THE PUNISHMENT OF THE BASTINADO,
Is freq u en tly used in C h in a , for slig h t offences, a n d occasionally inflicted
o n all ra n k s.
W h e n th e n um b e r o f blows sentenced b y the M a n d a rin are few, it is
considered as a gentle cha stisement o r fa th e rly co rre c tio n , an d when given
i n th is m ild w a y is n o t disgraceful, th o u g h the c u lp rit is obliged, on his
knees, w ith h is forehead to u ch in g the g ro u n d , to th a n k th e magistrate who
so k in d ly o rde red it to be adm in iste re d .
E v e ry M a n d a rin whose degree o f n o b ility does n o t exceed the b lu e b a ll
o n h is cap, is subject to th is c a stig a tio n , w h e n ord e red b y his su p e rio r;
b u t a ll above th a t ra n k can o n ly be bastinadoed at the com m an d o f the
Em p e ro r.
T h e in s trum en t used on these occasions is a sp lit bamboo, several feet
lo n g , w h ic h is ap p lied on the p o sterio rs, a n d , in crimes o f m ag n itu d e, w ith
m u c h sev e rity . I n p e tty offences, th e offender ( i f he has the means) co n triv
es dexte rously to b rib e the executioner, who, in p ro p o rtio n to the extent
o f the reward, mitigates th e violence o f the p u n ishm e n t, b y la y in g th e
s t ro k e s o n lig h tly , th o u g h w ith a feigned s tre n g th , to deceive the M an d a rin ;
an d it is said, th a t, for a d o u ce u r, some are re ad y to receive the p u n ishme n t
in ten d ed for the c u lp r i t ; th o u g h , when e ig h ty or a h u n d re d blows is the
sentenc e, it sometimes affects the life o f the wretched c rim in a l.
W h e n a M a n d a rin is from home, h e is gen e rally attended b y an officer
o f police, an d p e rh ap s one o r more soldiers, wh o are o rde red in th is sum m
a ry way to a dm in is te r some h a lf dozen blows o n any careless person who
m ig h t n eg lig en tly om it th e cu stom ary salute o f d ism o u n tin g h is h o rse , o r
kn ee lin g in the road before the great m an as he passes b y .
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