Pekin! him to marry dgain> after :ilfeF #e'G^aSe. > SeveraI of thé
female companions of hiiyouth were understood to be
nówino mórei -•
At the death of an Emperor,; all his womemare Said
to belremAvedTó'a particular building within the walls
of the. palace,' where&theyl Continue for the rest ofibetr
daysy 'seelutled from the world. NThis buildingiis termed
the PafeceofChakity;:- I
There;are, in China, a few instances of. Pagan mink
who make a vOjs& of remainingvirgins;;,J§® which, tho
contrary to:the;general maxims both ©f poMe*y?aiMl3feidi
rality in that state, theyr however, are i admired, as is
usual' for a perseverance ran 'successful effort ft for the
accomplishment'ofany thing very difficult.
On the accession, b f a hew Emperor, the 'prkitapal
persons of the: country are said to bring their daughters
to the palace for his choice. They -whnr are^atfcespted,
reflect no slight hokioür as well as credit upon9 their
familie».' Beside those selected for his'Jmpenal Majdsfyr-
others are presented as wives Or concubines to the princes'
of his blood. Concubines in China are Considered iri
the same light as the handmaids ofthe fScriptdres; ■ ;!
The missionaries about the palace, who are well av^firé
of' thé precariousness o f theirf condition in it? and how
easily alarms may be sounded against mén aiming at
changing the religion! and opinions , of the empire, are
more apprehensive of displeasing a eunuch, than affiandarinOf/
the1 formèrilteing^Oi^disposition more insolent' Pekin,
and eaptoCfpus', add^orèWubfeofc to‘>the meaner passions
of maMcefatid'reTéngdl^E^'EÿïiMssionaliy eddéavoùrs to
continue,,®! the good1]'gtatfeshfi* all'persons: Pfcthe Im-
pfe'riali family,vand others?! ab.out ithe^Oaurb, by mhch
humilitybf6^dOmèano,UE>,f3by>rem'déi;ing>fitflfe's'ttîvides: toi
them i n thèîëierefse-qf the .arts w h i ekjh^tpafo feSsfesand',
sometimes by presenting ’to them. a'nyrfiurepeani article
in hisfpOsSè'skidn^fôr which- they tniay conceive a.fancy ;
and= to]which!jis always- added,ithe r expression kbf his
humb'leithjanks forthe honour doneffiim'inmcceptingfib
T h e ' ni is s io nar ïe s genmallyispeâfeüpàn their brfe&s ,tbs
the .princes ©fcthe blood.
‘.Someimissidnariestoohstandy attended thé gentlemen
whoffiitoetM the .arrangement of;the presents atYùérfê
m!n-yuen, in l® d ^ to'-sefevé as in té rp r e to r^ a n d to ^
instructed in the natumland use o f the instruments ™
positedthere.
Thèse gentlemen:were,very handsomely/treated in
the palace,? A mandarine called uplfn them eveiyvdàyy
to. know ifithey were satisfied^and whbfcffi&fMy w-isKed
to have^any thingubeside what hads :afee ady-feepitiHsùp-*
plied to them; In :
: O n e of theffi-generally hwent*.to Pekih threeutihies a'
week. A one-hdirStochaise'wasèal^Sciysoreally"rfor him.
Sometimes he was accompanied;by£‘a mandarine .with
his servant^fctûùhc'Was frequentlylsufFefed- to go alone.-: