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wang ming. The criminal being judged and sentenced, the presiding officer, even if it be the Foo-yuen himself, goes in state, and, with prescribed formalities, requests the delivery of the wang ming; and being taken from the place where it is kept deposited, it is borne with great pomp and solemnity before the criminal to the fatal spot, where in its presence the victim kneels toward the emperor's palace, and by a single stroke of the executioner's sword expires in the attitude of giving thanks to him for the dispensation of justice!

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1045. Representation of the Feast of Lanterns, by moonlight.

This truly brilliant spectacle is annually observed on the 15th day of the first moon, throughout the whole extent of "The Great and Pure Empire," and is intended to propitiate the auspicious opening of the New Year. It is a grand display of an infinite variety of lanterns of every conceivable shape and construction; they are made of silk, paper, mica, horn, glass, and pearl shell; some with very curious moving figures revolving round the faint light that burns within them. Upon this occasion, the houses, roofs, and boats, are illuminated, and many thousands of singular devices are seen floating upon the surface of the water, giving the appearance of a river on fire. High poles are erected, from the tops of which are suspended strings of lanterns of variegated colours. Each person has a lantern in his hand, and the whole scene is accompanied with the sounding of gongs, the beating of drums, and the discharge of crackers and other fireworks, for the manufacture of which the Chinese are so famous.

In the peculiar and happy taste which the Chinese display in the construction of lanterns, must be enumerated the frequent representation, on these occasions, of an enormous dragon, constructed of a frame-work of bamboo, and covered with paper fancifully painted. The monster, illuminated within, is borne along by a row of men, who, move in fantastic evolutions, to represent the contortions and writhings of the supposed animal. The terrific and horned head, staring eyes, and wide-spreading jaws, glare fiercely upon the crowd as it passes by in a capering and

* Literally "king's order," equivalent to death warrant, and is often so translated.

winding motion. This monster is accompanied by numerous fish, similarly constructed and illuminated, of large dimensions, and well executed. The visitor will observe a specimen of the latter in the collection.

At nearly all the festivals observed by the Chinese a profusion of fireworks are exhibited. Their proficiency in the pyrotechnic art was lately displayed at Canton on the temporary cessation of hostilities. A representation was made of an immense vine arbour, which burned without consuming;-the trunk, branches, leaves, and fruit appeared in their natural colours, with, occasionally, butterflies apparently flitting among the branches. To this succeeded an immense number of rockets which formed themselves into innumerable stars, serpents, comets, and flying dragons. This magnificent display was followed by a grand discharge on all sides of a shower of fire, with which were intermixed variegated lanterns, some with sentences written on them,-together with figures of fruit, flowers, fans, &c. Then ascended a display of columns formed by rings of light, which lasted a few minutes and was unequalled in brilliancy by any previous device. At last the grand finale took place; the Chinese dragon of an immense size, appeared in all his majesty, surrounded by ten thousand winged reptiles, standards, and banners, when in an instant appeared upon the back of the monster, the figure of the Emperor, in blue lights. These successively changed to yellow, and lastly to the most intense white. A deafening report now rent the air, while a green veil arose over the Emperor, from the midst of which a volcano of rockets ascended.

By an ingenious contrivance, figures of boats, made of paper, are capable of floating and moving upon the water, by means of a stream of fire issuing from the stern.

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1047. Six paintings of boats, on rice paper.

1048. Portrait of Taou-Kwang, the reigning emperor of China, in state costume; on the opposite side is a corresponding portrait of his late consort. The emperor Taou-Kwang, is a son of the late emperor Kea-King: born on the 10th of the 8th moon, 1781; and succeded his father on the 24th August, 1820, in the 39th year of his age.

Taou-Kwang (" Reason's Glory,") is the Kwŏhaou, or title of the

reigning emperor, assumed by him on ascending the throne of China, in compliance with an ancient custom of selecting an imperial title corresponding with the prominent sentiments of his mind, and characteristic of his future reign; hence the above designation intimates that during his government the principles of reason and rectitude should be pre-eminently illustrious.

In figure Taou-Kwang is said to be tall, thin, and of a dark complexion. He is of a generous disposition, diligent, attentive to government, and economical in his expenditure. He has also avoided, through life, the vices to which his father and younger brothers were addicted.

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Though the succession to the throne of China," observed Padre Serra, depends on the arbitrary nomination of the reigning prince, this does not always prevent usurpations. An instance of this was seen in the succession of Yung-ching to his father, the great Kâng-he. The prince nominated was the fourth; but this latter being in Tartary at the period of the emperor's somewhat sudden demise, Yung-ching, who was a privileged wâng (or regulus,) entered the palace and seized the billet of nomination. Before the number four, which he there found, he boldly set the sign of ten, and thus made it appear that he, the fourteenth prince, was the one nominated. He possessed himself of the sceptre, and ordered his brother to be arrested and imprisoned in a place which is standing to this day, four leagues to the north of Pekin, in which it is said that he died."

On the 18th October 1813, as the last emperor, Kea-king, was about to enter Pekin, on his return from the summer excursion to Je-ho, (the hot springs, about one hundred miles north east of the capital,) a party of conspirators entered the imperial palace, and kept possession of it for some time. The present emperor, who was his second son, is said to have owed his elevation to the good conduct he displayed on this occasion.

He shot two of the rebels, and assisted to intimidate the remainder of those who had penetrated within the precincts of the palace. The most disgraceful act of his administration was the murder, in 1828, of the

Mahomedan Tartar prince Jehanghir, who had surrendered himself, in reliance on the faith of promises made to him.

1049. Portrait of Houqua, principal of the Co-Hong.

The word Hong (mandarin dialect, Hang) in Chinese, denotes a large factory or mercantile building; and Hong merchant, in common use in the interior, means much the same as "wholesale merchant," in contradistinction from those "merchants," as the Scotch call them, who keep shops only. But the Hong merchants here referred to, are a licensed company of wholesale merchants, authorised to deal exclusively with the foreigners of Europe and America, and from the ports of Asia; or the foreigners who come from " beyond seas" to the port of Canton; and hence the proper appellation, Yang-hang-shang; i. e. "sea or ocean wholesale merchants."

1050. Mandarin on horseback, bearing despatches from the emperor.

The tardy movement of the officer here represented, contrasts strongly with the pompous title of the imperial edicts, which are said to be "luminous and swift as the rays of light."

The ordinary rate of despatches is 150 le* per day; in cases of great moment they are called "fire despatches," and are carried 300 le per day, arriving in Canton from the capital in twelve or thirteen days. express office" is supplied with a large number of couriers, ready at all times for dispatch.

The "

There is no public post in China except for the use of the government, but there are numbers of well known and trustworthy persons who are employed as letter carriers between towns and villages, and who thus supply the absence of a regular post. There are sometimes places appointed where letters can be left for the postman, and he is not unfrequently seen with a letter bag on his back marked with the place of his destination, passing through the street and calling for letters. The charge for postage is light; between Canton and Macao, a distance of about 70 miles, it will average for single letters about thirty cash, (or three half-pence.)

* In statistical accounts of the Empire, the relative distance of places is calculated in Le, 250 of which make a geographical degree.

The envelope containing the official document, as here represented, is of the imperial yellow.

"Colours in China," observes Mr. Kidd, are emblematical of rank, authority, virtues and vices, joys, and sorrows.

Yellow is the imperial colour, assumed only by his majesty and his sons, or the lineal descendants of his family, who may wear a golden yellow sash and a yellow bridle.

Purple is prescribed, by the laws of the Board of Rites, for grand

sons.

Green or blue for the chairs of the princesses. Green is the colour of the painted board carried before a criminal going to execution, on which the authority for his punishment is inscribed.

The Blue indicates official rank of third or fourth degree.

Red is a symbol of virtue, especially of truth and sincerity; hence, to say a person has a red heart, means that he is without guile; this is also the colour of the button of the first degree of official rank. The emperor writes his special edicts in vermillion. Proclamations offering rewards for the apprehension of offenders, are designated" the red flower," because voluntary services are sometimes rewarded by decorating the head with a flower of this colour.

Black denotes guilt and vice; hence, to say that a man heart," is a contumelious expression for depravity.

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White, as among the ancient Hebrews, is used in mourning, and to denote moral purity; a white button also indicates official rank of a lower degree."

1051 & 1052. Flowers.

1053 & 1054. Baskets of flowers beautifully painted.

1055.

1056.

Portrait of Shonshing, an eminent merchant of Canton.

View of Golden Island in the Yang-tsze Keang, which, is the largest river in China, and runs a course of 3,290 miles.

Its name denotes the "Son of the Sea." It bears about the same proportion to the Thames, that the territory of China bears to that of England and Scotland. The next great Chinese river in magnitude, is the Hwang-ho," which is 3,040 miles in length. This beautiful

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