XXII. Another tea brick as before described XXIII. A different variety of black tea, packed in a\singular form and enveloped in a dried leaf. XXIV. Specimen of Chinese writing paper, with Chinese or "Indian" ink, a small slab, and writing pencil. The materials used in the manufacture of paper in China are various. The coarse yellow paper, used for wrapping parcels, is made from rice straw. The finer kinds are composed of the inner bark of a species of morus, as well as of silk and cotton, but generally of bamboo, as in the specimen here exhibited. The sheets are usually three feet and a half in length, and two in breadth. The fine paper used for letters is polished, after sizing, by rubbing it with smooth stones. The writing apparatus of a Chinese scholar, consists of a square or cake of ink, a small black slab of schistus or slate, polished smooth, with a slight cavity at one end to hold water, a finely pointed hair pencil, and a supply of paper. These four articles, the ink, the slab, the pencil, and the paper, are called "the four precious implements;" a phrase indicative of their high respect for letters. XXV. A card of invitation to an entertainment given by Howqua, on attaining his sixtieth year, addressed to the owner of this collection. The preparations for this banquet were of the most extensive character, and the sumptuous entertainment lasted two weeks. The expense incurred upon this occasion was nearly 200,000 dollars, or £40,000 sterling. The literal translation is as follows:- "On the seventeenth day, the spring tea waits for the splendour of your presence. (I) most respectfully announce the felicitous season, and worshipfully invite you at six o'clock." XXVI. A Chinese congratulatory letter and envelope. XXVII. Chinese drugs, consisting chiefly of herbs and other simples, together with a native physician's prescription. The shop of an apothecary in Canton is said to contain, usually, not less than three hundred medicines, yet the most intelligent Chinese affirm that forty or fifty only are absolutely necessary in medical practice. No license is required for engaging in the practice of medicine in China; but the physician must beware lest his nostrums fail to have the desired effect. The penal code of China provides against the attempts of mere pretenders to the healing art, by the punishment of those who depart from the established forms. In cases of mere ignorance, the empiric is punished as a thief, for the property he has thus obtained; but where death ensues from wilful mismanagement of the physician, the punishment is death by decapitation. CASE XLII. CHINESE SUMMER AND WINTER CAPS. 660. Black satin cap, worn by the Buddhist priests. 664. Embroidered canonical head dress, 665. Winter caps, made of crape. 666. A gentleman's cap, made of a sort of felt, and worn in winter, called "Maou-chen." 667 & 668. Children's embroidered caps. 669. A gentleman's winter cap, made of crape and velvet. 670 & 671. A pair of gentlemen's long leather boots, for wet weather. 672 & 673. Ladies' small leather boots for wet weather. 674. Ladies' small leather shoes, with wooden soles. 675. Ladies' leather boots of a small size. 676. Women's leather shoes with wooden soles. CASE XLIII. CHINESE SHOES. 677. Shoes for ladies having large feet, of which a great variety is exhibited in this case. The lower part of the soles is formed of dressed pig's skin, the rest of compressed paper. 678. Shoes for ladies having small feet, called by the Chinese “kinlëen," ""Golden lilies." 679. Shoes for ladies, same as No. 677. 680 & 681. Children's summer shoes. 682. Children's shoes, the upper part made of grass. 683 & 684. Pair of lady's small shoes, the upper part made of 685. Gentlemen's shoes of various patterns. grass, 686. Gentlemen's shoes for wet weather, the upper part being of satin, the lower of wood. CASE XLIV. SMALL PORCELAIN ARTICLES. 687. A porcelain night-lamp. 688. A porcelain medicinal vessel. 689. A small porcelain flower-pot. 690 & 691. Two porcelain lamps in common use. 692. An ancient porcelain tea-pot. 693 to 695. Porcelain spoons and stands in general use. 696. A small porcelain medicinal vessel. 697. A porcelain tea-pot for boat use, suspended by wires from eyes in in the upper part. 698. Several brown porcelain tea-pots, to which the Chinese are very partial. 699. A porcelain medicinal vessel. 700 & 701. Two porcelain dishes divided into compartments for sweet meats. 702. Beautifully painted rice dish. 703 & 704. Two small white porcelain sweetmeat dishes. 705. A porcelain rice jar. 706 & 707. Two very richly painted hand-basins. 708. A large flower-pot with raised figures, of a peculiar ware resembling bronze. CASE XLV. SMALL PORCELAIN ARTICLES. 709 & 710. Two very beautiful porcelain plates, on the former of which are written sentences, with various painted figures. 711. A small porcelain vessel, on which is painted a grotesque figure of a "kwei." 712 & 713. Two beautifully painted cups with covers and stands of egg-shell china. 714 & 715. Two other cups of a different pattern. 716 & 717. Two small porcelain tea-pots, on which are painted several figures and different maxims. 718 & 719. Two elegantly painted plates, and various cups of the finest porcelain. 720. A small and very ancient porcelain tea-pot. 721 & 722. Two small porcelain plates, exquisitely painted. 723 & 724. A pair of beautifully painted flower-jars. 725 & 726. A pair of flower-pots, painted and gilt. 727 & 728. A pair of smaller flower-pots. 729 & 730. A pair of porcelain tea-cups with stands and covers, workmanship of which is of the most gorgeous description. 731. A porcelain flower-jar. the 732. A porcelain vase, a style of ware highly esteemed by the Chinese. The lower section of this case is entirely filled with porcelain ware of the richest description. CASE XLVI. ARTICLES OF VERTÛ, &c. 733 & 734. Two silk girdles to confine the dress, which every gentleman in China wears. 735. A porcelain bowl, with a painting of the jungle fowl. 736. Very singular root of the bamboo, representing an old man wrapt in his mantle. 737 & 738. Two small incense vessels in glass. 739. Singular carving of a horse with a scroll on his back. 740. Carved ivory stamp or seal, having several concentric spheres in the handle. 741. Singular stone, having the appearance of a Chinese apple. 742. Wine cups of pressed glass, in imitation of stone. (These are formed of various shapes, frequently square, and are used at feasts and marriage entertainments. 743. Ornamental stand, with bronze Buddha idol. 744. Ancient porcelain incense vessel on stand. 745. Small ebony boxes, inlaid with pearl shell, and containing flint, steel, and punk. 746. Curious stone in form of a mango, 747. Several pairs of ivory "chop sticks," "seang-choo;" made use of by the Chinese in the place of a knife and fork, as with us. 748. A brown figured porcelain pencil-holder. 749. A vessel to contain water used with Indian ink, cut out of a stone in form of fruit. 750. Ornamental stand and vessel. 751. A small metallic mirror, on carved stand. 752. Curious porcelain vessel. 753. A beautiful small incense vessel, on stand. 754. Metallic mirror, as 751. 755. Antique porcelain vessel or cage, on stand, for containing sweetscented flowers, emitting an agreeable perfume. 756. A beautiful sculptured marble vase, having for its handle a Crepresentation of a lion drinking from the vessel. 757. A gentleman's embroidered watch-pocket. 758 & 759. A gentleman's embroidered knee-pans, for protecting the knee when kneeling before the mandarins. 760. Miniature painting of a Chinese lady on ivory. 761 & 762. A pair of beautifully painted jars. 763. Ornamental rosewood stand, with amulets on the top. Here will also be noticed several "charm-books," very small in size, and containing virtuous sentences, which are supposed to keep off evil spirits. These are carried about the person. The Chinese inscribe words and sentences on their girdles, and paste them on the lintels and posts of their doors, not only as moral sayings worthy to be remembered and practically observed, but from the impression that they shall thereby be protected from noxious diseases and calamities often inflicted by invisible beings, 764. Beautiful fan for ladies' use, made in part of peacocks' feathers, and in part of elegantly embroidered work. 765 & 766. A pair of gentlemen's tobacco pouches. 767 to 769. Specimens of carving from the bamboo tree. 770. A lady's fan, elegantly painted on silk, with ivory handle. 771 & 772. Gentlemen's shirts, worn next the skin in warm weather, made of the twig of the bamboo tree. 773. Gentleman's embroidered sash, with a pair of purses, carried at the girdle of the wearer, for holding areca nuts, &c. Purses," says 66 Sir George Staunton, "are the ribands of the Chinese monarch, which he distributes as rewards of merit among his subjects; but his own purse (alluding to a similar present made to the page of the British Ambassador) was deemed a mark of personal favour, according to the ideas of eastern nations, among whom anything worn by the person of the sovereign is prized beyond all other gifts." The imperial purse is of plain yellow silk, with the figure of the five-clawed dragon, and some Tartar characters worked in it. 774. A gentleman's fan, with embroidered case sashes, as 773. and two crimson silk 775 & 776. A pair of sandals, worn by coolies, the soles are made of strips of loose leather, placed crossways. 777. A pair of sandals, being a piece of flat leather, with a loop for the great toe, and strings for the heel. 778. A pair of sandals, made from rice straw. |