cast, as it were, in the same mould throughout the whole empire, notwithstanding its various provinces differ so widely in soil and climate. And this characteristic sameness extends to the mind as well as the body. The phenomenon has been ingeniously explained by the author of " Egypt and Mahommed Ali," who traces it to despotism as its primary cause; for he reasons, that the multitude, all reduced to the same level, urged by the same wants, engaged in the same pursuits, actuated by the same passions, through a long succession of ages, necessarily assimilate, both mentally and physically.

Corpulency in men, and small, delicate, taper fingers in women, are much esteemed as indications of gentility. There is a goodly rotundity of person in most of the figures in this collection; the attentive visiter will be particularly struck with the characteristic smallness and delicacy of the hands, but in some instances the nails are allowed to grow to a length far beyond our ideas of what is either becoming or beautiful. The carefully cultivated and well braided cues, so long in some instances as almost to trail upon the ground, and affording admirable handles to an antagonist in a passion, form a curious subject of observation. The history of this singular appendage affords a remarkable illustration of those revolutions which sometimes occur in national taste and manners. Previously to the conquest of their country by the Tartars, the Chinese permitted the hair to grow over the whole head. Shun Che, the first of the Tartar emperors, issued an imperial edict, requiring the conquered people to conform in this particular to the custom of their victors. So stoutly was this decree at first resisted, that many of the nobles preferred death to obedience, and actually perished by command of the conqueror. At the present day, however, the loss of this very badge of servitude is considered one of the greatest calamities, scarcely less dreaded than death itself. To be deprived of it is one of the most opprobrious brands put upon convicts and criminals. Those to whom nature has been sparing in respect to the natural covering of the head, supply her deficiences by the artificial introduction and intermingling of other hair with their own, thus seeking to "increase it to a reputably fashioned size."

The Chinese put faith in the external developments of the skull, and are therefore, to a certain extent, phrenologists. They look for the principal characteristics of a man in his forehead, and of a woman on the back of the cranium.

CASE IX.

LACQUERED WARE.

32 & 33. A pair of small folding screens with numerous marble panels, on some of which are paintings of different subjects, the remain

der being adorned with written sentences.

34. Curiously shaped root of a tree, on stand.

35 & 36. Carved sections of bamboo used for holding pencils.

37 & 38. Carved sections of bamboo.

39. Small steel-yard for domestic purposes. All articles in common use in China are sold by weight, not excepting liquids, timber, fruit, live stock, &c.

40 & 41. A full tea-service of lacquered ware, of great beauty, and of extreme lightness, forming part of the equipment of a mandarin's outfit when on an expedition.

The lacquered, or japanned ware of China is well known. All substances that are dry and rigid, as woods, metals, and prepared paper, admit of being japanned. The fine varnish used for this purpose is obtained from a shrub, called Tseih-shoo, (rhus vernix) from which it distils like gum. It is poisonous in a liquid state, and hence great caution is used both by those who gather and those who work in it, to shield themselves from its noxious qualities. It is capable of receiving all colours, though black is the most common. More than fifty coats of varnish are sometimes laid on.

42. Lacquered case of singular form, to contain the above tea-service. 43. Beautiful painting on glass, in a stand of carved wood, highly polished.

44 Ancient metallic mirror, used in China prior to the introduction of glass. The back is here presented to the visiter, being ornamented with numerous hieroglyphical figures. The opposite side is highly polished.

In many mirrors of this description is a property that has puzzled the wise, and which is here worthy of notice. Holding the mirror in the hand by a knob in the centre of the back, and reflecting the rays of the sun from the polished surface, the exact representation of the raised figures on the back of the mirror is distinctly reflected on a wall, or other level surface. The probable solution to this difficulty is, that the figures seen at the back, being of a harder metal than the other plain parts, are inserted into the softer metal; and hence the figures produced

in the rays of light, formed by the union (imperceptible to the eye) of the two metals. In this way the union of iron and steel, as in Sheffield cutlery, will explain the enigma familiarly.

45. Another stand of hard wood, supporting a beautiful specimen of painted glass of singular execution.

46. Porcelain incense vessel, on carved stand, with cover and ornamented handle.

47 & 48. Lacquered boxes with several compartments.

49. Mariner's compass, called "The needle pointing to the South." 50. Two lacquered boxes to contain dried fruits.

51. Four lacquered boxes for similar purposes.

52. Long lacquered case, in which rolls of silks are sent to friends and newly married-acquaintances.

CASE X.

LACQUERED ware and articles of VERTŮ.

53. Two embroidered cloth pillows for winter use.

54 & 55. Two lacquered boxes of different forms, having separate compartments for travelling purposes.

56 & 57. Two lacquered boxes used for carrying presents, &c. They

are hung in a red net, composed of the fibres of a thistle, and carried suspended from a bamboo thrown across the shoulder. 58 & 59. A pair of lacquered cases, made from a section of bamboo, with painting of the parent tree in gold, &c.

60. Superb cabinet, from Soo-chow in the province of Fokien, famous for its manufactures of lacquered ware. So large a specimen of this beautiful production of art is rarely to be found in Canton, and is highly esteemed by the Chinese, as approaching nearest to the lacquered wares of Japan.

61 & 62. Two lacquered cases, as Nos. 56 & 57.

63. A gentleman's travelling wardrobe, of lacquered ware.

64. Embroidered winter pillow, as No. 53.

65. A pillow formed of the shavings of bamboo, covered with embossed

leather.

66. A travelling case formed of pig's hide, to contain a mandarin's

summer cap.

67. Metallic cap stand, in form of a tripod.

68. Bronzed copper hand-furnace, for keeping the fingers warm when walking in the streets in cold weather, no gloves being ever

worn. The people of the north of China as well as those of Canton make use of baskets containing embers, called "Ho

lung," for a similar purpose.

69. Antique bronze tripod, with a monkey, in cornelian, for the handle. 70. Lamp, in general use, of white copper, commonly attached to the wall. 71. Ancient bronze vase.

72. Pewter vessel for holding the tsew-hing, or hot wine, at dinners and marriage entertainments.

73. Compass and sun-dial combined.

The silk cord that supports the

lid of the box containing the compass, serves for the hand or gnomon of the dial.

The Chinese have no clocks or watches of their own manufacture, although both are in use among them; and they exhibit great ingenuity in imitating the European watches that are imported into China in great numbers. Among the Chinese the day is divided, as by the ancient Egyptians, into twelve parts only, consisting each of two European hours; the first beginning at eleven at night.

Those portions of time are measured with tolerable accuracy by means of a lighted taper made from the pith of a particular tree, of which the consumption by ignition is so regular that, divided into twelve equal parts, each continues burning during the twelfth part of the twenty-four

hours.

The gradual motion of sand, and the descent of liquids have been likewise applied to the same purpose.

The Chinese often employ very awkward and laborious means for effecting the several purposes desirable in society. To announce the hour, even in Pekin, they have no better method than that of striking with a mallet upon a large bell, a number of blows corresponding to that of the hour, by a person who must wait and watch the progress of time, as indicated by some of the methods just described.

A Chinese gentleman invariably wears a pair of watches of European manufacture, one on each side his girdle, in an embroidered pocket; if questioned as to the meaning of this seeming extravagance, his reply is, Suppose one make stop, the other walkee."

66

74. Curious root of a tree, resembling birds.

75. A grotesque figure, carved from a section of the bamboo.

76. China incense vessel, in imitation of bronze.

77. Antique porcelain incense vessel.

78. Lacquered box for various uses.

79. Porcelain vessel, of singular device, to contain flowers.

80. Lacquered box, to contain sweetmeats.

81. A root having the form of a dog's head, and the feet and tail of a bird.

82 & 83. Two porcelain plates, on polished stands of hard wood.

84. A lacquered box, used in gaming.

85. Lacquered box, as No. 80.

86. Curious sun-dial and compass.

87. Box for holding writing pencils. The panels are of white marble, bearing moral maxims.

88. Hand furnace of white copper, described in No. 68.

89 & 90. Two grotesque images in clay.

91. Carved section of bamboo, used as pencil-holder.

92 & 93. Two porcelain figures.

94. Lacquered box, containing several cakes of ink. 95 & 96. Two porcelain figures.

97. Another in clay.

98. Curious sun-dial and compass, as No. 86.

99. Lacquered case, inlaid with pearl shell, to contain cakes of ink. 100. China plate and stand.

101. Rack for joss-stick, which is generally burned in every house day and night; the drawers are to hold tobacco and tinder for pipes.

102. A red lacquered vessel for culinary purposes.

103. & 194. A small pair of painted marble tablets, on a polished stand of hard wood.

105. Model of a Chinese coffin.

The slabs of wood are sometimes of enormous sizes, being frequently of some domestic or foreign odoriferous wood, &c. In these huge coffins, the dead are frequently kept many years above ground, from superstitious motives, such as the selection of a fortunate spot for burial, a particular season, &c. Cedar is the usual material; the thickness of the slabs according with the means of the purchaser. These planks are selected with great care, and are brought home with music and feasting during a person's lifetime. The Emperor prepares his coffin on the day of his ascending the throne. The Chinese have an idea that to do so prolongs life. The garments for a corpse are also prepared in the lifetime of the person for whom they are intended. In former days, garments were presented to the friends of a deceased person, intended to clothe the corpse; in more modern usage, money is given instead of clothing. From this practice arises the phrase "Respectful contribution to the coffining," which is written on the envelope of a small present sent to the person who presides at the funeral; a universal