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PORTRAIT OF CHOW-TA-ZHIN,
h t his Dress o f Cermotef.
C h o w - t a - z h i n , a Q,um, o r M a n d a rin , h o ld in g a civil em p lo ym en l in
the state, wa s, with V a n -ta -z h in , entrusted b y the Em p e ro r w ith the care
o f the B ritish Embassy d u rin g its residence in C h in a . H e was a man
o f grave d ep o rtm e n t, strict in te g rity , an d sound ju d gm e n t, as well as o f
g re at e ru d itio n ; h a v in g been pre ceptor to a p a rt o f the Im p e ria l fam ily .
H is exte rnal hon o u rs were the cu stom ary d is tin c tio n o f a b lu e b a ll on
h is c a p ; from wliich was supended a peacock's feather, bein g a m a rk o f
ad d itio n a l ra n k .
H e is a ttire d in h is fu ll co u rt dress, bein g a loose gown o f s ilk or
satin, cove ring an u n d e r vest ri c h ly embroide red in silk o f the most
v iv id c o lo u rs ; th e square badge on h is b re ast, a n d its exact co u n te rp a rt
o n the back, is also o f ric h em b ro id e ry , a n d conta ins the figure o f an
im a g in a ry b ird , w h ich denotes th e we are r to be a M a n d a rin o f letters, in
lik e °m a n n e r as a tiger o n the badge w o u ld shew th e p erso n to be in a
m ilita ry c a p a c ity . T h e beads wo rn ro u n d th e neck are occasionaUy o f
coral, agate, o r o f perfumed wood, ex q u isitely c a rv ed , as affluence or
fan cy m ay dictate.
I n h is h a n d he h o ld s a p ap e r re la tive to th e Embassy.