There are 1,560 temples dedicated to him, and 62,000 pigs and rabbits annually sacrificed to his memory; though his worship is also practised without temples or priests, or indeed any form of external worshipevery one adoring the Supreme Being in the way he likes best. The system of Confucius is the state religion. The Emperor is Pontifex Maximus; the mandarins form the only priesthood, and the whole body of literati are its adherents.

The doctrines of the Confucians are embodied in nine classical or sacred books, called "The Four Books," and "The Five Canonical Works." These contain a complete body of rules, first, for the government of one's self, and the regulation of social intercourse; secondly, for the government of a family, and the education of a community; and, thirdly, for the government of an empire and the management of its complex machinery. The sententious brevity of style that characterises these celebrated productions, renders the meaning often obscure, and has induced a mass of commentaries of formidable bulk; but it cannot be doubted that they contain many maxims just in sentiment, wise in policy, and admirably suited to the genius of the people,-maxims which have conferred merited immortality upon the memory of their author, and done more for the stability of the empire than all other causes combined. Confucius, however, avoided, almost entirely, strictly religious subjects. Dr. Morrison says, that he admitted he did not understand much concerning the gods; and he adds, that his most celebrated commentator, Choo-foo-tsze, affirmed that sufficient knowledge was not possessed to say positively that they existed.

Thus, it will be seen, that the three religions of China are by no means uniform; and are much blended one with the other—that a species of Epicurean philosophy prevails, that atheistical doctrines are derived from Fuh, and that their idolatry is accompanied by the most debasing, absurd, and superstitious bigotry, both in precept and practice, notwithstanding the wholesome restraints and sound ethics inculcated in the writings of Confucius.

And yet, on the other hand, it is but justice to admit that the Chinese, with all the faults, metaphysical difficulties, contradictions and absurdities of their religions, have entirely divested their worship of the cruelties and other abominations that deform the rites of the gods of Hindostan, and add a still deeper dye to the crimes of idolatry. Their mythology is perhaps quite as ridiculous as those of the Greeks and Romans, though certainly not so offensive to good morals as some parts of those systems.

No Sabbath is observed by the Chinese, nor is it intimated in their divisions of time. It will, however, be interesting to the Christian world to learn that by some of the Chinese our Saviour, Ya-soo, is ranked

among the number of the gods; while all the better informed classes, consider Him as a just and perfect man. The Virgin Mary (Ma-le-ya, or Maria) being placed by them in the same class.

The figure in this case, representing a mourner, is habited in coarse sackcloth, the universal mourning apparel in China. The shoes are white; the hair and beard are permitted to grow unshaven; and an odd species of head-gear surmounts the cranium. He is attended by a servant, or "heel attendant;" the word being derived from Kan, "the heel of the foot," which they call the root of the foot. In this person's hand is carried a mourning lantern, of which the Chinese exhibit an abundance in their funeral processions; they are distinguished from all others by the presence of the emblematic white. The full period of mourning for a parent is three years, but this is commonly reduced in practice to twenty-seven months; a shorter period is allotted for other relations. Three years must elapse after the death of a parent before a child is permitted to marry; and a similar period is allowed as a cessation from holding office.

On the death of an emperor, his hundreds of millions of subjects mourn for him as children do for their parent. All officers of government take the ball and crimson silk from their caps.

The active principle of filial duty and affection before spoken of, is aptly illustrated in the following idea-" to sleep upon straw, with a sod for the pillow," as the Chinese are taught to do when mourning for their parents.

The soldier has on a huge pair of coarse blue nankeen trousers, and a red tunic of the same, with white facings. The cap is of quilted nankeen, with the edge turned up, and a red knot at the top. More commonly, it is either of rattan or bamboo painted, being in a conical shape, and well suited to ward off a blow. He is armed with a rude matchlock, the only kind of hand fire-arms known among the Chinese. These they consider inferior weapons to the bow and arrow. They may, perhaps, be so, considering their appearance and make. "We occasionally," says Mr. Davis, "saw specimens of the military who had the word yung' valour,' inscribed on the breast." This might be all very well,—but when the same individuals turned round and displayed the identical word inscribed on their backs, the position seemed particularly unsuitable. There is hung up on the wall a shield, constructed of rattan turned spirally round a centre, very similar in shape and appearance to our circular basket lids. Besides the matchlock and shield, a variety of weapons, offensive and defensive, are in use in China; such as helmets, bows and arrows, cross-bows, spears, javelins, pikes, halberds, double and single swords, daggers, maces, a species of quilted armour of cloth studded with metal buttons, &c.

The standing army of the Celestial Empire numbers about 700,000 men, of whom 80,000 are Tartars, the rest native Chinese, with about 18,000 military mandarins of all grades. The principal officers of confidence and trust are Tartars, of whom a proportion constitute the cavalry. They receive a higher rate of pay for their services than their Chinese fellow soldiers. In the selection of both, none are chosen but the healthy and robust, and a preference is given to the most sightly. The pay and allowance of the soldiery exceed the usual earnings of common people; hence it is, that to enlist into the "Army of Heaven," insures to the recruit more of the comforts of life than he would other

wise enjoy. The arms, accoutrements, and the upper garment, are furnished by the Emperor to each soldier. The pay of a Chinese horseman is about three ounces and a third (heavier than European ounces) of silver (three taels) with an allowance of fifteen measures or rations of rice every lunar month. A Tartar horseman receives seven ounces of silver, and twenty measures of rice for the same period. A Chinese foot soldier has one ounce and 6-10 of silver, and ten measures of rice; and a Tartar of the same rank receives two ounces of silver, and ten measures of rice every moon. In addition to the regular pay and allowance thus quoted, they receive donations from the Emperor on particular occasions; viz., when they marry, and also at the birth of male children. At the death of their parents, they obtain " a gift of consolation;" as do their families when the soldiers themselves die.

A singular feature in regard to the military officers of China must not be omitted. They are all subject to corporal punishment, and very often experience it, together with the punishment of the cangue, or moveable pillory, consisting of a heavy frame of wood, sometimes of a hundred pounds in weight, according to the heinousness of the crime, with holes for the head and hands. This parental allotment of a certain quantum of flagellation and personal exposure, is occasionally the fate of the highest officers, and must certainly be regarded as a very odd way of improving their military character.

The archer represents a Tartar in the imperial army. The bow and arrow appear to have been in use from the earliest period, and are still used as weapons in the "grand army." The bow is made of elastic wood and horn combined, with a string of silk strongly twisted and wrought. The strength of Chinese bows is estimated by the weight required to bend them, varying from about eighty to a hundred pounds. The string, in shooting, is held behind an agate or stone ring on the right thumb, the first joint of which is bent forward, and confined by the middle joint of the forefinger being pressed upon it. The head of the arrow is of a spear-like shape; but others at the soldier's side are of a different construction, having a horn tube at the point, perforated with

holes, which, when discharged from the bow, produce a whistling sound as they pass through the air-these are for amusement only. The visiter will observe at his feet, a cross-bow of ancient make but simple construction. The arrows used in this are short, and are dropped into the small aperture to receive them, and discharged successively with the greatest rapidity.

Archery has always, from very remote times, been held in high estimation, and much cultivated by the Chinese. It is now, however, looked upon rather as an elegant accomplishment for gentlemen and military men, like fencing among some Europeans, than as a measure of defence or offence in actual warfare, when recourse is had to fire arms and swords. The bow is used in the army, on board ship, and in gymnastic exercises. Practising archery on horseback is regarded as a high attainment, and is described with care in Chinese books treating of tactics.

If numbers were the evidence of strength, China, in a military point of view, would be most formidable. Her exclusive system for so many centuries, though it has no doubt saved her much blood and treasure, has been the principal cause of her want of discipline and science in modern tactics. Courage and personal bravery are seldom found when these are wanting. Industry and cheerfulness are their characteristics; good materials for a government. Of artillery they know next to nothing. They have no gun-carriages, their cannon being fixed immoveably in one position. When the Sylph and Amherst sailed up the coast, the Chinese soldiers threw up numerous mounds of earth, which they whitewashed to give them the appearance of tents!

The costume of the Chinese, as displayed in the figures of this Collection, form an interesting subject of observation. The dress of every grade of society in China is fixed by usage.

Persons in the lower while those who have

classes wear coarse and dark-coloured fabrics; been more favoured in the accidents of birth and fortune, seek the gratification of their taste in rich and costly silks, satins, furs, broadcloths, and embroidery. There is a great variety in the dresses; yet the general model is not departed from, the usual articles being an under vest, drawers, a long gown or pelisse buttoning in front, stockings, and shoes. The shoes are singular; generally of embroidered cloth, sometimes the uppers being of one colour, sometimes another. The lower portion of the soles is leather made of hogs' skins, while the intermediate space, commonly about an inch in thickness, is filled up with bamboo paper, with the edge painted white. They are quite light, notwithstanding their clumsy appearance. The Chinese have no covering for the hands like gloves; the hands being protected by the length of the sleeves, which terminate in a form well adapted for this purpose. The

Chinese seem to have a great partiality for blue in their costume. Frequently the whole garment is of this colour; and even when such is not the case, the collar, cuffs, and lower edges of the drawers are, for the most part, of the favourite hue.

The wealthier Chinese are extravagantly fond of showy dresses, and a well-provided wardrobe is an object of great pride. Handsome garments often descend, as an heirloom, from generation to generation, and constitute the chief riches of a family. A deficiency of clean body-linen is not regarded as a calamity by a Chinaman. A fair outside is what he mainly covets, being little heedful of either the quality or condition of what is underneath. The change from a summer to a winter costume, and vice versa, is made (simultaneously throughout an entire province, the viceroy setting the example by assuming the cap appropriate to the

season.

There is, therefore, one great fault in Chinese costume, namely, a want of linen or white cotton-little of which is worn. Though their garments of light silk will bear washing, they are not so cleanly as linen. No sheets are used in their beds, and no cloths are spread upon their tables. The skins of animals are used for winter apparel, particularly lamb skins from Tartary, some of which are of a very extravagant price, and many of the Chinese furs are extremely handsome.

THIS case contains a group of three literati in summer costume. Their dresses, which are light and free, contrast advantageously with those tight and high-collared garments with which fashion obliges us to encumber ourselves. The dress of the figure on the right hand exposes an embroidered pad or covering for the knee. These appear to have been formerly worn on special occasions only, when having to kneel much at