A GROUP OF CHINESE,
Habited fo r Rainy Weather.
D l r in g the ra in y seasons, the natives o f C h in a w e ar an ex te rn al dress, w ell
ca lculated to keep them d ry , an d p re v en t, in a gre at m ea su re, su ch diseases
as arise from exposure to wet.
W a te rm e n , p e a san try , an d others, employed in the o p en a ir, are gener
a lly p rovided w ith a coat made o f straw, from w h ich th e ra in ru n s off, as
from the feathers o f a n aquatic b i rd : in a d d itio n to th is, th e y sometimes
we ar a c loak, formed o f the stalks o f k ow -lian g (m ille t), w h ich completely
covers the sh o u ld e rs ; an d a b ro a d h a t, composed o f straw and sp lit b am b
o o , w h ich defends them both from sun an d ra in . A Chinese th u s equipped
as is the s ta n d in g figure,) m ay c e rta in ly defy th e heaviest showers.
T h e so ld ie r, u n d e r an um b rella o f oiled canvas, wears h is u n d re s s ; co n sis
tin g o f a ja c k e t, o f black n an k e en , b o rd e red w ith re d ; b e h in d h im is his
c h ild , to whom h e is likewise affo rd in g shelter.
T h e figure sm o k in g , is h ab ited in a large coat, o f sk in , w ith the h a ir, o r
wool, rem a in in g o n i t : sometimes the coat is tu rn e d , an d the h a iry side
w o rn inw a rd s.