A SOLDIER IN HIS COMMON DRESS.
T he a rm y o f C h in a ca n n o t be considered fo rmid ab le , th e ir troops being
n a tu ra lly effeminate, an d w ith o u t tbe courage o f E u ro p e an soldiers : one
reason assigned fo r th is is a mode o f ed u c atio n wblcli is n o t ca lculated to
in sp ir e a n a tio n w ith courage, an d it m a y p a r tly be accounted fo r, from
th e ir h av in g enjoyed u n in te rru p te d peace since th e ir su b ju g a tio n b y the
T a r ta rs .
E v e ry so ld ie r, o n his marriag e, a n d on th e b irth o f a m a le ch ild , is
in title d to a d o n a tio n from the Em p e ro r; an d th e family o f a deceased
so ld ie r receives likewise a gift o f condolence.
T h e undress o f a C h in e se o r T a r ta r so ld ie r consists o f a sh o rt ja c k e t o f
b la c k o r red nankeen, w ith a b o rd e r o f an o th e r c o lo u r; u n d e r th is is a
garment o f the same materia l, w ith lo n g s le ev e s : w h e n th e weather is cold,
one o r more dresses are w o rn u n d e r th is. T h e flag at his back is o f s ilk ,
a n d fastened b y means o f a socket attached b e h in d ; these are gene rally
w o rn b y ev e ry fifth m a n , an d make a v e ry g ay appe arance .
T h e i r bows are o f elastic w o o d , covered on th e outsid e w ith a lay e r o f
h o rn , an d req u ire the power o f from seventy to one h u n d re d p o u n d s in
d raw in g th em ; the string is composed o f silk th re a d s c lo sely w o ulded, and
th e arrows are we ll made and p o in ted w ith steel. T h e i r scymeters. th o u g h
ru d e ly formed, are said to equal the best from S pain.
T h e m ilita ry establishment o f C h in a , in c lu d in g cavalry and in fa n try ,
consists o f 1, 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 m e n . V id e the A p p e n d ix to S ir G . S ta u n to n s
Ac co u n t o f the Em b a ssy to C h in a .