CHAPTER XXV.

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF GAMES, AND OF FORTUNE-TELLERS, JUGGLERS, AND OTHER CHARACTERS.

Gaming, Chess, Dominoes, Cards, and Dice.—Shuttlecock. -Football.-Quail-fights.- Cricket-fights.-Kite-flying.

Dragon-boat Race.—Skating.—Theatres.- Fortune-tellers.

-Jugglers.-Bonzes.-Sorcerers and Charms.

It is possible that the same thing may have been said by me before; but if so, I will here say it again, that, for many reasons, I have made up my mind never to be emperor of China. If Taou Kwang reigns over his three hundred million subjects till I dethrone him, his "tigers of war" may keep their swords scabbarded, for the gates of the imperial palace will never be assaulted by me.

There are some things that I like in China, and a great many things which I cannot endure; but passing, for the moment, by the one and the other, let me give you a short account of Chinese games.

In accordance with their steady and thrifty habits, the Chinese regard gaming as infamous; but this does not prevent the lower classes from

indulging therein. Laying wagers is common,

and chess, dominoes, cards, and the dice-box are

GAME OF SHUTTLECOCK.

233

in constant use. Let me here tell you my own plan with regard to wagers. From the days of my youth, in whatever country I may have been, my habit has been never to wager less than a thousand pounds, and as I have found no one willing to stake such a sum, so have I escaped betting altogether.

The game of shuttlecock, played with the feet by the Chinese, is an animated spectacle, though

234

PASTIME OF FOOTBALL.

it must be acknowledged that the attitudes of the "Celestials" occupied therein are rather picturesque than elegant; the thick soles of their shoes are used as battledores, and now and then the hand is brought into exercise. You would be much amused to see the chopsticks play at shuttlecock.

The Chinese contend that the game of football is a very ancient one, and that it was introduced as a suitable exercise for the soldiers, "the army of heaven." I said you would be much amused to see the chopsticks play at shuttlecock, but I think it would amuse you still more to gaze on the celestial warriors, in their large blue nankeen trowsers and red tunics, playing at football.

To see their rude pastime

When stretched out afar

The " army of heaven!"

And the "tigers of war!"

We have cock-fighting in England, though not so much of it as formerly: this cruel pastime has greatly declined. At one time the people in Staffordshire seemed to think that cocks were as much made to fight, and bulls to be baited, as the sun was formed to shine in the firmament of heaven. In China, they train quails to fight, and put crickets in bowls, that they may irritate them, and make them tear each other to pieces for their sport. Oh, how I abhor cruelty! Show me one

who is cruel in his youth, and I will show you one who will be hard-hearted in maturity and age.

Say what we will, there are some things which the Chinese can do better than we can. In making silk and porcelain, carving ivory balls, and flying kites, we have no chance with them. It would do you good to see some of their kites, formed as they are of refuse-silk paper and split bamboo, and of all kinds of shapes. Up! up! up! they go, till you would think they would never come down again. However, they do come down again, and we may learn this lesson from their descent.

Blown about by the storm, or upborne by the blast,
We are sure to come down to one level at last.

Some are formed like men, some like animals, some like fishes, and others like birds. If you can tell a bird-kite in the air from a real bird, you can do more than I can. Then again, the Chinese kites have holes in them with strings stretched across, so that, as the wind whistles through the strings, they sound like Æolian harps. This is a very great improvement. Kite-flying is quite a national amusement in China, and the number of men and boys seen on the ninth day of the ninth moon, hastening to the hills to enjoy the pastime is very great. To pull down the kite of another, by crossing the strings, is by far too general a practice. Many a kite that at one minute seems

236

DRAGON-BOAT RACING.

proudly flying the highest in the air, as though it derided its fellows, is, the next, seen lying on the ground. This is sometimes the case among mankind. Many blame others, and fall into greater evils themselves.

The faults and the failings of men they deride,

In their zeal rising higher and higher;

Like a kite in the air they mount up in their pride,
And, at last, tumble down in the mire.

The race of the dragon-boats at Canton, on the fifth day of the fifth moon, excites much attention. These boats or barges carry from fifty to fourscore men each, and if ever the Celestials do put forth their skill and strength on the water, it is in this aquatic contention. The strokes of the paddle are regulated by the sound of a gong.

You can hardly expect to hear much about skating at Canton, but move a thousand miles more northward,-move on to Pekin, and in the winter you will find skating enough. It is said that the emperor himself takes a part sometimes in the amusements on the ice; but never yet have I had the good fortune to skate in his company. Think of Taou Kwang, the "sole Ruler of the Earth," and the "Sun of the Firmament of Honour," kicking up his heels on the ice with a pair of skates on.

There are no stationary Theatres in China, though the drama is a very popular amusement.