O f all the mechanical arts that in which they feem to have
attained the liigheft degree o f perfection is the cutting o f ivory.
In this branch they ftand unrivalled, even at Birmingham, that
great nurfery o f the arts and manufactures where, I Under-
ftand, it has been attempted by means o f a machine to cut ivory
fans and other articles, in imitation o f thofe o f the Chinefe 5 but
the experiment, although ingenious, has not hitherto fucceeded
to that degree, fo as to produce articles fit to vie with thofe o f
the latter. Nothing can be more exquifitely beautiful than
the fine open work difplayed in a Chinefe fan, the flicks o f
which would feem to be fingly cut by the hand, for whatever
pattern may be required, or a Ihield with coat o f arms, or a
cypher, the article will be finiihed. according to the drawing at
the fliorteft notice. The two outfide flicks are full o f bold
iharp work, undercut in fuch a manner as could not be performed
any other way than by the hand. Yet the moft finiihed
and beautiful o f thefe fans may be purchafed at Canton for
five to ten Spaniih dollars % Out o f a folid ball o f ivory, with
a hole in it not larger than half an inch in diameter, they will
cut from nine to fifteen diftind hollow globes, one within another,
all loofe and capable o f being turned round in every di-
reClion, and each o f them, carved full o f the fame kind o f open
work that appears on the fans. A very fmall fum o f money
is the price o f one o f thefe difficult trifles. Models o f temples,
* 1 am aware that thofe laboured pieces, o f Italian make, o f ivory cut into land-
fcapes, with houies, trees, and figures; fometimes fo fmall as to he comprehended
within the compafs o f a ring, may be quoted againft me j but the work of a folitary
and fecluded monk to beguile the weary hours, is not to be brought in competition
with that o f a common Chinefe artift, by which he earns his livelihood.
pagodas,
pagodas,i and other pieces o f architedure, are beautifully worked
in iv o r y ; and from the ¿havings, interwoven with pieces
o f quills, they make neat baikets and hats, which are as light
and pliafit as thofe o fd raw . In fhort, alt kinds o f toys for
children, and other trinkete and trifles^ are executed'in a neater
manner and for lefs iribney in- China, than in any other part
o f the world.
The various uies, to which that elegant fpecies o f reed called
the bamboo is applied, would require a volume to enumerate.
Their chairs, their tables, their fkreens, their bedfleads and
bedding, and many other houfehold moveables, are entirely
conftruded o f this hollo w reed, and fome o f them in a manner
fufficiehtly Ingenious and beautiful. It is ufed on board ihips
for poles, for fails, for cables, for rigging, and for caulking.
In huibandry for carts, for wheelbarrows, for wheels to raife
water, for fences, for facking to hold grain, and a Variety o f
other utenfils. The young ihoots furnifh an article o f food ;
and the wicks o f their candles ate made o f its fibres'. It ferves
to embelliih the garden o f the prince, and to cover the cottage
o f the peafant. It is the inftrument, in the hand o f power, that
keeps the whole empire in awe. In ihort, there are few tiles to
which a Chinefe cannot apply the bamboo, either entire or
fplit into thin laths, or further divided into fibres to- be twifted
into cordage, or macerated into a pulp to be manufadured into
paper.
That “ there is nothing new under the fun,” was the obfer-
vation o f a wife man in days o f yore. Imprefled with the
fame