
cases.
were sent from Pekinof
Commissioners
to investijjate the af-
fair.
Ho-Fi, and his wife, their domestics, Poo-
who were required as witnesses, were summoned before
the tribunal.
Some of the relatives also
Poo, and a few other persons
of the former wives of the Yellow Girdle
took care to be present in the court.
The
was
case
fully examined.
Minute
evidence was entered into to prove that Ho-
Fi had in various ways attempted the
his lady
;
all
life
of
the circumstances connected
with their marriage were
set forth
by Poo-
Poo; So-Sli gave her evidence with great
perspicuity,
and her statements respecting
the poisoned tea and the fierce
Bou-Wou,
as
well as concerning the vipor in the bed, were
corroborated
by the testimony of the
Some amateur
witnesses
made
it
servants.
pretty ap-
parent that Ho-Fi's former wives had
them been Burked and Greenacred
all
;
of
and
the judges and jury were fully satified of his
5*
54
oruilt.
The
defence did not shake their con-
fidence though
showed
it
that faults of less
magnitude existed in some other
The
parties.
verdict of the court having been sub-
mitted to Peking, the following proclamation
was
ror,
in a few days received from the
Empe-
—the Son of Heaven, and Father of the
Celestial
Empire.
his subjects
— that
was addressed
It
is to
to all
say, to his three
hun-
dred and sixty -five millions of children.
" Peking, the sixth
month
;
the fourteenth
day; the fifty-eighth year of the Emperor
Ho-Ho.
" Unless the
laws be exercised even on the
imperial kindred, they will not be obeyed.
"
When the mulberry shall degenerate into
the thorn,
it is
time that
it
should be rooted
out.
" Guilt doth not escape the penetrating
Ho-Ho hath long
search of Ho-Ho.
"
Ho-Ho would emulate
father,
Ha-Ha, and
train
ears."
the virtues of his
up by good exam-
ple his son, He-He.
" It hath
come
to the
knowledge of Ho-Ho
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
HO-FI OF
55
Yellow Girdle, named Ho-Fi,
that a certain
residing in the city of Din-Din, nol respect-
imperial
ing the
claimed, that
pleasure,
all shall live
so
pro-
often
peaceably together
without committing offences against their
neighbours, hath contumaciously presumed
to
put six wives to death by various devices,
and hath in
like
manner attempted
The modes
of a seventh.
have been these:
The
falsely.
cribed
to
it
drowned
—
for
first fell
of their deaths
from a rock
:
—he
the sec
as-
md was
said that she died of drink:
was hanged
the third
life
each he accounted
female giddiness
— he
the
—he spoke of her
tight-
was poisoned
— he
declared she was not careful in diet: the
fifth
ness of breath
was starved
:
the fourth
— he
said
tliat
she lived too low:
with her shoe
— he
gave out that she could not say herself
how
the sixth was choked
she died.
By
deluded justice
these evasions he for a while
:
but the truth hath become
manifest; the chicken hath pipped the shell;*
"Eg-s
Chinese
are close tilings, but chickens will out at last."
|r'>verb, signifying that
murder
will
out.— Uavis.
A
66
the cat can no longer conceal the kittens; the
parrot hath moulted; let
his
him be ashamed
of
tail.
"
But
that the
agreeable to the rules of justice
it is
punishment should bear some
refe-
rence to the particular nature of the crime^
This was the attempted murder of the
se-
venth wife, which he hath essayed by poison,
by a
dog, and
by a
It is the will,
viper.
Ho-Ho that Ho-Fi be punished in
manner that he be stung to death by
then, of
this
:
adders, and that his heart be filled with poi-
and given
son,
to
Bou-Wou.
the dog
consideration of his former enormities
farther ordered, that his
body be cut
In
it
is
into ex-
ceeding small pieces, one of which shall be
sent to every square /y* throughout the em-
and stuck upon a thorn.
pire,
That
his ten
nearest relatives be put to death also; but as
it is
well to temper justice with mercy, they
shall be
shall
shall
•
A
merely strangled.
His wife So-Sli
be strangled likewise.
submit each
ly is
to
His servants
two hundred strokes of
a measure of diBtancc about equal to our furlong.
^
:
HO-TI OF
the
bamboo
;
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
Poo-Poo, the father of So-Sli
hundred, and shall wear
shall receive five
the
57
wooden collar
for
twelve calendar months,
a proper reward for his heretical doctrines
the allowance of pay and rice to
all
Yellow
Girdles shall cease for three years; and the
principal
up
mandarin of Din-Din
shall
be hung-
in his house."
For "hung up
in his house,"
sions of the proclamation read
''
some
ver-
suspended in
his office."
The wind up
of this enunciation of the ce-
lestial will is too
long for insertion here
;
it
exhibits a fine struggle between a proper hu-
mility and conscious wisdom.
The
story of
Ho-Fi
Chinese and
is told.
poetical justice go hand-in-hand.
His name
has long been universally execrated throughout he celestial empire.
rowed
it,
and among them
sion equivalent to
"0
among us barbarous
of the
to
bor-
was an expres-
thou serpent!"
Even
inhabitants of the isles
Western Ocean
day used
The Greeks
o<P'
"0
fye!"
convey a reproach.
is
to
this
;
KUBLAI KHAN
OR,
THE SIEGE OF
KINSAI.
INTRODUCTION.
I
AM
story
is
inclined to believe that the following
a sort of psychological curiosity that
;
is to say,
that
it is
no other than a poetical
dream of the well-known Klang, the warrior
bard.
There
is
is
internal evidence that this story
but "the stuff" of a dream, in
dislocation of historical facts.
its
strange
This, in a
writer so remarkable for accuracy as the
fa-
mous Klang, can only be accounted
on
the above supposition.
joyal city, Kinsai,
It is
for
true that the
was beset by the troops of
—
:
KUBLAl KHAN.
the Khan, and that the
Emperor
69
fled,
leaving
the defence of the place to his Empress:
true that she defended
it
it is
with great valour
but history makes no mention, upon this occasion, of
an
any regiment of ladies; though
earlier period in the
at
Chinese annals the
Emperors Shih-hoo and Yang-te had troops
of beautiful ladies as their body-guards.
It
can scarcely be necessary to observe that the
adventure of the Khan, as related in the
cond and third cantos,
is
se-
altogether fictitious.
A medley of legends and historical facts must
have been spinning round together in the
brain,
— in
the stomach I should say,
China the mind
is
—
in
seated in the stomach,*
in the
stomach of the slumberingr Klans:
when
these, not originally connected, acci-
dentally arranged themselves in the sequence
in
which they are here presented
reader.
Chinese Miscellany.
to
the
;
KUBLAI KHAN
THE SIEGE OF
Women
young and women
These be
all
KINSAI.
fair,
the brave man's share.
Dry-Dkn.
CANTO
I.
I.
You've heard, no doubt, of Kublai Khan,
man
That
terrible
Who
overran
The eastern world,
With steps of steel,
in
days of yore,
in
paths of gore
Could there be brought together but
?
all
bones of those his armies slew,
The
They would vie in bulk with the China
Or fill up the great canal of Yu.
11.
Kublai
A
Khan was
terrible
a terrible man,
Tartar was Kublai
Khan
wall.
; ;
KUBLAI KHAN.
His beard was yellow,
his eyes
;
61
were
red,
And, hard as a crab's, stood out from his head,
They were eyes to pierce and eyes to harrow
Those that he looked at would quake to their marrow;
The heart, when he frowned, would sink down in
the belly.
And
made
the voice of his anger
blood turn to
jelly.
He
swore the Chinese realm should fall
at the head of his Tartar hordes,
Who all carried besoms as well as their swords.
So he came
And
he pitched
As soon
He
his tents before the wall.
as the following
led
them along
morn had birth,
war array
in their
A
part of the wall was formed of earth,
So they plied their besoms and swept it away.
Then Kublai Khan gave the word of command.
And
they
all
poured into the Central Land.
IV.
What
deeds were done
As on
is it
their course they
need
wound
I
say,
?
What roofs were fired, what fields laid waste,
What armies slain, what hearths disgraced,
What lovely dames were borne away.
What plainer dames were drowned ?
Oh wo in the rear and death in the van
Were ever attendant on Kublai Khan.
!
6
;
;
62
;
V.
Fierce Kublai
Where
the
came to great Kinsai,
Emperor dwelt, and his wives, and
kin,
In a beautiful palace, with a rich inlay
Of gold without and
And
of pearls within
with terrible groups of
his
Tartar troops
He blackened the hills and the plains around
And he vowed a vow, that its towers should bow,
And its walls be scattered along the ground.
But when the Emperor saw
Proud Kublai's banners flaunting,
He was struck with amaze and awe.
And
And
felt
that his heart
was wanting
slipping his ribs, so august
Into a jacket of
common
and imperial,
material,
That none might suppose him a person of
He gat from the city by night in a boat.
But he left his queen and wives behind,
And bade them take good care
That the
note.
insolent Tartar hordes should find
A warm
reception there.
vii.
Now
it's fit
you be
told, that this
Besides his Empress
Had
As
twenty wives, of propcrcst
blythe and busy
Emperor
fair,
lives.
as bees in hives,
bold,
; ;
KUBLAI KHA.N.
Endeavouring
63
still
His hours to fill
With frolic and merriment
fit
to kill
The hollow-eyed phantom, Care.
There were An, and Nan, and Fan,
And Jin, and Din, and Sin, too.
With names that I neither can.
Nor would wish to enter into
Monosyllable names of most killable dames.
Dames, I mean to say, able to kill us all
So lovely and neat, and with such Uttle feet.
As with awe and with wonder would fill us
:
And
al
again and besides these beautiful brides,
Who
sat in
due order at both of
his sides,
Farthermore he possessed,
(So might count himself blessed.
More than any that dwelt in the East or
the
West,)
A
all chosen and pick'd,
were brave, whose discipline strict,
regiment of ladies,
Whose
All
hearts
mounted on steeds of superior breeds,
And furnished with bows and brass-pointed
And swords ever ready for martial deeds
Which loyal and beautiful band
Formed his guard, to watch and to ward
reeds,
Treasons and dangers, from servants or strangers.
Lest any
To
all
come near a person so dear
dames of the Central Land.
the loyal
——
;
:
64
The Empress was
And
colonel of this gallant troop,
were the majors,
the wives
the captains,
lieutenants,
And
ensigns that bore the invincible pennants.
To which
every
foe,
seemed to be so,
gallantry bound to stoop.
It
Was
in
So Sergeant Sling called over the names.
And the Empress harangued her regiment of
dames
Set out before them, in learned display,
The danger that threatened the city Kinsai
The myriads of Tartars
Prepared
to
;
be martyrs,
Rather than yield
An
inch of the
Or move from
Till the
" So you see,
"
my
We
field,
the wall,
town should
fall.
girls," said the beautiful colonel,
go
forth in strong quest
Of difficult conquest
Should they beat
But,
if
women
the
shame
is
infernal.
they be beaten, our glory eternal.
So
let
us be drest
In our holiday best,
With
silks
of bright hues
All embroidered, for mails.
—
;
KUBLAI KHAN.
With
66
•
the smallest of shoes,
And
the longest of nails,
With patches of pink
On our lips and our
And eye-brows of ink
Laid
in
cheeks,
deUcate streaks,
With foong-hangs* rare,
Of jewels and gold,
Hanging down from our
hair,
O'er our foreheads so fair
;
These charms, as I think.
And the swords we shall
hold,
make the foe shrink,
Be they never so bold.
Will
XI.
"
Now
You
Major
Slo, as
shall lead the
your charger
advance, when
is fleet.
we go
forth to
meet
The
foe in the field,
and Major
Van
Shall bring up the rear as well as she can.
There
is
work
for you, fair Captain Slae,
And
for Captain Shi, so
For
cast your glance o'er plain
We
have
But
let
many
forward still;
and hill.
to capture
not numbers
and many
to kill
our hearts dismay.
We'll not be afraid of the foe or the frav."
* See note, F.
6*
66
XII.
Thus
And
the
Empress spoke
to her female bands,
the male troops also received her
commands:
The male bands answered with warUke whoops,
But the hope of the town was the female troops.
;
KUBLAI KHAN.
CANTO
67
ir.
I do not say how the siege begun,
What works were tried, what deeds were done,
What engines used, what flags upborne,
What breaches made, what trousers torn,
What throats were cut, what Umbs were hack'd
What bodies were crushed, what skulls were crack'd,
I don't know, and that's the fact.
But deeds of hand, and deeds of heart.
Valorous deeds upon either part.
Countless losses of lords and wives,
Countless losses of limbs and lives;
Walls in ruin, and silks in rags.
Because
Terrible engines, flouting flags.
And all that belongs to a fearful fray,
You may understand without my say.
The walls though battered were not thrown down
And the Empress yet retained the town.
II.
Oh, ne'er had a general yet been seen
In all the Central Land,
—
; ;
;
68
Who
Or
Nor
in skill or in luck,
in plenty of pluck,
Was
at all to
With
that
there, as
I
compare
Empress so fair;
ween, had a troop ever been,
That might vie with her beautiful band.
She gallantly held the great Kinsai,
And harassed the foe both night and day
They scarce could remain in the neighbouring plain,
Nor were safe in the hills and the valleys
For in her defence there was so much of sense,
And so much keen wit in her sallies.
III.
Let
me
declare
it, if
nobody knows,
Ladies are not such contemptible
A
thousand at once, and
Mid
Like
all
foes.
of them chattering,
horses' hoofs clattering, pattering, spattering,
tilters
of Eglintoun
all
running at a ring.
Killing and scattering.
Bruising and battering.
Maiming and shattering,
Not to be flattering.
Of primal confusion they teach you a
smattering.
IV.
Daily were prisoners brought into the
Tied by
city,
their pigtails* together in pairs
• See note G.
:
:
KUBLAI KHAN.
69
The handsome ones won on the Empress's pity,
The plain ones were hung in the crescents and
squares.
She
And
And
offered rewards for the heads of the lords,
the
commoners
her soldiers
oft
too of the Tartar hordes.
brought them by twos and by
twos,
Slung over
by
their shoulders so tied
Or, sometimes a lady with
Arranged them
little
in pairs o'er the
their queues;*
remorse,
neck of her horse.
Now months had passed on in storming and sallying,
Fancy-phlebotomy, running and rallying;
In hurling stones.
And
in
throwing darts;
In breaking bones,
And
The
in piercing hearts
;
troops of the Timour,
By hands and
Endeavouring
to
hy knees.
climb
o'er,
The walls of the Chinese
And the brave Chinese band,
Ensconced
in
snug quarters.
Hurling hot pitch and sand
On
Till
the heads of the Tartars
the Tartars confessed, at least those
thick of
it,
*
See note, H.
in the
;
:
70
;
!
;
That the siege of Kinsai, they were
of
And
it
heartily sick
it
made Kublai Khan very
fierce
and
sple-
netic.
To
find
thus act as a Tartar emetic.
it
VI.
So
the* terrible Kublai swore
That by storm he would take the
And wash
city
the streets with the inmates' gore,
Without remorse or pity.
That lord nor page, that youth nor age,
Should meet mith a moment's quarter:
But that proud Kinsai should be all laid low,
And the share of the plough should over it go.
To bury its bricks.
Its
Its
stones
marble,
and
sticks,
mud and
mortar.
VII.
As Kublai pronounced
his decree so proudly,
His blood-hungry Tartars applauded him loudly
They clattered their swords, they struck their gongs.
The air was griped with their crudest songs
It was beaten with shouts and shattered with laughter,
And
the echoes
were
ill
for a
month
thereafter
The broad river quaked as it rolled on its way.
And the red flags were wind-shaken over Kinsai.
:
—
!
;
;
KUBLA.I KHAN.
The Empress heard
As 'twas borne, by
the clatter
71
and
jar,
the breath of the breeze, from
afar,
Like a peal of tipsy thunder
So knowing that something must be in the wind,
With her beautiful lips she most wrathfully grinned
She seized her
silk
buckler, her
breastplate
;
she
pinned,
With
a China-crape shawl doubled under
bow tied the string of her helmet.
And swore when the Tartars came they should be
In an elegant
well met
Then with
And
eloquent speech to her ladies appealed.
rode at the head of them forth to the
field.
IX.
So on went
the ladies
till
meeting the Tartars,
They poured forth upon them a volley of arrows.
As thick as small shot on a regiment of sparrows
And then they turned round and made back to their
;
quarters.
The Khan greatly marvelled
" Oh, none of them are veiled,"
;
Cried he, " and what beauties they are, every soul
of them
Draw not a bow
Lay not one of them low
;
—
;
72
;
For the moon and the sun,
would not part with one
1
But forward,
my
;
Tartars, and capture the whole of
them.
me
Seize
alive
every dear
Yours
is
These
shall alone
Kinsai
little
you do me
if
be
my
beauty
this
;
duty
share of the booty."
XI.
Then onward they all hurried, (0, for quick metre
The Tartars were fleet but the ladies were fleeter
If those
And
seemed
to fly along, these
seemed
!)
to shoot,
^
they got to the city in spite of pursuit.
Now first in the chase was the amorous Khan,
Who distanced his troops two-thirds of a ly
No
thought from the
Had
moment
the flight began
entered his brain.
Except to obtain
upon which he had fixed his eye.
His passion and eagerness made him so blind
The
prize
That he
did not perceive
And
He rode quite
And
how
his troops fell
being well mounted,
alone
;
recklessly counted
The quarry his own,
As he dashed through the
Very proud and elate.
gate
behind
KUBLAI KHAN.
But he found
When
his
73
mistake in another half minute,
the guards closed the portal and closed
within
him
it.
Then the ladies came back very joyous and gay.
And the Khan was their prisoner there in Kinsai.
; ;
74
;
PORCELAIN TOWER.
CANTO
III.
The Empress sat on the Emperor^s throne,
And the Emperor's sceptre swayed
She had sHpped on his trowsers, too, over her own,
And she gave her commands in the despot's tone
And every
vassal
Within the castle
Her
delegate voice obeyed.
Oh a delicate voice was her delegate voice.
And every one made it a matter of choice
To do her behest as soon as 'twas spoken,
!
With an eagerness owing
In part to his
That
else
Say nought of
The Empress
And
"
For
I
knowing
every one of his bones would be broken,
sat
his
on the Emperor'^s throne.
sent six ladies the
tell
being flayed.
Khan
to call
him," said she, " I've a
would pick with him here
in
bit
of a bone
my audience hall."
;
;
:
KUBLAI KHAN.
75
The Khan was pleased when he heard that
For he'd tasted nothing since break of day.
A pleasant look on the dames he threw,
And shook
He
say,
the dust from his beard and queue
he would not strap
looped his belt, but
it
tight
Since dinner was ready, and so was his appetite
And he went
chamber
to the
to find the
bone
But when he came there
The
And
was
table
so the poor
bare,
Khan had
none.
lu.
He
strode through the room, nowise forlorn,
His step was bold and free
Although he was not
in
;
America born.
Yet a-merry-Khan was he.
Round his ankles and waist and neck he bore
Chain-cable enough for a seventy four
Yet proudly he paced along
And
as
When
all
;
:
such eastern heroes do
they find themselves
To
keep up
In spite of
ill
Marched up
a bit of a stew,
luck,
Consoled himself with
But whilst the Khan
in
his pluck,
sonsr.
in his fetters.
the hall with pride.
Where the ladies, who proved his
Were ranged upon either side
;
betters,
:
76
;
PORCELAIN TOWER.
If his little
red eyes stood out from his head,
was not with rage, it was not with dread,
It was not with hate, it was not with scorn,
It was only with joy and a large surprise
At the beautiful sight, such as since he was born
It
Had never before met his little red eyes
And he smiled as he glanced, with his eyes
flames,
At
beautiful
Empress and
The Empress
Were
They
so bold
beautiful dames.
and her
ladies so fair
Khan
exceedingly taken with Kublai
liked his person, they liked his air.
And
to tell
it
in brief
His jaws were wide,
He seemed
they liked the man.
forehead narrow.
his
a person of pith and marrow
And with eyes so red and beard so yellow.
They thought him a very delectable fellow.
VI.
Yet the Empress thought
To
it fit
and right
look very grave at the Tartar knight.
Because, by and by, by
way
of a
finis,
She purposed to hang his Tartar highness.
She meant he should hang, his neck reposing
In a silken twist of her own composing
:
And so she considered the way to behave,
Would be, for the present, to look very grave.
full
of
;
;
;
KUBLAI KHAN.
77
VII.
" Kublai Khan," the
Empress
said,
In a very impressive and solemn manner,
"
fertile land youVe sped
With bloody sword and flouting banner
Over our
You have
;
seized our maidens, you've slaughtered
our youth,
You have
cut off the heads of our aged sires,
You've spoiled our cities and fields with fires
Nor infants in arms could move ye to ruth
You have poisoned our rivers, and drained our vats.
And made short work of our rice and rats.
:
The punishment
Is
then the law requires
burning to death with red-hot wires
But since you are brave,
we
all
agree
hang you on yonder tree.
Is there any thing, Khan, you can urge, of force
To hinder the law in its simple course ?"
Only
to
vni.
Khan he stroked his beard.
And said very quietly " Who's afeard ?"
He swelled up his cheek before he would speak,
And scratched his nose, so knowing and sleek.
To seem at his ease he made an endeavour.
Kublai
But
felt
Kinsai was a comical place
;
His eyes looked redder and harder than ever,
And
stood rather farther out from his face.
His case was queer
To
;
hjDwever 'twas good
put the best face on
it
he could
7*
— —
78
—
:
: :
;
PORCELAIN TOWER.
Nor had he just then a better at hand
Than that with his two httle hard red
eyes,
And a thick long beard, so yellow and grand.
Which gave him a look very fierce and wise.
IX.
"
Dear
lady,"
— at
And seemed by
"
We
last
he thus began,
his smile to be free
from
fear,
oftentimes put the beer in a can.
But I see you're for putting the Khan in a bier.
You must do as you please, most lovely flower.
For Kublai Khan is in your power.
It
was
To
So green
rather unwise
be caught by those eyes,
in their hue,
No
I fell into
And
it's
I
am
if
—thus
in their size
—but there
the snare,
by
the fair
in Kinsai,
I have only to say
you adjudge me death
my
due,
proud, dear lady, to die for you
But an'
To
:
often our lot to be killed
So,
That
and so small
doubt on't
if
you had not so fierce a will.
you I'd be prouder still.
live for
X.
" That I've wasted your fields and towns with
And
That
filled
your streams with a sanguine
I've cut the throats of
And
eaten your rats,
I
your youths and
deny
can't
fires.
die,
sires.
;
—
KUBLAl KHAN.
;
79
But never, believe it, most beautiful elf,
Would Kublai Khan hurt such as yourself."
XI.
Now how could be but the Empress fair,
Now how could it be but her ladies bright.
Now how could be but each one there.
it
it
Should be touched at these words of the Tartar
Knight
So they talked
And
?
an under-breath,
do what they could
for awhile in
to
For his comfort and good,
Agreed to accord him his choice of a death.
Whether to die by maiming and mangling.
Drowning, burning, or choaking and dangling.
And when the Khan bold answer made,
And
honestly
owned
that, if
he might,
(Since fighting e'er had been his trade,)
He'd rather
The
ladies
prefer to
acceded
fall in fight,
to this proposition.
And chosing three heroes of noble condition.
To slaughter Khan Kublai, they gave them commission.
XII.
These heroes were
tall
and
terrible chaps,
Of warlike fame untarnished
Two
peacocks' feathers in each of their caps.
And
their
helms were of pasteboard varnished
;
80
;
;
;
;
;
Their shoulder-guards and breast-plates
Were made
fair
of cotton and stuffed with hair
Their steps were
fleet,
Their eyes were
fierce,
their arms were strong,
and their beards were long
And each, besides a bow and a mace,
and
Carried a terrible silken
Pictured whereon
To
Each
shield,,
was a hideous
face,
foeman out of the
back a banneret bore
fright the
at his
field.
Through a hollow bamboo its staff was thrust
of two placards, behind and before,
That called him " Brave," and this " Robust."*
And
XIII.
The chosen ground was the palace lawn
The fence was framed, and the swords were drawn
The three from the East, the Khan from the West,
To meet
in the
middle their steps addressed.
Side by side advanced the three,
All heroes of one stamp
Side by
side,
With very
When
and knee by knee,
deliberate tramp.
they almost met their Tartar foe.
Who towards them came at swifter pace,
They stopped at once in a fearful row,
And held their shields out towards his face;
Then working secret wires within.
Made
the terrible faces squint
* See note,
and grin
I.
;
;
;
:
KUBLAI KHAN.
And
To
81
they trusted by this decisive plan
frighten
away
the Tartar
Khan.
XIV.
But
lo
!
Was
and behold the Tartar Khan
!
not prepared to take the hint
He looked at the shields, that fearless man
And Ho !" said he, " you may grin and
!
*'
Then
To
in both his
hands
his
sword raised
squint
!"
he,
shatter the shields of the warlike three.
This showed a heart on the Tartar's
For which
part,
were not prepared
They stepped in a crack some paces back.
And opened their mouths and eyes, and stared.
"
Why
the three
:
we here ?" cried valiant f'h,
we hence !" cried dauntless Flee,
And in mighty dismay
stay
" Oh, fly
Shun-Fo ran away
I
know
not which might soonest hie.
Or which was
Their flags were
By
the fleetest of
all to
all
the three.
ribands torn
the current of air, so fast their flight
The peacock plumes from their caps were borne,
And they showed no feather except the white.
And
as they ran the bold placard
That proclaimed them "brave" was
and guard.
Their
flight
Who never
had turned
it
their shield
towards the Khan,
perceived they were brave,
till
they ran.
;
82
; ;
; : ;;
:;
XVI.
The Tartar
bold pursued their flight,
And cleft them down from crown to heel
And his eyes gleamed bright with his grim delight
As then on
He bowed
his
to the
queue he wiped the
steel.
queen and her ladies
His face was flecked with
spirits
fair
of gore
" We'll leave these three to the doctor's care,
And now, sweet
queen,
I
am
ready
for
more."
XVII.
Three more were brought, and he slaughtered them,
And then came five, and those he slew
As you with a knife cut a flowret's stem,
As easily he chopped men in two.
Then seven, and nine, came against him all
He hacked the whole of them limb from limb
And dwarfs so strong, and giants so tall
But giants and dwarfs were alike to him.
The blood of his foes dripped down from his nose,
And made his beard in a gory trim
And
at
every blow, as he killed a
He bowed
to the ladies
foe,
and smiled so grim.
xvin.
Then the sons and sires, the brothers and cousins
Of those sweet ladies came into the lists,
And he slaughtered them all by tens and dozens
You'd think that the work would have sprained
his wrists.
:
::
KUBLAI KHAN.
But Kublai Khan was stout and
And
He
83
willing,
not to be easily tired of killing
cut off their heads spare time to amuse,
And roped
them,
up by their queues.
like onions,
XIX.
When
the
Queen and her troop of China-roses
Beheld the fate of their lords and masters.
Those stars of fight, those China-asters,
Thus snipped by the Khan and bound in posies,
They were filled with a measureless admiration
Of
the terrible chief of the Tartar nation.
And
the
Empress spake and
said, "
O
Khan,
Since you've shown yourself such a valorous man,
And
You
slain the
prime of our warriors thus,
will not be afraid of a match with us.
So whet you your sword on the edge of your
shield,
Till I
and
my
come
ladies
into the field.
XX.
Kublai bowed with
Smiled
in
infinite
grace,
a very bewitching way,
Wiped the blood from off his face.
And made reply to the Empress gay
"
O
lady bold,
To
slaughter
lady bright.
men
I
have
little
care
;
Send more of such if you think it right
But I draw not sword on dames so fair.
:
84
:
:;
;
;
A
match with you and your ladies sweet,
what would make my bliss complete
But that which thus would sweeten life
Is a match in love and not in strife."
Js
XXT.
The Queen and her beautiful ladies laughed
Should the Khan be killed, they would
all
be
sorrier
They ever had loved the warrior-craft.
And it made them love the crafty warrior.
They whispered some blame of the Emperor's flight,
And
declared that that
ought to
have kindled
their spite
Empress bowed low, with most ladylike ease,
And answered, " Brave Khan, be it just as you
So
the
please."
XXII.
Then he danced them by
fours,
by
tens,
and by
scores.
Over charcoal pots that were set at the doors
The town of Kinsai was full of delight
Oh a wonderful man was the Tartar Khan,
And he conquered in love what he couldn't in
!
fight.
—
FASHIONS IN FEET;
OR,
THE TALE OF THE BEAUTIFUL
Now
beat the
And kt
And
clatter the
gong.
us upraise our voices strong-,
tell it
What
drum and
TO-TO.*
aloud with music and song,
praise
may
That they're sure
well to our
to
go right
dames belong,
if tiiey can't
go wrong.
Ya.Hoo.
If any of our lovely country-women should
meet a Chinese lady, they would deem her
There
torical
Making
is little
known of Shoo,
the original autlior of this his-
romance, but that he wrote a poetical treatise on Bootin
measures of two
drawn from the
title
feet each.
If an inference
deep into the waters of the SingSlo, the Chinese Castaly.
8
may
be
of his work he can have ventured but ankle-
;
THE PORCELA.IN TOWER.
86
lot
—
at least the first idea that
to
them would
unblessed:
would occur
would not stand in
The Chinese
measure
''long
A
do not understand
at all events their table is
have but three inches
peculiar, as they
foot.
their shoes.
ladies
:"
be, that they
curious fact in their anatomy
is
to a
that
and twenty in number,
their toes are bent,
being doubled under the sole; thus even
though
move forward
their feet
their toes
go backwards.
They
are
extremely contentious;
cannot meet without scuffling.
IS
uneasy
—they seem
and how should
it
they
Their walk
move with pain
be otherwise when nails
are under their feet
to
?
Yet, though feet so diminutive are at present,
and have been
by the
celestial
the case.
scribed as
A
all
for
ladies, this
French
boots
we have quoted
many
:
centuries
was not always
postilion has
been de-
the sage Ya-hoo,
at the
worn
head of
whom
this story,
spoke of the softer sex in his time as
all slip-
FASHIONS IN FEET.
yet
2)ers ;
seems
it is
to set
Their
feet
shall find in
true that even this expression
them upon a bad
footing.
were not always so small.
You
Chinese histories that the
Em-
peror Min-Te,
thirty-first
87
who came
to the
throne in the
year of the sixty-first cycle,* had
a beautiful Empress, To-To,
whose
feet in
length rejoiced in their complement of exactly
twelve inches.
The Emperor loved
his lady
with imperial measure of attachment; indeed
lie
regarded her single
tion than
of his
self
with more
he entertained besides
handmaidens and he would seldom ab:
sent himself from her society except
was necessary
is to
affec-
any two
for
for
him
to give audience,
smoke a quiet hooka
ministers,
—in the
The custom
when
—that
in presence of his
celestial council-chamber-
of the country rendered
it
impos-
To-To should attend him there but
the formal conference was over, he
sible that
when
;
would frequently detain
ter,
it
Hum,
in
his favourite minis-
whose character and wisdom
he had great confidence, and retiring
• A. D. 931.
to a
THE PORCELAIN TOAVER.
88
more snug apartment, would invite
press to join them in a cosy pipe.
occasions, state business
his
Em-
On
such
was sometimes a
se-
cond time discussed; and the decisions of the
lesser council often annulled
and superseded
those of the greater.
Min-Te was a
pleased to have
lazy monarch, and
all
was well
troublesome questions of
policy or justice arranged in a quiet manner,
without his intervention
be obliged
to decide
:
he did not like
to
between the conflicting
opinions of different ministers; but in these
agreeable
little
after-councils, strange to say,
though a lady was allowed a voice in them,
there
was always unanimity, and seldom a
very lavish expenditure- of words.
der that
No won-
Min-Te should value a minister
whose simple eloquence, and
of course great
argumentative powers, sufficed
at once,
whatever subject they were exercised,
ry conviction even to an Empress.
tify his great
esteem for
Hum, he
upon
to car-
To
tes~
ordered
that he should be lodged in the palace, in
chambers not
far
distant from the imperial
FASHIONS IN FEET.
He
apartments.
frequently employed
him
To-To a proper
sense
to instil into the lovely
of
the duties she should aim at fulfilling
all
woman and
as a
89
a wife
;
but above
all,
as the
chosen lady of the Emperor.
The
Empress received meekly
beautiful
and graciously the lessons of virtue thus imparted to her.
Nothing, to her apprehension,
could be more agreeable than the counsels
given by
Hum.
The Emperor,
at a little distance,
with
how much
looking on
was over-joyed
at seeing
attention she listened to the
instructions of so excellent an adviser; and
when
of virtue
all
still
he heard her discourse
at other times
" this is
and the duties of wifehood,
Hum," thought
more of
Thus
he.
his affection,
she gained
Hum
and
of his es-
teem; and the fame of both went abroad
throughout all the
Hum
appeared
celestial
in the
"
flocked about him.
cried,
Three
dominions.
streets
A Hum
!
a
When
the people
Hum !" they
"the Emperor's favoured counsellor.
cheers for
a
Hum!"
8*
Then
they
90
shouted aloud, and no sound could be heard
A Hum!"
except "
The Emperor was
to say,
is
a sound sleeper; that is
he could sleep in spite of a sound.
It
strange that a sound sleeper and a quiet
sleeper should be nearly
synonymous expres-
sions; not quite, indeed, for one
may be
sleeper
lism,
;
sleeper
for she
also;
a very determined
was addicted
to
somnambu-
and somnambulists must be very
mined
snores
The Empress was
a sound sleeper.
a sound
who
deter-
sleepers.
From
being himself such a decided som-
nambulist
it
was some time before the Em-
peror became aware of his lady's peculiarity.
A
little
whisper, however,
—no bigger than a
musquito, which had for several days been
fluttering about the palace,
people's ears,
about his
;
one morning came dancing
and having awhile piped
a very small voice, gave
caused considerable
at the
and buzzing into
it
into
it
in
a sting which
irritation,
then flew out
window, and in a short time had
FASHIONS IN FEET.
treated every mother's son,
ther's daughter,
91
and no
throughout the
less fa-
celestial do-
minions, in nearly the same way.
That
little
provoking noise kept ringing in
his imperial music-box,
and the smart con-
tinued, so that his majesty at night was quite
unable to sleep
;
but, in the hope,
no doubt,
of bringing the customary drowsy influence
upon him, he lay quite
still,
(by his lady's
and breathed hard, as though he had
side,)
been in slumber.
He
a
fell,
by and by,
dreamy mood,
in
into a sort of half-doze,
which the
little
tune of
the small whisper seemed to split into two
parts
;
the one consisted of a
kin figures
made up
number
of queer
of mini-
bars very
strangely put together, which kept dancing
about his closed eyes
in his ear, but its
ticulate character,
figures
;
the other
still
sounded
members assumed an
ar-
and the sounds and the
mutually interpreted
whilst the tune was
still
each
other;
discernible in the
—
92
!
!
words and the motions of the characters kept
time
to
This was the song
it.
;
Min-Te, Min-Te, Min-Te,
Oh Emperor, bold and
Do as I bid,
free
Open your lid,
You'd better be wise and
With a
see.
chee, chee, cheee, chee, chee, chee, chee.*"
Lest
it
betide (chee, chee,)
That your wife should creep
(chee, chee,)
Away
from your side (chee, chee,)
For she walks in her sleep (chee, chee.)
With a
And
a
chee, chee, chee, chee, cheeee, cheee, chee.
chee,
chee,
cheeee,
cheee,
cheee,
chee,
cheeeeeeee.
Min-Te, Min-Te, Min-Te,
Lend
the loan of your lug to
I'd
me
have you be wise,
And open your eyes,
And see what you shall see.
With a chee,
There's
At
chee, chee, chee, cheee, chee, cheee,
Hum
in his
bed (chee, chee,)
the end of the gallery, (chee,)
Best cut off his head, (chee, chee,)
Or
* I believe
who
at least his salary (chee.)
it is
cither Captain
has given a specimen of
resembling
this.
tlic
Marryat
or Captain Basil Hall
Mosquito language very closely
FASHIONS IN FEET.
With a
And
93
cheee, chee, chee, chec, cheee, cheee, chee.
a cheee,
chee,
chee,
chee,
cheee,
cheee,
cheeeeee.
And
moon,
so the song
all
made
was proceeding,
of cheese,
when
like the
his imperial
majesty (who lay dos-a-dos with his wife, for
the greater convenience of dozing a doze,)
was suddenly aroused
by a gentle
pull of the silken coverlid.
He
(though a gnat
mo-
lay quite quiet,
ment
settled
at the
on his nose,) and soon perceived
Empress was
that the
consciousness
to full
getting out of bed in
her sleep, and evidently taking the greatest
possible care
not to
awaken
herself in so
—none whatever — not the slightest in the world — not the
possible — that she was altogether un-
doing.
Having no doubt
at all
least
conscious of what she was about, he thought,
like a
kind Emperor, that
she should be looked
her neck
down
it
to, lest
would be right
she should break
the stairs or out of window,
the palace being two stories high
discovered that she
;
and, as he
moved towards
the door,
he rose from bed as quietly as she had done,
94
and followed
noiselessly as
as
;
she
the while treadinor as
all
though she were a
though he were a
fly,
and he
spider.
She proceeded along the
and
gallery,
passed the stairs without accident ; and she
had arrived almost
at the
bottom of the cor-
when the Emperor, alarmed lest
might make a false step, (a fox-paw, as
ridor,
French express
she
the
by throwing
his left arm round her waist at the same moment placing his right hand over her mouth,
it,)
seized her
;
to
prevent that natural utterance of alarm
which might be expected from a lady suddenly awakened under such circumstances.
Startled she was, and she certainly would
have screamed, had
caution.
not been for his pre-
Being quite in the dark, both
where she was, and
violent
it
hand upon
greatly she
was
to êt
loose,
much
noise;
who had laid such
you may imagine how
as to
her,
frightened.
though
indeed,
would not be amiss
as to
if
still
She struggled
without making
she thought that
it
she could get back to
her chamber as quietly as she
came
thence.
FASHIONS IN FEET.
But
ter
was not
this
to be; for the
Hum, who, with what
tend
to say,
95
prime minis-
truth I cannot pre-
had the reputation of being
at all
times wide awake, was not asleep upon the
present occasion; and hearing, with his pair
of very acute ears, a
scuffling in the
little
he opened the door of his apartment
gallery,
which was
close to the scene of action.
had apparently been engaged
He
study; for he
in
held in his hand a lighted lantern, the light of
which he now directed upon the
corridor.
ever,
it
The
instant he
dropped from his hand
and fastening the door with
rity,
pair in the
saw them, how-
all
;
and closing
possible cele-
he jumped upon his bed, coiled himself
into a circle less than his waist in diameter
drew the
clothes over
him
in a heap,
and lay
without moving, breathing, or letting his
beard grow,
till
the morning light had filled
his apartment.
During the moment
that a
gleam from the
lantern had been thrown upon them,
became aware
who had
that
it
To-To
was only the Emperor
frightened her so
much
in the dark
;
96
and of course much delighted
very, and her fears
at this disco-
banished thereby, she
all
immediately returned
to the imperial apart-
ment.
"
My
dearest To-To," said his imperial
majesty, as they entered, " I
was not
till
did you never mention to
so afflicted?
made
I
me
now-
Why
aware that you were a somnambulist.
you were
that
would have had a gold
collar
surround your ankle, and a chain
to
and lock
to secure
you
to the bed.
would have kept the key,
I
myself
so dearly do I ten-
der your safety."
" I
my
at-
your sacred majesty would
al.
had hoped," she
tachment
to
replied, "that
ways have exercised the counteracting
ence which
it
has hitherto done, and have
overcome entirely the infirmity
was formerly
influ-
subject.
I
to
which
I
have no fear of
another attack, and I think the gold chain
therefore will be quite unnecessary."
" As, however,
said the
you
Emperor, "I
are restless to-night,"
will secure
present with this strap.
you
Stay, let
me
for the
pass
it
FASHIONS IN FEET.
round you.
pull
more
—nay, one
There, that will do
—uh, uh—you
can't
That's just the thing
think.
famous
— —and
so
be afraid
;
97
you
move now,
— the
here goes the key.
can't roll
down.
lock
1
is
Don't
And now,
as I'm rather of the sleepiest, good night,
dearest
madam.
Indeed this sleep-walking
is a terrible thing
about that
He had
he was
till
;
but we'll say no more
the morning."
scarcely finished speaking before
fast asleep
get to sleep at
all,
;
but poor To-To could not
for she
was almost cut
two by the strap he had fastened round
in
her.
In the morning the Emperor liberated his
wife
;
but he did not revert to the subject of
sleep-walking
till
he had finished his
after
morning devotions and meal.
He
sent for her then
into his presence
;
and when she came
he asked
if
she remembered
the circumstances of the preceding night.
She confessed
that she
had some confused
recollection of a dream, in w^hich she
imagined
that,
after
had
her beloved lord had
been a long time absent from
her, whilst
98
pining for his return, she suddenly beheld
at a distance in the
him walking towards her,
garden and that in the affection of her heart
;
she had gone forth to meet him, and to wel-
come him home.
tening
down
She was, accordingly,
the long walk,
when
has-
a black
dragon flew out of the canal by which
it
was
bordered, and coiled suddenly around her.
Thatshe was mortally frightened thereat, and,
with the greatest presence of mind, resolved
on the instant
a loud scream
to utter
that the black dragon put one of
;
but
its terrible
paws upon her mouth, and prevented this.
On partially awakening about that time, what
was her
satisfaction at discovering that the
black dragon was no other than the Emperor
himself.
Her compassionate
lord
endeavoured
to
some
re-
console her with the suggestion that
medy might
possibly be found for this unfor-
tunate habit: and he questioned her as to
whether there was any manner in which she
could
at
afflicted.
all
account
In answer to
for
her
this,
being thus
she expressed a
FASHIONS IN FEET.
suspicion that her
concerned
mamma
and she
;
worthy our
little
a few
facts
:
had been partly
some long
told
substantiate this view
weeks older than
the
herself,
and
to
know but
She afterwards, how-
ever, put the thing in a
when
made
attention, as she
of the matter.
light,
story to
but that I consider
might therefore be supposed
little
99
more philosophical
she said, that her habits being
sedentary and her feet large, the
latter,
she
thought, had not a proper proportion of exercise
during the day
;
and thus made up
cretly for the deficiency at night,
knew
that she
v^âs
sleeping,
se-
when they
and unable con-
sequently to keep a look out upon their motions.
Now
here
feet in the
let it
be mentioned that large
days of Min-Te were as necessary
to the ideal of
female loveliness throughout
the celestial dominions, as small feet have
been ever since; and that Min-Te himself
had chosen the delectable To-To as the wife
of his bosom chiefly on account of her felicities
in
that department
of
the beautiful.
100
when
Nevertheless,
his lady declared her
conviction that with premeditation those her
lovely
members walked away with her
in
such an inexcusable manner, he could not
from uttering a malediction
restrain himself
This malediction was ex-
against them.
pressed in three words
pen turns
write the
way and
this
first
but the nib of
;
that and refuses to
" their soles"
:
my
were the other
two.
Min-Te then informed
come
knowledge
his
to
his lady that
it
had
though he
that,
doubted not she was quite unconscious of
the
fact,
the
little
the past night
had made
excursion she had taken
was by no means the
in the
same
direction
sidered that if she walked at
wrong way, and
this
all
;
first
she
and he con-
that
was the
he disapproved in To-
To.
But To-To expressed
hearmg
this, as
sleep always
great satisfaction at
she said that actions done in
went by a rule of contrary, and
that her walking the wrong way in a dream
was
the most lucid of
all
possible proofs that
FASHIONS IN FEET.
101
her ways were always correct in her waking
hours.
Could the Emperor do otherwise than bow
such argument?
to the force of
He
highly
applauded his lady, and assured her of his
perfect confidence in her
Yet he confessed
waking
excellence.
that his strong conviction
of this was in itself a source of disquiet to
his
mind
that
it
she had clearly demonstrated
for
;
would be the occasion of her always
going wrong in sleep.
possible,
that this
It
was
his wish, if
might be avoided; and
mode which occurred to him of escaping from the dilemma was to prevent her
the only
from going
at
all.
How
He
to effect this?
wished heartily that her
feet
since infancy, as she then
had not grown
would not have
taken to sleep-walking; but they had, and
what was
to
be done?
ventive genius; he hit
plan
:
he sent
for
Min-Te was an inupon an admirable
a cook and a cleaver, and
had these offending members chopped
inches shorter.
is
The
cure was complete
confidently stated that
9*
six
:
it
To-To never more
102
walked in her sleep
somnambulists
;
and
I
recommend
to try the efficiency of
all
Min-
Te's invention.
The Emperor
next wished a private con-
ference with his prime minister.
Hum
had
not yet arisen, and the messengers had to
They found him
seek him in his chamber.
which he lay when
nearly in the attitude in
we wished him good
endeavoured
that he
to
night
;
but
when they
arouse him, they discovered
had choked himself by swallowing
his pigtail.
A
proclamation went abroad throughout
the empire that the most honoured and ex-
emplary Empress, the lantern of beauty and
steel-yard of ceremony,
had
short feet; and though
it
required that
conform
all
all
set the fashion of
was not absolutely
the ladies of the land should
to this mode,
parents to wrap
it
was imperative on
up the
feet of their fe-
male children in such ligatures of
silk, leather,
cotton,
or brass, as should effectually
prevent the future growth of the pedal bones
and ligaments, the toes being bent inwards
103
FASHIONS IN FEET.
towards the sole
;
"for," said the edict, "as
the toes of
women have
wrong,
is
it
a natural bias to go
proper that
'
they should be
turned the opposite way."
The name
fying "
—
Empress To-To signiLong-Foot," had become inappliof the
—
cable; nor could
rial lady,
when
it
be desirable
for
an impe-
length of foot had ceased
to
be among the elements of female beauty the
:
Emperor therefore changed it
which may be Englished as
walks the wrong way."
Fo-Paw,
One who
Fo-Paw thenceforth lived
The wisdom of Min-Te is
Min-Te and
ever happily.*
much spoken
to
"
of in this day, and he
is
ac-
counted one of the greatest benefactors of his
country
;
for the
their wives
Chinese are of opinion that
have walked
much more
since they lost the use of their
* This
is
feet.
perhaps the less rctnarkablc aa the whole reign of the
Ten-Thousand-Years,
of China,
steadily
—such
is
one of the
—did not c.\tend beyond twelve
lilies
of the Emperors
calendar months.
HYSON AND BOHEA.
INTRODUCTION.
"
The
Tea-tree," of Tee-to-Tum,
is
the
most celebrated of all Chinese didactic poems,
and
is
one of those great and elaborate works
to the production of
is
necessary.
which the labour of a life
The story of Hyson and Bohea,
of
which the following must be looked upon
as
somewhat a
free translation,
may
be con-
sidered as perhaps the most pathetic of
its
episodes.
Tee-to-Tum did not misemploy
his genius,
HYSON AND BOHEA.
and
105
was not ill-rewarded
his toil
;
for "
The
VTea-Tree" may be considered the great national
poem
The
of the Chinese.
history of
remarkable.
It
Tee-to-Tum
is
is
somewhat
related that he
was
cra-
dled in a tea-chest, and that tea not only
formed his
earliest diet,
but that through
he took no other nourishment.
He
life
lived in
a retired tea-garden in the district of Singte;
his house
tea wood,
and furniture were formed
and the dry branches of tea-trees
served him as fuel.
age,
of
He
lived to a green old
and his death was occasioned by an
cident similar to that
ac-
which terminated the
days of Anacreon, only that the Chinese poet
was choked, not by a
grape-stone, but a tea-
stalk.
His poem
into
is
very voluminous, being divided
two hundred books,
branches.
or, as
he
calls
them,
Each branch comprises full a thou-
sand "leaves;" not indeed leaves of two pages
each;
but the single verses of Tee-to-Tum
are called " tea-leaves"
by the people of
the
106
Celestial
able
:
Land.
His industry was remark-
not a day passed without his adding to
or correcting his poem.
"
Te
veniente die, te decendente canebat."
:
HYSON AND BOHEA,
Of the
love that
In the
fair
upsprung
and the young,
Let the sorrows be sung
By most
musical Tung."
TVKO.
Pour
O
let
forth,
me draw
Warm
Gently
thee
my
thou
And from
The
O Muse !*
let
!
thine iufluence let
me
tongue with
drink thee in
spirit clear
.'
!
and strong,
thy kettle breathe the steam of song
uplift
thy
dewy lid and see
Hyson and Bohea
fancied forms of
Imbue
me win
my
lips their
mournful fates to
;
tell,
Whilst flow hot streams for two that loved so well.
who
fashions chains from
And from mere eyes can form
both eyes and hooks,
Love, wondrous smith!
looks,
»
The Muse
whom the poet invokes at intervals through.
whom we have invoked at the commencement
of Tea,
out his poem, and
of this volume.
—
;
:
108
Had linked
Had hnked
their hearts the
their hearts
hour that
first
they met,
with Unks that bound them
yet.
In lonely glen their constant love began,
And,
by chance,
first
oft since
they met by plan.
In sooth they were a goodly pair to see
Hyson was
;
and beauteous was Bohea
And none in all the province could compare
With the sleek Hyson, or Bohea the fair.
Both born and bred away from city's scene.
Though town-bred youth might call young Hyson
fat,
green,
Though town-bred dames with
scornful eyes might
see,
And dub
Enough
Enough
his
for
for
country love, " poor, weak, Bohea,"
them the charms within their reach.
them that each was loved by each.
Yet 'neath some
Though they were
evil star their love arose
:
dearest friends their sires were
foes.
The cause
of their dear friendship
is
not hidden
Both young, both comely, and their love forbidden
The cause
were foes is still more plain
Both had one trade, and both lived in one lane.
One village lane some ly from Nanking's walling
their sires
And manufacturing
was their calling
two superior stars,
And so between them they had m^ny jars.
Both shone
porcelain
in that like
;
:
—
HYSON AND
Old age and youth
This
And
——
;
;
!
—oh
!
BOIIEA.
that
is
this for love, the bird's-nest
109
formed
for strife,
soup of
should the truth before those sires be
How
well their children loved,
how
;
oft
life !*
set,
they met,
Not locusts, dragons, Tartars could compare
With the fierce wrath of that gray-pigtail'd pair.
But with a cautious care the maid and spark
Deceived
Made
their sires,
and kept them
in the
dark
assignations with a code of signs
Oft met by
moonhght among groves and
The days
pass'd
on,
— the
vines.
nights flew likewise
by;Weeks past, and months-: and still they met to sigh
And dream of bUss. Young Hyson fond Bohea
!
!
In
vain ye dream of
bliss that
must not
be.
—
One night, that gloomy night no batf would flit.
But crows around flew late and oft alit,
And winds breathed loud in melancholy wail,
A treacherous friend had told their tender tale.
A treacherous friend, to whom Bohea confessed
With too fond trust the secrets of her breast,
Though bound to silence by the holiest oath,
That friend,
too
treacherous, had betray'd them both
Told more, much more than need the muse repeat,
And where they met, and where they next should
meet.
See note, K.
10
t See note L.
: ;;:
:
110
:
:
Bohea had told her all, and told her true
Bohea knew not that friend loved Hyson
too.
Unwise Bohea your error now is learn'd
Too soon committed, and too late discerned
Too soon you trusted, and too late you vex
!
Yet not
Each
Whilst
you the
in
fair
all
the charge
So, prizing
To make
fault,
but in your sex.
one of some secret thus possest,
it
it
hers,
is
can take no
more dearly than her
safer, finds
it
rest;
peepers,
several keepers.
That night, that gloomy night, that night of mist,
Bohea and Hyson sought their place of tryst
Bowered with green leaves, and far from haunts of
men.
That place of
tryst
They rushed
Was
to meet,
in their looks.
What
was no
trist
place
till
then.
—they almost met
How was't
;
delight
they met not quite?
was't that check'd their speed at once and
joy'
And made them
pause,
—that maiden and
her boy
For such effect cause strong and good was there
One hand had grasped Bohea by her long hair.
And
And
kept her from her love,
one stern
fist
held
—the
Hyson by
fond, the true
the queue.
?
;
:
!
HYSON AND BOHEA.
Their
bliss
was
balk'd, their hearts
!;
;
Ill
were
with
fill'd
doubt,
Their heads were hurt, and both shriek'd loudly
out!
Yes, 'twas their
sires
:
their sires
had heard
their
tale
From
that false friend,
— and both with
rage turn'd
pale
But both resolved to learn the story's truth,
Ere one condemned the maid, or one the youth.
With
Oh,
this intent
fair
they both iiad sought that spot
Bohea's and Hyson's
Just ere they met,
—
evil lot
alas, too faithful pair
Those two sprang forth, and
!
them by the hair.
By hers Bohea's stern father dragged her home,
And question'd as they went how dared she roam
To meet young sparks by moonlight in a glen,
And why
seized
that youth, of all the race of
Arrived at home, he
tied her to
men ?
a post
By those sweet locks young Hyson prized the most
Removed her scissors from the unhappy fair,
And bound her hands, lest these unbind her hair
Withheld her rice and
Until she
vow'd she
and barr'd her door.
would do so more.
pipe,
ne'er
And Hyson's father let not him go free.
But brought him home, and strapp'd him to a tree
By his long queue, ah me, that it would moult
For, fasten'd by that lock, he could not bolt.
—
—
;
112
!
Then as a thresher whirls round in a trice
The ponderous flail* and thrashes out the rice,
So, whirling round his head a stout bamboo,
He
thrash'd his son
The
youth,
when
who dared
his son
:
to
woo.
'gainst his ears he felt the cane,
much
(Against his ears was
against the grain,)
Shriek'd out an oath he'd never do't again.
That self-same
night,
when
were lock'd
all
in
sleep,
The sad Bohea, who
awake
stay'd
weep,
to
Rose from her couch, and lest her shoes might klop,
"Padded the hoof" and sought her father's shop.
High in the midst a tea-pot huge was placed.
Of finest
porcelain and superior taste
was her
In forming
which
To win
once more custom and more fame.
at
it
sire's
fond aim
So water-pots, and boots of giant size
Oft hang from shops to attract the passer's eyes,
To turn it to some use, besides mere show.
Just at this time he
For
certain tea,
made
it
a depot
some four-and-twenty
lbs.
— the produce of his grounds.
Dried by himself
There came Bohea, the
And
Scarce knowing what
She
beautiful
!
the sweet
standing on the tips of her small
lifted
to
do or
how
up the cover, and look'd
* Sec note,
M.
feet,
begin,
in.
——
;
!
:
!
HYSON AND BOHEA.
Then went
she thence,
— she
:
113
was her
father's
daughter,
And, one by one, fetch'd several
pails of water,
—
And emptied in
but slow the liquid rose,
And soon she brought this labour to a close.
" Oh vain," she cried, " with destiny to cope
;
!
my
This tea-pot, too, was formed to balk
At such a
rate as this, oh
I
scarce should
I
hoped
But
fill
in this to bid
Fortune's spite
should
my
1 toil all
sorrows
clasp'd her fair hands like
hope.
!
night.
flee
Unfortunate Bohea
fate forbids.
She
it
!
!"
some stage
adept,
Lean'd on the porcelain, raised her eyes and wept.
The tears went down her cheeks in such array
As
Oh
floods roll
!
joy,
Those
down when
Bohea thy woes
!
shall find their
bar
tears in quick streams gush'd into the jar
So hot they
fell,
so large, and fast,
They
fill'd
"
true ?" she cried.
Is't
river-banks give way.
the porcelain pot,
•'
and
free,
— and made the
tea.
Then Fo hath heard my
prayer
Come
back, sweet Hope! and
hence, far
hence.
Despair
If but
my
act shall prompt the youth
I
love.
Though parted here, we soon may meet above.*
So now of friends and foes I take my leave.
And drown myself to make my father grieve."
* See note, N,
10*
—
— — ——
;;
;
;
114
She climb'd a chair beside the tea-pot's brim
She plunged she sank alas she could not swim.
White gleam'd her robes amid the watery gleam
—
—
The stream
No
arose
!
—her breath rose with the stream.
corks were there, no bladders, and no stick
Three times she kick'd, and then she ceased
to kick
Strong was the tea-pot, and in vain she struck
it,
And her last kick kick'd that, and kick'd the bucket.
As leaves of tea, long twisted and curl'd up,
Swell and unrol
in tea-pot or in cup,
Though downward
bent her toes had long perforce
lain.
She turn'd them up
in that
sad piece of porcelain.
Perchance this tale improbable appears
Yet think how often maids are drown'd in tears.
Then deem it true, and weep for poor Bohea,
First drown'd in tears,
then both in tears and tea.
—
—
—
He swore, he raved, he stamp'd, he
That one long
— he scream'd,—he cursed
Young Hyson heard for ill news travels fast
Young Hyson heard young Hyson stood aghast.
tore his hair,
lock,
the
chair
That
He
He
help'd her
up,— he cursed
his evil lot
curs'd the tea, he also cursed
strove to weep,
—but strove
its
to
pot.
weep
in vain,
There seem'd to glow hot lava in his brain,
Volcano fires before his eyes to start.
And more than earthquake to convulse his heart.
—
— ——
!
HYSON AND BOHEA.
—
115
He strove to speak but, oh no voice would come
He strove again — his words were " Ha " and " Hum."
!
—
the
— he strove
Once more he strove
That bound his speech,
;
spoke
Oh
*'
•,
at last
fetters
— and
:
thou white lump of sugar
!
broke
to speak,
!*
thrown too
soon
To
— (ah
sweeten tea
Thou
for
Why
!
whose sake
didst thou
fall in
would
my
I
grief
were thy spoon !)
must ever keep hot.
that detested tea-pot
?
may bring her back to life,
Who was my love, who should have been my wife
Alas
!
no power
Away with
words, with
Nought now
is left
life
worth
—
in brief,
with breath
—
living for, save death
Tiiough foes should gladden, and though friends
should weep.
If fires
If
be hot, knives sharp, or opium cheap,
wolves be
Then
fierce, wells deep, or girdles strong,
farewell,
Thus spoke
life
!
— thou
the youth
:
shalt not hold
me
long."
then rose from where he
sat.
And
He
rush'd
—the wind bore off hat,
—he rush'd, and on the wind
away
heeded not
His clothes flew
out, his pigtail stream'd
* This metaphorical apostrophe,
Tee-to-Tum,
is
the
his
which occurs
more remarkable,
the habit of taking sugar in their tea.
iii
behind
:
the original of
as the Chinese arc not in
—
—
—
;
116
Long, black, and fluttering with his speed it stream'd,
And head and pigtail some huge tadpole seem'd,
Or comet grim, dread
Its tail
the pigtail, and
potent of the skies,
its
light his eyes.
Thus on he flew, and did not turn, or stop.
Or pause, till, lo he reached a blacksmith's shop
There check'd his steps. " Hillo !" but no reply
" What, hoa who waits ?" his loud voice rent
!
—
!
the sky.
—
Dread
silence follow'd,
and his bold heart sunk,
" Sure those within must be asleep or drunk."
He
first
peep'd
in,
—then
enter 'd,
—but could
None, save one old man, almost deaf and
" Father
!"
he
cried
;
—the
old
man
find
blind.
answer'd
"Son!"—
"
Have you an axe ?"
one."—
"The
—
—the sage
replied,
" Here's
»
price?" he asked.
"Three mace."
"I
'II
give you two."
"
Enough."
Not
far
He
seized
from thence
it,
paid,
—from
and on he
thence
it
flew.
might be
seen
There grew a
To
tea-tree, of the sort called
that he bent his flight,
green
:
and there he found
One branch that grew breast-high above the ground.
He cut it mid-way through part fell down flump,
And part was left outstanding from the stump.
The first he dragg'd away, and threw aside
—
—
—— —
HYSON AND BOHEA.
117
The last he sharpen'd with the tool then
Oh worst of all plant-kind malignant
cried,
:
•*
!
Since
For
my
sweet
whom
Amid
What
tea
!
thy
have
my
girl,
such
I
lifeless
!
all-beloved Bohea,
bitter
leaves of
cause to grieve,
life
took leave
;
what wiser plan
Devised for me oh most unhappy man
To leave a world of which my soul is sick,
Than on thy stick thus cut, to cut my stick !"
better course could be,
—
!
!
He said and moving some few paces back
To gain a run, he made his girdle slack,
And bared his breast
then raising to the skies
:
His hands, he oped
Breathed out one
stake went
mouth, and closed
his eyes,
sweet sake,
and rush'd upon the stake.
last sigh for his love's
Cried " Oh, Bohea
The
—
his
!"
through between his lights and
liver
He gave four kicks, two screeches, and one quiver
He felt the sharp wood in his vital parts.
And in that quiver seem'd ten thousand darts.
" Oh Fo !" he cried, or ere his eyes grew dim
" Oh Fo !" he cried, and Fo gave ear to him
" Oh Fo !" he cried, " be not a foe to me,
But draw me hence, yet, yet my love to see.
Since early death thus
bliss
on earth denies,
Oh let us meet and mingle in the skies.
And though our parents hearts have yet been
Whence our fond hearts were each from
!
debarr'd,
hard,
each
—— —
;
;
118
Grant that they now may sorrow o'er our doom,
And lay our bones together in one tomb,
And write our tale, that all our fates may know !"
This
said,
young Hyson was absorb'd
Fo.
in
Her parents in the tea-pot found Bohea
They drew the body thence, and saved the
Rich
tea.
store, in well-cork'd jars, for livelong
But tears meanwhile bedew'd
their tender
weeks.
cheeks
And much they wish'd, when every wish was vain,
They ne'er had parted that most faithful twain.
And Hyson's
parents found
him on
the stake
A sight to make their fond hearts yearn and ache
Hung
ah
up,
me
Like windmill's
;
every breeze to spin,
in
!
sails,
or chafers on a pin.
—
They moved him thence they laid him in a shell
They learn'd the fate of her he loved so well.
They,
And
too, at last relented
feeling guilty,
—but too
late
threw the blame on
fate.
Then
well-writ notes and courteous messages
between
Pass'd
Hyson's father and Bohea's.
Old fueds
And
forgot, they clear'd their
both subscribed to build one
brows of gloom,
common
tomb.
Even on that spot where met those thralls of
One half beneath the ground, and half above.
Of tea-pot shape 'twas built, but partly hid.
And
the roof fashion'd like a tea-pot
The whole when
There
in
two
love,
lid.
lined with finest porcelian clay.
chests,
Bohea and Hyson
lay.
;
;
;
:
HYSON AND BOHEA.
A
plant of tea
was
;
119
on either side
set
—the on which young Hyson died
That black — a kind since
and wide renown'd,
This green
sort
far
whose
In
infusion fair
Bohea was drown'd.
The plants grew well, and, rich in leaf and bloom,
The branches mingled o'er the lovers' tomb
Whence those two species, from those days to
;
these
Have borne
Still
To
names of Hysons and Boheas.
to that tomb repair
vows of fond affection there
the
maids and lovers
plight the
Kneel by the grave, or
lift
their
hands above
To pluck the sprigs as talismans of love
And gentle brides, their husbands' hearts
Of
to fix,
two kinds the cup of union mix.
Ne'er had the fond pair known that state divine,
" Where transport and security entwine ;"
But since kind Death hath tied them in one tether,
Their namesake leaves' full oft are brought tothose
gether,
In equal chests (with India-paper linings,)
In transports, with security, to Twining's.
Then weep no more
Since thus
And,
in
for that united pair,
death one
like their trees that
common
lot
they share
high in air embrace,
Fo bade their spirits rise from that low place
To meet above and Hyson and Bohea
;
Now
mix
their essence both in
• Heaven.
Tien* and
tea.
THE PORCELAIN BATH*
On
whence
the ground
Falls the shade of the
Thus
it
grew
yew
:
shall those ever rue
From whom
evils accrue.
To-Whoo.
The
gallant
quite a youth,
*
Si-Long, who, though yet
had attained
The documents from which
to
this story is
high rank as
compiled were
gingly forwarded to us, during our residence in China,
expressed himself willing, for a
esteemed friend Poo-Loo,
who
moderate remuneration, to
make
requested us, if
oath to their authenticity.
ever we should throw them into form
benefit of the English reader, (the particular object
they were
commended
obli-
by our
to our care,) to
He
for the
with which
mention that the Procelian
Bath of the Empress Tou-Keen having, when already arrived at
an advanced age, been accidentally broken, an
indefinite ances-
THE rORCELAIN BATH.
121
a civil mandarin, was charged with an imperial
message from Peking into the province of
The
Honan.
was
object of his mission
to
order the attendance, in the capital, of a cele-
brated physician, whose extensive astrological
had enabled him successfully
lore
to
combat
and had spread his fame through-
all diseases,
The
out the northern provinces of China.
Emperor had been
seized with
a sudden
which appeared the more danger-
sickness,
ous, as the physicians of his court admitted
their ignorance of its nature;
a loss whether to ascribe
humours;
to
and were
at
to
hot or cold
the influence of
some unde-
it
tected comet; to too great a prevalence of
red, white, green, or yellow, in the furniture
tor
of
purchased
liis
llie
carefully jjrescrved by
He
session.
remains, and that
liis
family
they
in the
tiiesc
manufacture of
liis
in small
mental diseases
individual
11
have since been
into
iiis
own
pes-
talismanic antiquities
:
packages
is
em-
celebrated cement; and to in-
form them that some finer portions of this
made up
tiicsc
came
wishes to assure the public that no other ingredient
than a powder obtained from
ployed
till
for the benefit
]
ulvcrized material are
of tliose labouring under
a single dose suiScing to restore to sanity any
who has
the misfortune to be cracked.
122
of the palace and the foliage and ornaments
of the gardens
;
or to the withering of a peach-
tree in a court of the imperial residence.
Among
other suggested causes,
it
was not
forgotten that he had lately lost a fine ky-lin,
carved out of
last occasion
iju or
jade
;
and that on the
when, in conformity
to the an-
nual custom of the rulers of the Flowery
Land, he
an example
set
going forth
people by
to his
guide the plough, his imperial
to
foot failed him,
and he came down bodily upon
a gourd, whereby that emblem of longevity
smashed
w'as
like shape,
It
he being himself of gourd-
;
and no
slight
was necessary,
weight withal.*
as the doctors
were un-
decided in opinion, to seek some farther advice;
and none
able to supply
sent; and,
it,
To
astrologer.
it
was considered, was
as
Nu-Moun,
so
the mighty
him, therefore, Si-Long was
mounted on
his fiery Tartar steed,
which, however, was more remarkable for
his
roadway
capabilities than for his beauty
* See note, O.
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
123
young mandarin had
or condition, the
when on
ceeded indefatigably for some days,
his
making
inquiries
where he dismounted
pro-
at
a
for
a few minutes to
barber's
shop,
get shaven and shampooed, he learned that
he had arrived within thirty ly of Honan.
and was distant
six or seven only
from the
The
situation
residence of the physician.
of the latter
was pointed out
to
him from
that
spot.
It lay a little
out of the high road, and he
struck across to
it
Nu-Moun
accordingly.
had desisted from the general practice of
his
being of studious habits, and fond of
re-
art,
tirement; and he
now
lived in a small coun-
try house in a sequestered spot, with the
companionship only of a daughter
;
his wife
having died some years since without other
offspring.
Si-Long had no
covering the
villa,
difficulty in dis-
as the spot
was on the
slope of a hill opposite to the path
he approached, and was
by a group
sufficiently
of bamboos,
house was hidden.
by which
No
marked
among which
the
other habitations
124
were in
its
vicinity except huts of the
mean-
est clas
Si-Long had jnst reached the gateway, and
was congratulating him self on having finished
when an
his toilsome journey,
He intended to have
circumstance occurred.
alighted
foot
there,
and
to
towards the house
unfortunate
;
have proceeded on
and he had already
gone over in his mind the bows, the bends,
turns, gestures,
and verbal compliments ne-
cessary to be observed;
as well those set
down
copy of which he
in the ritual code, a
carried in his bosom, as those
lege of
for the
which the Col-
Forms and Ceremonies had appointed
particular occasion.
But just as he
was about
to rein
up
his
Bucephalus (called
Jee-Wf^h in the language of China,) the astrologer himself,
who
at the
moment was walk-
ing in the garden, appeared at the gate
;
and
the steed taking fright at his spectacles (of
which, as the wisest
man
in the empire, he
of course, wore the largest pair,) reared right
on end, by which unexpected evolution the
young mandarin was thrown, whilst yet
rJ:^J..
vv -/^'H^ a/i/tiî/a/ a/./^ 3vAa€\jf>/iA^
125
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
more unfortunately the horse
fell
over upon
him.
The
ance
;
could,
philosopher hastened to his assist-
that
is to
say, he ran
and called loudly
away
as fast as he
Persons
for help.
came, and poor Si-Long was released
one of his legs and
five of his
;
but
were
ribs
broken.
When
his fright,
the physician had recovered from
he went into his house
to see the
luckless youth,
whom
veyed
He dismounted the majestic
jockeyed his own reverend
thither.
spectacles that
nose,
tail,
the servants had con-
wiped the crystals in the bow of his pig-
and by means of two silken cords which
passed behind his ears, and which for greater
gravity were
finished
with huge
tassels,
again suspended them in their place.
He
approached the bed, and, by a catechism of
learned questions, soon ascertained that the
youth was seriously hurt
ticular
way he was
;
but in what par-
not able to discover.
He
repaired therefore to his observatory, that he
might hold a consultation with the
11*
stars
:.
126
and
it
was soon decided between them
that
young equestrian was despe-
the case of the
and that a raging fever would be
rate,
fol-
lowed by his speedy death.
Under these circumstances, there was
to
be done but
to prescribe
little
some medicines
and several ceremonies of which the former
;
were rather intended
and
to facilitate death,
dispose the body to suffer embalmment kindly,
than
to
ward away a
The
sidered inevitable.
was not yet
so far
fate
which was conpatient,
however,
gone but that he remem-
bered the object of his mission, and delivered
to the astrologer the written order
command-
ing his immediate departure for Peking.
Nu-Moun was
tion
;
startled at this
communica-
and seizing in each hand the pulleys of
his spectacles,
with some
and drawing them downwards
force, so as to fix the lenses
more
firmly in their place, he proceeded to ex-
amine the
was signed
ture,
ble,
When
letter.
at top
he placed
it
he perceived that
it
with the imperial signa-
reverentially on a small ta-
and supporting
it
against a vase, per-
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
Ibrmed the
korv-to before
it
;
127
that is to say, he
knelt three times, and struck his forehead
nine times against the
This done, he
floor.
took the epistle, and squatting
down
cross-
legged upon a mat, perused the document
with great attention.
The Emperor's well-known
such, that
it
was
liberality
was
certain the service thus re-
quired of the physician would not be meanly
rewarded.
little
But Nu-Moun had shown how
regard he paid to the acquisition of
wealth, by foregoing a profitable and honourable profession just
when he had
by
attained,
general acknowledgment, the highest rank
and
therein,
manner
retiring to dwell in
an humble
in a secluded country place.
as he read, there
Yet,
was a smile upon the coun-
tenance of the philosopher, and his eyes were
expanded with a pleasant surprise almost
the size of the spectacle lenses.
arise
to
This did not
from any prospective calculation of the
emolument
to
accrue from his
The
visit.
high honour conferred upon him was that by
which
his great
mind was
so gratified
;
and
128
the privilege he should enjoy of beholding
his august sovereign,
tained the most
filial
for
whom
he enter-
and profound venera-
tion.
Nu-Moun had
cured great numbers of
numbers
great people; he had killed great
also
but even those he killed he cured
:
wards by an embalming process
so
;
after-
it
may
be stated generally that he cured them
Mandarins of
care
his
:
all
ranks had been under his
where he succeeded, the merit was
own; where he
failed,
He was
or nature.
rior science,
quisition of
it
But he
fate
no great ac-
to himself, that
their five elements
portion.
all
not unaware of his supe-
and he thought
honour
was in
the fault
even the
governors of provinces should apply
when
all.
to
him
were out of due pro-
justly accounted
it
no
little
thing that he should have been
summoned
from so great a distance, singly
to
that, in
attempt
behalf of his great lord and master,
the
Son
tial
Land, which had baffled the science and
of Heaven, and Father of the Celes-
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
129
defeated the skill of the seventy -two chief
physicians.
Had
it
been otherwise than agreeable, the
Emperor's mandate must not the
been
obeyed.
therefore, to
dawn
have
less
The physician prepared,
commence his journey by the
of day.
There was, however, one matter which
caused him some uneasiness, and
be
difficult to
divine
what
The young Si-Long was
tered in a
manner
that
will not
might
be.
bruised and bat-
that rendered
it
without the utmost inhumanity,
his removal
it
impossible,
to
attempt
from the house and the philoso;
pher's daughter, a beautiful
young lady,
arrived at a marriageable age,
just
must be
left
under the same roof with him, without any
guardian, and with only the fellowship of
two
awkward
could be
discreet,
and
This was certainly
or three domestics.
:
although of real danoêr there
little
or
none
;
for
the maiden was
and the youth a youth of honour
of several broken bones.
tion of affairs
was such
But
the situa-
as admitted of
no
re-
130
medy
and the certainty that Si-Long had
;
not long to live was a source of consolation
to
Nu-Moun.
The
physician, before his departure, at the
same time that he gave her much other very
sensible advice,
to
keep
herself,
entirely to her
make
her to
health of the
recommended
his daughter
during his visit to the
own
capital,
apartments: but desired
inquiries daily concerning the
young
invalid,
and
be sure
to
that the domestics were not wanting in attention to him.
To them
also
he gave discreet
rules of conduct, and instructed
act
upon
them how to
the death of the stranger
which he
stated
:
an event
would take place in about
ten days.
He
departed, and his dutiful daughter be-
oân the
manaoêment of
affairs in his
with the properest circumspection.
absence
She
or-
dered that several skreens should be expand-
ed in the passage that separated her apart-
ment from
placed
;
that in
which the young man was
and was careful
as
much
as possible,
though sundry thick walls were between
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
131
them, to keep her back turned in that direction.
A
who was
female servant,
was occasionally engaged
From
the youth.
Keen*
and ugly,
attendance on
her the beautiful Tou-
learned that he was handsome and
had a pleasant
it
in
old
voice.
was awkward
to
She soon found
that
be constantly moving
backwards or sideways, and relaxed the
se-
verity of her observance in that particular.
Contrary
to all expectation,
Si-Long sur-
vived the tenth day, and at the expiration of
that time
showed evident symptoms of im-
provement.
Tou-Keen,
in obedience to her
father's desire, received a daily report of his
progress from her old attendant
;
and, with
great consideration for his health,
when she
found that he was gaining strength, ordered
that the skreens
might be removed,
to
admit
of the better ventilation of his apartment.
After the lapse of a few weeks he could
rise
ber;
from his bed and move about the cham-
and she then recommended that he
* See note, P.
132
should take exercise in the passage, which
was
Tlie youth, whose
of greater extent.
feelings of propriety
were of the properest
description, finding himself so far recovered,
considered
to leave
it
time,
though he was
a house where accident had placed
him under circumstances
ture;
weak,
still
and he
therefore,
of so delicate a na-
with every due form,
sent in his compliments to his youthful hostess, to
tions
express his gratitude for the atten-
he had received, and bid her a respect-
ful farewell.
it
Tou-Keen, however, thought
would not be becoming, in the absence of
her father, that a visiter should be suffered to
quit the house without receiving the usual
compliments and politenesses due
to a guest;
and feeling thus, she very properly resolved
to act as the representative of her
She accordingly
this
particular occasion.
went
into the passage to bid,
her
sire,
moment
papa on
on the part of
a formal adieu to Si-Long; but the
she
beheld
his
pale cheek
and
sunken eye, she perceived how improper,
how dangerous
it
would be
for
him
to en-
—
;
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
133
counter the fatigue of a removal so soon.
With
the greatest delicacy, however, he per-
with the greatest hos-
sisted in his purpose;
pitality" she,
insisted
upon the part of her
that he
father,
should prolong his stay.
Their polite contest lasted just four hours
and sixteen minutes, in which time they
acted through every section of the two hun-
dred and fifty-seventh book
Forms and Ceremonies
which
tion
of-
the
that being the por-
;
treats of the departure of a guest.
In the end Si-Long was vanquished
CO aid
it
Code of
be otherwise?
—and
—as how
he promised
to
defer his departure.
The
thick
up
ice
was broken
—
had not been
—and a warm fountain of love
in the hearts of the
Thenceforth they were
they vowed vows
scheme
;
young
much
could not be happy apart
little
it
;
sprung
people.
together
;
they
they sighed sighs
in fine, they arranged a
for boatins:
it
together
down
the current of matrimonial felicity.
Nu-Moun was
detained in Peking longer
than he anticipated.
12
At
last,
however, he
134
succeeded in taking his revered master the
Emperor
off the sick-list
nately, only
mortality.
by
placing
;
— though unfortu-
him upon
Communicating
the bills of
to his
daughter
intelligence of this circumstance, he gave her
to
understand that he should return home in
a very few days and Si-Long had no longer
:
any
difficulty in
that he
was
persuading his betrothed
so far convalescent as to admit,
without imprudence, of his taking his immeBefore he went, however,
diate departure.
it
was
settled
between the pair that the
young lady should obtain her
to their union,
sire's
consent
and induce him, as soon as
preliminaries could be arranged, to convey
her to Peking for the performance of the
marriage ceremonies.
So Si-Long
at last
Nu-Moun
departed, and in a few days
re-
turned.
The
the
physician was astonished to find that
young mandarin had gone, not having
been aware that he had so
even
to leave
"^his
chamber.
far
recovered as
He was more
surprised, and not altogether pleased, to dis-
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
135
cover that the skreens, of which his daufjhter's first letter
had made mention, had been
so soon displaced
sumed a
and his spectacles
;
larger appearance than ever
as-
when
he heard of the subsequent progress of events.
His
pigtail
grew exceedingly uneasy, waving
and occasionally
in gentle undulations,
ing round his shoulders
;
coil-
and, lighting his
pipe with great precipitation, he began to
smoke with
so
much energy
as to wrinkle
up the bamboo, and contract
in length
it
some inches.
Now the
excused
fact is that
his
Nu-Moun would have
daughter's
imprudence,
would have made no objection
riage with a
young mandarin
pute as Si-Long, had
had formed a
which
little
that of the
it
to
of so
and
her mar-
much
re-
not chanced that he
plot of his
own, with
young people might ma-
terially interfere.
A
fortunate conjunction
of stars had suggested
the idea;
more he had pondered upon
it,
and the
the more
it
had delighted him.
Need
it
be said that Tou-Keen would not
136
have been
fixed. upon as the heroine of this
story,
had she not been
at that precise pe-
riod the most beautiful lady in the Chinese
dominions
lestial
?
Now
Land when
it is
a custom in the Ce-
a fresh ruler comes to the
throne, (as, thanks to the astrological science
which Nu-Moun himself had brought to bear
on the late Emperor, was now about
the case,) that parents
who
possess
ried daughters of great beauty,
these, besides
making up
be
unmar-
and of a mar-
riageable age, respectfully oifer
notice of their sovereign
to
them
to the
and from among
;
his little
museum
of handmaidens, he not unfrequently selects
his
Empress,*
The
worshipful physician
Emperor
was already
in favour with the
elect; so that
he might consider there would
be
little difficulty
in obtaining for his lovely
daughter an introduction to that potentate.
And
then
— relying
much on
her surpassing
beauty, but more on the promise of the stars
—he entertained a strong hope, almost a con* See note, Q.
—
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
would
fidence, that she
137
such favour in
find
the imperial eyes as to be the enviable one
selected to share the throne
but no " at least"
—
it
;
—
or at least
must assuredly be
thus,
and not otherwise.
Nu-Moun was
therefore perplexed
;
but
entertaining no very high opinion of the per-
manency
of ladies' affections, he determined
to conceal his
purpose for a time,
dour of her love
what abate
far as the
The
accede
journey
to
to
her request so
Peking was concerned.
must kindle some
any female mind
his
Si-Long might some-
for
to
the ar-
idea of becoming an Empress, he ima-
gined,
in
but
;
till
;
feelings of ambition
and as he reflected thus,
queue grew calmer.
Nu-Moun was
ment
not mistaken in his judg-
of his daughter.
He
took her to Pe-
king, and soon venturing to communicate
his
scheme
to her,
readily and
views.
was delighted
how warmly
to
how
she entered into his
She requested only
endeavour
to find
that he
would
keep their proposed proceedings
a secret from SirLong; because,
12*
if it
should'
138
prove that the Emperor was without discrir
mination,
it
would be
to have, as the
spoon
to
her
well, she considered,
Chinese express
was already an
old
man
man.
in the
old
new Emperor
a
But
the ladies for-
young Emperor and
;
many would even have
become
another
rice.
The Emperor, though
got the old
it,
consented to have
women, could they thereby have
secured to themselves a share in the imperial
many of those
most remarkable for beauty, who in conformity with the custom to which we have adAt
throne.
his inauguration,
had been brought from various parts
verted,
him for
and he chose from among them
of the empire, were presented to
se-
lection
se-
veral,
;
who were honoured with
But when the
appointments in the palace.
surpassingly beautiful
duced
particular
Tou-Keen was
into his presence, he rose
intro-
with un-
speakable condescension, and declared before
the assembled court that he recognised that
lady as the person to
whom
mated some thousand years
he had been
before, in a dif-
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
ferent state of being,
become
139
and who was destined
The
his spouse in this.
he sent forth a proclamation, giving
wisest and best reasons
to
next day
the
having made use
for
of an abridged edition of the marriage cere-
monies, and declaring that his imperial ex-
ample in
this instance
was not
to
be referred
to as a precedent.
When
the
the unfortunate Si-Long received
news of his beloved Tou-Keen's marriage
with the Emperor, he
fused to give
it
for a
credence
;
long while
re-
declaring that the
lady was engaged to himself, and that truth
itself
was not half so true
as she.
As
soon,
however, as he became convinced of the
fact,
he was well-nigh beside himself with rage
and despair.
his pigtail,
He gnashed his
and
" I will be revenged," cried
"as sure as a bow and arrow."
had not
tore
and declared that Tou-Keen was
falsehood itself
he,
teeth,
at that
Guns
time been introduced in
China.
His conduct and declarations became a
theme of wonder
at court
;
and a mandarin,
140
who had been
jealous of the favour Si-Long
had obtained from the
tured to report to the
like a
new one
all
that
he had
Poor Si-Long would soon
so rashly spoken.
have been
Emperor, ven-
late
volume of fugitive poetry,
—
to wit, a collection of small pieces,
—but
the interposition of the amiable
Tou-
for
Keen,
tice.
who was opposed to such poetical jusThe beautiful Empress, however, was
not unwilling that her too aspiring lover
should meet with a punishment proportioned
to his offence
;
so she suggested that
he should
receive two hundred strokes of the bamboo,
and
that,
score
with the imperial gratuity of ten
marks which would accompany the
ex-
ecution of this order, he might be dismissed
An Empe-
from the province of Pe-che-le.
ror of China, as the father of his people, well
understands that to spare the rod
the child, and the
bamboo
is
one of the most
useful plants in his dominions.
naturally prize
it,
is to spoil
His subjects
because they feel
its
use.
After obtaining such proof of his mistress's
favour, Si-Long
had
little
desire to remain
;
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
141
longer in the capital, and thus banishment
became
to
him
was behind the world,
or, as it is
monly expressed, the world was
and he
his
set forth
little
He
a matter of indifference.
more com-
him
before
from the great capital with
upon
capital
He was
his back.
marks some time
likely to retain his
but, as
;
his mandarin's button
had been taken from
him, he was no longer
among the
He wandered
spirit,
on,
nobles.
greatly depressed
in
and careless whither chance might
lead him, and for several days mechanically
retraced the
way he had
lately taken
when
intrusted with the Emperor's commission.
Having
at length arrived at the place
where
the path turned off to the dwelling of the
physician, he could not resist an inclination
to revisit the
abode which he had
such pleasing anticipations.
left
with
Not doubting,
however, that his story had got there before
him, he did not venture
front of the house
;
to
show himself
but, choosing the
in
dusk of
the evening, he went stealthily through the
garden, and passed along avenues of bananas
—
—
;
142
and orange-trees,
till
he came
commanding an
mer-house,
of a tank of gold fish.
building he threw himself
bench,
to a small
extensive view
In that fantastic
down on a bamboo
—he did not notice that
boo, or
it
was of bam-
he would have chosen some
and looked pensively
sum-
at the water,
other,
and
fish that sported so merrily therein.
once before sat in that place
:
at the
He had
the beautiful,
but faithless Tou-Keen was then his companion
:
they had slipped forth unobserved of
the domestics, and in that retreat had enjoyed
an hour of delightful intercourse, such as in
the
lovers,
heart
to
falls to
the lot of few
although such hours only can
the Celestial
fish,
Land
Celestial
Land
was low,
a perfect paradise.
—and as he looked
make
His
at the gold
and thought of his false lady, he repeated
himself the words of the celebrated poet,
Sing-Song, which have been so well translated
by Gray
" Not
And
all
:
that tempts our wandering eyes,
heedless hearts,
Not
all
is
lawful prize
that glisters, gold."
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
"
Ah !"
said he, "false
Tou-Keen you
!
ceived your faithful Si-Long
treasured
you
143
he would have
;
and be-
as the precious metal,
hold you elude his grasp as a slippery
Tou-Keen
Farewell, however,
me
whom
I
!
far
be
it
fish.
from
revenge or hate
to cherish feelings of
against one
de-
have loved so truly."
Having spoken thus, he was possessed with
a strong desire to put an end to his miseries
by a plunge
god
But
into the tank.
the drowsy
beginning
wâs just at the time
to exer-
cise so powerful an influence upon him, that
he was constrained
to defer this
till
he should
have taken a short nap.
To
this
end he
From
he had a dream.
upon a pedestal
little
asleep
fell
;
and in his sleep
a vase that stood
in the middle of the tank, a
mist seemed suddenly to
arise,
which,
gradually spreading and approaching him,
revealed amid
its
roUinor
of his guardian joss.
bellied divinity,
the custom of
was
all
volumes the
fissure
This was a little punch-
who
sat cross-legged, as is
guardian
full of quintessential
josses.
wisdom,
His face
its
very
144
furrows seemed to have been made by " wise
saws," and the air of the whole was a sort of
proverbial expression.
"My
son," said he,
" though gravity of face suiteth with wisdom,
yet laughter
less as tears
itself is
;
full is better
not so vain and profit-
and remember that half a
than no
pot-
Therefore arise
rice.
and go thy way, and away with ungainly
grief
Bend thy
this province of
Hoo-Pee,
steps south-eastward
Honan, and pass through
thou
till
from
comest
to
Kiang-Si.
There attend the chances that await thee.
This much I read of thy fate the Emperor
:
now he hath
down, and thy name shall go
yet shall honour thee, though
thus cast thee
forth through all the land, and be
bered
through
all
ages.
If
remem-
the honour
Cometh slowly, remember, the great wall was
not built in a day; keep up thy courage and
persevere in the path upon which thou enterest; patience
great canal.
and perseverance dug the
Here, take this talisman.
will aid thee in all thou devisest.
make
hot cold; and cold hot.
It
It will
But whenever
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
thou hast some purpose to
hold
it
will
fatter
and
Farewell."*
avail nothing.
This
thou must
Untouched
in thine hand.
it
effect,
145
grew
said, the portly joss
thinner; fatter and fatter in size, but thinner
and thinner in substance
nese poet,
lestial
— that
Empire,
bard, expresses
is to
—that
;
until, as the
Chi-
say, the poet of the Ceis
say, the divine
to
it,
" Like glory, or a circle in the water,
By
gradual spreading he dispersed to nought,"
As soon as the joss had vanished, Si-Long
awoke. At the time he fell asleep, the moon
had not long appeared above the horizon;
when he
she had just reached her ze-
There she hung,
nith.
lier
rose,
as the great chande-
of the night, the stars glittering
round
her like single candles stuck about the cupola
of heaven.
Majestic orb a Chinese writer
!
has aptly likened her to a pot of rice, and the
stars to scattered grains.
Si-Long
arose.
He
looked up at the
• See Note S.
13
;
146
moon: he looked down
thought of his meditated leap into the
but, with the
moon
reflected within
He
peared too deep.
he
the water:
at
latter,
ap-
it, it
looked at the vase that
stood on a pedestal in the midst of the tank
and, as his eye
dream returned
upon
fell
to his
this, his vision or
memory, and quite de-
termined him not to plunge too rashly.
as
he recollected the apparition of the
remembered likewise the talisman
until then did
ger and
;
But
joss,
and not
he notice that betwixt the
thumb
of his left
he
fin-
hand he held a
small crooked coin, which he recognised im-
mediately as the
gift of his
guardian
Encouraged by such a discovery, he
bade adieu
spirit.
rose
and
for ever to that sad scene of for-
mer happy hours, and, finding that the garden-gate was fast, climbed the wall with
some difficulty,— declining the
sistance of
abamboo,
on the other
proff'ered as-
—and alighting
side, set
in safety
forward at once on his
journey towards the south-east, in obedience
to the
We
recommendation of the
leave
him on
his
joss.
way, and return
to
THE PORCELAIN BATH
As we approach
Peking.
147
Within the
Tou-Keen from every mouth.
walls
Tou-Koen
is
the universal theme of
conversation too; but there
her, for not being far
Tou-Keen the
;
petulant;
fantastic
Tou-Keen
less of
from the palace,
Tou-Keen the
the unjust;
we hear
Tou-Keen
speak in whispers.
ful
we hear
this city
;
all
the beauti-
Tou-Keen the
cruel;
Tou-Keen
that rules the ruler;
Tou-K(;en that squanders the money of the
land
;
everywhere Tou-Koen
Tou-Keen;
Keen,
all
;
day long
Tou-Keen,
Tou-Keen,
Tou-
— nothing but Tou-Keen.
The young Empress,
in the
mysterious
wây that sometimes happens, had acquired
a surprising influence over the old Emperor,
although he was the despotic sovereign of
the great Central Empire, and she a
woman
weak
just raised to dignity
from no very
high rank among his subjects.
Ah, wonder-
ful
beyond
ting
all
wondrous things thy
power,
Kings with thy
beauty,
locks,
who
fascina-
imprisonest
and makest Emperors
bend beneath thy lashes!
Tou-Keen soon
148
felt
her power, and she
Emperor
the
;
and like the shock of a galvanic bat-
it
passed from him to those next him in
feel it
tery,
made
deo^ree,
and so throuo^h the whole
Never were humours
society.
as those
so fantastic
which Tou-Keen taxed her
which her
gratify.
circle of
and
lord,
lord taxed the w^hole country to
She ordered new buildings and
decorations in the palace
;
a gimcrack arch
of porcelain in the great court before
it
tall
;
columns, supporting at telescopic heights the
figures of warriors
and great men
(it
was a
pity she possessed no Hershel's telescope to
new
bring their features within view;)
dens
filled
terracotta,
and
with trees dwarfed
with
flowers
in
down to shrubs,
upon
pots
branches, fine specimens of the
which Art can turn Nature
make her
gar-
with majestic rocks of glass and
artificial
manner
in
inside out, or
stand upon her head.
She would
have, too, garden buildings devised in
all
the
forms of Chinese puzzles, lakes of coloured
water
filled
with
artificial
fish,
and
bridges erected upon level lawns.
lofty
She
is-
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
149
sued her command, and temples and theatres
were there mingled together, and pig-tailed
and gods fantoccina flourished falcions and
flags,
beat drums, and smoked their pipes
and incense-pots
other.
But
in
happy emulation of each
in the decorations of her
own
apartments, in her dress, and in her fo^d, the
beautiful and proud
lavish
and
fantastic.
Tou-Keen was yet more
Large pieces of
furni-
wrought of rhinoceros
ivory, in that
exquisite style of carving in
which the Chi-
ture,
nese are yet unequalled, or in jade and precious marbles, inlaid with diamonds and rubies
;
pillows and beds of spider-silk, stuffed
only with parrots'
down
;
robes
woven of gold
filaments resembling silk, and enriched with
a wonderful embroidery,
ladies in the
cute
;
which
all
the
empire were compelled
first
to exe-
dishes of woodcocks' brains, the pu-
pils of cats' eyes, snails' horns,
and mouse-
these were but a few
among her
foot jelly
;
multitudinous devices.
The whims of the most whimsical TouKeen furnished ample employment to all the
13*
—
150
best artificers in ivory, in the precious metals
in silks, in porcelain, and in whatever else
might conduce
to
ornament and luxury.
Yet her commissions were
tronage, but tyranny
executed her
for,
;
commands
felt to be,
not pa-
though those who
in a
manner which
gave her satisfaction were well paid, and
even rewarded
larger
numbers who
failed, in spite of their
most anxious endeavours,
tion
to
win her approba-
were punished with various degrees of
Some were bambooed
severity.
;
some had
their shops or
workhouses destroyed
were banished
to
The
much
for their labour; the
tasks
some
;
remote parts of the empire.
which she
set to the porcelain
manufacturers were particularly troublesome:
for after these
had formed the
most careful and
unusual and
were apt
to
clay,
by the
skilful manipulations, into
difficult shapes, their labours
be rendered unavailing by the
uncontrollable effects of the
fire to
which
the earthy material had. necessarily to be
subjected.
Among
other fancies, she had
demanded
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
from these
a bath, of most fantastic
artists
form, the sides and edge of
which should be
formed of a fihgree of flowers,
shells,
151
and figures; the whole
to
fruit, birds,
be contrived
with great intricacy and elaborated with ex-
Of
treme minuteness.
prepared in Peking
;
this a
model was
and sent thence
to the
factory at King-te-chin, then an establish-
ment
which has since
of considerable repute,
become the most famous
No
in all China.*
such piece of porcelain, either
for size,
or for the curiosity of the
workmanship, had
hitherto been attempted
and the proprietor
of the furnaces
was dismayed when he
Among
ceived the order.
his employ, however,
extraordinary
;
skill,
re-
the artificers in
was a young man
who had
med some commissions
of
already perfor-
of the Empress, for
which the furnaces of best repute had been
tried
;
the manufacturers of best repute bas-
tinadoed:
and
this person,
who had
been looked upon as a prodigy of
oracle of art, readily took
lately
skill
and
upon himself the
perilous responsibility of forming the porcelain bath.
* See note S.
152
—(perhaps you
This ingenious young artist
may have
guessed so much) was no other
than our heroic Si-Long,
the hero of our story,
—
at least
Si-Long
— who had arrived one
evening, tired and hungry, in the neighbour-
hood of the porcelain manufactories of King-
As he had found
te-chin.
ble nor agreeable
money
without
roam about
to
or
credit,
long
changes
of
he should tarry in
his guardian joss that
Kiang-Si,
it
occurred to
to obtain
factories,
much
or
so
and as he recollected the advice of
clothes,
be able
neither reputa-
it
him
that he
might
employment in the porcelain
and that as he was possessed of
ingenuity and
cupy himself
in a
and honourable.
taste,
manner
He
he might thus ocat
once lucrative
found no difficulty in
formino^ an enoragement with the master of
the principal establishment; but
have rendered
when he
this the
what may
more easy was,
presented himself to
make an
that
offer
of his services his hand was unconsciously
placed upon the talisman he had received
from the
joss.
But
for this fortunate
acci-
—
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
dent
probable that references as to
is
it
153
character might liave been required, and
would not have been pleasant
to
it
have been
forced to appeal to his friend, the Emperor,
for credentials.
He
afterwards remembered the talisman,
made hard things easy to him, and
This it was
aided him in all he devised.
which enabled him, though with such little
and
it
experience in the fabrication of china ware,
perform
to
what had
balked
the
ablest
Avorkmen.
Si-Long applied himself assiduously, with
the assistance of several ingenious artists,
to imitate in tlie clay
It
was
wrought
coloured
to
and glazed.
placed, not without
nace,
the model of the bath.
which under
its
due
After
some
form
that
;
was
it
was
difficulty, in a fur-
his particular superinten-
dence, had been erected for the occasion.
No
vessel of porcelain clay the tenth part
its size
had ever before undergone the pro-
cess of burning.
Of
course, therefore, the
most extraordinary care must be requisite in
154
Si-Long had had the fur-
the operation.
nace formed with various apertures, in such
a
manner
that the heat could be suddenly in-
creased or diminished on any side
;
and he
himself stood upon a raised platform, and
down
looked
mous
a sloping shaft into the enor-
cistern of
fire,
that he might observe
the progress of burning, and give orders to
the
workmen
accordingly.
It
was necessary
to subject the clay to intense heat
the bath
:
was so large that otherwise a portion only
might have been sufficiently baked, whilst
other parts were scarcely affected
fire.
by the
Si-Long's arrangements had been exwell.
He
did not forget meanwhile to hold the
talis-
cellent:
man
all
in his
seemed proceeding
hand
the value of the
the giver.
:
and he fully appreciated
gift,
and the benevolence of
He Looked
hard at
it,
his heart
overflowing with satisfaction and gratitude.
It
was lying upon the
fore-finger of his right
hand, and the knuckle of the
hand was
half-closed,
was
bend of the middle
in the
thumb
:
his
and his thumb-nail
finger.
"
O
:
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
thou invaluable prize
!"
said
165
and his
he,
thumb sprang suddenly upward, and
it
He meant
in the air.
it fell
;
twirled
have caught
to
it
as
but in his delight he had tossed
it
rather too high, and he caught at
nervously
:
it
rather too
struck his hand, and rebound-
ing from that passed
into the furnace,
Long looked
it
down
and
after
it
fell
in
the sloping shaft
into the bath.
dismay
:
Si-
and, as his
eyes were fixed upon the bath, he observed
a line
all
down
the side, a line
which
at first
seemed scarcely thicker than a hair
soon
lain
;
it
:
but
appeared like a wire against the porce-
then like a cord
;
and
still it
opened
wider, and other similar indications of fracture
became
perceptible.
Si-Long was in despair.
spoiled
:
the talisman
was
The bath was
lost
:
all
hopes of
success were by that loss removed for ever
his reputation, of which he
had grown proud,
was ruined; the Empress, who
in spite of
the falsehood and cruelty she had exercised
towards him, he had
satisfaction, to gratify,
toiled,
with great
self-
would be disappointed
;
THE PORCELAIN TOWER."
156
bamboo grew more
of her bath: and the
abundantly in Kiang-$i than in the northern
These thoughts passed
provinces.
Poor
as pulsations through his brain.
Long was reduced
as quick
to horrible despair;
Si-
and
clasping his hands together in a frantic manner,
and tucking up his
petticoat,
—swift
as
an ignis fatuus he plunged head-foremost
into the
fire.
When
the master of the furnaces and his
workmen perceived what Si-Long had done,
they ran away in great fright, and with much
precipitation,
some
calling on Fo,
Laou-Keun.
on Con-fut-sze and some on
They
spread about through the neighbour-
hood, and told the tale at
then assembled
cil
of war;
agreed
Long
in
and
after
to return, that
all
their
all
the factories
one place, and held a coun-
much
deliberation,
they might afford Si-
the assistance in their power.
They went back
was
and some
accordingly
:
but what
surprise on opening the doors of
the furnace, to find that the
out, that the bath
was yet
fire
had burned
perfect,
and
fully
;
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
157
baked, and that poor Si-Long lay, a mere
heap of cinders, within
When
it.
they had reduced
him more completely
of
that remained
all
to ashes,
sited these in a porcelain vase,
them beneath the
for
furnace.
him very strenuously
membered
;
they depo-
and buried
They mourned
because they
re-
Empress might have
that the
fresh fancies; and in such case, without a Si-
Long, they had nothing better
bamboos, or banishment,
to look to
—perhaps
than
a bow-
string.
The Empress was delighted with the bath
exceedingly but when she heard the fate of
;
the
unhappy Si-Long she was
afflicted be-
yond measure with laughter uncontrollable.
"
What,"
said she,
cious youth
whom we
" Si-Long, the audalet off so
a couple of hundred blows
?
cheaply with
The youth who
accused the Empress of the Central Empire
of inconstancy to
you say
;
?
A
handsome youth,
black eyes, large ears, thick lips
as fat as turtle,
to his heel.
14
him
and with a
Believe me,
it
pig-tail
reaching
can be no other
158
than that same, that very same insolent Si-
And
Long.
He
he he
!
!
they found
!
he jumped into the
so
—how exceedingly queer
him
Ho! ho! ho!
—
in this bath, too,
I
shall
fire?
And
!
you say?
with this
die
fit.
Quite baked! quite roasted! quite broiled!
Ha!
ha!
ha!
—how
absurdly
ridiculous!
Come, get me ready this bath, that my poor
bambooed lover was fried in. Let it be well
filled
with cool cocoa-nut milk, and high-
scented cinnamon waters, and spread lotusleaf couches around.
in
it
More
then (wot ye?) than
pleasant to bathe
when
it
lay in the
furnace of King-te-chin."
As soon
as the swiftest feet could convey
the order, a thousand persons were
their
up
to
necks in water, gathering the petals of
the sacred lotus, to heap up couches for the
capricious Tou-Keen.
The
bath was pre-
pared in less time than would appear possible,
in a beautiful chamber,
costliest
hung round with
metal mirrors, and carpeted with
veral thicknesses of the softest silk.
the
se-
The
walls were partly clothed with the same; and
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
on ivory and
silver tables
159
were disposed bas-
kets of the choicest fruits and flowers, and
cages of the most gorgeous birds; whilst at
end of the bath stood huge vases of
either
porcelain, filled with a rare sort of water-lily,
and with strange and beautiful
The
pared
Tou-Keen
lovely, the amiable
and dismissed her
for the bath,
She
dants.
fish.
floated
in
the
cool
pre-
atten-
cocoa-nut
milk and high-scented cinnamon waters
;
and
by drawing a tasselled string, upset a basket
which had been suspended near the ceiling,
immediately over the bath, and brought down
upon herself a dewy shower of
"And
so," said she
the fact that
that
roseleaves.
musingly, "it
aspiring
is
really
Si-Long,
who
would have made the surpassingly beautiful
Tou-Keen
who was
—
it is
a mandarin's
born
wife
—Tou-Keen,
to rule the ruler of the
really a fact that he
was scorched
death in this very delightful bath
how
exceedingly singular!
wonder which way he
was on
this side or
fell?
on that ?
world,
!
to
Well,
Ha! ha! ha!
I,
whether his head
I
can fancy his
!
160
nose coming in contact with
he
is
And
!
Hi
!
hi
:
he he
!
I'm an Empress,
here, as sure as
a Httle crack.
here
it
What have we
!
here?"
There was a
had
said
and in the
;
crooked coin,
had
crack, as the
little
—the
The
lost.
Empress
crack was a
little
little
talisman which Si-Long
Uttle
crooked coin was almost
hidden in the
little
crack
and both the
little
crack and the
little
crooked coin were so
little
;
Tou-Keen,
as before to have escaped notice.
When she saw the
however, detected them.
crack she inserted in
little
her long
it
nails,
it
the tip of one of
and as she scraped that along
directed her eye towards the
No
coin.
than, as
upon
ber,
it.
was very
That
would make hot
it
natural, her fingers
coin,
you
virtues.
It
little
hard things easy;
it
will
latter,
were
remem-
would make
would aid in devices;
cold,
and cold
would do nothing.
in contact with
it,
it
But un-
hot.
then, did the beautiful finger of
come
crooked
sooner did she perceive the
was a coin of
touched
little
No
sooner,
Tou-Keen
than the thermome-
!
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
161
terinthe bath was at "Cocoa-nut milk boils
;"
and the lovely Empress, who was at the mo-
ment laughing ho! ho! ho!
one side of her
at
mouth, forthwith laughed oh
!
oh
oh! on the
!
other.
The
lish
began
and
livelily,
to sing as
to
to
wriggle their
tails
very
turn up their noses; the birds
merrily as though a pie had been
opened but Tou-Keen wriggled worse than
;
the
fish,
and sung out more loudly than her
feathered companions.
Her
attendants^
chamber.
came
into
tottering
Oh, remarkable sight!
the
in the very
bath in which Si-Long had been roasted,
Tou-Keen was stewed
Tou-Keen
lived just long
most fantastic tortures
made
the bath, for those
Peking,
and
for
for
for all
those
the
enough
those
devise
who had
who conveyed
who prepared it
members
to
for
Emperor wisely considered
be sufficient torture for
to
her use,
of her household.
But unfortunately Tou-Keen died; and
so excellent a mistress
it
the
that the loss of
and Empress would
all his
14*
loyal subjects.
162
Between
grown
ourselves,
—the
Emperor
had
was very
tired of her tyranny, and
well pleased to be thus quit of his lady
he sent an order
to King-te-chin,
the other porcelain factories,
and
so
;
to all
commanding
who had formed such a wonand who had disposed of himself
that the youth
derful bath,
in such a wonderful manner, should thence-
worshipped as the god of the
forth be
fur-
naces;* and he himself made a present of
three junk loads of paper to be burned before
his shrine.
was
Thus
the promise of the joss
the
fulfilled, that
Emperor should
yet
honour Si-Long, and that Si-Long's name
should go forth through
remembered through
all
all ajres.
The Emperor, though
very affectionately
the land, and be
for
pleased,
mourned
the beautiful Tou-
Keen, and always preserved with great care
a purse manufactured from her skin.
You
would, perhaps, wish to
became of the
a
moment
old physician.
know what
Being
ill,
in
of infatuation he prescribed for
himself.
» See note, T.
;
THE EMPEROR HWANG-TE.
Let the Emperor plough, and the Empress spin
Good
And
iron,
a
I
wot,
is
garment of
;
better than tin
Song.
silk is soft to the skin.
Cycles and kalpas f have come and have fled,
Since the days when the Emperor Hwang-te sat
At the door of his house, where his table was spread
Over a carpet of cocoa-nut mat.
*
The
legends of the Emperor Ilwang-te, or Hoang-ty, belong
to a period of
Chinese history which certain even of the native
writers incline to look upon as
human
somewhat apocryphal.
was
the second of the
was
called the Divine
arts
of agriculture, medicine, and music; whilst
introduced
China.)
the
Husbandman, and taught
manufacture of
Hum-Drum,
in
silk."
Hwang-te
Land
;
•'
he
his people the
his
Empress
(Holman's Travels
in
the moralist, poet, and historian, has given,
in the following narrative, a
met with
rulers of the Celestial
any other
more detailed account than
w^riter,
of
tiie
is
to be
origin of that still-existing
custom which confers renown upon the name of Hwang.
I Chinese divisions of time, into periods of sixty years and of
a thousand ages, respectively.
;
:
;
164
His diet was simple rice, water, and meat
Not costly or rare, marry, wholesome and sweet
Yea, whether to subjects or whether to kings,
:
—
Meat, water, and
His robe of
But
the
rice be the healthfulest things.
was a silken stuff,
worms then scarce had
state
learned
to
spin
His sceptre brave was of elk-horn rough,
All adorned with knobs of brass and tin.
And sovereign and worshipful lord was he.
Of the Central Land of rice and tea;
And of course all the world was beneath his command.
Because he was Lord of the Central Land.
But clouds o'er Hwang-te's
spirit
passed.
And Hwang-te beat his breast and sighed;
For honours high and empire vast.
Were
not enough to feed his pride.
Though sages round
And
His
He
*'
his throne
bowed low.
sceptred kings performed Kovv-to,
soul
was sad with
pined for wealth of
griefs untold;
gems and
Oh what a glorious thing it
To have a house with silver
!
gold.
were,
walls,
Roofed, not with boughs of shaven fir,
But golden bars and golden balls;
I
;
;
!
;
;
:
The floors of porphyry, or of brass
The throne hewn from a crystal mass
With flower-pots, tables, lamps and jars,
Of emeralds, jacinths, jets, and spars
"
Oh would
!
had a garden
I
Its trees all
rare,
formed with ivory stems,
Their leaves of silver pure and
Their flowers of pearls, their
The
And
fair.
of gems,
fruits
paths inlaid with stones of price,
fret-works round of rare device.
That kings might come from far to
And sages envy rich Hwang-te !"
see.
The moon arose, and rose Hwang-te,
The richest, poorest man of men:
He
glanced around that none might
And wandered
^ gloomy glen
For wo
Its
see,
up a gloomy glen,
whose shades seemed meant
and hate, and discontent;
cheeriest spots
were thick with graves
pits and caves.
The
rest with
And
serpent roots about them twined,
vaporous
Of all unwholesome trees and shrubs.
With cankerous stalk and leprous rind,
Deep-gnawed by huge and ghastly grubs,
Some
Some
leafless rose
of bony white
clotted their
shadows as thick as nisht
165
:;
;
:
166
thence
clam and the grease that
filled.
With worse than upas' bane were
And
Not
far within that
Had
was
It
distilled,
the
haggard
glen,
ever a mortal's foot been set
men,
not stored with breath for
rocks a venomous
But there oozed from the
sweat
slimy lumps drew there
cumbrous
And
^
from the vicious air,
they crawled o'er branches blue,
wherever
And
and through.
festering rot went through
A
sort of
life
A
he was an Emperor grand,
earth ;
The " Son of Heaven" and lord of
And therefore might the taint withstand,
Mortal to men of lowlier worth
But Hwang,
O
1
marched,
up the glen he boldly
arched,
caverns
and
pits
'Mongst gaping
gray,
portals
and
With chambers black
i' the day.
herself
hide
might
And
Where
night
heeded not the shapeless newts,
and bloated;
And worms enorme, all blotched
death-clammed fruits.
grisly flowers and
He
The
And venom dews he scantly noted
pools,
The stagnant, black, and glutinous
And cavernous
crypts,
fit
haunts for ghouls:
rankling smell.
Nor marked he aught the
dead i' the dell.
That seemed as Time were
Natheless his
And
He
were opened wide,
on the ground,
seemed
Had
" Far
lids
167
in
to look; but
pensive guise,
thought inside
closed
in the
its shutters o'er
his eyes.
valley's dismal cells,
'TIS said a strange
W gryphon,
Magician dwells,
ghoul, or dragon clan
Disguised beneath the
form of man,
"And he hath heaps of glittering
ore
And walls of solid marble
hewn,
And precious stones a
precious store,
And priceless shells that
grow the moon.
Now, I trust 'tis sooth, what
i'
conjurors
Ihat such brave toys be
hid
An' I find it true I shall
i'
the dell
tell,
•
make bold
gems and gold."
e'en
lo ask
for a part of his
On strode Hwang-te; and
he came
To a rock like a skull,
at last
half-bleached by time
Its toothless jaws
were a cavern vast
And the caves of its eyes
were roped with slime*
Around it a forest of fungi
grew
Each as huge and as black
and as broad as a
yewWhose rotten parts lay, half
crumbled and eaten
Like pieces of wreck
on a shore storm-beaten!
•
'
There throned on a
fragment of blue decay
^
Within the fungi's
grumous shade,
With
bloodless flesh of a
greeny
And
m
gray
worm-eaten sepulchre
cloths arrayed
;;
The Enchanter
sat,
And smoking
Through a
And
its
and a badger's
skull.
pivot he slowly rolled,
bent his eyes on bold Hwang-te
His eyes as unlike life and cold
As the jellies thrown up o' the sands
Then
fin,
the flabbiest leaves he could cull,
stork's leg-bone
His head on
o' the sea.
he clenched his fan in a firmer gripe,
tapped on a fungus the bowl of his pipe
O'er a snake-long slug
the
And he
venomous
its
ashes flew.
juice soon burned
spoke in a voice to
So strange
A
:
with a ghastly grin,
While fanning himself with a dragon's
And
—
168
And
:
;
make
its spell that at
him through.
flesh freeze,
each cold word
thick black clam oozed out of the trees,
And the air grew into a closer curd
And Hwang-te gasped with a choky pain,
As though a corpse on
his chest
had
lain
His beard stood forth as stiff" as a fin,
And his flesh grew as rough as a crocodile's skin
"
And who
art thou of mortal
That venturest thus within
mould,
this glen.
Where none but ghosts and corpses cold
Have walked before the shapes of men?
Where snake-banc, ghoul-drakes, dragon stools,
Grow rank round the craters of putrid pools ?
Where the air is slab and hath got no sky,
And the light seems the ghost-light of days gone by ?"
i'
: :
;
!
;
;
169
—
"Great Emperor I Hwang-te my name,
The Son of Heaven, and Lord of Earth
The ends of space are
And
full
of
my
stars perplexed to express
;
fame,
my
worth.
Yet not in the bounds of infinite space
Is wretch so wretched or serf so base
For, though
be great, and wise, and bold,
I
I
haven't got pearls and
'•
Oh, fortune
foul
and
gems and
fate accurst
Oh, boundless draught of
I
gold.
bitterest bale
!
pine for wealth with a noble thirst,
And therefore came I up this vale.
They say that thou hast heaps of ore,
And diamonds bright in countless store
To glut mine eyes with these I come.
And I mightily pray ye, give me some."
" An'
if
ye dare to tread with
Through
Where
me
the palpable dark of this cave's lone halls,
the moulds on the floor are as deep as your
knee.
And
the cold reek, like charnel-fat, covers the
walls
Where
flame will not burn, and no light can exist
Save the luminous gleams from the
Where
the black sucks
rot of the mist
more blackness from
things
of dark hue,
Whence
the
blue
15
young of the dragon grow
ghastlily
;
I
:
:
170
"
; :
will
show ye such
treasures, deep
down
i'
the
earth,
As
ne'er did
ye even
in
thought behold
Ye shall say if my pearls be pearls of worth,
And I'll make ye a master of gems and gold.
But ere we go bethink ye well
The air how rank and the way how fell
Lest your blood turn glue as the path we tread,
And your heart be cramped in a knot with dread."
•'Forsooth, white fear, with hair so lank,
what my Emperor soul contemns
Though the way be fell and the air be rank,
Hwang.-te will be thinking of gold and gems.
So lead ye the way through the cave's black hollow,
And doubt not but I shall be prompt to follow.
For what worse lot could fate unfold
Than not to have gems, and pearls, and gold ?"
Is
They entered then the portal grim,
Which choked what more Hwang-te would say
He felt cold slugs on every limb,
And his heart seemed a cold moist lump of clay.
Two luckless beams that had come in there,
And never again must emerge to air.
Showed into what ridges the roof was thrown,
Like a skeleton's
ribs
and
its
gray back-bone.
Hwang-te glared round, below, aloft.
But he said to himself " Oh, gems and gold
And such like sounds which he uttered oft,
Were talisman words that made him bold
!"
;
!;
And
17 i
he would not shrink though the sounds of the
chasm
and groans of unearthly spasm,
And the green mists did all hideous forms assume
As they battened on fat of the putrid gloom.
Seemed
the gasps
Oh, what are the terrors but man will dare
When led by the sateless thirst of treasure
What way
Or
Then
fire,
through water, or earth, or
air,
or blood, but his steps will measure
surely
is
!
gold a talisman strange
That the inborn nature of man can change
That can make the deaf asp put out ears as it clinks,
Turn the dove to a vulture, the mole to a lynx.
Hwang-te knew not what hours went by
As after his grisly guide he strode
Down
steeps
Now
and chasms, now low, now high.
narrow,
now
wide, a hideous road.
But the ceaseless drip of a foul bitumen,
Whose motion served faintly the mists to
And blast-borne shrieks, a ghostly chime,
With horrid monotony doled out
Till
a corpse-cold stream in
its
illumine.
time.
cavernous course
Hurried them swift as a meteor could follow,
Where a whirlpool of wind with circling force,
Sucked them down in its plumbless hollow
thrown again on the solid ground.
Soon as Hwang-te could gaze around,
When
!
!
;;
;
;
172
Stunned with
Lo, a
his ride in the
demon
like the
moon
afar
light like the
moon
afar.
Lo, a hght
And
car^
there towards the Sorcerer turned
" Now near to the goal of our
toil we are,
And near the prize you well have earned/'
And larger the moonHght opening grew,
As with quick steps they towards it drew
And a halo around it seemed to blaze
Of
purple and green and golden rays.
And soon upon either side their way.
The rocks were bright with veined
But ha
!
ore
they have reached the gates of day,
They emerge to a realm of light once more.
Then down on the earth the Emperor lies,
And
shields for awhile his dazed eyes,
For when one long hath groped
IJght
is
but a
new
sort of
Oh, there was a realm
!
dark
a world
With a diamond sun and
And
a town in the midst, to
In vain ten
the dim,
him.
in the
earth
a sapphire sky
to its
gorgeous
halls.
where no foot
Roofs carved of jade in twist and twirl,
And topaz towers and domes of pearl.
life
!
sum whose worth
myriad tongues might try
With golden gates
Where no
i'
to
breathes and
falls
;
;
;
;
;;
:
173
And high in the midst was a palace set
On a hundred steps of rarest yu
And dragons of emerald, gold, and jet,
In ly-long avenues led thereto
Of amethyst
Its pillars
built its walls
and towers.
of silver wrought with flowers
;
And silver and golden frets between.
Formed many a fanciful fringe and skreen.
Around it twelve pagodas rose,
With garnet base and crystal tops
Adorned with prominent eaves, and those
With horns and dragons and pearly drops:
For seven tall stories were set between,
Of purple and crimson, and gold and green;
Massive, but so transparent of hue.
That
the circling stairs
were
in part
seen through.
And far around that palace bright
Were wondrous gardens no less fair
Where all the trees that met the sight
Were formed of things as rich and rare.
There were goodly clumps of golden palms
date from those were an Emperor's alms
One
And the thick dark greens of orange groves old
Were covered, for fruit, with globes of gold.
And the apricots there had topaz fruits
From the mulberry trees rich garnets fell
And the rice drew pearls from its silver roots;
And rubies filled the pomegranate shell.
15*
;
174
The
—
:;
fruits
of
the trees
all
were gems
;
And
And the leaves, o'erwrought with vein and
Were of emerald, jade, or verde antique.
bronze and brass were the meanest stems
And
streak,
armies of flowers sprang out of the earth,
Or leaned from the rich fantastic vase,
Whose petals were carven from stones of
Onyx, and
Sardine, and
beryl,
worth,,
and bright turquoise.
and thousands more,
were seen by man before;
All brighter of sheen and braver of tint.
Such
Than such
And
A
jacinth,
as never
as be coined in the sun's bright mint..
through the garden and through the town
river of liquid silver ran,
Which amethyst
With never a
And
boats
came
pilot in
down.
here and there, from shore to shore.
Bridges of opal scanned
And
floating
form of man.
veins of
its
it
o'er
current, conveyed through
the
ground,
Formed
fountains and jets in the vales around.
Hwang-te gazed round, and he rubbed his eyes.
For he scarce could trust the talc they told
He had oft-times heard of sapphire skies.
;
And
oft-times fancied realms of gold;
But he never had deemed such wealths and glories
Were any thing more than dreams and stories
;
And,
lo
and behold
All fancies
Hwang
Oh,
and
!
he finds at
175
last
tales so far surpassed.
uplifted his
hands at
this,
And nothing he thought could make him gladder
The heart in his bosom seemed svvoln with bliss.
As large as a gourd, or a full-blown bladder.
That great devotee of whom mention occurs,
That gazed on a wall for seventy years
Without winking an eye or bending a knee,
Was scarce more happy than bold Hwang-te.
He felt a sort of devotion, too,
And thought he for ever his eyes
Though not upon mere brick walls,
could
'tis
"
Yet on walls of ruby and diamond
Oh were I the lord of a realm like
I
mightily fear
For
Yet
•'
this,
bliss.
bound of my heart no ribs could withstand
would I were lord of this very same land."
the
I
give thee
I
should burst with
true,
bricks.
!
I
fix.
"
The
The
all," the
river, the
Enchanter
cried,
grounds, the groves, the flowers.
city, the
sky; and far and wide
You may roam
through the halls or bask
bovvers.
80
I
The
And
leave you
limitless
now
to enjoy alone
wealth that
I will
be at your
side, if
your own
me more,
is all
should you wish to sec
you
;
strike the floor."
in the
;;
176
The
;
great
Hwang-te had
Like a screw,
And
"
I
fixed his
to the sun's
gaze
broad diamond face:
wonder," thought
weighs?
he,
*'
how much
And what is its value in taels and mace ?"
But he heard the words the Enchanter said,
And with very great glee he turned his head
He turned
But, lo
!
it left
the
and he turned
Wizard was not
Hwang-te was
filled
it
it
i
right,
in sight.
with a brief surprize
But he hadn't much
spend in woa-
time to
der,
There were so many things
And
to
engage
his eyes
thoughts, around, above, and under.
He was
brought to such stand
They seemed
to
still
have put a bone
by
these,
in his knees,
To have stopped his wheels or broken his chain.
And 'twas long ere he set himself going again.
At
last,
however, the wish arose
To wander a little about this
And to see what more it might
His
spirit
He wanted
And
And
with joy to quite o'erwhelm.
to
know
to grapple a
to
list
realm,
yet disclose,.
to the
the extent of the land
few of
its
music so
gems
fine
in his
and
hand
etherial,
His footsteps might rouse from such precious material.
;
;;
:
177
So between the dragons he paced alone,
With foot so free and with brow so bold,
O'er flags that seemed blood turned to stone,
Inlaid with flowers
And up
With their frosted
Where, ranged on
Were
and
stars of gold.
the flight of rarest jade,
silver balustrade
;
above and below,
statues of coral like petrified snow.
plinths
And he entered within the palace so bright.
Whose amethyst walls seemed frozen wine
And under a dome of wondrous height,
The richest of all in that rich mine.
Twelve topaz
ribs
around
it
;
beamed
Like a strange transparent gold they seemed
And the parts between were of mother-o'-pearl,
O'erwrought with flower, and
The
faint
as stout
He
sick,
;
fancied himself inside the moon.
dome,
in the
a beautiful couch
The frame was carven
And
curl.
diamond sun sent through
and it seemed to swoon
Hwang-te looked up thereto.
and
Full under the
Was
and
light that the
Was
And
leaf,
all
midst of the chamber.
draped with amber;
of mammoths' bones,
the pillows had stuffing of precious stones.
Hwang-te from home had wandered far
First up the Enchanter's gloomy glen
And without any light of sun or star.
Through the cavernous root of the mountain
then;
;
:
;
;
178
And, lastly, some way he had dragged his bones
Through this region of gold and of precious
stones
And
It
his
was
hope
like
For even
To
fulfilled
and
his
marvel past,
he should find himself weary at
the
Sons of Heaven must crouch
and toil and ache
the lash of hunger
last.
:
So he threw himself on the beautiful couch,
Where he meant some short repose to take.
" Oh what,** thought he, " will dreams unfold.
Where awake we things like dreams behold ?
But I fear it would spoil me of much of my bliss
Could I dream there was any thing richer than
this."
He
threw himself on the
But though
wâs
it
glittering
good
mass
to set one's
eye on,
He found that his mattress of feathers and grass
Was by many degrees more pleasant to lie on
A
bed and pillow of precious stones,
Give very poor
And he
'd
rest to
just
aching bones
then have parted
with bed and
dome
For
He
the
homely mattress he
toss'd about
And
home.
on the golden mesh,
twisted his body in strangest curves
For emeralds and
And
left at
;
rubies ran into his flesh,
the points of
diamonds bruised
his nerves.
;:
179
He uttered loud groans, and heaved deep
And scarce had power at last to rise,
When
his
back
was
torn,
and
his
sighs,
Hmbs were
sore.
And he more worn
than he
was
before.
Then he went from the dome by an arched way,
And passed along through a corridor dim.
Where
the lights and shadows appeared to play
At a game of hide and seek with him.
And he came to a high and gorgeous hall.
With an ivory roof and an emerald wall,
With plianths and pilasters and pillars of jet,
And
a cornice of gold with a ruby
fret.
The carpet was woven of silver twine,
And gold, and metals more bright than
Crimson and green
;
these.
with a rare design
Of butterflies, flowers, and birds, and trees.
The hundred lamps, hung upon rich silver twist.
Were of ruby, pearl, emerald, and amethyst
And the diamonds that lit them, seemed, each
one;
A
splinter
And
all
hewn from
adown
the lengthened aisles
(Oh, sight that
Were glittering
Of fruits and
the mid-day sun.
made
tables,
his heart rejoice
heaped with
!)
piles
viands most rare and choice.
Orange and mango, and citron and pine.
And
the clustered wealth of the golden vine
:
;
;
;;;
;;
180
Beetles of jet and opal snails,
And
agates carven as monkeys'
When Hwang
tails.
beheld these goodliest things,
His stomach was cramped with hungers grip
And his jaws seemed tightly tied with strings
And he felt cold glue upon either lip.
But
tongue slipped about on his upper teeth,
his
With a watery bed
And
at
sides
its
and beneath
you would soon have
to look at his eyes
di-
vined
'Twas a long time
since
But with marble meats
And
The
with stone
silver
Hwang-te had
his teeth
fruits there
dined.
he marred,
of countless sorts
eggs he found too hard.
And he could
Some ivory fish
not quench his thirst with quartz.
he essayed to chew
(Such giants might use
if
they played at loo
;)
With plum-pudding stone he cracked his jaw
And gneiss was a nasty thing to gnaw.
But
still
the stones at
which he
bit,
To hunger's edge, sharp whetstones proved
And with ravenous fire his eyes were lit,
And with hungry furrows his cheeks were
grooved
stomach was clammed as a cloth that
wrung,
And sharp worms seemed afeed at the root of
His
tongue;
is
his
—
;;
; ;
THE E:\IPER0R n\VANG-TE.
And
he
felt
:
181
the fierce ache of desire in his jaws,
Such as makes
the hyaina devour
own
its
paws.
He thought of his fare in the world he had left.
And his bowels yearned sore for a pot-full of rice
And he fell down as one of his reason bereft,
With eyes
starling out,
and with teeth
like
a
vice
His throat seemed convulsed as there died in 't a groan
He dug
his long
nails
through the cheek to the
bone
And
he grinned a grim grin, and
in
rage and de-
spair
(Iround his head on the floor
till
the skull
was
half
bare.
As he
struck the stone, lo
!
a shade
was thrown
On the slab where erst no shade might be
And the Wizard's voice in a cavernous tone,
Cried, " Hwang, what wouldest thou more
me?"
Hwang stared, but new hope gave him words
with
in
a
trice,
•*
I
would
And
And
"
fain a fair pot of
your well-sodden
a jug of fresh water to moisten
rice,
my maw
a bed to repose on of feathers and straw."
Ho, ho !" said the Wizard, " and have ye not gold
And have ye not silver and stones of price ?
Nor
yet
And
is
your
lust
of wealth controlled?
will not the gifts
16
ye have got
suffice
?
?
;
—
;
182
Is this
banquet unworth 1 are
my
beds of no cost
'(
Do
ye wail for wiiat poor things of earth ye have
No
No
rice save of pearl
lost?
may
be found in
this place,
beds save of gems in their rich silver case."
"
For a pot-full of rice I thy pearls will restore,
Your beds of gems for a bed of straw
This wealth would I lose were 't a myriad times
more,
To
appease
the fierce vulture at
work
my
in
maw.
For what
is
the worth of
all
hunger
him
If wolfish-eyed
If lidless unrest to
And
"
he
Oh
die,
!"
fool
mid
in
Hwang,
riches to
fix its
fang,
long torture condemn,
the gleaming of gold
and gem
?
quoth the Ghoul, " have ye learned so
soon
The
value of wealth in infinite heaps
?
Could ye feed upon rubies as large as the moon.
Would
mountains
sleeps
of
chrysolite
yield
sweet
?
would serve ye but well should I leave ye to gasp
With the wolf in your belly, your wealth in your
It
grasp
To
starve
with the banquet spread out in your
view,
And
rot
among gems
that pertain but to you.
;
:
"But, an'
I
if
yc be willing
back
to yield
bear ye once more
will
to the
:
;
183
my
wealth,
world whence yc
came,
Where
the blessings of plenty, of rest,
Should have made the
and of
health,
demon of avarice
fierce
tame.
Go home and enjoy, with enough and to spare
And know that more wealth is more sorrow and
care;
With your
And
Then
fell
And
He
silk
and your
rice be content
learn the real blessings of nature to
overcome with hunger's
on the floor and did not
Or open his lids in those
he came from thence
How
Is
a secret for ever
in
halls again.
to the
upper world
his spirit fled,
found himself at his
home
in bed.
He
found himself at his
home
in bed,
His bed of feathers and moss and
!
With
at his side
rice
in
silk
a table spread,
and meat and cocoa-nut milk.
His absence had
So
pain,
rise.
He
lo
!"
mystery furled
But soon as the trance of
And
ye can,
man
a thick mist on Hwang-te's eyes.
quite
fell
if
filled his serfs
with doubt,
search for their Lord they wandered out
He was found at the mouth of the Wizard's Glen,
And they bore him thence to the realms of men.
;
;
;
184
Tliey had sought him at night
When found he was
stiff
till
dawn
of day;
with a death-cold cramp
;
And his raiment was heavy with slime and clay,
And his flesh with an unctuous dew was damp.
With
spirit
of rice they rubbed his limbs,
And sung by his bed some virtuous hymns
And life came back to his lips and eyes,
And they marvelled to hear his words so wise.
"
Oh, rice," said Hwang, "
And
silk is softer
('ontentment
is
is
better than gold.
than pointed gems
richer than wealth untold.
And wisdom more sovereign than kings' diadems.
80 a goodly example (ye stars, hear my vow !)
Will
I
set
my brave people,
And my Empress
by following the plough
shall teach to
make raiment and
beds,
By
feeding
fat
silk-worms
and
winding
their
threads."
And well b}^ Hwang were his words
Whence a custom grew, and even
On a certain day the fields are tilled
When
And the
To give
the
fulfilled,
till
now,
Emperor's hand doth guide the plough.
Empress is no wise less ample,
worthy example:
So she shows them the way to make beds and habizeal of the
all
the ladies a
liments.
By
feeding fat silk-worms and winding their
ments.*
* See note, U.
fila-
THE PORCELAIN TOWER-
MARRIAGE IN A MASK;
OR
THE CUNNING SHAVER,
Who
soaps
And
tickles
With
my chin,
my skin,
a straw or a pin
?
My
From
There
*
Between
wiiicli
coincidences
writers
'.
may have
com-
has before been translated into English,
arc discoverable.
are accidental,
or
See note, V.
16*
But whether
which of the
been beholden to the other,
to decide.
t
Barber
Book of the Celestial Classics.
story and an adventure, forming part of a
this
points of rcsemblanee
several
t
are no barbers in the world to
Chinese romance,
these
the First
CHIN.*
wc
Celestial
shall not attempt
186
pare with those of the Celestial Land.
Bar-
among the
West, and especially among
bers are a genus almost extinct
nations of the
In Catholic countries a
Protestant nations.
certain few are
still
kept up for the tonsure
monks and
of the crowns of
friars
but as
;
Catholicism seems to be spreading in our
own machanical
land,
no doubt even these
will soon be superseded
pilating the head.
more exercised
world besides.
in
by machines
But
for de-
the barbers craft
China than
is
in thrice the
Beards, indeed, there be
few; but then there be some two hundred
million of heads to give daily
to the razor
;
employment
and a man cannot venture the
own occiput as he can
over his lip or chin. The children as well
And so considerable
as the men are shaven.
sharp steel over his
are the crops thus reaped
by the
razor, that
the mixed quisquilice of hair and lather form
an object of
traffic
betwixt the barbers and
market-gardeners;* and
ground which has been
• See note,
it
is
said that the
fertilized
W.
by
this
—
;
MARRIAGE
compost
is
IN A MASK.
187
bam-
particularly productive in
boos and sugar-canes.
It
has often been remarked that particular
pursuits exercise
men's characters
as the
law
shadow
—
that lawers, for example,
:
we mean— of
as the light,
over them, become
steals
upon
a particular effect
gradually
cautious and cunning, and incapable of dis-
tinguishing right from
wrong excepting by
the aid of legal lences.
known by
what can be
assures
physician
so bland as his smile
amalgam
asafoetida he has just
the surgeon,
is
wisdom
when he
you that nothing upon earth
so agreeable as the
But
The
his air of urbanity and
is
half
of rhubarb and
been prescribing?
whose manipulations of the
mere
suffering are of a sterner nature than
examinations of the pulse,
sonage quite
;
steel
a different per-
and can wear an unfeeling
scowl, as he pokes
crooked
is
some deviFs claw of a
instrument into your body, your
arm, or your eye
!
See how some ranting,
gin-drinking scion of iniquity becomes transmogrified
— we will not say in character, but
—
188
in
outward development
when he
takes
character,
of
up with the
art,
And
mystery of Methodist ministerialism.
it is
and
and
business,
manner with other trades
the case in like
professions, that the followers of
any
one have their characters so modified and
assimilated
by
their occupation that a dis-
criminating person
may
detect from their
behaviour and appearance, the particular
school of business in which they have been
educated.
How
instinctively
do we cry out
in passing through the streets, this
newspaper
it is
editor,
and
that, a
publican
;
is
a
yet
not altogether the green-plaid waistcoat,
and unbarbered
face, that certify
one, nor the red nose and portly
make us pronounce upon
us as
tain as well to a
scape-painter
;
berance of the
Jew
the other.
man
that
The
might per-
clothes-man, or a land-
and the proboscis and protulatter
would be no
bishop or an alderman.
of the
to the
paunch
vest and the beard of the former
to a
man
But
less
proper
the habits
— the habits of his mind—are ex-
MARRIAGE
in other
liibited
IN
A MASK.
ways than
1S9
in his figure or
his dress.
The
influence of particular pursuits upon
moral and intellectual constitution of
the
man, would form a worthy and abounding
subject for a philosophical treatise
we
condescend
could
would follow
it
losophers, that
to
is
We are
phi-
a philosopher
duced,
no knowing
we
to
if
we
though too
;
philosophical to write philosophy
there
and
philosophy,
out at length.
is,
;
:
but as
what we may be
will not afiirm that
we never
re-
shall
devote a portion of our valuable time to this
Poets soar, philosophers dig
subject.
;
but
fellows like ourselves, the comic philosophers
of the day, dance about, hop, skip, and jump,
—pleasant
We
employ.
wings
dig
!
exercise,
would
—besides,
but that
dig, like a
though no very useful
it
we
we have no
pay— and we would
soar,
don't
hold infra dig
spade in a potatoe bed.
these days, philosophy and
ful
knowledge are as
potatoes,
but
and we find
all
less
or in for a
Besides, in
kinds of use-
and cheap as
troublesome and
plentiful
it
:
—
190
more economical
Well
that to
to
we
the present
then, for
nothing
buy ours ready-made.
to
will
have
do with philosophy, convinced
eschew
the truly philosophical
it is
Laugh and grow fat," says the
proverb, and we confess ourselves ambitious
of a goodly obesity but at present we are
as lean as philosophy itself
True, we have
course.
"
;
our misgivings as to the expansive power
that belongs to cachinnation
agree with the
merry
but
fat knight, that
and grief we
;
we do
not
grief puffs
Therefore,
one' out like a bladder.
try to be
;
we
will
will certainly
eschew.
we
Bat, Daniel AppoUo, Esq., where are
running away
to
?
We started from the sign
of the Pole and the Pewter Basin, and
were going
to
run down a barber,
talk about the tribe
scent,
;
but
we have
after
we
some
got oif the
and we must needs try back.
There are no barbers
in the world to
pare with those of the Celestial Land.
com-
And
yet their characteristic features are as like to
those of the "shavers" once indigenous in
—
MARRIAGE
IN A MASK.
191
the West, as the oranges of the Central
pire to those
which draw out a
tence in the conservatory of
I
was going
just
now
Em-
feebler exis-
Margam Abbey.
to observe,
—but some
observation, equally brilliant shoved this out
of
its
proper place,
—that the nature of many
trades and professions at once
and obviously
explains the particular bent that
the characters of those
thus, nothing can be
;
given
to
who pursue them
more natural than
undertakers should be the
life
is
jolliest
:
that
dogs in
because events which wet the cheeks,
or break the hearts of others, are sources
of the most
comfortable of
pecuniary comfort
—
to
it is
Why these
But
themselves.
other cases an explanation
and thus
comforts
all
is
more
in
difficult,
in the instance of barbers.
should be a loquacious race,
not be altogether inexplicable
;
but
may
why
they should be gifted with keen wits, be
greatly given to practical joking, and have
a universal facility in settling the
other folks,
Yet
it is,
that such
is
affairs of
at least, not easy to explain.
the case, in the paucity of
192
existing specimens of the genus, I appeal to
the
drama and romance
to prove.
Loquacity, a ready wit, a disposition to
and devices, and a fondness
tricks
for
med-
dling in the concerns of others, are the characteristics of the ten millions of tensors that
flourish cold steel over the
lions of heads in
Spring.
We
the
two hundred mil-
Regions of Eternal
are afraid that talking of bar-
bers has affected ourselves with loquacious-
ness
;
for there
was
certainly no need of such
number of pages
scene so humble an
a
to
introduce upon the
individual as the barbej
Chin.
The
a
little
barber Chin was a
dapper
long flexible
man with
pigtail,
gem
of razordom,
a large broad head,
small rapid eyes, and an
expression of countenance delightfully bland.
His head was a perfect library of entertaining
—the most useful of knowhim, — a reading-room of magazines
knowledge,
ledge to
sort
and newspapers.
Perhaps, indeed, the circulation of magazines
and newspapers
in the
West may have
MARRIAGE IN A MASK.
done more
193
to extinguish the race of barbers
among us than cheap
Mechi's straps
razors,
For
and patent shaving soap combined.
Othello's occupation
's
gone
:
barbers were
the peripatetic Heralds and Chronicles of the
olden day; they went their daily rounds from
house to house and received their penny
each,
—not
denuding a chin,
for
at
for folks
might have shaved themselves then, as they
do now,
—but
for their
parliamentary reports,
their police intelligence, their births and
riages,
and cases of crim. con.
nenny now
for a
pay our
reading of the Times,
newsman has superseded
march
We
mar-
the barber,
—the
— the
of intellect has driven from the field
the knights of the razor, and thus the progress of civilization accounts for the decline
of barberism.
Who so full
of anecdote and song and mer-
ry jest as Chin
tific
in
?
mixing up a
safe in the
Who
so dainty
and scien-
lather, so expeditious
employment of the razor
so dexterous
?
and
Who
and quaint in shampooing a
customer, so sure of eliciting a smile, whe17
194
ther he tickled his ear with a straw or with
Who
a story?
so ready with information
and advice adapted
occasions,
of
—with
emergency ?
to all parties
and
to all
plots
and assistance in cases
And
all these,
the merits of
Chin, were at any time to be
the barber
brought into exercise
most moderate
for the
fees.
For a
fee of five dollars the ingenious
had brought about eternal happiness
;
and within
six
for the
Wee-Ping and
previously unfortunate lovers
Wa-Ling
Chin
months
after, for
a similar fee from each, had effected their
disunion.
prize
For ten he had secured a
to the
smaller
collegian
sum had
Hi-Fli
;
poetical
and
for
u
subsequently caused the un-
fortunate poet to be bambooed, at the instance
of his rival bard Lo-Flo.
had obtained the
For a hundred he
liberation of the wealthy
Swing, who was condemned
and decapitation
to
a village
;
and
for
having wantonly
for
another
this individual exalted to
of the
same
to suffer torture
villaoê
fifty
set fire
had had
the chief magistracy
when
it
was
rebuilt.
!
MARRIAGE
You may
upon
IN A MASK.
195
think he would soon grow rich
this plan
but out of the sums so
;
re-
ceived he could reserve only to himself a
moderate per centage, as he in his turn had
many
jects
parties to bribe before his different ob-
Oh, happy country
could be obtained.
may
equally
participate in the manifold blessings
and ad-
Celestial
Land where
!
vantages of bribery
all
ranks
True, there
!
bribery and corruption in our
nate country
;
much of
is
own
less fortu-
but these only work well
when
Now
they form an universal system.
in
China the lowest orders can bribe the lowest
officers,
the lowest officers can bribe the man-
darins, the
ors,
mandarins can bribe the govern-
the governors can bribe the ministers,
"
and the ministers can bribe the
Heaven"
ity,
himself.
This
liberty
of
and equal-
and resembles the practice in shops,
may purchase
where
all
pay.
Depend upon
away
it,
if
they can afford to
justice that is given
not of the best quality
is
nothing
may
is
Son
;
but
if
—
it
people pay well for
be secure of the prime
article.
goes for
it,
they
196
We are
on a wrong plan you
may be sure,
and do not consult the greatest happiness of
the greatest number.
does
is
The
so.
happy
to
The Chinese
practice
offender bribes the judge, and
escape punishment; the judge re-
ceives the bribe and
is
happy
to
put money
in his purse;
and the offended party only
dissatisfied.
Now of these three persons, the
is
offender and the judge constitute a greater
number than the man
tion of
two
to
offended, in the propor-
one; and, therefore, there can
be no question as to the propriety of their
being made happy, although at his expense.
But,
if
the offended can bribe higher than
the offender,
to
pay
—
in other words, if he can afford
for a larger slice of justice,
— that
of
course works a radical change in the aspect
of affairs; and he must have justice then, his
due purchase,
at the
market value.
Chin had more employment than he could
well get through,
in
among
the
elite
of the town
which he resided: he was a clever shaver,
and surrounded by sharp blades.
It
was
in the
morning of a certain day of
—
MARRIAGE
a certain
month
IN A MASK.
of a certain year, but of
what certain day of what
of what certain year,
now
able
197
is
month and
certain
neither quite certain
—
way important, the fashionOu-Rang-Ou-Tang was submitting his
nor in any
barber's block to the lather and cold steel of
the easy-fingered Chin.
" Chin," said he, in the pleasant
liar
young sparks
tone in which fashionable
address those of inferior condition
hope
to
make useful
said he, "
upon you
my
whom they
to themselves,
old boy, I think I
for secrecy
and fami-
—
" Chin,"
may depend
and good counsel
if I
should discourse to you upon a matter of
considerable importance to myself."
We are generally
ready
to trust those
instruct us in the affairs of
all
who
our neigh-
bours: the confidence they exhibit in ourselves in intrusting to us the secrets they re-
ceive from others seems naturally to chal-
lenge our confidence in return.
"You know me
"
you know
my
well," responded
am
come to me
reputation
chest of secrecy, and
all
17*
—
Chin;
;
I
an iron
as their
198
depository for whatever they would not wish
to
be known; but, secrecy
and not
is
a rare virtue,
be called into exercise without
to
its
equivalent.
A
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang was
dollar from
mitted as an equivalent for so
as
might be necessary in
like his
relieved in
mind and
know
singly in love with a
that I
young
never be at peace until
to
said
Ou-Rangpurse, (for
mind, his purse was not well-fur-
nished) " you must
Yet
secrcey
this affair.
'^You must know, Chin,"
Ou-Tang,
much
ad-
I
am
lady,
distres-
and can
obtain her to wife.
some troublesome impediments
there are
In the
our union.
first
place, she loves
another; in the second, he loves her; in the
third,
he
is
valiant
and strong; and in the
fourth, she abhors me.
low, Chin,
—
tell
agreeable state of
is
Si-Hoo-Se
;
You
me how
affairs.
she
is
are a clever
fel-
to act in this dis-
The
lady's
name
the niece of old
No-
Gho, with whom, as her parents are both
dead, she has for some years resided.
The
MARRIAGE
199
IX A MASK.
fame of her beauty has no doubt reached
your ears."
"Truly," said Chin,
some
time,
after
and as he began
pondering
to untie his cus-
tomer's queue that he might replait
adorn
in
it
my
point,
it
with a fresh piece of riband, — "
time
I
perplexing.
I shall,
overcome the
many
have solved
but the present
for
and
truly,
a knotty
a case peculiarly
is
no doubt, find means
difficulty
;
to
but this will not be
effected without a somewhat of consideration."
A
promise of fourtaels,if the tonsor would
devise an efficient plan,
was a somewhat
consideration that sharpened
wit of Chin
for awhile,
:
of
up the inventive
and, after pondering the matter
he hinted at a scheme, by which
the lovely Si-Hoo-Se should be deceived into
a marriage with the
He
young
libertine.
proposed to decoy her from her uncle's
house by flattering her into a hope of a meeting and elopement with her beloved Long-
Ku
;
when, dressed as Long-Ku, and with a
mask upon
his
face,
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang
200
should present himself before her.
Masque-
amusement
in China,
rading
is
a frequent
and masks are assumed on a thousand
differ-
ent pretexts.
In the present case, Ou-Rang-
Ou-Tang was
to
pretend that he had been
ordered by his physician to wear a
three days, to benefit his
the suppression of hot
mask
for
and yang* by
ijin
humours and
was
it
:
not likely that his lovely victim would receive this story with suspicion
young
;
China
for in
ladies are content to leave physical
mysteries to be investigated by their lords
and masters.
difficulty in
He
would, then, have
persuading her
to a
little
union with
Chin would have prepared her
and disposed her to this and it would
himself, for
for,
;
be time enough
for
her to discover her mis-
take after they were indissolubly united.
This plan gave great
satisfaction to
Ou-
Rang-Ou-Tang, and Chin promised
to take
upon himself the arrangement of
the de-
tails
:
so,
all
turning his customer's head out of
• Sec note, X.
MARRIAGE
201
IN A MASK.
hand more quickly than usual, he
some of the
forth without loss of time, to see
other persons
in his
whom
he meant
comedy, and
put
to
make actors
to
all
sallied
matters in a
proper train.
So well was Chin informed upon most people's affairs that
when
a statement such as
that of Ou-Ranor-Ou-Tano^
him, though he listened
it
to
was
it
generally happened that he
laid before
with attention,
was nearly
as
fully acquainted with the circumstances as
Thus
the narrator himself.
the present instance
;
occurred in
it
and knowing his repu-
tation for directing matters of the kind,
and
being aware that Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang had not
the keenest wit to guide
him
in the conduct
of his concerns, the acute barber
all
taken by surprise
made
to
him
when an
for his assistance
was not
at
appeal was
and advice.
Chin, perhaps, at this very time, possessed a
clearer knowledore of the matter in all
bearings than did
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang; and
as he had undertaken to play the
self,
its
game him-
he considered in what order and in what
;
202
manner he should move the
Upon due
consideration, he
No-Gho; because,
to
win
several pieces.
first
sought uncle
his confidence
countenance would afford him great
for treating
w4th the other
and
facilities
parties.
Now, Chin in his time had assisted NoGho out of some straights and difficulties
and No-Gho could not do otherwise than
treat him with familiarity and friendly regard; because such cases might occur again.
The
barber, therefore,
had no
as the difference of station
obstacles,
such
might occasion,
to obtaining
an interview with the mandarin:
No-Gho
— we have not before mentioned
for
the fact
— was of no less worshipful degree.
when Chin was
performing on a customer, how cleverly and
how quickly he mixed his lather how pleasantly and how abundantly he soaped him
It
was pleasant
to observe,
—
over.
Albeit,
he was
" a fellow of
exceeding
honesty," he had a keener knowledge of the
W'Orld than for the
most part
of your exceeding honest men.
falls to
the lot
Gifted with
rare shrewdness and observation,
"
MARRIAGE IN A MASK.
"
He knew
all qualities,
Of human
dealings
with a learned
203
spirit
—
and in a majority of
cases,
even upon a short
acquaintance, understood the characters of
persons better than they did themselves.
He knew when to lay on his brown Windsor,
when to tickle with straws, and when to drop
a jest or hint into the ear of an attentive patient.
If doing the kindness of his oiRce to a
female
sitter,
he would apply the curling-
tongs with admirable judgment to the proper
moment
of a question in dispute,
and regu-
late the exertion of his wrist exactly to the
minimum
of force requisite to induce her to
take the required view of any subject in discussion.
We are here, however, only speak-
ing in a general manner of his ability
;
for in
the case immediately under our notice, his
conversation with the mandarin, though he
acquitted himself ably,
it
was with no great
exercise of his ingenuity and tact; since
Gho was exactly
in the state of
mind
No-
to fall
in with the plans the wily barber had to offer
to his consideration.
204
The mandarin
himself had never in any
manner opposed the union of Ou-Rang-OuTang with his ward and niece so that Ou;
Rang-Ou-Tang,
in enumerating the difficul-
way, did not include that frequent
ties in his
and perplexing one, an unkind guardian.
Fair Si-Hoo-Se was heiress to a considera-
which was
ble property,
at present, in great
measure, under the management of her uncle
No-Gho
young
and he had made terms with his
;
friend
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang, by which,
in case of the marriage of that proper per.son
with his niece, he should reserve
to
himself
a considerable slice out of the patrimony of
The mandarin,
Si-Hoo-Se.
from opposing
it,
therefore,
far
was extremely desirous that
a marriage should take place between his
niece and
unable
to
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang; but he was
overcome the repugnance of Si-Hoo-
Se; and he did not venture
pulsion, as he
knew
be able
attempt com-
that if the case should get
into the courts of law, the
'
to
young lady would
to out-bribe himself.
Now, No-Gho had
a dausrhter of his own,
MARRIA.GE IN A MASK.
whom
of
he was solicitous
of unpleasing temper;
made
to
to dispose
Win-Fu was
tageously; but
overtures
205
advan-
and
ill-favoured,
and no one had hither-
to
take
her from her
The old man, however, had
moment contemplated uniting her
father's house.
never for a
with Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang
reasons of his
young
own
;
for,
though he had
that attached
to that
estimable, he could not place in
respect, as
him
for
him such
would render agreeable
to paren-
such confidence, nor entertain
tal
him
him an
for Win-
feeling the idea of devoting to
only daughter
paternal affection
:
Fu, was one of the few virtues possessed by
the old mandarin.
But Long-Ku was
a person of good family,
and of what was more important in the eyes
of
No-Gho, of good fortune and
;
to these
in addition
extraneous graces, was accomplished,
and of such moral character and polite manners as engaged the esteem and regard of
all.
Him
fu-
had No-Gho mentally elected as his
ture son-in-law
daughter
to
;
and he had encouraged his
conceive a romantic affection for
206
this
young man
;
which the dutiful Win-Fu
imagined that she had in due course done.
No-Gho and Chin conversed
gether, until)
other, they
familiarly to-
each party enlightening the
had both a pretty clear under-
standing of the present feelings, desires, and
relative position of the rest of the dramatis
personse
;
and then Chin proceeded
to narrate
(with some reservation) what had passed be-
tween himself and Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang.
solicited the ancient
gentleman
niece to go forth, at a time
fix,
to
to
He
permit his
which he would
a particular spot beside the river,
whereto she might be attracted by the hope
of meetino^ Lonof-Ku
:
but he intimated that
she should instead be accosted by Ou-Rang-
Ou-Tang;
Long-Ku,
who, impersonating
would prevail upon her
to fly
with him, that
they might enter together upon the agreeable
Chin was confident
that no scruples upon the lady's part would
estate of
matrimony.
be so stubborn as
to
thwart them in the exe-
cution of this project; and
No-Gho
clined to a coincidence with
him
rather in-
in opinion.
MARRIAGE
Chin proposed
IN A
farther,
when he had
sounded the old man so as
the susfo-estion
So
207
MASK.
to
adroitly
be sure that
would not be disagreeable
o
to
him, that an appointment should be made
likewise for the real
Long-Ku; and
that he
should be deceived into the hope of meeting
his
and carrying her
beloved Si-Hoo-Se,
away, a willing bride,
place
named
for
to
their encounter
one different from that
to
The
his house.
might be
which Ou-Rang-
Ou-Tang was
to
be directed, and at which
Si-Hoo-Se was
to
be in waiting; but
it
was
ingeniously devised by Chin that Win-Fu,
in the dissûise of her cousin, meeting^ the do-
voted expectant Long-Ku, and suffering herself to
be carried off by him, should become
his wife before the mistake could be disco-
vered.
This
plot presented
culties, not the least of
would
arise
some
which was
little diffi-
that
which
from the necessary determination
on the lady's
part, to retain
her veil
till
the
marriage ceremonies were concluded: against
such a resolve an impatient lover might be
expected
to raise a
demurrer; but Chin en-
208
gaged
must
furnish her with excuses such as
to
young Long-Ku; and No-Gho
satisfy
had the
fullest confidence in the inventive
genius of Chin.
The
mised the barher
fair
old gentleman pro-
opportunities of dis-
posing the ladies to perform their due parts in
and the tonsor did not leave
the comedy;
him
till
he had obtained a pleasant bonus
the exertions he was
making
to
for
arrange mat-
accordance with the wishes of the
ters in
mandarin.
There
country,
is
it is
at least
young, that love
santly,
own
among the
an idea prevalent in our
very general
affairs
may
be more plea-
and even properly arranged, without
Papa, in-
the intervention of third parties.
deed, just
makes a few soundings
that there
away
the
own
oar
no bar in the river
young brace boat
"Youth
and
is
at tlio
steer their
bow and
own
be sure
and then
it,
pleasure at
course,
to
;
tlic
helm,"
and row
at their
fanc)^ whilst no other party "puts in an
;"
mamma, however, sitting at her window,
MARRIAGE
209
IN A MASK.
with spectacles on nose,
to see
not get into any danger.
But
tous Laud, the juvenile
couple rarely
tempt
find
to
No-Gho
in the Felici-
manage the hoat themselves
troublesome
less
it
that they do
pull the oars,
to let
:
at-
they
some uncle
some Chin, the
bar-
We have heard of a Musselman's
ber, steer.
surprize at seeing, in a
western country,
people of consideration toiling through a
dance
hire
his inquiry
:
whether they might not
persons to perform
professional
it
for
may appear to us ridiculous; but not
half so much so as our voluntary kicking of
the toes to him. The Chinese carry their pasthem,
sive philosophy yet farther than the Mussel-
man, and
making
ledged
will not
love,
to
waste their valuable time in
which
is
every where acknow-
be but profitless employ,
when
it
can be done so cheaply and so easily by proxy.
It
was
for this
little
marvel and no indignation
many
individuals he had to ad-
Chin excited
among
the
dress in the
in question.
reason that the intervention of
due arrangement of the
All looked
18*
upon him
affairs
at
once
210
as a professional agent,
—he
had long been
celebrated as a go-between in similar cases,
—and
little
all
were ready
to
accord him some
tangible compliment,
backward
to require at the
Chin was next admitted
view w4th Win-Fu
ings,
hands of each.
to a private inter-
and though that lady
extreme unwillingness
affected
the part
;
which he was not
marked out
for
to
perform
her in these proceed-
and made great play with her fan du-
ring her colloquy with the barber,
it
was
sufficiently evident to his acute perceptions,
that she
was ready almost
skin with delight.
to
jump
out of her
She made a handsome
present to the master of the ceremonies, for
the kind anxiety he exhibited to provide her
with an agreeable partner
persisted
that she
;
and though she
would rather not have
been implicated in the matrimonial quadrille,
she declared her unwillingness to inter-
fere with the formation of the set
fish
regard
to
her
own
from a
preferences
;
sel-
and
therefore left the farther disposition of affairs
in the excellent
hands in which she found
—
;
211
MARRIAGE IN A MASK.
Chin named the spot
them.
to
which she
should repair, disguised in the attire of Si-
Hoo-Se
;
and having accomplished the
drill
of Win-Fu, next sought a conference with
her fairer cousin.
Here Chin had a more
difficult task to
perform, for the scruples of Si-Hoo-Se were
many and
sincere,
eloquence
and ingenuity in argument
overcome them
and
though
;
it
it
needed
his
all
to
must be confessed
that the prospects he held out were in themselves so agreeable to his lovely listener, that
she had a greater disposition than she was
perhaps aware
of, to
construe his rhetoric in
the most favourable manner.
Suffice
it
to
say, however, that the barber succeeded in
the two objects he had in view
—persuading
the lady, and obtaining a gratuity.
It
was now the hour
gling of the present
is
—but, stop
now with
;
this
the past
min-
it
was
the poetical form of determining the time
—never
mind
;
as
we have
wetted
our
shoes in the Castalian waters, let us fairly
in
—head
over heels
—in
all
our toggery.
!
212
Ah me
!
how
pleasant
the
are
Delphic
streams
'Twas now
t!je
hour
The watchman's
And
when
tlirough the streets
noisy gong resounds
Whilst ceaseless din the
Tlie hour that
And man's
When
And
air
confounds
:
small children's cries,
stills
stern cares assuages
dogs arc folded in their
;
sties.
kittens in their cages.
'Twas now the hour when those who
Think of sweet
Of
;
boatman's drum the sound repeats,
sail in
junks,
friends they leave as oft as
debts unpaid to
some
comes cruise;
old greedy hunks,
OPscapcd bamboos, and ankle-screws and thumb-screws.*
Amida Buddha!
'lis
Amida Buddha
Amida Buddha
That
It is the
!
I
the hour of wooings
'lis
'tis
the hour of doings
becomes your pastorals and
best
bucolict:.
hour of mirth's outflow.
When dinner's done and
When fishermen their nets
And ducks
•
I
the hour of frolics!
are whistled
Era glk
I'ora
A' naviganti,
Lo
dl ch'
girdles loosed
;
forego.
home
che volge
to roost
'i
desio
c intencriscc
han dctto
a'
;t
il
core
dolci amici Addio.
DANTK.
f See note Y.
;
;
MARRIAGE
When
sun- beams gild pagodas' tops,
And smokers crowd
In
when
ting, or
is
tlio
opium
the sun hath just
about
hath just risen,
to set,
is rising,
— when
the
moon
stars are shining, or about to shine
to dine
wine-cups are foaming, or about
;
to
Wtien wild beasts are roaming, or about
When young
When young
When young
When young
Who
set, is set-
or is about to rise.
Wlicn owls are dining, or about
When
sliops.
that delightful hour of the
fact, it is
evening
When
213
IN A MASK.
is it
foam
to
;
roam;
hearts are bounding, or about to bound
steps are sounding, or about to sound
;
:
forms are greeting, or about to greet
lips
are meeting, or about to meet.
that sits in a romantic nook on
the banks of the pelucent Slum, contemplating through the net-work of an exquisitely
embroidered gauze
veil,
the quiet beauty of
the scene, as the shadows of the evening are
stealing over
fair,
it ?
Who, oh who but
the ever adorable Si-Hoo-Se?
the ever
But what
doth she there at the dying-time of day,
alone
among
hoUday
trim,
the thick bushes, attired in
such as could not be necessary
—
214
to the full
enjoyment of any pleasant
soli-
tude?
"
Will he come
?" she said
the barber deceived
She
and
;
"
and has not
me?"
and ran her fingers
seized her guitar,
over the chords
;
a voice of pathos
in
was capable,
the most touching of which she
sung the words which follow they had been
:
composed some centuries
before, in anticipa;
but heroines
are always prepared in this
manner with
tion of her
individual case
songs for every emergency.
O
So
And
the waters flow
fair to behold,
mud,
the
in tlie
glow,
Seems
as yellow as gold
come,
O
To
O
come
the banks of the Slum,
Where
O
O
come,
To
tiic
banks of
come,
Where
Of
the
To
:
com.c
tlic
Slum.
O come
tlje
murmuring hum
wave keeps tunc,
your
love's fond lay?,.
Beneath the oold moon,
As
she warbles and plays.
;
MARRIAGE
O
come,
To
And
llie
We
The
my
Slum
;
you make me dumb
till
and make
life,
are born to be kissed, so I
And
215
MASK.
O come
slow-flowing
press n)y lips
Oh, take me,
IN A
:
me your
wife
;
not resist
sliall
with sugar the rest of our days
be
sliali
rife.
crickets around her sang out in shrill
accompaniment the bats
;
flitted
and wheeled
above her, and mosquitoes danced fantastically before her veil
yet she paid
;
little
at-
tention to the crickets, the bats, or the mosquitoes.
feet
But hark
!
— there
the sprays of the light
;
a tread of
is
bamboo
are
shaken; a graceful figure presses through
them, and at a
moment when
his pig-tail
is
moon shines
my own dear Long-
entangled in the boughs, the
full
upon him.
Ku
!"
was
" It is
exclaimed she, and her
to faint
away but
:
first
impulse
several considerations
occurred to her immediately, which
made
her doubt the policy and propriety of this;
and she
sat collectedly, therefore, to
wait his
approach.
The youth
to
her
;
is at
her side
;
he
is
whispering
and never sounded voice
in her ear
—
216
we were telling you some European love story, we should,
SO sweetly, so persuasively.
If
perhaps, talk of "those familiar accents;"
but, in consequence of the particular restrictions
the
which
young
may frequently hapvoice may have all the
in China,
pen there that the
charm
with the intercourse of
interfere
it
of novelty, even
when an attachment
has been of long standing.
results
It necessarily
from Celestial system
mean from
— (we
do not
the system of the universe, but
from the system
to
which we have adverted
above, as existent in the Celestial Empire,
though, no doubt,
it
ordinance of the
stars,)
sults
belongs likewise to the
—
it
necessarily re-
from the Celestial system that in the
category of love cases, love at
first
sight
that of the most frequent occurrence
when we have no time
lar
take
siege,
w^hat
our
towns
for,
:
for blockade, or regu-
course
by
is
open
is
storm
?
but
The
to
fond
couple at present under our consideration
had
little
acquaintance with each other
;
and
though the young lady had long entertained
!
MARRIAGE IN A MASK.
an ardent affection
217
Long-Ku, never
for
then had she sat so near him
;
him
some
and that
only,
rarely, at
till
she had seen
distance,
and she never before had heard the breath
How
from his
lips.
must have been her
sat-
sweet modulation,
issue, in
great then
whatever appearance of coyness
isfaction,
she might assume,
fraught with
all
when
his
winged accents,
the honey of love,
came with
their pleasing buzz, to find themselves a hive
in her ear.
Alas
you
poor Si-Hoo-Se
!
!
do, reader, penetrate
she does not, as
through the
dis-
guise of Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang, and perceive
whom
that he
friend,
is,
she looks upon as her dearest
in fact, the person she
most abhors
However, since they converse as
will not intrude
meant
to
be so
not at the
lovers,
we
upon an interview which
secret.
moment
pair did
suspect that any wit-
nessed their meeting
was behind a bush
The young
is
;
but the barber Chin
close by.
It
cannot be
right to imitate his example, and listen to
vows and
19
protestations
we have no
business
218
coy,
it
should
though the maid was
Suffice that,
to hear.
was agreed between them
wed
that evening
but
;
for farther question, where,
it
that they
was a point
and
how
they
should effect that desirable purpose.
Clandestine marriages do sometimes take
place in China
;
but, as,
from the constitution
of Chinese society, they are
quent than with
us, so
ably discountenanced
;
less fre-
they are proportion-
woman who
and a
has had the imprudence
means
much
to resort to
such a
of changing her estate from singu-
larity to duplicity, is
by the prudent
of her
very sternly regarded
own
sex,
and the
rigid
ones of ours.
The young
lady was anxious, in order to
save appearances, that the marriage should
take place at No-Gho's house; the young
man on the
den and
contrary, fearful that such a sud-
secret
arrangement might not be
agreeable to the old mandarin, and that some
way
impediment might be thrown
in the
the fulfillment of their wishes,
was desirous
that
it
should occur at his own.
At her
of
ur-
219
MARRIAGE IN A MASK.
gent instances however, and her repeated
assurances that
to
would not be disagreeable
it
No-Gho, he would perhaps have conceded
the
point,
had they not been interrupted
by the sudden intrusion of Chin.
That individual
tion, that
confessed, without hesita-
having effected
for
sent meeting, he considered
them the
it
pre-
right to keep
an eye upon the progress of events and that
;
he had,
therefore,
ference.
He
been a witness of their con-
strongly
they should make
formance
first
all
recommended
sure
by a private
that
per-
of the ceremonies necessary to
render marriage binding; especially as the
most important of
these, the stepping over a
pot of charcoal, would be more properly
ef-
fected at the husband's door than elsewhere.
It
was
his advice, however, that they should
repair immediately afterwards to the uncle's
house, and have things ratified there, so as to
avoid scandal.
for
He gave such
what he recommended,
sidered
it
safest to
ijood reasons
that the lady con-
accede to his proposal
returning to her sedan, which she had
;
so
left
220
among" the trees at some distance, she allowed
Chin
be
to
conductor, and direct the
its
bearers to the door of her betrothed.
There
who
having,
she was met by the eager lover,
previous to their meeting, considered as a
thing of course that this would be the plan
pursued, had invited some friends and matrons of
acquaintance to witness the
his
performance of the customary ceremonies.
These,
in.
that ceremonious land, could not
be hurried^ over in very brief time and Chin
;
did not remain there, as he had other pipes
to
smoke.
The
barber
made
similar arrangements
respecting the marriage of the other
people.
He had
so timed them,
and he so
timed himself, that he had a glimpse
first
meeting
also.
It
young
at their
was not without some
reason that Chin had gained the reputation
among
his neighbours of possessing a faculty
of ubiquity.
these,
He
he was
As soon
at
as he
had disposed of
No-Gho's house.
congratulated the old mandarin upon
the success that had attended their plot; and
MARRIAGE
IN A INIASK.
221
prepared him to expect the newly-married
No-Gho
couples at his house that evening.
was deUghted with the barber's ingenuity,
and deigned
to
pledge him in several bum-
pers of wine; each cup of which increased
made him more gracious
and condescending. Preparations were made
his satisfaction, and
for a
merry evening, and musicians and dra-
matic performers were called in; and even
before the arrival of the persons
looked for with so
much
glee,
hearsal of festivities began.
gratifying effect
who were
some
little re-
Perceiving the
which wine had upon the
social feelings of the old gentleman,
Chin
was determined that these should not be
without their stimulus
a condition of
the
much
;
and No-Gho was in
pleasantry when, amid
hum of curiosity and gratulation
assembled guests, the
ried couples, the
first
from the
of the newly-mar-
two whose meeting we
wit-
nessed by the banks of the slow-creeping
Slum, came bowing, and were bowed
into
the chamber.
It
was natural
that
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang,
19*
as
222
he
still
retained his
his rival, should
mask and impersonated
manifest a disposition to
keep in the dimest corners of the room and
;
that the greeting,
which
incumbent upon him
to
politeness
offer
made
it
to his host,
should be performed as hurriedly as possible.
It is true, it
if his
would be of no great consequence
disguise were detected
now
;
yet he
was
not disposed to reveal himself at once; he
wished rather
to wait
some
fitting
moment,
and then, with triumphant audacity, declare
But whatever
the course he had pursued.
was quite without occasion;
for No-Gho was so far gone in the ways of
felicity, that, presently after, he was conveyed
anxiety he
felt
to bed, in a state
all
the cares of
Now
lutists
nails,
of perfect abstraction from
life.
grew busy, and the
the bagpipers
twanged the
and the
pigtails
flutists
stood
parchment
strings with their long
piped away
on end,
— bladders
groaning,
metal moaning
!
and
oat-gut
all
till
their
croning,
squeaking,
was proceeding
in
the merriest manner. Chin acting as the mas-
MARRIAGE IN A MASK.
ter of the
ceremonies,
when
a
223
stir
was heard
outside the chamber, a rustle of pigtails and
a klop-klop of ladies'
The
feet.
doors were
opened, and attended by a considerable
num-
ber of friends of both sexes, the second
feli-
citous couple of the evening attracted general observation as
they were ushered into the
apartment.
"Hey-kok-ko-loh-rum/' cried one of the
guests,
who had been pledging
freely in
we
here?
wine and
"
What have
Another bridegroom, yet the same,
as sure as pigs
wear
pigtails
gift of seeing double."
that the
the mandarin
sam-shoo, —
!
if not, I
It is
wedding guest may
have a
not unlikely
at the
moment
have possessed that faculty; but he was not
indebted thereto for the twin images of Long-
Ku
that then
The
whose
fell
upon
lovely bride of
attention
diverted from
his retina.
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang,
had been
for
some moments
what was going forward
in the
apartment, by a whispered conversation with
her lord, directed her eyes, as she heard the
exclamation of the wedding guest, towards
224
the real
Long-Ku; and uttering a
shriek, as
she perceived the manner in which she had
been dnped, she tottered into the arms of her
Upon
attendants.
outright, her cheek
this occasion she fainted
assuming a sable hue, as
the custom in her country in such cases;
is
and though they cut instantly the
laces of
her shoes, and smoked a tobacco-pipe beneath
her nose,
it
was long
ere they could succeed
in restoring animation.
Her husband chuckled with
with a feeling of triumph
;
delight,
and
and when she had
partly recovered, he approached, and taking
her hand,
My dearest Si-Hoo-Se,"
''
"my
ever beloved wife,
some
little
said,
you have made
mistake, as sure as Fo's in Fo-
You
kien.
—
he
reckoned on a prize, but you
have obtained a richer one than you expected.
It is of
no use any longer
And
guise.
range
iet
it
that
if
keep up
this dis-
ever ill-luck should so ar-
you should become a widow,
me recommend you
never, in future, to
take a husband in a mask.
were aware,
to
is
not
my
This
face, as
you
face; this pig-tail, as
;
MARRIAGE
you are now aware,
dress
is
not
Long-Ku
;
it
my
is
not
dress.
was a
225
IN A MASK.
my
You
pig-tail
me
took
slight mistake
but
;
this
;
for
make
and congratulate yourself
yourself happy,
you have caught no worse than Ou-
that
Rano^-Ou-Tano:."
moved
As he
said
he
this
re-
his mask.
"My dear Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang," responded
the lady, in a tone of subdued malice, " my
ever beloved husband, you have
made some
mistake, as sure as there's folk in Fo-
little
You
kien.
reckoned on a
prize,
but you
have obtained a richer one than you expected.
no use any longer
It is of
guise; and
if ever,
keep up
to
which Fo
should become a widower,
mend you never
neath a
veil.
my
veil
not
me
take
;
tulate
for
me
veil,
recom-
you must know,
these boots are not
these trousers
took
let
you
in future to take a wife be-
This
;
this dis-
forefend,
are not
Si-Hoo-Se;
my
it
my
trousers.
was a
is
boots
You
slight mis-
but make yourself happy, and congrayourself that you have
worse than Win-Fu."
caught no
;;
226
As
veil,
she spoke the last word, she lifted her
and exhibited
to
her dismayed husband
a physiognomy the most uninviting.
Scarce a pig-tail in the room but was con-
The drummer beat
drum with delight; the
vulsed with lau2fhter.
in the head of his
fifer
blew his
Chin ground
fife
into a thousand splinters
his teeth to
powder with a grin;
the attendant ladies stamped off the heels of
their little boots in their
Long-Ku laughed
laces ;
till
merry
satisfaction
he had broken
all
and Si-Hoo-Se, who, by the suggestion
of Chin, (for Chin Avas unwilling that
Rang-Ou-Tang should prematurely
his mistake,)
laughter in
lest
its loveliest
by clinging
she should
chinnation.
Ou-
discover
had assumed the dress of Win-
Fu, now threw aside her
self
his
to
fall
veil,
and exhibiting
phase, supported her-
her husband's pig-tail,
to the
ground with
ca-
This subitaneous overflow of
mirthfulness was occasioned chiefly by the
mingled expression of mortification, rage,
and astonishment, in the countenance of Ou-
Rang-Ou-Tang. Nobody esteemed, admired,
MARRIAGE
or regarded
either
Win-Fu and
;
Stratification to those
to see
how
Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang
was a source
it
both,
227
MASK.
IN A
who
or
of the keenest
stood around them,
scheming
to
outwit others,
Chin had
had thus outwitted themselves.
provided against any interruption
to
the
general satisfaction, by being careful that
hone of the few familiar friends of Ou-Rang-
Ou-Tang
or
Win-fu should be among the per-
sons invited to the wedding.
Old No-Gho, we have
seen,
had
lost
all
opportunity of participating in the joke at
and he was exceedingly vexed
the time;
when he heard
the state of the case, on the
following morning.
ever, that
Chin assured him, how-
there had merely been a misun-
derstanding; that the affair was unlucky,
but could not be helped
;
gon of the neighbouring
that the black dra-
must have
river,
had a chop-stick in the pudding
;
that there
was no mending matters now; and that the
way to grow fat, (a great desideratum with
a China-man, and particularly with a mandarin,)
was
to
laugh abundantly, and drown
—
;
228
His eloquence somewhat soothed
dull care.
if it
did not satisfy the ancient gentleman
but he had more trouble
to
subdue the tem-
pest of Ou-Rang-Ou-Tang's indignation.
That young person could hardly be brought
to believe that
by mere accident the barber
had directed him
to the
wrong
spot to meet
but though his wrath was great-
his beloved
:
ly aroused,
Chin succeeded in obtaining from
him
more
a present of live
taels for conceal-
ing those parts of the story that were
only to themselves.
this
subject,
tiously
To
his
known
engagement on
Chin always most conscien-
and scrupulously adhered never im:
parting to man,
woman,
ten importuned to do
the question;
or child,
so,
—excepting
though
of-
one syllable upon
upon promises of
the strictest secrecy, and the receipt of a proportionable fee.
From
that time forth
Chin enjoyed an ho-
nourable situation in the family of Long-Ku;
and
to
it
may be
not uninteresting to the ladies
be informed that in due time he shaved
the heads of four-and-twenty little Long-Kus.
!
THE STUDENT OF HANLAN
A TALE OF OPIUM-SMOKING.*
Kum
Wee-Ping-Wa-Ling-Tuh-Ye
Iloobe-PiPing IIo-Pi.Hum.t
Oh, the gentle
A
Fum-Fum was
IIoo.Kah.
a worshipful youth,
student of talent, of trust, and of truth
* Pi-Pi.VG,
an eWincnt modern poet of Cliina, wrote a scries of
poems with the excellent design of warning
against
those
tlie
vices
wc have
his
selected the one devoted to
Smoking; bat we have found
it
tiie
higli
moral dignity of tone
that characterize the serious poetry of the Chinese.
interest to the
From
subject of 0[)ium.
impossible to preserve, in an
English version, the epic gravity and
additional
countrymen
which most prevailed amongtit them.
It
may
give
subject to mention, that the author died
but a few years since, of the pernicious habit he deprecates;
having sougiit
in!<piralion
from the pipe whilst engaged
in
the
composition of this poem.
+
These
lines contain a beautiful
moral reflection and warning,
applicable to this story; but arc printed in
from having baffled every attempt
'20
tiie
original language,
at translation.
—
230
;
Of excellent parentage,
Wit with an arrant edge,
Eloquence burning,
And
subtle discerning;
Gf manners most excellent.
Formed to enchant;
And when to the sex he leant,
Gay and gallant.
As fat as a pig,
And as sleek as a Cadi;
As fresh as a fig,
And as fair as a lady.
In learning he beat
Of a
all
competitors hollow
And,
in short,
Was
a sort
pig-tailed Appollo.
He could tell you by
Any part
Of
works of
the
Who
heart
the sages
shined in past ages,
Meng-tze, Laou-tze, and Confucius
And
of
Of
all
whom
the Central
;
Muse
Land
the
Imbues
With her dews,
Up
A
But
I
only can
to this very
great
many
name one
day
they,
or two she has.
;
231
THE STUDENT OF HANLA.N.
There's exquisite Nin-Kum,
Whose pen makes the tin come,
And Hum-Drum the poet, who has no great
in-
come
(For income and ink- 'em
Although
Are not such
we may
clink 'em,
cousins
first
as perhaps you
may
think 'em.)
There's
Ly
and Bo the philosopher
and weeps for the loss of her
the historian,
Si lost his mistress,
Flum, Skum, and
Hum — but
all
these
we
will pass
over,
Some
are yet living, and some grows green grass
over.
There's
Fang
With pen
And
the great critic.
analytic,
an ingenious satirical writer;
Slo, Lo, and Co, the political journalists;
Sting,
Yawn, known because
of his
Moral philosophies.
Sensible works which he's welcome
to learn
who
lists;
And Fun, Pun, and
Grin,
whose
There are authors besides of
effusions are lighter.
wit, learning
and pas-
sion;
But, above
The
all
writer just
Is elegant,
But here
we
that ever yet
now
wrote or sang.
at the top of the fashion,
moral, and eloquent Slang.
digress,
and mishaps
may enmesh
us,
Whilst wasting our moments so few and so precious.
;
232
At
So
:
—
!
right to " take
all
times
let
us return to
it's
Time by the
Fum-Fum, and pursue.
queue,"
much learning, taste, and knowledge,
You easily may suppose
To what distinguished rank he rose
Among the youth at college.
With
so
Hanlan College, Peking,*
Is that of which we're speaking
Nor was
In
all
there another student
the imperial city
So proper at once and prudent,
So clever, and wise, and witty.
Nay, only one besides was there,
Who might with him in the least comp^re-^
A reader was he for a doctor's degree,
A foe to Fum-Fum, and his name Fee-Fee.
Fee-Fee and Fum-Fum were inveterate foes.
Not only because they were bent to oppose
Each other in contests for classical prizes
And that fair renown that from learning arises;
But also because, as they both of them saw.
So they both fell in love with the lovely Faw-Faw.
Oh, the lovely
In
all
Faw-Faw was
the Celestial
With her brows
the loveliest
maid
Land
lovely bend, and her queue's lovely
braid,
And
those sweet
little
claws on her hand
* Sec Note Z.
â^^^/(râr'_xl?f-^
^€^f^
f/^n(/e^l
.
r.zss.
^
Â/??/<tyhY/7
j///&/['i//(////.)
.////
/r//
/f///
/(//{
.
pgeo.
;
!
THE STUDENT OF HANLA.N.
With her
And
Eyes
little
coatee, so delightful to see.
her trousers so artfully planned
like cockatoo's,
and such dear
In which not a fairy might stand
O
233
happy the youth
(for
him fortune
Hath a white page without any
To whom
it
occurs that his
pig-tail
little
shoes,
!
in truth.
blot,)
with hers
Shall be tied in a true lover's knot.
Fum-Fum
and Fee-Fee
— Oh,
how each
of them
sighed.
And wished
for the lovely
Into loneliest corners
all
Faw-Faw
as his bride
moodily drew,
And
neglected his studies, his dress, and his queue.
Yet of slovenly manners, O lovers, beware
If ye seek in your nets to entangle the fair,
The whole of your art in your dress ye should use.
And take the best care of your P's and your Queue's.
But Fum-Fum and Fee-Fee, how could they but
!
discover
The
passion of their hearts to the worth v old Fo-
Fo,
The
father of
Faw-Faw, who was
seeking for a
lover.
To
For
To
give his girl
'tis
away
to,
since off she must go
/
not the practice, within the Central Land,
keep such household chattels as daughters dear,
on hand.
But to sell them at a discount, because it's very clear,
That they eat their heads in provender when food is
all
so dear.
20*
:
234
;
;
:
And therefore, old Fo-Fo, he would not say " No, no,"
To the offers of Fum-Fum, or the proffers of FeeFee;
But he asked a
little
while just to see
how
things
might go.
Before he should determine whose the lady was
to be.
And
he promised that that one should be
in
law
his
son.
Who
should reap the largest honours in learning's
ample
Who
To
field
should pluck the golden
head of renown
him, and to him only,
crown from
his
the fore-
daughter he would
yield.
And so Fum-Fum and so Fee-Fee,
They hated each other as much as could be
They hated each other as much as could be,
And either would see, with exceeding much glee,
His hated corival brought down on his knee,
To do some great penance, to bear some great shame,
That should
lose
him
all
hope of the beautiful dame.
Now we know not whether you may know, but there
is
That
is
a certain
festival,
held once in three years, at the college of
Hanlan
Examinations then take place, whereby
the best of
Among
the
can.
to
choose
all.
young collegians who do
the best they
;
;
;
;
235
THE STUDENT OF HANLAN.
Excitement 'mong
Then Messrs.
all
parties then rises to a high zest,
the professors, each strives to look the
wisest
Then parents come, and
hum and
all is
bustle in the
capital,
And
boobies gaze as lanterns blaze, and flags and
pennons
The Emperor,
Whose
flap
it all.
that temperer of the
mortar of society,
edicts serve so well to keep the
frame of
things together.
Who
trowels up the state with such prudence and
propriety.
And watches
it,
and botches
it
in times
of evil
weather
Sits
on
his throne of state,
with his councillors about
him.
Who
never must presume at
all
to contradict or
doubt him
Who
seek to please him
first,
before or gods or
little
fishes.
And
never recommend a thing but what they
he wishes.
The Emperor he sits
Upon his throne of state,
To mark the exercise of wits
In thesis or debate
And
Of
every young collegian
all
the Central Region,
Receives the royal
Do
command
the best he can do.
to
know
;
;
236
And this triennial festival was drawing near at hand,
And many young competitors to gain its prizes
planned,
Whose
hearts
were beating high with hope or
sink-
ing with misdoubtings,
As
often as they thought
upon the innings and the
outings.
Fum-Fum, among them
all
was
the sharpest and
the learnedest,
(As far
as, ere the trial,
any body could discern,
id
est,)
But being a
tea-totaller,
he suflered
nerves so
in his
much,
He
scarce could hope to gain a prize, although he
might deserve so much
For
Irequently
trepidations
will
set
the
brain a
turning,
And
self-possession often
by
At
wins what should be
And
next to him, Fee-Fee
Was
the likeliest
top of
the
won
learning.
all
the
man
to
tree,
be
the
glorious tree of
learning;
He knew
Of
Who
the different pages
the books of ancient sages,
illumined former ages with the ravs of their
discerning
And
as with modest timorousness he
was
not au2;ht
afflicted.
That he should bear
predicted.
the prizes
ofl'
by many was
Fum-Fum was
Therefore
And
felt
His brow was
And
all
his feelings oppressively;
day puckered up
in a
frown,
ever his p?^tail hung sheepishly down.
This was foolish
And
A
we own,
he ought to have shown
greater amount of self-confident ease
ought to
It's
so easy to talk,
It's
funk
tell
you the
much harder
is,
we
Is its
we
The worst
the fact
;
•
fact,
to act
to be sure,
very best cure
But tea
!
fancy, a sort of disease
Good wine,
And
—but lauk
He
Whilst, to
And
237
despondent excessively,
weigh on
the thing
;
;:
;
;
should think
thing
may
you could drink
be proved by plain argumenta-
tions;
Because the Chinese are the funkiest of nations.
The day was drawing nearer when Fum-Fum
ought
to
win
A
most abundant harvest of both renown and tin
Of both renown and tin, for we'd have you understand,
Those are not incompatible
But
still
in that Celestial
he grew more nervous,
(So Fortune loves
to serve us,)
Land.
;
238
——
:
And
felt his
fears
would
nail him,
In spite of all his heed of
And
it
would fail him,
Just when he had most need of it
Unless he could discover some artificial means
that his heart
Of keeping up
courage,
his
when he came
before
the skreens.
•
Now, we cannot
tell
When you were
reading for your degree,
how
the case might be,
we know how numbers seek
To nerve both mind and body;
But
Depending
—
for Latin
and Greek
Upon cold-without and toddy;
Those are
And
capital things to
cold-without
" White
Red
fill
makes warm
the skin,
within.
and black,
and gray,
spirits
spirits
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You
that mingle
Though some people
may."
think that without
any ming-
ling,
Pure
The
Was
It's
produces a pleasanter tingling.
spirit
spirit
of rice, which
the only spirit that
a sort of a gray
And
is
called "
Sam-shoo,"
Fum-Fum knew
spirit,
sparkling and frisky.
bears a resemblance to Irish whisky.
But
And
Fum-Fum
held
it
disliked
it
extremely,
not proper or seemly
To sharpen his wit's very clever edge
By any such species of beverage.
;
;
—
——
; ;
Oh, Fum-Fum, beware
!
239
for the case will be
more
dire,
If,
when you shun
the frying-pan,
you
fall
into the
fire.
The night was dark and dreadful
Of horrors it had fed full
The rain came down a deluge.
The rattling hail-stones fell huge
And
the lightning flames
Like
fiery
And
all
the broad black river
Was
in
such fume and fever.
were glancing.
demons dancing;
And the thunder peals were rolling,
As the knell of earth were tolling
As though
the great black dragon, he
Were writhing in an agony.
And Peking's lords and spouses
Were mostly in their houses
For few, you may imagine it, without compulsory
reason,
Would wish
to
be abroad
in
such a hideous season.
But
Fum-Fum all day had been
And feeling oppressed.
He
He
put by his books in the afternoon
And wanting
som.e rest.
put by his books with a
And
forth he
studying Slang,
must
For a gulp of
bit
of a pang,
fare,
fresh air.
But intending of course
to
be back again soon
;
240
To
be back again soon,
After tasting the boon,
Which
A
So seldom
And
hard-reading students,
class of imprudents,
enjoy, having no time to spare.
Of
bodily needments
To
take the due heedments.
feeling the carcass
He was
no part of
hastening back
their care.
when
the storm
an ominous form,
With a distant growl, and a few big drops,
Began
in
Such as make
all
the passengers run into shops,
And promote the sale of umbrellas and pattens,
To save their silks, th6ir fcrapes, and satins.
We like to
when storms
observe
How
begin,
the folks run helter-skelter.
In search of the nearest shelter
And sometimes make
a blunder
In the roofs they are entering under.
Rain-water (whose reasons of course must be
fal-
lacies)
Hath decoyed your
When,
nevertheless,
But
meant
seek some
to
tea-totaller into gin-palaces;
you must know very well he
relief
from too much of the
ele-
ment.
Made haughty
lords stand
among groups
of low
sots,
And proud
ladies visit the poor in their cots:
;
And induced your grave
Without any purpose
241
magistraleinto mine uncle's,
to
Though your worshipful
pawn
his carbuncles,
friend,
whom
so
much
thou
reverest.
Hath a
It
of nose jewels the rarest and queerest.
set
hath brought your good
pastor to
pray
in
a
chapel, he
Else would have looked on extremely unhappily
And
as
will
all
be swift
Hath drawn your
But, as touching
He was
to get out
— on
his
way to his home
caught in the storm, and he wished to get
out of
it,
tell
from the darkness
full
would not pass over without a
it
of
well,
fair
bout
it:
And Fum-Fum was
Whenever
And
of the lurch.
schismatics into the church.
Fum-Fum,
Because he could
That
fell
it
frightened
lightened
;
didn't like thunder, or hail-stones, or water-
spouts
He
:
wasn't a buck
Of such nerve and such pluck,
As should make him defy
The wrath of the sky.
Or go where waves roar and
the
red stream of
slaughter spouts.
It
can't be expected
That persons connected
With
quiet pursuits, such as science
Should take
21
much
delight
and learning.
—
;
;
242
In the fury and fright,
Where
elements clash, or the battle
Therefore
A
Fum-Fum
burning.
looked round to find
house, to escape from
And what
is
thei
rain
and wind
should he see,
Close under his lee,
But a bamboo skreen hanging down before
The neighbouring door^
Which seemed contrived to balk the wet.
Which came down thicker and heavier yet
So, lifting
it
up, in his fear to be sopped,
Speedily into the house he popped.
Alas
!
that
That
Him
Fum-Fum
know
thus provoking to shun a good soaking,
Oh, sign of
That
The
did not
the bamboo-screen before the door,
wo was meant
!
to
show
there dwelt a similar spirit to Fo,*
spirit
of opium-smoking.
The spirit of abstraction,
The spirit of inaction,
The spirit of delusion,
The spirit of confusion^
The spirit of inanity.
The spirit of insanity,
Of life without reality^
Of living dead vitality.
• Sec note, .A
;
;
;;
;
THE STUDENT OF ILVNLAN.
When
he found himself
an opium shop,
in
much like to stop
But then again, it was equally true.
That he didn't much like to get wet through
Moreover, he didn't much like to stay
He
of course,
didn't,
having something
Without
243
;
which he might
for
pay;
So he gave
mouth a back-hand wipe,
his
my
" Well, once in
try a pipe
life, I'll
By Fortune thus sent here,
think I may venture
I
For, as to
my
e'er being brought to
Though many would do
And
I
*ni
afterwards rue
rather too wise for
I
So he threw
Put a pipe
And began
away with
He
—
faith, I
should hope
off his hat.
he
sat.
With a hand on
On a bamboo mat
flies
it,
it
am."
And down
The
smoke opium.
it,
his hip,
in his lip.
to
flip.
his pigtails* tip.
stared round the room,
Through
To know
whom
And
he
the thick curling fume,
about both
all
his
where and with
;
saw some strange
With hideous grimaces
faces,
;
Some moeing and mopping,
And some with jaws dropping
:
244
!
;
;
Some
With
Some
Some
looking most wise,
their
green sunken eyes
fretful,
some
;
foolish.
ghastly and ghoulish
Some half-naked skeletons, livid and green.
Whose stagnated blood left no life in their mien
With lips drawn awry, and gums sunken and
blue.
And
their teeth, black
And
and yellow, thrust
forth in
view;
full
with minds
in the last
rags of idiotcy cloaked,
These
their horrible appetites feebly
With
the
provoked
dregs of the poison that
others
had
smoked.
When
O
thou would'st,
death, carouse.
Bind the poppy round thy brows
Bind
it
round with bony glee
'Tis the fittest
wreath
;
for thee
Toadstools, and nightshades, and darnels,
Mould-mosses fatted in charnels.
Hemlocks, and henbanes, and aconites,
Witch-gathered deep
in the
black
o' nights.
Though they be poisons of dignity.
Match not the poppy's malignity.
Though death be a Proteus of horrible shapes.
His worst forms beside be but second-rate copies.
Of
those wherein under his gray bones he drapes
When
he 'noints
His old joints
With
the unguents of poppies.
;
;
245
'Tvvas a fearful sight and well might yield
A
And
warning
to the student
here morality opens a
field
But we shall not intrude in 't.
If we show you where her grounds begin,
And give you leave to sport therein,
You will think that quite enough, no doubt,
And not ask us to measure them out.
But, strange to say, the sight he saw.
Though
it
filled
Had
We
him
quite with horror
and awe,
not the effect,
so well might expect,
Of making him
loosen the pipe from his jaw;
But he smoked away
At
Or
his
yard of clay,
his piece of
bamboo, we rather should say,
it were pleasant
As though
To him to be present
At a scene such as that we have
just
been de-
picting,
Where
still
with worse horrors were horrors con-
flicting.
When Fum-Fum
had
finished he found,
His brains spin pleasantly round,
And he seemed to be floating through oceans
Of pleasamest fancies and notions.
He rose, and walked off' in delightful excitement,
And
thought
he before never
meant;
21*
knew what
dcliglit
:
246
Like wheels running down a gentle
declivity,
His memory was in such a state of activity,
That the works of great Slang he remembered each
word
of.
And knew books by heart he had not even heard of.
And his nerves, too, got into such excellent trim,
That he
If the
felt
he had courage to look very grim.
Emperor's
self
should look crossly at him.
On
the following morning, however.
He
felt
himself funkier than ever
;
The
simplest lessons he couldn't say through,
And
he got three cuts from his master's queue.
This made him despond
Beyond beyond,"
And inclined him almost
*'
jump
to
into the
But he afterwards thought he might
pond
find
some
relief
In an
opium
And what
Just to
pipe,
could
keep up
gree
'Twas
from
his dulness
hurt, if
it
and grief;
he smoked but a wee,
his pluck,
till
he passed
his de-
?
the sensible part.
because
might gain such a heart
If only
It
As
More
the lovely
rational
Because
it
Faw-Faw's.
still,
should
Every hope
kill
that might be
In the foolish Fee-Fee.
So Fum-Fum smoked
his pipe
with particular glee.
;
;
;
247
came
came
day so desired and feared
and the daylight appeared.
All Peking Hocked into the learned rehearsal.
And hubbub and hurry became universal.
The tailors were busy the week before,
In mending old dresses and making more
At
last
At
last
the
;
the day,
;
And now
were so in demand,
There were scarcely enough to be found
all
the barbers
land
What
in
the
;
with shaving the heads of man, women, and
lad.
You'd have fancied,
i'
faith, all the
world had gone
mad
There was shaving of heads and
And
painting fair cheeks of
plaiting of queues,
all beautiful
hues;
There was tinting of nails and squeezing of feet.
For who but would wish to look handsome and
neat.
When
On
the
whole of the
city
was
forth in the street
his throne of high state sat the
Like "
X
with
his
Icsjs
Emperor
across"
?
bold,
cross-leorsed
sat he
And
his ladies
But
in
And six
Formed
were near him, so
fair to behold.
small wicker cages that no one might see.
pairs of spectacles, ranged on each side,
a spectacle proper to kindle his pride
For behind every pair sat a councillor keen,
With a nose of great gravity peeping between.
The pastors and masters,
Of learnings great digest
the doctors
and proctors,
the learned concocters.
;
;
248
Were ranged in due order; and next on the boards,
Were the small mandarins, with their buttons and
swords.
Then
the
and uncles, and guardians of
parents
students,
Had their
part of the floor just
marked out by a few
dents
And last came
the scholars, so proud of their
know-
ledge.
morals, and rhetoric, and history
Of
Whilst the great court was
filled
up
its
big tales;
in front
of the
college.
With
and
rag- tail
bob-tail, all
bobbing
their pig-
tails.
The
spectacles put on their learnedest looks,
And
the orators spoke like printed books;
in flower and wisdom ripe,
Emperor smiled as he smoked his pipe;
The Emperor smiled as the crew he scanned,
To think what learning was in his land
For there was not a student the least in size.
Joy was
And
the
But had got
his
head stufied with the works of the
wise;
So that each of
Seemed a book
their heads, to his fancy's view.
full
of print, with a
mark
for
the
queue.
Well
!
some
ficads are
books
to hold learning
—
but,
marry,
Know
as
much
carry.
as
do books of the learning they
—
:
;
At
last
The
And
they began,
249
sir
was hard,
trial
answer
Played thrust and guard
Some fumbled, and stumbled, and tumbled; then
mumbled,
And grumbled because their ideas were jumbled,
Whereby all at once they were painfully humquestion and
'
bled.
And hope's handsome fabric so cruelly crumbled
And some got on better by muttering and stut:
tering,
And
sputtering as though their tongues
wanted a
buttering,
With muscles all twitching and pig-tails
And
all fluttering,
big drops of heat from their foreheads
down
guttering,
For no one could make out
the
words they were
uttering.
But
came
Fum,
at last
the turns of
Fee-Fee and Fum-
hum when
And
there rose a gi-eat
For
the tongue of report
the folks
saw
them come.
had by no means been
dumb;
She had whispered
to
some, or made signs with her
thumb,
And
at other times
spoke out as loud as a drum.
And had told of the pair.
Of their learning so rare.
And
besides of their rivalry touching the
fair.
;;
;
;
:
250
Fee-Fee stepped forth with confidence, collected
quite and cool
He knew
himself,
if
not the best, the second best at
school
And
he
knew
his rival,
poor
Fum-Fum,
other
at
times his match.
Was
likely to
up
But
break
down with funk when he came
to the scratch.
Fum-Fum had
been smoking well
his
opium
pipe that rporn.
And
so could speak as free and bold as any
that's
And
man
born
looked with scorn on rivalry so paltry as FeeFee's,
For he thought himself
the better
man by number-
less degrees.
Yet when they underwent
fall
the proof
it
chanced
to
out so.
That which might be the abler youth not any one
might know:
I can't get all within my page reporting Fame could
cram in hers
Suffice that either knew enough to puzzle his examiners.
Though
questions
made sharp
thrusts at
them
to
take them by surprise,
Prepared were they
replies
to
parry these with pointedest
;
;
And
and
251
classic prose
and
but hesitated twice, and Fee-Fee
but
tried in logic, rhetoric,
rhymes,
Fum-Fum
three times.
And
so the judges for awhile suspended their decision,
Till
they could look the question through, and view
with clearer vision
And bade
the rival youths meanwhile in an outer
room
That
their
either
And
to stay,
presence in the hall might cause no bias
way.
heads were busy, when
young men were gone.
the learned
the
two
In sifting through the business with their -pro and
with their con
And
they laid their learned pigtails
make
together to
all
plain,
Whether Fum-Fum or Fee-Fee might be
the cle-
verer of the twain.
But when the fact was
laid before their consciences
so nice.
That
thrice
Fee-Fee was found
Fum
In
at fault,
and Fum-
only twice,
Fum-Fum's favour
they prepared their verdict to
impart.
When
they heard a sudden noise that
learned pigtails start.
made
their
:
252
Now
:
came to pass, as it well might be,
That when Fum-Fum and when Fee-Fee,
it
Those
rivals alike in love
and books,
Met by themselves in an outer apartment.
Each knowing full well what the other
at
heart
meant,
They cast at each other some comical
And with scornings and sneers
And with jibings and jeers.
And
As
They
with laughter and
in fact
it
leers,
appears,
treated each other, each anxious to
Himself such a much greater man than
"
looks
Faugh, faugh
!"
said
Fum-Fum
in
show
his foe.
low voice
to
Fee-Fee,
"
Would Fo-Fo
give
Faw-Faw
to a fellow
like
thee?
By my
fay,
no,
Fee-Fee
:
fair
Faw-Faw
is
to
come
As a
fee
from Fo-Fo
to thy
foeman Fum-Fum."
" Nay, few, few," said Fee-Fee, " can believe that
Fo-Fo
Would
Fye,
fye, no,
As a
fee
As
Faw-Faw too a youth so so-so
Fum-Fum fair Faw-Faw is to be
affy fair
from Fo-Fo
!
to thy
thus spoke Fee-Fee, oh,
Fum,
His rage made him
dumb:
foeman Fee-Fee."
how wrath grew Fum-
hot and his scorn
made him
His swift indignation he could not
For
fumes of
the
restrain,
opium were
the
253
still
in
his
brain.
He
could not restrain
so
it,
what
did he do.
But he seized poor Fee-Fee with both liands by the
queue,
And
exerting his arms
would rope
If
more strength than
with
y*="'
he hadn't been highly excited by opium,
He made him
his victim,
And knocked him and
And
then
kicked him,
swung him round and round over
his
head.
Till his
Broke
queue
in
two,
And away Fee-Fee
flew,
When stopped by the door,
He fell plump on the floorj
Which occasioned
the noise
which we mentioned
before,
And
frighted the sages, as also
When
the cause of the
was
said.
clamour was known
in the
hall,
The judges looked grave and
the
councillors
blinked,
And
So
the
Emperor put on a frown
fearful
that
winked
22
:
to appal
none who looked at him but
: :
; ;
254
Unhappy Fee-Fee was found
No
And
life
a
little
With
The
And
in his limbs
way
off
lying along,
and no breath
was
the tip of the pigtail
jaws,
in his
wFong,
the cause of the
in his
still left
paws.
learned professors were greatly perplexed,
up the mystery asked, "
to clear
What
will
come next?"
The
And
lenses
loomed large on the noses of sages,
the dear
little
squeaked
ladies
out
of their
cages
The
parents and guardians stood twiddling
their
queues
The mandarins coughed, and
the students turned
pale;
Arid the rag-tag and bob-tail a;sked what
was
the
news,
Wheh
On
his
Majesty ordered the
how Fum-Fum
hearing the fact of
And made
culprit to jail.
attacked,
such rude siege on
His fellow collegian,
What mode
It
was
might be
plain that
left
for the judges to aCt
Fum-Fum, by
his
ceeding,
Would have thrown
In spite of his
If
himself out of the
worth and
field,
his erudite reading,
Fee-Fee should ever be healed
He had lost every claim.
And
they struck off his
?
headstrong pro-
name
;
::
;
255
But as Fee-Fee appeared to be dead,
Why
there seemed every chance
(His ill-luck to enhance)
That they shortly might
And sure
To think
'tis
strike off his head.
a prospect one's nerves to relax.
head should be docked by an
that one's
axe.
Or
a hatchet, or great guillotine
we should live long enough ever to see
Our own head struck off, oh, we hope it may be
By a copper-plate printing machine
Or we don't mind wood blocks,
And
if
!
So they be but of box,
the headsman an artist of name
And
But an'
We
if
shall
In a neat
we
to be slung
maple-wood
little
Well, the people
be hung,
hope
all
stared
franxe.
when the judges
declared
That Fum-Fum was struck off the list;
that Fee-Fee would be at the top of the
And
If
he had not so ceased to
They gave up
To some
And
And
his
tree
exist.
body, so battered and bloody.
of his friends that
were there
they broke up the court to betake them to sport
with kites and sky-rockets, and squibs
in their
pockets,
With fifes and drums and with nice sugar plums,
The sages, we bet, grew a frolicsome set,
And
cared very
little
for care.
;! ;
256
;
!
But, alas! for the fate of the fooUsh
Had
Fum-Fum,
he only been wise, he'd have joined
Now
in the
hum
!
dungeon so damp and so dim.
The squibs, fifes, and sugar-plums were not for him.
His renown, his Faw-Faw, too, he lost for his freak,
And might perhaps lose his head by the end of the
week.
Poor pigtailed Apollo
thrust in a
What
course could he follow,
Not now having opium to smother his dread ?
Why, giving a wipe
To the bowl of his pipe.
He cut up his pigtail and smoked it instead.
The days
The
Fum-Fum
rolled slowly o'er
prison cell
within his
;
—
—
day passed the second came the third,
and all was well
The fourth rolled by on leaden wheels, the fifth on
first
—
wheels of lead
The
sixth a heavier
pace than
all,
—
wished that
:he
he were dead
He
looked around, but looked in vain, for poison
rope, or knife
" Oh, would I'd died ten thousand times, or ere
came
He
tried his
to fife
belt,^"
I
!"
Ah mp
!
ah
me
!
I
almost had
forgotten.
This would not serve to hang a mouse,
and rotten
!"
it
is
sq old
—
—
;
—with
The seventh day came, — of
The
seventh day came,
257
every day
his
hope
had grown more dim,
all
day
to
the days the saddest
him;
For lying so long in the damp, he had caught a
cold and cough
Besides,
men came to lead him forth and see his
head chopped off.
—
They
him
him
led
forth
—those
from
forth
heartless
They lugged him forward by
not
By
by
men
—they
led
jail.
his head,
— they could
his tail,
reason that, as
we
just
now made mention in
our
lay,
The
latter,
pressed into his pipe, had
been puffed
all
away.
At
first,
as he
was hauled
along,
somewhat eased
it
his dread,
To
fancy favour might be shown to one so deeply
read;
But when brought
in the
judgment
hall,
so stern the
judges looked.
He knew
that books
that he
And when
!
all
in
he glanced around the
that hope
Lo
were
vain,
— he knew
was booked.
was
hall,
—
to
prove
vain,
executioners were there with instruments of
pain;
22*
:
'258
Bamboos, cangues, and harsh thumb-screws, and
ankle-screws he saw.
And
hatchets dread to chop the head,-^stern ministrants of law.
Those horrid executioners they seized on poor Fum-
Fum,
And through the hall of judgment then rose expectation's hum
They screwed his thumbs as flat as leaves and
crunched
And
all
his ankle bones,
the people clapped their hands to hear his
fearful groans,
And
him, waist and knees,
then they strapped
against an upright board,
And would have
lopped
away
round a sword
as one had raised
his
head by whirling
;
But
just
up, prepared his
head
called aloud to them, requesting
them
it
to lop,
Lo some one
!
to stop.
So they
Who
And asked,
just stopped to
had called
know
to
them
so,
rather angry, "
Who
is
When who
should
it
he?
Who
is
he?"
be
But the very Fee-Fee
On
account of whose death they had
busy.
all
been so
;
:
And Fee-Fee
;
259
stepped forth and went up to the
judges,
And
told
them he bore no
Towards
hapless
ill
feelings
and grudges
Fum-Fum, who had
suffered
already
Enough,
He
for the future to
make him more
said (but they scarcely believed
him
steady.
at all)
That he had not been killed out and out by
But had lain, as it chanced,
his fall
For a season entranced.
And when he recovered was not very sore
So had little to rue,
Save the loss of his queue,
And that very probably time would restore.
"
And now," said Fee^Fee, " I have married FawFaw,
Who begged me to come
And pray that Fum-Fum
Might not
So
I
How
And
moment
consulted a
briefly in
answer
little,
to
aside.
Fee-Fee
That they pardoned the
life
of
the great disappointment of
Who
act,
you will let my friend Fum-Fum go free,
that some of his bones have been cracked."
The judges
To
to see
thumb-screws and ankle-screws
I trust
Now
And
from the law.
suffer farther distress
only just waited a
replied,
Fum-Fum
all in
the court,
expected to witness some excellent sport,
And
found
it
was only a hum.
—
:
;
260
So Fum-Fum was
sent
home,
for he couldn't well
walk,
And
his story
occasioned a great deal of talk
But as for himself, oh, ne'er
From
that very time forth could he hold
Though
Was
You
it
wasn't cut
off,
— and the
he
knew
Fee's
much
his head,
at his ease.
Faw-Faw was
fair
his
foeman Fee-
;
So to banish regret,
(Though it got him in
He
up
that he led
a very great burden to bear.
fancy he couldn't be
When
life
debt,)
opium all he could get,
And he smoked it away
By night and by day.
at all what his parents might say.
minding
Not
laid out in
And
And
And
And
his
eyes were too terrible things to be seen
his
wasted
With
lips
Until,
round
his teeth
were spread.
the horrible grin of a live death's head.
And he moped and
he pined as his health declined,
from an equal marasmus of mind,
In an idiot
(Though
He
grew green
his face
he got very lean,
it's
fit,
one day,
likely the fact
sat himself
down on
the
And by a mistake.
Which he happened
[typ^')
may
look strange in our
bowl of
to
his pipe,
make,
Or urged thereunto by the woes he endured.
And because to be smoked is the way to be cured,
Smoked his very own self away.
—
;
THE STUPENT OF HANLAN.
'•'
Go,
my
261
song," says Pi-Ping, in concluding this
tale,
"O'er the waters of fame with thine oar and thy
sail
And tell ages and ages and ages to come,
Of Faw-Faw, and Fee-Fee, and Fo-Fo and FumFum."
—
THE FEAST OF LANTERNS*
"Heigh-ho!
Amida-Fo
What
shall I
Where
do?
shall I
go
?
With my Hey-ho, hey nonny
no."
No-Wpn.
Is there
any one, we mean, who has not
heard of that great annual
festival of
yclept the Feast of Lanterns
the
commencement
in your
January
;
of the year
is
it
It
?
:
China,
occurs at
not indeed
not a snug fireside
solemnity like our Christmas, but an out-ofdoor jubilee.
*
It
would
The Feast of Lanterns
would be superfluous surely
name must
be so familiar to
is
therefore, be
a comical story by Jing.Go.
to say
all
not,
It
any thing of a writer wliose
our readers.
;;
THE FEAST OF LANTERNS,
suited to a
snow, as
is
263
Peking mid-winter, when the
frequently the case in the " Re-
gion of Eternal Spring," has well nigh buIt is celebrated at the full
ried the houses.
of the moon, about the
commencement
of
the Chinese year, but towards the end of
At
our February.
Far
that time, in the
made some
East, the spring has
progress
the peach-trees are in blossom, and
birds, in the southern provinces,
their sweet " Te-te," in measures
little
pour out
now weak
and now strong, from the branches of the
trees.
The
Feast of Lanterns takes place
moon but the new-year's
commence about a fortnight earlier,
at the full of the
holidays
tea-
and continue
;
for three
weeks.
These
holi-
days are of the merriest possible description
the whole population of the most populous of
lands dispensing for the time with
and banishing
all
care
;
all toil,
and thinking of no-
thing but eating and drinking, and acting
courteously, and
Now,
making merry.
in all lands, at all festivals, eating
and drinking are well understood, and equally
264
well practised
And
by most
that have the means;
the people of continental
merry
at the Carnival,
Europe make
and the time when
ourselves did so at Christmas,
within the
is
even of young persons
recollection
but the
;
festivals of no other people have at any time
been made so resplendent by the polish of
courtesy as those of the Chinese.
It
calculated that during the three
their new-year's jubilee,
by
weeks of
upwards of four
lions of bows, besides other
are annually made
has been
mil-
forms of salutation
Their
this polite race.
presents to each other on the
same occasion
are likewise very numerous, about one,
it
is
supposed, to every ten thousand bows.
There
is
mony and
Chinese
tain
;
not at any time a lack of cereexternal politeness
among
but at this particular season a cer-
cordiality prevails
makes them,
among them; and
for a while, forego
some of their
colder and less social forms and customs.
swarm
to greet
the
into the streets,
and
to
with
little
to
All
do but
be greeted; and even the
THE FEAST OF LANTERNS.
265
ladies enjoy for a brief period a certain degree
of liberty,
which
is
not allowed them during
the remainder of the year
selves
and go forth
:
they mask them-
into the streets with their
husbands and parents, and witness the exhibitions of lireworks, kite-flying, boat-racing,
whatever happens
or
on the canals,
for the
multitudes.
No
The
forth
to offer in the streets or
amusement
of the idle
one keeps within doors.
very servants are allowed to wander
and houses are frequently
;
left
quite
vacant; the doors, of course, at such times
being locked
to
prevent the entrance of any
who might otherwise, by mistake, find
way into apartments not their own.
Shops
serted
:
up
are shut
there
is
:
manufactories are de-
no business in the public
courts and offices.
Grave magistrates trun-
dle hoops in the streets
so
many
philosophers, like
;
Franklins, fly kites.
paper boats are
set afloat
Myriads of
upon the
squibs and crackers at night
air
their
make
rivers;
the whole
luminous, and the smell of the sulphur
may
be perceived afar
23
off"
at sea.
266
Such
But
are the rejoicings at the
the grand feast of
the night of the full
all
new
the festival
moon and
;
year.
on
is
this is called,
we have said, the Feast of Lanterns. It
takes its name from an exhibition then made
as
of paper or silken lanterns of
all varieties
of
form and colour, with one of which every
individual
The day
rived,
and
is
careful to be provided.
of the Feast of Lanterns had arall
the population of
Peking were
awaiting with anxiety the display that was to
take place in the evening.
The weather was
delightfully fine, and anticipation wâs standing, Taglioni-wise,
great toe;
tip of
hours.
to
have preserved through so
Multitudes of the Citizens
were prepared with new lamps,
etnd
mul-
more were furbishing up old,
hoping that their individual lights would
titudes
tract
her
ah awkward position for a less
buoyant lady
many
upon the very
individual attention.
Many
a
all
at-
little
urchin had formed for himself a liintern out
of scraps of paper that had lain about the
streets,
and ih the innocence of his heart be-
lieved that his
little fistful
of darkness-visible
would excite the same admiration
that
it
universal theme of conversation
you might be sure no
king would be without their
The
in all others
Lanterns were the
raised in himself.
that night
267
;
and upon
livers in
Pe-
lights.
Hou-Nou partici-
family of the worthy
pated with the other citizens in anxiety upon
the
all
important matter.
The
family of the
worthy Hou-Nou consisted, besides himself,
of his wife, Nae-Nae, his daughter, Hey-ho,
Hou-Nou was
and two or three domestics.
a person of some consideration in the "busi-
ness part" of the city: he was a dealer in
candles and
oil,
Lanterns,
may be
it
and, therefore, the Feast of
supposed, occasioned in
him even more than the ordinary interest.
It was a gratification to him to walk forth in
the evenings at seasons like the present, and
imagine that any lantern whose consumptive
flickerings he detected at a distance,
possibly be indebted for
tality to the oil pots at
of Salted Sturgeon."
its
No.
little
1,
Number
might
dole of vi-
in the " Alley
1,
in the Alley
;
268
was the house
of Salted Sturgeon,
Hou-Nou
resided, as
in
which
had done niany genera-
tions of his progenitors;
and
its
shelves and
corners were abundantly stocked with venerable
oil jars, for
tail trade;
alderman,
he carried on a thriving
yet, perhaps, like
many
Hou-Nou gave himself
re-
a worthy
credit for
contributing- to the enliorhtenment of his fellow
citizens,
His
more than was in
wife,
Nae-Nae,
reality the case.
fully
appreciated the
great public value of her husband and his
and
it
if
oil
she sometimes shook him by the nose,
was from no want of proper
merely from a
daughter of
little
infirmity of temper.
this felicitous
sel of sixteen,
respect, but
The
twain was a dam-
exceeding comely, but too sim-
ple to have grown, at so tender an age, at all
aware of the
roll
over her,
fact.
—
let
Let another year or two
the shepherds of Peking
write madrigals to her trotters, and throw" up
their sheep's eyes at
her window, and no
doubt a change would come over the
of her dreams.
But
as yet,
when
spirit
she heard
of fireworks and lanterns, she thought not of
269
her eyes; she had Httle idea
how
were calculated
eyes of others;
and
if
to attract the
well these
she had possessed ten thousand pairs
she would have considered one pyrotechnic
volley worth
them
The day had
whose business
tions
it
all.
arrived:
was
were duly made
white slave
the
to see that all prepara-
approach of the
for the
expected Ethiop queen,
—proud
ear,
about her brows,
carcanets of
stars
Hou-Nou, one
of the artisans
with
lady,
thousands of "rich jewels" in her
and
— and
employed upon
the decorations of the palace, was busily en-
gaged
in cleaning
it
old lanterqs, supplying
where needed, and
fresh paper
make
up
oiling
more transparent, when
a
it
to
knock was
given to the gong at the door, and that being
answered, a servant delivered a
This
Hou-Nou, who put down the
was taken
to
lantern he
had
wiped
letter.
at the
moment
his oily fingers,
in his hand,
and perused the
epis-
tle.
Hou-Nou
thy
little
was, as
we Jiave
said, a
very wor-
gentleman; but he was of hot tem-
23*
270
per, as little
pot
little
is
gentlemen are very apt to be. " A
soon hot," says Grumio, and Hou-
Nou was a little
pot.
Hou-Nou was
that
contrary, he
Imagine
a round
not,
little
however,
man; on
was what the Chinese
the
call " short
weight," both short and thin; and he rejoiced
in a face and forehead that
mistaken
Nou
for
might have been
Well, as Hou-
a monkey's.
read the letter his indignation arose,
and was expressed in numberless twitchings
by no means prepossessing physiogno-
of his
my
he scratched his head and rubbed his
:
chin,
and casting a look with
monkey
eyes,
his
two
large,
upon the domestic from whom
he had received the document, he demanded
who had
that
it
left it at
the door.
Being informed
had been brought by a gentleman's ser-
vant, he desired that the gentleman's servant
might come
into the apartment; but his
own
attendant, on going to the hall, discovered
that the bearer of the letter
"
Who
had disappeared.
the black dragon can have sent
this?" said
Hou-Nou
to himself, as
me
he turned
about the epistle in his hands, and examined
it
carefully sideways
motto upon the
this
The
and upside down.
seal did not assist
unfolding the mystery.
dragon can
271
"
him
Who
at all in
the black
be from?" was the motto.
The object of the communication which was
anonymous, was to warn Hou-Nou to keep
a strict watch upon his beautiful daughter
Hey-ho, during the approaching evening of
the Feast of Lanterns; for
state, that that
to
proceeded
young lady had made an
gagement with
Fun,
it
a
young gentleman, a
to
en-
certain
withdraw herself from the fostering
care of her parents, and to throw herself upon
and that the evening of the
his protection;
Feast of Lanterns was the time agreed upon
between them
effect.
for
carrying this purpose into
is
no season of the Chinese
There
year so propitious for marriage as the holi-
day with which
it
commences; and the nearer
the full of the moon, the
casion
is
considered.
lieve that even in the
more fortunate the
oc-
We are inclined to be-
West a majority of marri-
ages are agreed upon at the
full of the
moon.
This was, doubtless, one reason which might
272
have had some weight in inducing the young
people to select that particular time;
another,
still
which would be
but
likely to possess
greater ponderosity, was, that the tem-
porary liberty
young
ladies
then
usually accorded
would very considerably
tate the execution of
Hey-ho was
to
such a
to
facili-
project.
have gone forth
witli her
parents, in the evening, to have witnessed
the exhibition of lamps and fireworks; and
(as the
letter
informed Hou-Nou,) would
moment when
take advantage of a
all
eyes
and minds were engaged with some fresh
display of pyro technical ingenuity, to steal
off
with the insidious Fun.
then, that the
was
young
surprised,
Little
wonder
lady's respectable father
and wrathful
at the receipt of
such intelligence; but he was naturally curious to discover wdio
how his unknown
was
his informant,
and
correspondent became pos-
sessed of such a secret.
He was
not able
to
unravel this mystery; and he determined,
before he resolved on
any decisive
question his daughter, without
step, to
making her
;
273
He
aware of his suspicions.
sent, therefore,
Hey-ho.
for
"
You
wish, Hey-ho," said he,
when
his
daughter appeared before him, " you wish
to
accompany your parents
see the fireworks
'•
my
If
mit,"
this evening, to
and lanterns?"
highly-honoured father will per-
replied Hey-ho,
making a very
pro-
found bow.
"
And why
do you so
much
desire to at-
tend the festival ? what very particular object
have you in view?"
"
None very
another most lowly bend
my
she said, with
particular,"
" I
;
wish, with
parents' permission, to go, for the sake
of fun."
"
of
Oh
!
Fun
that
shall
You are fond
sake of Fun.
then, are
you
I shall
for the
you? But
I
do not intend
have anything to do with
lock you up this evening
Fun
when we go
forth."
" I trust," said
and imploring
figurative
Hey-ho, with a surprised
look,
and making use of the
mode of speech,
so
much employed
;
274
in the ordinary discourse of the Chinese,"
and magnanimous cat
I trust a potent
not treat
its
poor mouse so harshly,"
will
And
she accompanied her words with a bow,
more expressive of deep
either of those
reverance than
filial
by which
it
had been pre-
ceded.
" I shall do as I say," continued
" and a
bamboo grows
Hou-Nou
Auda-
in the garden.
Fun
cious girl! to think of
without permis-
sion of your father."
*'
Alas! " cried Hey-ho, " I thought, as a
thing of course, that
ther would wish
me
have been careful
my
to
lofty
have fun.
how
else
tower of a
I
I
fa-
should
entertained the
idea."
was
It
all
entreated.
in vain that poor little
Her
father
was
considered that she had
Hey-ho
inexorable, as he
owned her
fault,
and
established the truth of the statements in the
epistle
Fun.
her,
little
by confessing her predilection
Her mother
also
and declared her
to
took
for
part against
be a most profligate
creature for entertaining this unaccoun-
—
table fondness for
Fun
275
she fully coincided
:
with her husband in the propriety of locking
her up, and not allowing her to witness the
amusements of the evening.
Poor little Hey-
ho vainly ventured some very respectful
re-
monstrances, accompanying the same with
most
reverences
filial
but finding that these
;
were quite without
effect,
with a heavy heart,
to solitude
she betook herself
and
tears.
Well the evening came the lanterns were
:
ready
They
and Hou-NoU and his wife went
;
permitted their domestics to accom-
pany them, but
!
the tinhappy Hey-ho to
left
and misery.
meditation
Hey-ho
disconsolate
had been haunted
and
forth.
Unfortunate
little
for
Hey-ho
months
She
!
past,
awake
asleep, with visions of the Feast of
terns
the
rest of
moons had passed away
in the
dullest monotony,
tite for
a
Lan-
The
holiday of the year.
the twelve
little
and gave her a keen appe-
little taste
of
amusement.
She had
long been reckoning with confidence upon
this; she
had looked
to the Fêast of
as an occasion of perfect felicity.
Lanterns
She had
276
behaved with the most dutiful attention
her parents
;
they had hitherto appeared per-
accompany
that she should
fectly willing
them on
to
that evening; she
had no idea that
there could be any other object in attending
such a
festival except
fun
enjoyment,
as she
she had congratulated herself
called
it,
in the
morning that the dav was
;
or,
so fine
;
and
she had anticipated abundance of fun in the
Oh, must not then the disappoint-
evening.
ment
Hey-ho have been exceeding
of
as the goodly fabric
for
her of
all
bitter,
which hope had reared
the prettiest cards in the pack,
was thus blown down by
the breath of an
•unkind father?
With
vain entreaties she followed her pa-
went
rents
to
the street door
closed
it,
and removed the key, leaving her
:
the}-^
out,
only one dull lantern to console her for the
loss of the illumination.
She
leant against the cruel portal
bed as though her
split into
little
and sob-
heart would have
a thousand flinders.
'•
Well, this
^1
Jlf'^'
is
no fun
for
me
277
at all," she cried; " there's
no fun
!"
" That's as you please," observed a
voice
somewhere
;
but Hey-ho could not
whence the
a while discover from
proceeded.
little
She was
startled
voice
little
and
for
terrified,
and glanced round without perceiving any
one.
At
last
which stood
her eyes
fell
upon
a large jar,
in one corner of the hall
;
and
her astonishment was great at observing a
small,
round head appearing above the neck
of this earthen vessel, the lid of
raised,
and served as a cap
which was
to the small
round
head.
Hey-ho's heart beat
fast
when she
noticed
and she almost sank upon the
this apparition,
ground with fright
;
but she kept her eyes
upon the small round head, and the very good-
humoured and waggish expression of the face
a
little
reassured her.
" Don't be frightened,
most beautiful Hey-
ho," said the good-natured
"I wouldn't
mered Hey-ho
24
;
if
I
" but
little
apparition.
could help
who
are
it,"
you?"
stam-
278
"
Why,"
what you
it
replied the head,
didn't expect to
" I
am
just
meet with," and
laughed.
"
He laughs
like fun," said
Hey-ho
to her-
self.
" I -am
''
Fun," continued the apparition
and very much
"Who?"
"Fun,"
body
else
at
;
your service."
asked Hey-ho.
"Fun, Fun, Fun,—no-
said he;
but
Fun ;" and he
looked exces-
sively funny.
"And why came you
Hey-ho,
who began
to
bither?"
demanded
gain courage from the
pleasing manners of Fun, and to enjoy the
joke of thus unexpectedly meeting with a
companion.
" I
came hither
ho," replied he:
to see the beautiful
"and,
if it
were in
power, somewhat to console her.
will.
Fun
Hey-
shall be hers for ever
my
If she
and a day."
''But how came you hither?" she asked,
her fear somewhat returning as that question
occurred to her: surely, she thought, by
some supernatural means.
—
"
I
279
"
Why"
responded Fun, "
I
—that
—
have a certain talisman
I
got
in,
—
I
appeared,
came
here,
is to
say,
—
And here Fun hatched up a long story of
as many lies'^ as there are between Peking
and Canton. There is no occasion that we
should repeat
all
he
said, or
attempt to im-
pose upon your credulity, as he did upon
Hey-ho's.
him
It wâs
into the jar
;
no talisman that assisted
we
will explain to
you the
whole truth of the matter.
Hey-ho being,
extremely
fair
as hath been said, a damsel
and comely, and
Fun
having
once seen her by accident, he had entertained
from that time a strong and very natural desire to
have her
to wife.
however was rather a
How
to
obtain her,
difficult question.
He
could find nothing in the Book of Rites, that
would
justify his forcing himself
acquaintance of her father
nese proverb observes, "
if
upon the
and, as a Chi-
;
you cannot
get
over the outer wall, you will not get over the
inner."
But Fun consoled himself with
• See note, page 56.
280
another Chinese saying
:
"He
would
that
does not borrow the gardener's
steal fruit
ladder;" and he set his brains at work to
devise some plan whereby he might possess
himself of Hey-ho, without consulting her
father.
When
occurred
the Feast of Lanterns
to
Fun
that that
drew
near,
it
might be a conve-
nient as well as propitious time for effecting
his object
;
and
he pondered on the
at first
practicability of enticing
away Hey-ho, when
with her parents, she would attend the exhibitions of the evening.
But
a
more happy
idea afterwards entered his mind;
and he
immediately engaged in operations
for the
execution of this project.
ter
wrote the
let-
which we have already described Hou-
Nou
as receiving
and arraying himself
;
a servant, delivered
door.
for a
it
at the old
as
gentleman's
Whilst the domestic into whose hands
he had given
it
was
absent, he looked
round
snug place in which he might hide; and
observing the large
it
He
was not
likely
jar,
and considering that
he should be detected in
that,
with some
himself
and
in,
little
sliut
difficulty
down
the
he was " safely stowed,"
he squeezed
We need
lid.
not speak of the mortal fright he
til
281
was
lest
in,
un-
any one
should appear in the hall; but things hap-
pened luckily, and his concealment was complete.
From
within his
he raised a
ten to
air,
little
what was
jar,
the cover of which
occasionally, as well to
lis-
cromo; forward as to obtain
he overheard
much
of
what passed be-
tween Hou-Nou and Hey-ho, in the neigh-
He was
bouring apartment.
delighted at
finding that every thing occurred according
to his
anticipations
and waited,
;
therefore,
with great patience and fortitude in a hidingplace
which would not have been agreeable,
certainly, for a protracted residence.
Perhaps
may
it
occasion surprise that in
writing to Hou-Nou,
his
own name
;
Fun
that he should have directed
suspicion to himself,
been so easy
channel.
to
should have given
when
have found
it
for
But Fun was fond
24*
would have
it
a different
of frolic, and
;
388
the most impudent dog in
He would
Land.
Hou-Nou on
upon a right
one,
no
it
a w^rong
to set
him
and afterwards
baf-
His object
scent altogether.
the Central
have considered
sport to have put old
at first
all
viâs
him by well-managed doublings and
fle
windings
and he would not probably have
;
troubled himself to get married at
not been for the
compound
had
all,
it
extract of sport
he expected from hunting and from being
hunted.
"
And how is it. Thousand
Pieces of Gold,"
said Fun,
" that
when
other houses are deserted
you
all
—that
?
are not abroad, outshining the lanterns
moon?"
of the
"
you are not abroad this night,
My
parents," responded Hey-ho,
—and
at the recollection she burst again into tears
—
"
my
forth.
parents would not allow
me
My
here,
father locked
told
me
there
and
all
for
was fond
me up
grew a bamboo
to
go
and
in the garden
no better reason than because
I
of fun."
" Cruel parents
!
cruel father
!"
exclaimed
!
283
the
young audacious
sand Pieces of Gold,
how
"
to spite
"
I
were the Thou-
would exert me some-
them."
And what
Hey-ho.
" if I
;
could poor
Oh, poor
" I could talk
little
more
gentleman, " if I
little I
do ?" asked
luckless
I
!"
freely," said the
were out of
young
this jar.
But
am wedged in,-^rm in a regular case
Jam in the jar, by Jing-Go !" and Fun strug-
here I
gled to get out.
He
struggled to get out, but in vain.
—
know not how it was
we suppose, by his position
We
he had got cramped,
;
but, like the
weasel in the fable, he could not obtain egress
at the hole
by which he had entered.
Thus
unfortunately situated, he appealed to young
Hey-ho
for assistance
;
and
hesitation, she accorded.
much
this, after
By
some
dint then of
struggling upon his part, and of an en-
ergetic handling of his pigtail
on
hers, after
a time he got free to the waist; but there occurred another hitch, which
all their
endeavours
Some would have been
immensely annoyed but Fun was immensely
failed to overcome,
;
;
284
amused.
At
by stamping
last,
violently he
broke out the bottom of the jar, and thrusting
his legs through, regained in part his loco-
motive power.
It will
not be necessary
to detail
the argu-
ments by which he overcame the scruples of
Hey-ho, and induced her assent
to
She was anxious
ment with him.
an elopeto spite
her papa, and no less so to see the fireworks
she was pleased with the manners of Fun,
and was fond of a good
siderations, aided
joke.
All these con-
by the young man's
elo-
quence, might well prevail on a youthful and
inexperienced
So Hey-ho agreed
girl.
with Fun; and, by
up
to its climax,
—
way
to fly
of carrying the jest
to get married.
In carrying into execution this rash
solve, it
was necessary,
of course, to guard
against her being recognised
streets.
She disguised
re-
by any
in the
herself, therefore, as
well as she was able, and covered her face
with a thick
Another
veil.
difficulty
now
presented
itself.
285
THE FEAST OF LA.NTERNS.
They were
escape
locked in!
—how
were they
?
The house was
of two stories; and the
They
upper windows were not secured.
went up
stairs; the
whose
youth,
young
jar
But
have
otherwise
to his proceeding.
for the inconvenient
lain in
for
lady assisting the
would
proved a sad impediment
easily
to
armour of porce-
which he was arrayed, Fun could
have leaped down from the casement;
he was active and brave.
however,
he
was,
it
was again dependent upon
the lady's assistance
strength,
As
;
and exerting
all
her
more than you would have ima-
gined could be in her slender wrists, she
lowered him
she
and
let go,
this
down by
his pig-tail.
he had yet a few cubits
to fall,
perhaps was a fortunate circum-
stance, as the porcelain jar
tered,
When
and he walked
however, was a
little
was thereby
as freely as ever.
shat-
Fun,
disappointed, as he had
enjoyed the idea of stalking about in such a
quaint disguise.
Fun
being safely on the ground, Hey-ho,
;
286
with the courage befitting a heroine, leaped
They were
into his arms.
for that part of the city
quite unobserved
was wholly
deserted,
the people having gone to witness a very
grand display of fireworks and lanterns in a
neighbouring square.
Towards
that
square
Fun
immediately
conducted his prize, and a very few turn-
among
ings
sonje narrow streets
They met
sages brought them thereunto.
with none
and pas-
them on the way;
to question
for
even the watch had taken holiday, deeming
it
quite unnecessary to keep guard in
Hey-ho, no
streets.
doubt,
frightened, as soon as she
empty
was a
had taken her rash
leap from the window, at thinking of
she had done; and very probably
herself aofain within the house
door was locked,
back and
;
.
Fun
it
little
:
what
wished
but as the
was impossible
used every argument
to
get
to con-
vince her of the propriety of their proceeding,
and
to
keep up her
spirits.
a novel situation for one
It
was certainly
who
before had
scarcely ever even exchanged words with
287
THE FEA.ST OF LANTERNS,
any gentleman, unless related
to herself;
the state of excitement in which
been
all
day,
first
but
she had
from delight, and then
from disappointment and anger, had led her
on
do that which in other circumstances
to
she would have looked upon as most heinous.
But what had the
greatest effect in restoring
the courage and spirits of Hey-ho,
was the
lively scene that unfolded itself before her,
as with her conductor she approached the
square.
This was
bounded
on three sides
by
houses; but, on the side opposite to the one
where they had entered, was terminated by
the river, in that place broad, though shallow.
The
lay
streets
through which they had come
somewhat higher than the square
and a
flight of steps led
that, before
thereinto; so
they descended, they had a good
view of the large open
area,
water and houses beyond.
fore
down
itself,
and
also of the
Immediately be-
them was a dense mass of
people, every
individual flourishing a lantern
lanterns were suspended above
;
festoons of
them upon
;
288
and likewise between the houses the
poles,
;
stream was overspread with boats of
and
sizes,
all sorts
the decks, the masts, and, in fact,
every part covered with lamps and lanterns
and numberless
pagodas and
other high
buildings on the farther side of the river,
some
near,
and others
at a great distance^
were similarly adorned with
From
rable.
innume-
lights
a raised platform in the middle
of the square, as well as from
points, a girandola of rockets
many
remoter
was frequently
thrown up; and in the intervals a display
was made
of other fireworks of most inge-
nious invention.
in the
air,
Luminous globes
rose high
and burst with showers of coloured
from among which soared large
light,
birds,
and winged horses and dragons, blue, yellow,
green and crimson
j
and these seemed to chase
each other, and again
forms.
float
Now
to spit forth fire in
and then down the
river
a huge and stately serpent,
drawn up
in
many
its
would
body
—a
graceful bends
new
ser-
pent, perhaps, of emerald light, with eyes of
intense
red,~and from
its
mouth would drop
;
continual balls of
fire,
which, falling on the
river assumed the form of
boats,
face.
and spread
far
From myriads
these for a
little
luminous
and wide upon the surof people arose con-
stantly shouts of applause
when
289
and laughter; and
moment were
more melodious tones of musical
still,
the
glasses
and
other instruments seemed to supply a sort of
magical harmony, in keeping with the wonderful sights.
Hey-ho was bewildered and delighted.
She watched
for a
time the more striking
and resplendent fireworks, and was dazzled
and confused by the myriads of starry
that studded the air
all
lights
around, that sprinkled
the sky, and wêre reflected from the water.
After a
terns
little
she began to examine the lan-
and other luminous devices in
they were worth examination,
nuity was
great,
Every one had
and
detail
for their inge-
their variety surprising.
striven to outdo his neigh-
bour in providing himself with a lantern,
markable
for its size, or for its colour, or its
form, or for the designs wherewith
25
re-
it
was
!
290
There were some of
embellished.
from an orange
round,
to a
square,
watch-box; of
polygonal,
all sizes,
all
shapes,
vase-like,
like
men; of
flowers, like trees, like animals, like
with inscriptions and paintings
all colours,
of all shades of colour, and ornamented with
devices of the variety of which could be
given but a faint idea: the current of
caused by the flame was used
men,
tion small figures of
flies,
junks, windmills,
birds,
fish,
air
mo-
to set in
and butter-
and other things
and creatures; and warriors fought, and
horses leaped, and mandarins bowed, and
monkeys swung upon
"He-he!"
cords.
said Hey-ho, "see there! that
tumbler standing on his head
how he
turns about
rin with
Ski
!
hi
a
!
— and there
is
what a beautiful firework
!
hey ho hee what
!
just look
!
!
see
he's dancing
look
!
a manda-
blue body and a yellow face.
a peacock as two betel nuts
!
—look
!
!
observe
Djim-Kro
!"
—
as like
But, ha
!
is this little
note
!
!
!
he
fellow doing?
mark
!
—why
291
(Djim-Kro was a famous tumbler,
lived in the days of
Do
"
said
"
Yu.)
but behold that absurd
Fun, pointing
how he waddles
his side
direction,
And
that ugly old wo-
hers looks, for
;
all
the Ce-
Land, like a gentleman's petticoat."
lestial
(A gentleman's
Land corresponds
Hey-ho looked
pointed,
The
another
in
man,"
little
along, with a lantern twice
as large as himself
man by
who
petticoat in the Celestial
trousers in this.)
to his
at the persons to
whom
he
and immediately uttered a scream.
cause of her alarm
may
be easily
di-
The twain were no other than her
dreaded papa and mamma. She well nigh
fainted but was supported by Fun, who revined.
;
minded her
if
that her
she would but
disguise
command
was such,
as
her fears, must
render detection impossible.
Of
the
course.
Fun
immediately conducted
runaway young lady
to
a part of the
square remote from that in which they had
discovered Hou-Nou.
the case.
Fun
No
" of course" in
did no such thing
:
he ob-
292
Hey -ho
tained from
a promise that she would
keep up her courage, and he immediately
walked with her up
to the old
gentleman,
her highly respectable papa.
Hou-Nou was strutting with the importance
of a person who knew that he was burning
his own oil he had fastened a long bamboo
;
to his
back by means of a cord round his
waist
and
;
to the
end of this, which rose two
or three yards above his head,
his
enormous lantern
in the
;
was suspended
his wife carried hers
same manner, as did thousands of other
persons.
Fun
approached, and having
made
six or
eight very polite bows, in returning which
the old gentleman nearly shook his lantern
off the
young
end of the bamboo, our audacious
friend
demanded, with the
form of circumlocution, whether his
politest
*'
vener-
able,"* a Chinese term of respect quite un-
connected with the " Three Balls," did not
rejoice in
the
" honourable appellation"
Hou-Nou.
*Sec note, B.
of
293
THE FEAST OF LA-NTERNS.
"
Hou-Nou with the
humility so common among the ponations, " Hou-Nou is your servant's
Hou-Nou,"
affected
litest
of
replied
very ignoble name."
" Methinks," said
Fun,
"
your paltry
has the honour of addressing that very
trious
Hou-Nou, who
lives in
rat
illus-
the conspicu-
ous corner house of the highly magnificent
lane, called the Alley of Salted
"
Your
servitor,"
Sturgeon?"
answered Hou-Nou,
dwells in the place you mention,
lyiay
"
he
ask your most honourable title?"
"
The
continually-to-be-sneezed-at
name
of
your ever-ought-to-be-beaten dog," said Fun,
"
is
Fan-Si.
Your dog just now slunk along
by your most noble dwelling, and had the
little
deserved honour of beholding your pile-
of-volumes
son,
and your string-of-rubies
daughter, at the window.
Your dog won-
dered greatly that they came not hither to
make the lamps burn more brightly."
" Of a truth," responded Hou-Nou,
more of
my
oil
"
had
been used, the illumination
would have been more lunjinous.
25*
But dog
294
of a son have I none, though I have a
bam-
booable cat of a daughter.
" It
was then perhaps your
full-of-desert
daughter's most profoundly-to-be-reverenced
husband?"
" There was no one," replied
'^
there
my
was no man whatever
in
Hou-Nou,
my
house:
Surely your
have
made
some misexemplary eyes must
daughter
is
not married.
But Hou-Nou was startled somewhat.
"Indeed!" cried Fun: " toad as I am, I
take."
am
my
quite certain that I beheld with
one-
bigger- than-the-other eyes, two persons, a
gentleman and a lady,
at the
window
of your
dwelling."
"
Though
I will
by no means deny
it,"
an-
swered Hou-Nou, (he would not be rude
to
the stranger, and therefore responded in such
a form,) "yet
possible, for I
I
"
I
pray you,
who might
Nay,"
not
how
have brought with
of the house.
tinued, "
know
said
this
Fun, "
have been impertinent
I
to
tell
may be
me the key
it
me," he con-
have been
know
not
;
?"
I
fear I
speak so much."
FEA.ST OF LANTERNS.
THE
295
answered the old man, "
" No,"
My
you
greatly.
vice
daughter
I
thank
ought-to-be-squeezed-in-a
—But
imagine
me,
for
who
could this person have been?"
"
Very
whom
any
And
"
if
Had
there not
how
could he
she loves ?"
there should be,
get through the key-hole
"
is
reverentially speaking,
^"
open in the
been
not the door
day?"
"
But
if he
had come in then, where should
he have concealed himself?"
" Oh, some will hide themselves in very
small corners.
I
know
a youth, a certain
Fun, who could hide himself in a good-sized
porcelain pot."
"Fun? Fun?
dy
—Why
pool of a youth.
I
that's the
had a
very mud-
letter in the
morning which informed me so much."
"
A
letter
?
—from
whom ?"
— When
con-
versation grows very serious, forms and com-
pliments are a good deal dispensed with, even
in China.
"
'
Who the black dragon can this be from V
296
that
it
was the motto.
came."
"
Why that," said Fun, " is the very motto
own
of Fun's
seal.
with Fun; he and
what
I
himself,
" Oh,
"
I are
I.
inseparable and from
:
would wager
and then hid
in
too true,
—
it is
"
my
my brain
some corner
Come with
Nay, Nay,"
—
said
or jar."
too true !" cried
is is
daughter in
be serious,
well acquainted
that he brought you the letter
oil,
Hou-Nou.
will boil
am
I
know of him,
to a pint of
to
know from whom
I don't
me, Nae-Nae.
I
oil."
Nae-Nae, believing him
" Boil only her
hands there-
in."
I.
" Oh,
wicked snake of a daughter!" cried
Hou-Nou, slapping
hands together with
Bang went
great violence.
his lantern,
his
in the sides of
and he was fain
to
put out the
light.
"Oh,
little
Nae and
:
wolf of a daughter!" echoed Nae-
a similar action
was attended by a
similar result.
Hou-Nou and
their domocile,
his wife
hurried back to
and Fun, with
their
daugh-
297
THE FEAST OF L4NTERNS.
ter,
When
followed.
observed that a
they reached
window was open above but
;
they saw no person, and no
" Alas
!
they
it
light.
alas " cried the parents, " our wick-
ed daughter has
She has gone away
fled.
We
with accursed Fun.
shall see her
no
Hou-Nou opened the door, and NaeNae entered. Hou-Nou had not withdrawn
the key, when Fun drew the portal suddenly
more."
together and locked it on the outside ; in doing
so
he dexterously contrived
to lift
up
at the
same moment the
old gentleman's queue,
which was caught
in the door as
Hou-Nou was
sought in vain
and
means of
steel
shut.
His wife
his pigtail.
for the
light 5 the flints
places,
by
fast
it
striking a
were not in their
and she broke her shins in the search.
You may imagine
the state of wrath and in-
Hou-Nou and
dignation in which
his wife
passed the night.
"Ho,"
am
me
said
Fun
ere he left the door,
the particular friend of Fun,
to serve
him
this
"I
—he begged
good turn, and the wine
which I drank with him half made me merry."
298
" Fun," screamed
pounded in a mortar
of
Fun
" shall
Hou-Nou,
for this,
be
and the friend
shall be tied in a sack of snakes."
"Nay," answered Nae-Nae, "they
shall
laugh the wrong side of their noses.
But,
foolish old blockhead," said she, " to
you
duped
dark
and she
after this fashion;"
for
severely
From
Hou-Nou' s
when
ear,
she found
the time the
felt in
the
which she twisted
it.
young gentleman
accosted the old one, poor Hey-ho,
in a mortal fright, kept as
as possible.
be
much
first
who was
out of view
Several times she was on the
point of confessing her fault and throwing
herself upon the
mercy of her
father
could not gain courage to do so
the door
was
closed,
as fast as possible.
;
;
but she
and when
Fun hurried her away
He promised to effect a
reconciliation with her parents, if she
become
his wife
;
and having placed her in a
sedan, he took her to his house,
of his friends,
his
would
whom
where many
he had invited to attend
wedding on the propitious evening of the
Feast of Lanterns, had been for some time
299
expecting them.
At the door they were met
by some matrons,
his relatives,
who
assisted
out of her sedan, and lifted her over
Hey-ho
the pan of charcoal placed at the door, agree-
ably to the marriage custom in the Celestial
They conducted
dominions.
her then to a
chamber, and bound up her hair according
manner
to the
ried
women
of
train
;
after
young
worn by marwhich she was led by a
which
in
it is
ladies into the great hall,
where she was encouraged to invite the guests
to partake of the
Some
prepared betel-nut.
other forms were gone through.
The most
extravagant encomiums were passed upon her
beauty
:
she was compared to the sun, the
moon, and
and
stars,
silver
sants,
—
to
—
—
fish,
to
to
gold and silver,
—
to
gold
gold and silver phea-
gems, to flowers,
to a dove, to
an
antelope, to the tea-plant, to the graceful reed,
to lanterns
to rice.
and fireworks,
The
bridegroom,
—
to
too,
well as congratulated; they
was praised as
made him drink
wine; presents were given
wished them honours, long
silkworms,—
to
life,
both;
they
and a quiver
300
And He j-ho was
full of sons.
the wife of
Fun.
The
next morning
bride to call
upon her
disguise as before
the house of
Fun
;
took his beautiful
She was
father.
in
and when they reached
Hou-Nou, Fun
at first entered
Fun present-
alone, leaving her in her sedan.
ed himself with his wonted audacity; but
the fury of
Hou-Nou was
so great at seeing,
as he supposed, the friend
Fun,
—a
person towards
and colleague of
whom
he had now
conceived a greater hatred than toward
himself,
—that
Fun
our hero was almost fright-
ened away, without entering into any explaHe, however,
nation.
4;ude,
summoned up
forti-
and kept bowing and bending with great
was poured
humility, whilst a storm of abuse
upon him, not from Hou-Nou
only, but also
from his wife Nae-Nae; and when from mere
fatigue of these indignant parties, the tem-
pest a
little
relaxed, he
conciliatory tones to
began
in the
beg pardon
most
for the un-
lucky accident of the preceding evening.
"
Son
of a rotten onion
!"
cried
Hou-Nou;
" look at
301
my tail
my
head by the
!
could only liberate
I
my tail. My domestics
enter my house by placing a
loss of
were obliged
to
ladder to
window."
tlie
Your so-much-dog's-meat
"
of a Fan-Si,"
responded the youth, " hurried hither this
morning, as soon as he remembered his
fault,
unlock your majestic door."
to
"
Wherefore did thy swine-feeding hand
turn the key in
it
last night?" roared
Hou-Nou
Of a truth your scrag-end-of-less-than-nothing was beside himself with wine," humbly
"
Fun;
ejaculated
" but
sense, the ball of evil
back upon
his
own
now, being of clearer
which he threw strikes
nose
;
and that he
find a salve for the soreness
it
may
occasions, he
has brought hither a string of pearls, which
he
solicits
your generous condescension
to
accept."
"Be
little
they real pearls?" said Hou-Nou, a
mollified, as
to receive
"
me
he stretched out his hand
them.
Nay, nay," interrupted Nae-Nae,
they be not real."
26
" I fear
302
They be
"
Hou-Nou.
"I
but
how
Your most reverence-commanding
tail
real pearls," said
you your
forgive
about the loss of
"
floutings for this
my
grow again,"
will
:
tail ?"
replied
Fun
;
" and
mean
while I have other pearls, of which, with humility, I will entreat
for
acceptance."
"It
"
may
if it
it
to the old
it,
Fun.
answered Hou-Nou,
so far succeeded,
Fun
gentleman
had another
to request
tioned
said
be renewed."
Having
vour
should,"
Let
to friendship."
And may it never be worn out,"
"Or
"
enough," said the old man.
is
bond of pearls bind us
this
"
your greatly-to-be-knelt-
to
;
that' he
intimated
fa-
but begged, before he men-
be allov/ed
to
introduce a lady
who was waiting for him below in her sedan,
and who he was afraid would feel fatigued.
Hou-Nou bowed to this with all possible Chinese politeness, and was solicitious to know
who the more bright-than-ten-thousand-stars
lady might be.
"
('
To
tell
you the
this ladv is a
truth,"
bunch
of
answered Fun,
lilies
whom
I
but
303
yesterday took to wife.
She
is
the daughter
of a highly respectable old gentleman, for
whom I entertain a very cordial estee.ii."
He conducted the lady into the room. She
was
still
closely veiled.
Fourteen minutes
elapsed in the usual bows and compliments.
Fun
had
then announced the farther favour he
to request;
Fun, and
to
—
it
was a pardon
Fun's
wife,
to his friend
Hou-Nou's daugh-
ter.
"Alas!" cried Hou-Nou, "
daughter
" If
!
you
I shall
my
poor
little
never see her more."
will graciously accord
both," said Fun, "I will promise
pardon
you
to
shall
see her this day."
"
Wicked Fun,"
said the father, " shall be
strangled, beheaded, poisoned, flayed,
and cut
in nine millions of pieces."
" Jf
your worshipful stomach," responded
—Chinese philosophers hold that
the stomach
the
of reason,* —
your
the youth,
seat
is
" if
worshipful stomach be so ill-minded towards
them,
I fear
you
your daughter.
will never find either
If
Fun
or
you should, Fun, you
• Chinese Miscellany.
304
may be
sure, will bribe the
for his safety
mandarins higher
than you will do to get him
punished."
Hou-Nou, "if I may
dear daughter whom, however, 1
''Alas!" exclaimed
get back
my
will well
bamboo,
You must
"
also, or
you
I will forgive
freely
wicked Fun."
pardon your daughter,
will see her
no more," responded
the youth.
" I will do
to
me
"
all
things so she shall not be lost
wholly," said the old man.
But your virtuous and venerable hand
will furnish
me with
a promise in writing ?"
asked Fun.
Any
"
thing
—any
thing at
all !"
replied
Hou-Nou.
So down they
mise
to paper.
man's signature.
sat
It
and committed the pro-
received the old gentle-
Fun
folded
it
and put
it
in his vest.
" Most-reverentially-to-be-bowed-before,
am Fun," said Fun.
And Fun bowed lowly and
sir, I
twiddled his
queue.
" Most- on-my- knees- to-be-honoured,
and
305
more-than-my-life-to- be -loved parents, I
am
Hey-ho," said Hey-ho.
And, bending reverentially, Hey-ho
back her
The
veil.
man
old
raised his
one drew out the bond.
fell
cast
staff.
—The young
—The youthful
pair
on their knees, and the aged pair em-
braced them both.
So
join
hearts,
with us now, such as have honest
and
let
us drink long
life to
all his family.
Fo SAVE THE EMPEROR
26*
!
Fun and
NOTES.
We
have adjudged
it
expedient to append a few notes
to the foregoing stories.
and things referred
commentary
to a
Fully
to illustrate ail the
to in the narratives,
bulk exceeding that of the
HO-FI OF
usages
would swell the
text.
THE YELLOW GIRDLE.
Note
A, p. 14.
Tradescant Lay, the author of a highly interesting
volume
called
" China As
It
Is," has given
chanting picture of the feet of Chinese ladies.
connexion with the British Medical Board
at
no very en-
From
his
Canton, he
has had opportunities of seeing them without the covering;
and he declares that the " golden
have obtained the admiration they
men
lilies
now
" would never
excite
among
of China, were they not always concealed with
sonic secrecy.
the
Ma-
—
308
NOTES.
Note
The
B, p. 17.
College of Hanlan
&
261.
the University of the Chi,
is
nese empire: the buildings devoted to
None
imperial residence at Peking.
members
nours
but those
who have
at the great provincial
dom, and thus
it
may
it
form part of the
are admitted as
its
obtained the highest ho-
schools throughout the king-
be considered as containing the
very cream of Chinese wit and learning.
A
grand com-
held triennially; and those
who
distinguish
memoration
is
themselves in
its
examinations are appointed to
fill
some
of the highest offices of the state.
Note C,
''
The Chinese seldom
p. 36.
select, for burial places, situa-
tions capable of agricultural use and
inter their deceased friep,ds
craggy precipice; where
on
little
improvement; and
tlie hill-side,
else could
or under the
be made of the
soil.
" At the great island of Choo-san, scores of
coffins
were
observed under a precipice, scattered about in confusion,
some
fresh
and others
in a state of decay, all denied the
right of sepulture from the crying necessity of a
room."
p. 31.
want of
Medhurst's State and Prospects of China,
—
309
NOTES.
Note D,
p. 37.
" The Orphan of the House of Chao."
was,
many
— This tragedy
years ago, translated into French, and from the
French version
of Voltaire's
'*
into English.
Orphelin de
formed the ground-work
It
la
Chine."
Such unusual
stratagems as that mentioned in the text abound in this
curious specimen of Chinese dramatic
Note E,
" There
is
art.
p. 39.
a species of white-necked crow, for
they have a high veneration."
A
which
gentlemap, in the late
embassy, gave great offence by shooting one of these
birds.
The
respect paid to them appears to have arisen
" from their having once performed some essential public
service; just as geese are said to
Capitol."
have saved the
Davis's Chinese, p. 241.
Roman
—
"
310
NOTES.
KUBLAI KHAN.
Note
F, p. 65.
" With foong-hangs
Of jewels and
" The Chinese
women
rare
—
gold
sometimes wear an ornament
representing the foong-hang, or Chinese phoenix, com-
posed of gold and jewels, the wings hovering, and the
beak of the bird hanging over the forehead, on an
spring."
Davis's CJiinese, chap. x.
Note G,
" Tied by
The
elastic
p. 68.
their Pigtails."
fashion of shaving the head and leaving only one
long lock
at the
crown, was originally a Tartar practice,
and was only adopted by the Chinese, upon compulsion,
at the
beginning of their reigning dynasty.
On
this, as
on some other points, the ingenious Klang has not always
been
careful, nor (as
anachronism.
it
would seem) desirous,
to avoid
Indeed the same might be observed of
several of the writers of
whom we
have given specimens
"
311
NOTES.
in this collection;
from
this that the
and
it
may, perhaps, be
organ of time
is
fairly inferred
not, in general, strongly
developed among the Chinese.
Note H,
" Slung over
A
p. 69.
their shoulders thus tied
by
their
queues
—
very interesting narrative has been published by a
person
named Glasspoole, who was an
officer
on board
an English merchant vessel, of his captivity and adventures
among
China.
He
the sea-coast
when
the
Ladrone
pirates,
on the south coast of
attended them sometimes in their raids upon
towns and
the pirate captain
villages,
and on one occasion,
had offered a reward
for each
head of a Chinese, he mentions having seen a Ladrone
with his sword drawn and dripping with blood, engaged
in pursuit of a villager, whilst the heads of
two
whom
he
had just slaughtered were suspended on either side his
neck, their pigtails being knotted together.
Note
The
I, p.
80.
description in the text of the military heroes of
China closely resembles those given by Tradescant Lay,
and others of our
own
writers.
312
NOTES.
In Alexander's " Picturesque Represenlations of the
Dress and Manners of the Chinese," the following observations are appended to a plate representing a soldier of
infantry.
" The annexed
figure, either
from the striped dress, or
the furious-looking head painted on the shield, has been
called a tiger of war; but
to be, or as the
admit
is
tliat
he
not so fierce as he appears
is
name would imply;
the monstrous face
indeed, the Chinese
on the basket-work shield
intended to frighten the enemy, and
away;
like another
look upon
assumes
all
it.
Gorgon's head,
This corps of
other, like so
writer adds a truism;
Chinese military
culous."
to petrify those
infantry, in
its
who
exercise
kinds of whimsical attitudes, jumping about
and tumbling over each
The
make him run
many mountebanks."
"Indeed
tactics are as
the
whole of the
absurd as they are
ridi-
""
313
NOTES.
HYSON AND BOHEA.
Note K,
"
It
The
p. 109.
bird's-nest
soup of life
—
need scarcely be mentioned that bird's-nest soup
one of the delicacies most
of the
Flowery Land.
in
The
is
esteem among the epicures
nests used in
its
composition
are those of the Java swallow, and are said to be formed
of a gelatinous matter obtained from insects.
constitute
These
nests
one of the government monopolies, and, the
importation being large, form a cousiderable source of
revenue.
Note
*'
L, p. 109.
That gloomy night no bat would
But crows around flew
late
and
oft
flit.
alit—
In China, bats are considered creatures of good omen;
but crows (with the exception of that white-necked species of
which mention
is
made
in the story of
are regarded as birds of very evil augury.
27
*'
Ho-Fi ")
—
314
"
NOTES.
Note M,
"
As
a thresher whirls
The ponderous
" The grain
sometimes by
threshing
is
p.
flail,
112.
round in a
trice
and threshes out the
rice
—
(rice)
has been said to be trodden out
cattle;
but the most usual implement for
the
common European
flail."
Davis's Chi-
nese, chap. xxi.
NoTK N,
" Though parted here,
"
It is specifically
p. 113.
we soon may meet
urged against the doctrines of
the Confucians, that they unfit
duties of
life
by
above."
men
Fo by
for the business
and
fixing their speculations so entirely
on
another state of existence, as to lead some fanatics to
hang or drown themselves,
in order to anticipate futurity
nay, two persons have been
together, with a view to
the next
workV^
— Davis's
known
becoming
to
;
commit suicide
man and
Chinese, chap. xiv.
wife in
——
—
NOTES.
3l;5
THE PORCELAIN BATH.
Note 0,
" The bottle-gourd,
a
p. 122.
species of
curious
tlie
genus
represented in
cucurbitus, closely resembling a bottle,
is
ornaments as an emblem
Davis's Chinese.
" This was
not,
however, the species of gourd that the
Emperor resembled
regard
is
of longevity."
Much
form.
in his
paid to the peach-tree.
At
superstitious
a particular season,
sprigs of this plant are placed at door-ways to avert misfortunes.
The
ky-lin
is
a fabulous
animal, of which
carved representations are often worn about the person
as a
charm.
Confucius."
It
is
said to have appeared at the birth of
Ibid.
Note
P,
p.
131.
" Though there are some Chinese words which appear
to
be dissylabic, and are written with a diaereses, as keen,
teen, &c,,
yet they
are
sounded as much together
'
fear.'
"
as
as
really
monosyllabic, and
our words,
'
beer,'
and
Medhurst's State and Prospects of China.
316
NOTES.
Note Q,
"
When
a
new Emperor
p. 136.
accedes to the throne,
it
is
said that very respectable persons of the country take
their
daughters to the palace for his
choice
and the
;
families of such as are accepted think themselves highly
honoured."
Staunton, from
has not mentioned, what
papers of Poo-Loo,
to
whom
we have
be the
the above
is
quoted,
discovered, from the
fact, that
from among those
hand-maidens, one, more beautiful or
tlius
offered
more
fortunate than the rest,
as
is
sometimes elected by the
sovereign as his future Empress,
Note
S, p. 145.
" The general proneness of the Chinese
practices could not be
to superstitious
more completely proved than by an
account of the charms, talismans, and felicitous appen-
dages hung up in houses, or worn about the person,
specimens of which were sent home a short time since
the
Royal
Asiatic Society,
the principal are
'
by Mr.
J.
Morrison.
to
Among
money-swords,' consisting of a number
of ancient copper coins, each with a square hole in the
middle, fastened together over a piece of iron, shaped
like a
chap.
sword with a cross
XV.,
Chinese
where
spells
will be
hilt."
— See Davis's
Chinese,
found a farther account of
and talismans.
—
317
NOTES.
Note
S, p. 151.
" The manufacture of porcelain commenced
Tang dynasty,
is
that at
whence
A. D.
Chang-nan,
630, .nd the
was
called
'
The famous
the
from
sent to the court of
imitation
ware.' "
gem
Medhurst's Slate and Prospects of China,
"
wiili
furnace on record
in the province of Kiang-si,
a tribute of porcelain
Han Kaoulsoo, and
first
p.
115.
furnaces of King-te-chin, just
to
the
eastward of the Poyang lake, were not established until
about A. D. 1000."
Davis, Chinese chap,
Note T,
From
xviii.
162.
p.
a comparison of the
following passage from
" Davis's Chinese" with the story of Poo-Loo,
it
will be
seen that the French writer, Dentrecolles, has given a
pretty correct account of the origin of the god of the fur-
naces
;
name
but he has omitted the
of the deified youth,
and has no mention of the Empress.
" This god, according
to
to
Dentrecolles,
the difficulties encountered
cuting
peror.
some
by
owed
his origin
workmen
in
exe-
orders from Peking, on account of the
Em-
the
Several models were sent from thence, of a shape
and size which defied
all
imitate them.
*
»
the efforts of the people to
*
27*
Rewards and punish-
—
—
318
;
NOTES.
ments were held out
when
one of the
to those
employed, but
workmen, reduced
all
in vain
to despair
by
the
result of his unavailing efforts, threw himself into the red-
The
hot furnace, and was instantly consumed.
story
says that the specimens then baking came out perfectly
fine
and conformable
to the
models, and from that time
the unfortunate victim passed for a divinity, becoming the
god of the furnaces."
Davis's Chinese, chap,
xviii.
HWANG-TE.
Note U,
" From the
p. 184.
earliest antiquity the
example of industry
to his people,
publicly holding the plough once
Empress does
Medhurst's
the
Slfite
Emperor has
an
set
by personally and
a
same with regard
whilst
year,
to
the
the loom."
and Prospects of China,
p,
32.
——
319
NOTES.
MARRIAGE IN A MASK.
Note V,
p. 135.
" In China the luxury of shampooing
ranks of
all
men
,
it
is
enjoyed by
consists of pulling the joints until
they crack, and of thumping the muscles until they are
sore.
generally an operation performed by the bar-
It is
bers,
who
at the
same time cleanse
the ears, tickle the
nose, and play a thousand tricks to please and
customers, to
tell
whom, and
amuse
their
the surrounding audience, they
their gossiping stories."
Alexander's Picturesque
Representations of the Chinese.
Note W,
"
Every substance
collected,
likely to
p. 136.
answer the end
and carefully disposed, so as
future exigencies
;
bones, lime, and, what
ten days,
is
anxiously
for
such as decayed animal and vegetable
matter, the sweeping of streets, the
stumpy human
is
to provide
hair,
is
not a
mud
little
of canals, burnt
singular, the short
shaven from millions of heads, every
industriously gathered up, and sold for
throughout the empire."
pects of China, p. 34.
manure
Medhurst's State and Pros-
"
320
NOTES.
Note X,
Yang and Yin
200.
p.
Chinese system of
are terms in the
and cold,
physiology, applied reciprocally to heat
energy and inertion, and generally
to the active
to
and the
passive principles, whether in the constitution of man,
or of external nature
depend health
and upon their proper adjustment
:
in the former,
sion in the operations of the
Note Y,
•'
And ducks
one of the chief
They
p.
home
to roost
who spend
river banks:
that part of
their lives in boats
Celestial Land.
articles of diet in the
are sent forth to
;
from which
;
last to return
tardiness, their
hurry
hear the accustomed
Note
in
seek food upon the
a whistle from their keeper brings
back in the evening
Lay, the
by
—
and these birds, salted and dried, form
are kept in large cages, or crates
the morning they
with progres-
212.
of ducks are reared
the Chinese population
rivers;
stability
latter-
are whistled
Immense numbers
upon the
and
them
and, as, according to Tradescant
always receives a flogging
to get
back
call, is in
Z, see
to the boats,
for his
when they
no small degree amusing.
Note B,
p. 17.
—
"
321
NOTES.
Note A,
"
A
p. 242.
similar spirit to
Fo
—
" One of the favourite doctrines of Buddlia (or Fo)
that all things originated in nothing,
Hence
nothing.
annihilation
is
the
and
is,
will revert to
summit of bliss
;
and
nintpa nirvana, or nonentity, the grand and ultimate
anticipation of
all
contemplation and abstractedness of
mind, with a gradual obliteration of
all
sense and feeling,
are considered the nearest approaches to bliss obtainable
on earth
to
;
and the devotees of
this
system aim and
have no joys or sorrows, hopes or
fears,
affect
sense or
emotion, either of body or mind; living without looking,
speaking, smelling, or feeling; yea, without eating, and
without breathing, until they approach
state
of perfection,
annihilation."
For
to
that enviable
Medhurst's State
p. 215.
a collection of evidence as to the horrors of opium-
smoking. See " The Iniquities of the Opium Trade with
China," by the Rev. S. A. Thelwall.
—
322
NOTES.
Note B,
"
ous
'
Venerable uncle,'
companion,'—
'
—
'
p. 292.
honourable brother,'
excellent
sir,'
—
'
virtu-
are used in addressing
a stranger, instead of the pronoun you: and the worthless fellow,'
—
'
the late born,'
your noble patronymic V
the usual reply,
so and so.'
'
is,
'
My
the
'
common
instead of /, are terms of
is
—
is
the
unworthy
first
is
'
question; to
poverty-struck family
Again the question
disciple,'
occurrence.
What
which
name
is
asked respecting the
honourable appellation, the exalted age; and the famous
province' of the stranger; which questions are replied to
by applying
lived,
to one's
and vulgar.'
*
epithets
self the
*
*
'
ignoble, short-
Honourable young gen-
'
tleman,' for a friend's son; and
'
the thousand pieces of
gold' for his daughter, are usual appellations; while the
individual replies
and
'
State
by bestowing
female-slave'
on
his
own
the epithets,
offspring."
p.
1
00,
'
dog's son,'
Medhurst's

The porcelain tower, or, Nine stories of China

Transcription

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