Fourteen Months in CantonMacmillan and Company, 1880 - 444 стор. "The letters forming the subject of this small work were written during a fourteen months' residence in the city of Canton, where I enjoyed many opportunities of seeing the inner life of the Chinese, and of learning much of their daily life in their own homes. The letters were written for circulation amongst my family and a few friends who kindly expressed an interest in all I saw and did in the far-off country of China. These descriptive letters accompanied others I wrote at the same time to my family, and so they do not contain any reference to domestic matters necessary to suppress. They are therefore published in extenso. We left Liverpool in the S.S. Abyssinian on our outward journey, January 13th, 1877, and arrived at New York in fourteen days. Our voyage was rough and uninteresting, especially so perhaps to me, as I was very ill the whole time. Fourteen days spent in a cabin is very trying, even to the most patient of minds"--Introduction. |
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abbot elect altar amahs amongst amused arranged arrived asked bachelors of arts bamboo blue boat boys bride Buddha Buddhist Canton carried carved centre ceremony chair chin-chinned China Chinese characters Chinese ladies chopsticks close coffin colour compradore Confucius coolie crowd curious DEAR MOTHER deceased dinner dragon dragon boats dressed duck embroidered embroidery European festival flowers front fruit garden house gates gentlemen goddess hall hands head Henry Honam honour hour Howqua idol jadestone kau-tau lanterns LETTER looked luncheon mandarins Minnie monastery monks night o'clock offerings ornamented pagoda paper paper lanterns passed pieces placed quadrangle returned rice river round sampan seated Shameen shops shrine side sight silk sitting standing stood street supposed Tartar temple told took Viceroy village walked water clock wine women worship yamun young
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Сторінка 283 - Ho 1958, 38, 141-42. group of seven stars. It is said that one of these sisters made a clan-destine marriage with a cowherd occupying a planet on the other side of the Milky Way; and once a year the wife is permitted by her sisters, who were greatly incensed at her marriage, to cross the Milky Way to meet her husband.
Сторінка 93 - The wooden index in the lowest jar is set every morning and afternoon at 5 o'clock by placing the mark on it for these hours even with the cover, through which it rises and indicates the time. The water is dipped out and poured back into the top jar when the index shews the completion of the half day, and the water is renewed every quarter.
Сторінка 112 - ... impatient to ask the gods for some information he much required. We therefore went at once into the shrine, and saw the monk and the petitioner kneeling before the altar. The monk was kneeling in front of the devotee. Wax tapers were already lighted, and burning joss sticks were in the incense burners. These were gifts from the votary. Both priest and petitioner seemed very earnest in their supplications. Three minutes, perhaps, were occupied by these prayers, then both men rose from their knees....
Сторінка 113 - ... translated. This language is supposed not to be understood by the other two assistants at this strange ceremony. The chief performer now took his instrument, which was a piece of stick about a foot in length, into his hand, or rather he balanced it on his two forefingers. It resembles a long pen handle, and is made of white wood. From the centre below projects a small piece of wood which writes on the sanded board. It altogether reminded me of the planchettes, so much in fashion a few years ago...
Сторінка 109 - ... friend, who had been let into the secret, helped himself liberally, and pronounced the dish good. I remained in ignorance of what 1 had eaten until the middle of the next day, when the gentlemen burst into a fit of laughter, and told me of the hoax that had been practiced on me, and that I had eaten dog the first morning, cat the second, and rat the third morning. Does it not show how much there is in imagination ? for had I been told beforehand what the dishes would contain, I could not have...
Сторінка 113 - ... joined the other two, whose duty, we learned, was to explain the message when written. As a spiritualistic language is the medium employed^ it requires to be translated. This language is supposed not to be understood by the other two assistants at this strange ceremony. The chief performer now took his instrument, which was a piece of stick about a foot in length, into his hand, or rather he balanced it on his two forefingers. It resembles a long pen handle, and is made of white wood. From the...
Сторінка 112 - ... further experiences as follows — "One morning we went in our sampan to the Wong-Sha suburb to the temple of Loi-Sun-Yaong, as it is there that devotees resort to receive from Loi-Sun-Yaong communications through the medium of spiritualistic writing We were asked to walk into the reception-room, and were supplied with tea, but before we had time to drink it a monk came in to say that the devotee was impatient to ask the gods for some information he much required. We therefore went at once into...
Сторінка 201 - I did not like what wan provided for me, and Minnie turned to me begging me to make greater efforts. It is so very amusing, she and I speak in the most unconcerned manner upon what is passing before us ; she explains to me the various customs I have not seen before, for in the office of interpreter she can speak to me at any moment, and for this reason she is generally placed next to me at table. " Fray help yourself," was Mrs. Howqua's frequent remark, "or we shall not think you friendly.
Сторінка 53 - ... that of potato flowers.' It is well known also that the predilection for group traits is extended to the characteristic dress, to tattooing, scarification, filed or blackened teeth, flattened head, and other voluntary alterations and deformations of the body. Mrs. Gray remarks in this connection : A Chinese lady looks elegant until she moves, when she loses all grace to our eyes (not though to the Chinese, who consider the gait of a smallfooted woman most elegant), as she hobbles about supporting...