Mankers
C ustoms.
CHAPTER IJL
G i v i l G e o g r a p h y .
Manners and Cufioms.—-Language* — Literature. — Education. — UhtVeißties.—*
Cities and Towns.— Edifices.—Roads.— LnlUnd Navigation.— Manufactures and
Commerce.
THE Chinefe being a people in thé higheft ftate &£ ciyilization the(i*
manners and euftoms might require a Jorjg jd^criptijm, efpecialiy
as they are extremely different from thole of other natioris. „ The limits
of this -work will only admit a few hints. In viliting the ,fe^nqrts >of
China, foreigners have commonly been impreffe^ ziyith-the/idea of
fraud and dilhonefty;. but- it is tojbe fuppofed- thatJhefe, jjachqnalities
are not fo apparent where there arp fewer temptations. The indioiei&,
of the upper claffcs, who are even fed by their feryants, and tbp
naftinefs of the lower, who eat almoft every kind of ^nimal, ln whatever
way. it may have died, are alfo ftriking dèfeéts/ tüoygh'the latter
may be pccafronetl by dire neceffity in fo populous .a-country. : To "the
fame caufe may be imputed the expofition of infants, a cuffom which,
long prevailed in Scandinavia, and was not unknown in ancient
Greece and Rome, but which always yielded to. the -progrefs of civilization.
On the other hand the char after.oft he Chinefe is mild and
tranquil, and univerfal affability is very rarely interrupted by. the
flighteft tinfture of harlhnefs, or paffion. Thefe qualities, may be
partly imputed to the vigilant eye of the patriarchal government, and
partly to ftrift„abftinence from heating foods, and intoxicating liquors.
The general drink is tea, of which a larger veffel is prepared' in the
morning for the occafional-ufe of the family during the day. Marriages
,are conduced folely by the will of the parents, and polygamy is.allowed. Manners
T he bride is purchafed by a prefent to her parents, and is never feen by Customs.
her^.hdfband tiltóffteg the,^^r^méjffs^.'5Divoröd<i’&Ipermitted in cafe>,of
adultery, antip^thytó^^tnpefj'tatsjel^jlqi urged .by^M^ltoh j. aüdfevèq in
.Cafe o^ ju^,.ground ofije&lpqfy^ra^Bg^^d&jrjetiWi, alinfdjfól^ëdience
to bhe|'hü&]aS)4 ^ffof ban'ennefe^.,andl]>q©gtag^)q-s,-,d|fè^fe&A kMet^clivefrcéMI ‘'
a.Ke,.r^fig ^ipq’ngrtho higher claflTqs,^iwdfe*p 1 uyalify éf Wiyeslen^Jls them
t o . p ^ p i l h ' h y r n e g l ^ f i j j ^ I t p ^ j S ^ | : i l p ^ m i t T ^ d ^ ! |© | | l | i ^ _ 3 i h ; ' ' ‘
,an^0ï%‘t:%P§^®frbifear^^mtnppl)«dSj^‘ba,rren -hi]M«and frnoUjjW^g,^'
where;,fehergtis^p@i‘chanGe,that; ag^ep^u^ëj wiflMifrurb' the Rories of the,
dead., i, The gojour of jmp^rningdf ^fiït^«th'2|:*’personal -neglje^ or-tfor-
getfulfeejs isftayv;apppatj in its fqualor.;, and hiqught ,©'n.]Iqleinnffoc|p|ipnns
jlq.ehp tl fiü e , y e a^g, v b u t yÖ^qMife^epd^^tw,&jitfc|&mjmp^ths* ‘ ■
Thhjwallslofth& hqipe^arp^i^q|ic^stof>riGj£ylQ^MMifchp^cj4'¥| but
.mpjpexo.^^qplysfifwop^^ji^id they g§nerall^®Gq^ft etóy^of a .ground'
,fiopr^thpugh.ii3jKfefc of Jne^cjianj^ |herel;bf rfqmetimes .»a fq.fcbnd, djpry,
whichlfialins the warehquIe/’ ThehQhfesvare ‘èiHaamente'd. with.calurn.ns,
tgoAn p a n .gal 1'Cr.ie.x, but7<.thiP; atticlqsjQf furnitftra are ffiWj.^ w^fe‘drdfs/rslt
long, Jw%^srgG/fleeves, .anpya flowinslgijple io£i_filk.*, !"The 'fhirb and
^r,awers yary^r^Qrdingt:ptthe.fihfOTS4''ahd m \yntu tho ufe ofduisns'
, general,^-iropr the ^kijjT of mft.flitc p it*bf tho crnuneJ rhé||qaÉaë.
cQYv^4.,wA^1 ft /biall hah in theiron'm ©Fa funae 1 hifh this varies among »
the*|un^mr'hlaqe^.vwhoferank is -diftingmlhed Ab^a Wge.bead.qnilm'q',
top, •Sjyerhfied uh^cplqur ^according..tp th'e^ualtty.>^^'^fejfe;i^ . Jin
general, fimplé* and* uniform j muTjon the audience giv^J^teffMa-.^
VjCartne^jtmt, of the emperor was only dmingplfhed by c^^ame-nearr in *
"his bonnet.' , The Cpief .ammèmM® of the Cpuneie feemTo^p'.aramroj1 >
^xnibmohs^ure'\^rks, * 'in whiQh^itóyd^^^tq, all’^pW^.natMs*,, .and
feats of deception and dexterity. '
The language is elleeined the mod lingular on the face of the globe. Language.
Almofr every' fyliable’1 cohftitufes,a^wdrd ‘ md.tndrê’T^lffiajr.ceJy^ifgQ^d.
diftin£b,‘ibu*nd§ i yèt ih/tlie language’.tnexeta^e^Teaft.SoJSoo j’j
characu'p'sV OT diffèrentYoïmi ó^|etters, fó' thaf’everyTounu m a yu fte
'about ro.yfenfes.1 The .leading' Im'aradters .’at&.'déBbmirtated^kéys,^ ^
‘ Da Halde, ii. 146. -1' V * Staunton, iii. 418..