A STANDARD BEARER.
E a r l y in th e m o rn in g o f the 3 o ih o f S eptember, 17 9 5, the Embassador
an d suite proceeded on th e ir jo u rn e y n o rthw a rd , to p ay th e customary
compliment o f m eeting th e Emperor, who was th en re tu rn in g from his
sum m e r residence in T a r ta ry , to h is palace at P e k in ; on this occasion,
each side o f th e ro a d was lin ed , as fa r as the eye co u ld re ach , rvith m a n da
rin e s , soldie rs, ace. b e a rin g b an n e rs, larg e silk trip le um b rellas, and
oth e r in s ig n ia o f Ch in e se ro y a lty . T h e P r in t represents a soldier
employed in b ea ring a s tan d a rd , o r g ilt b o a rd , o n w h ic h are depicted
ch a rac ters, w h ic h p ro b a b ly d isp la y some title o f th e Em p e ro r.
H i s dre ss is nanke en cotton, w h ich is tied ro u n d the Avaist, w ilh the
im p e ria l o r y ellow g ird le , an d h is legs are cro ss-g arte red : h is h a t is
s traw , n e a tly woven, an d fastened u n d e r th e c h in ; th e c row n is covered
w ith a frin g e o f red s ilk , co n ve rging from th e c entre, rvhere a feather is
plac ed.
H is sivord, as is cu stom ary w ith the C h in e se , is w o rn w ith th e h ilt
b e h in d .