al8 C O M M E R C E B E T W E E N
merits and artificial flowers : the Chinefe readily allow
ftrangers to draw afide the curtains, and look at the
idols.
The Bucharian * merchants inhabit the South Weft
quarter of Maimatfchin. Their houfes are not fo large
nor commodious as thofe of the Chinefe, although the
greateft part of them carry on a very confiderable
commerce.
The Governor The Surgutfchei, or governor of Maimatfchin, has the
o f Maunatf- of the police, as well as the direction of all affairs
relating to commerce: he is generally a perfon of
rank, oftentimes a Mandarin, who has mifbehaved
himfelf in another ftation, and is fent here as a kind
of puniftiment. He is diftinguifhed from the reft by
the cryftal button of his cap, and by a peacock’s f fea-
* “ The chief merchandizes which the Bucharians bring to Ruffia,
“ are cotton, fluffs, and half-filks, fpun and raw cotton, lamb-fkins,
precious ftones, gold-duft, unprepared nitre, fal-ammoniac, &c.
See Ruffia, or a complete Hiftorical Account o f all the nations -that
compofe that empire. V. II p. , a very curious and interefting work
lately publilhed.
4 - In China the princes of the blood wear three peacock’s feathers,
nobles o f the higheft diftinftion two, and the lower clafs o f the nobility
one. It is alfo a mark of high rank to drive a carriage with four
wheels. The governor o f Maimatfchin rode in one -with only two
wheels. A ll the Chinefe wear buttons of different colours in their caps,
which alfo denote the rank. Pallas Reife, P. III. p. 126.
ther
R U S S I A A N D CHINA .
ther hanging behind. The Chinefe give him the
title of Amban, which fignifies commander in chief;
and no one appears before him without bending the
knee, in which pofture the perfon who brings a petition
muft remain until he receives the governor's anfwer.
His falary is not large | but the prefents which he receives
from the merchants amount annually to a confiderable
fum.
2I9
The mofi remarkable public buildings in Maimatfchin,
are the governor’s houfe, the theatre, and two
pagodas.
The governor’s houfe is larger than the others, and Houfe of *=
better fumifhed ; it is diftinguilhed by a chamber where
the court of juftice is held, and by two high poles before
the entrance ornamented with flags.
The theatre is fituated clofe to the wall of the town Theatre,
near the great pagoda : it is a kind of fmall fhed, neatly
painted, open in front, and merely fpacious enough to
contain the ftage; the audience ftand in the ftreet.
Near it are two high poles, upon which large flags with
Chinefe inforiptions are hoifted on feftivals. On fuch
occafions the fervants belonging to the merchants play
lhort burlefque farces in honour of their idols.
F f 2 The