THE HABITATION OF A MANDARIN.
T he house o f a M a n d a rin is gene rally distinguished b y two large poles
erected before the g a te ; in tlie d ay -tim e flags are disp lay ed on these poles
as ensigns o f h is d ig n ity , an d d u rin g the n ig h t p ain ted lan th o rn s are
suspended on them.
T h e su p e rio r Chinese choose to live in great p riv a c y , th e ir habitations
therefore are g en e rally su rro u n d ed b y a w a ll; th e ir houses seldom exceed
one story in h eig h t, th o u g h th ere are some few exc eptions, as in the
re sidence o f the Embassy a t P e k in , where one o f the m a n y edifices o f th at
palace h ad ap a rtm en ts above the g ro u n d floor, an d was occupied b y the
S ecretary o f Embassy.
T h e several rooms o f a Chine se house are w ith o u t c e ilin g s, so th a t the
timb e rs su p p o rtin g th e ro o f are exposed. T h e common articles o f fu rn
itu re are, frames covered w ith s ilk o f various colours, ado rn ed w ith
m o ra l sentenc es, w ritte n in ch a rac ters o f go ld , which are h u n g in the
c om p a rtm e n ts ; on th e ir tables are d isp la y ed cu rio u s dw a rf trees, branches
o f agate, o r gold an d silve r fish, all w h ich are placed in handsome vessels
o f porc elain.