Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-wilkinson/Chapter 9

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Chapter 9: Fabricating Ghosts to Frighten a Beauty, Only to Make Her Burst Out Laughing

From: Hau Kiou Choaan, or The Pleasing History. Translated by James Wilkinson, edited by Thomas Percy (London, 1761)

Note: This text was digitized via OCR from the original 1761 print. Page numbers preserved as [p. N]. Some scan errors may remain -- compare with the modern translation and Chinese original to verify.

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[Volume II, Book II, Chapters VII-VIII]

CHAP. VII.*

ALTHOUGH tuh'chung'U wa» not a little offended 4t the in> pertinence of the old man and the Man* darine of the village, yet sometimes he could not forbear laughing at the ri- diculous distress in which he was in- volved ; and when fuppet was brought, made no fcruple to e^t and drink hearti* ly : then ordering Stow- fan to get rea- dy his bed, without any ceremony lay down to flcep.

The moon f at this time was neap

the

• CHAP. IX. In the TranflatoHs manufcript.

t It may perhaps divert the Reader to meq- t'pn here, that as our Ruftics have fancied the dark Vol. IL N ^-^^^v the full and fhone very bright : now it happened that he awoke about mid- night, and opening his eyes, faw very clearly, Tbao-cbie fitting on his bedside \ who perceiving him to ftir, ftretched forth her hand to embrace him. Upon which he ftarted and said, *' Forbear, woman ! How can you offer at an in- decency fo ill becoming your fex?'* This fatd, he turned himself about again to flecp. The girl was fo con founded at this rebuke that Ihe anfwer- ed not a word ; but went and laid her

(hades in the Moon to repre/ent a man luith a bujhj lanthorn and dog, isfc. So the Chinefe have conceived them to refemble a rabbit or hare pounding rice in a mortar. And in their firft books, which are put into the hands of children, the Moon is fo pidlured. Again, as we paint the Sun with a human face, the Chinefe rcprefcnt it by m cock fwiihin a circle, iffc. Vide plura apud P. Du Halde, vol. i. pag. 374. etal. auth,

self

A CHINESE HISTokY. 179

self down near the feet of the bed. X^<- thay-congj who did not sleep a wink all night, but fat watching without, heard him reprimand the girl for her for- wardnefs : by which he clearly perceived him to be a modcft and virtuous youth \ and no way inclined to any thing bad *. " I am now convinced, said he to himself, that thfs woman's running away was all her own contrivance. The stranger is faultlefs, and I have certain- ly wronged him.*' For which reason he would gladly have fct him at liber- ty •, but rcflefting that he was the Mandarine's prisoner and committed to his cuftody, he contented himself with faying, *^ To-morrow, whien we go be-

♦ "Clean and free from any thing bad." Tranflator's MS.

N % ^^^'^

i8o HAU KIOU CHOAAN.

fore the audience,! will endeavour to.

kt the matter right/*

At break of day the old man carried- with him a purfe of money, and went to the Mandarine to defire him to drop the affair, and not bring it be- fore a fuperior tribunal. The Man- darine [willing to fliew his power] aa- fwered him fternly, " Did you fend mc hither, or inveft me with this office, that I am to be direded by you in the execution of it ? The order * was written out laft night, and you muft all go this morning before the Tao-yee. Come J come; let us set out.** The old man seeing there was no remedy, brought the persons in his cuftody

• The Chj>. MS.

and

A CHINESE HISTORY. i8i

and attended the Mandarine ; who let t)ut with them followed by a great crowd of people.

Now it happened to be the birth- day t)f the TCao-yee^ and a great number of Mandarines were come to vifit him in compliment to the occasion : but as the trumpets had only founded the firft time *, and the gates were not yet thrown

open,

• Near the great gate of a Mandarine's pa- lace arc two small towers, wherein are drums and other indruments of muiic ; on which they play at. different hours of the day, efpecially when the Mandarine goes in or out, or afcends the tribunal. P. Du Halde, vol. i. p. 284.

When they found the firft time, the Manda- rines, &c. who wait without to receive orders, are to be in readinefs : when the second time, they go in to do bufinefs : when the third time, the gates are fhut again. Trawf.

N. B. It is a ufual compliment to a Governor, &c. on his birth-day for all the odicr Mandarines of the place to vifit him. At the fame time the N 3 \^'v^- open, they were all waiting without. When therefore they faw the concourfe of people coming, they sent to know what was the matter : and were told that a young man had run away with another person's concubine. The people that were present alked him, how he, who seemed to be a gentleman, could be capable of such an aflion. Tieh-cbung-u made them no anfwer. Then they aflced the girl if that was the person, who had inticed her away. She replied,

principal inhabiunts of his diftrift frequently go m a body and falute him at his palace. When the latter are admitted into his prefcncc, one of them taking v/ine lifts it up on high, and with both hands oHers it to the Mandarine, and fays aloud by way of wi(h ; " This is the ivine that

• ' brings gr.cd luck*^ * * This is the njuine that Brings

'* long life»^ Then another presents sweetmeats, faying, ** Thi< the fngmr of long life,'* Sec. This ceremony i<; afterwards repeated by the rcfl. See P. Pu if aide, vol. i. 294.

had

• • Yes ^ it was he who pcrfuaded me

to do it.*' This anfwcr fhe gave to every one that alked her; which did not a little pleafe the Mandarine of the village. It happened that at the fame time arrived the Pao Che-bien* from whom J^ieihcbung-u had fo lately parted. He likewise was come to vifit the ^ao-yie^ and to compliment him on the occasion of the day. As he came out of his chair, he looked round and faw the crowd that was ga- thered about the youth. Upon which h« sent to the Mandarine of the village -j- to inquire what was the matter, and

why

• He is here mentioned with his furnamc

prefixed to that of his office. Tranf.

f In the original, ** Zhe-quan, or little Man- darine of the village.'*

Mandarine^ or rather Mandarimy is a Portu- N 4. ^'iJ^. why they crowded fo about that young gentleman? He came up and told him, that he had been taken along with a young woman, whom he had feduced ; and that having been brought before him, he was willing to carry him to a higher tribunal. When the Cbe-bien, heard this, he was very angry and said.

guefe word signifying commander ; from Mandar (q, a mandare Lat.J to rule, command. Sec, Un- der this general appellation the Portuguefe (who firft entered China) have comprehended all the degrees of Chinefe magiflrates and officers, mi- litary and civil. In the language of the country they have the title of^an or ^an-/u, Ruler, Pre- sident, from their authority ; and that of Lao^ (or Lau')yee, i.e. Lord or Master, on account of their quality. This laft is properly the title of Literati of the firft rank, whether in any employ- ment, or not, but is sometimes given in compli- ment to others : even Shuey-gunvin is in the ori- j;inal of Page 124. mentioned by a servant un- dcx the nami^ oi Shuey-u-lao-yee.

P. Du I-hlde, vol. 1. 2, &c. Lettres edif. vol. iii. 132.

"It*

• • It is falfe. 1 do not believe it. Some

villainous trick is played him. Do you know that his name is Tieh-cbung-Uj son of the Tu-cba-yuen or Superior of the viceroys*. He was at my city, and was preffed to marry a young lady of the firft rank there, which for par-

• Although the Tranflator's interpretation of

this Title hath every where been retained, it seems to be inaccurate. Tu-cha-yuen is the name of a tribunal ; the Mandarines that compofe it, being controllers of the court and all the empire. Tieh-ying was probably either president or firft afleflbr of this tribunal. The former of thefe is equal in dignity to the president of the fix fupe- rior tribunals, and is a Mandarine of the second order : and the firft affefTor is of the third, &c. Their employment is to take care, both at court ^nd over all the empire, that the laws and good cuftoms are observed ; that the Mandarines per- form their functions juftly and truly; and that all the people do their duty. They punifh flight faults in their own tribunals, but great offences tliey report to the Emprror. It is from this court that every three or four years vifitors are di(^ patched over all the empire. P. Magal. p. 222. Lettresedif. xxv. 253, 255.

tlculac ticular reasons he declined : And is it likely that he would come to a paultry village and take up with such a dirty thing as this ? No : there is some vil- lainy at the bottom." '* I know nor- thing of that, said the other : but he was brought before me by the old man^ who was injured : and the woman her- self accufes him of being the cause of her elopement. However I have not pre- tended to determine any thing about it : and for that reason have brought them hither.'*

The Too Cbe-bien then ordered his people to look out for a convenient place, where he might fit down and examine into the matter*. When he

was

• A Mandarine may in some cafes a6l out of hii own diftri&9 and can in^OL \iw& B^iUnaLdo was feated he said tQ the youth, "You have but juft now left my city : how is it that you have caused this crime to be laid to your charge ?" Upon which he told him all that ha4 happeried. "Well, said the others and did not you inquire the name of the young man, whom ypu met with this wo- man?'* "He replied, I did. He is coufm to the old m^n, aud his name is Suan^yin.** When the Che-him heard this, he called for Lee-tbay-cong -and the girl •, and reprimanded the for- mer, faying, " Are not you afliamed, thus advanced in years, to take fo young a creature to be your con- any where; in the ftreet, upon the road, or wherever he finds occaiion.

See P. Du Halde, v. i. p. 31 1. Lettres edi- iiant. Rec. 22. p. 244. P. Le Compte, torn. 2. p. 28. P. Semedo> p. 240.

cubine ? "Cubine ? You were unable to manage and govern her, fo (he (Iruck up an intimacy with your cousin and would have run away with him. And now when people have endeavoured to reftore her to you, you abufe them for it. Is it thus you repay the ferviccs which are done you ? Your age protcfts you or I would have you baftinadoed *. Tieh-cbung-u in- terceded for him and the young wo- man, and defired they might be re- leafed :

• The Baftinado may be called the daily bread of the Chinefey being inflifted on all ranks and on all occasions : it is bellowed on the bare breech with an inflrumcnt many feet long, called Pan^ ifey l>eing a thick piece of fplit Bamhu (a hard mafTy and heavy fort of cane) which is rendered flat on one side and broad as one's hand. If ihe number of blows does not exceed twenty, it ii crcccmcd a fadicrly corredion, and not at all

difgrace-

^ CHINESE HISTORY. 189.

leafed : which was immediately grant- ed. After which the little Mandarine of the village came up and made his reverence, aflcing pardon for what he had done.

Then

diferaceful : for the Emperor himself causes it to be mflidled on persons of diftindion, and behaves to them afterwards as ufual. A very small matter will incur this fatherly chaftifement, as the giving abufive language, a few blows with the 1^^, Sec, After the corrcdiion is over they are to kneel at the feet of their judge, bow their, bodies three times to the earth, and thank him for his care of them.

When a Mandarine fits in judgment he hath before him on a table, a Cafe Ml of small Sticks or Tallies, and is attended by ofHcers called Uft\ holding thefe cudgels in their hands relied on the ground : who when the Mandarine throws down thefe tallies, feize the offender, lay him on his face on the ground, pull his drawers over his, heels, and give him alternately five blows a-piece for every tally on his bare (kin. In flight cafes the offender may by a dexterous bribe procure them to lay their blows on lightly : or even hire others to receive them in his flead.

When they are laid on very fcverely before

I90 HAU KIOU CHOAAN.

Then the Cbe-hien said to the young gentleman, ** Yefterday I was defirous you Ihould day with me longer, but could not fucceed. To-day I have the good fortune to meet with you again, and as you are detained by this

the great tribunals, ievcnty, or eighty blows will difpatch a perfbn, and many die under them. (P. SemedoJ At other times 200 have beeh received without loss of life. (Lettres edifiant xix, 6g.J

A Mandarine never flirs abroad without being attended by thefe Liclors, and if aperson does not difmonnt when he pafles by, or happens to crois his road, &c. he is sure to receive &wq or fix blows, which are over in a moment.

Parents give this corrcilion to their child ren. Pedagogues to their fcholars, and Mailers to their servants : for they never ufe whips.

All kinds of punifhment, &c. begin with this as their firft coorfe, and it is fo common, that all bellow it, all receive it, and all have felt it. So that as Japan is said to be governed by the Ca^ tana or fcimitar, China may be laid to be ruled by the Pan-t/e or Battoon.

P. Semedo, p. 141, &c. P. Du Halde, vol. i. p. 3 1 1 . P. LrC Compte, torn. 2. p. 60. Let- tres ediiiant. Rec. 19. p. 437.

accident^ accident, I hope now you will fpend a day or two with me." The other told him he was fo complaifant he knew not how to refuse him. The Man- darine charmed with his compliance, said, *^ With your leave then, I will go and present my compliments to the Tao-yiiy and inftantly come back to you.'*

When he had given his present to that magiftrate and wifhed him joy on his birth-day, he returned home with ^kh'Chur^'U and made a fplendid enter- tainment for him. When they were at table * he every now and then made

the'

♦ Anciently the Chme/e ufed neither Tables nor Chairs, but (ate and eat fquat on the floor, like all the other Eaftem Nations : but ever since tlic dynafty of Han (which ended about 180 the fair Shuey -ping- fin the fubjeft of his difcourfe : which was ever in her praise.

• ' Sir, said the youth, all you fay of

years before Christ) they have ufed both Chairs and Tables : of which they they have many very beautiful and of several falliions. At their • great Entertainments, every gueft hath set before him a little neat fquare Table beautifully ja» pannedy on which arc ferved the several diihes deAgned for him, either in bowls of the fame japanned fluff, or of china. In some cafes, when the great number of guefls conftrains them, they set two to each table. Thefe Tables are set off in the fore-part with filk ornaments of needle- work or pieces of linen, hanging down from, the edge : but have neither table cloths nor nap- kins. For the Chtnefe never touch their meat with their hands, neither ufe knives, forks, nor fpoons ; but only two small Sticks of ivory or ebony tipped with filver : all their meat being minced (mail. Thefe Sticks are called by the Chtnefe ^uay-tfey and by some of our Voyagcri Choffticks, which they manage fo dexteroufly that they can take up a grain of rice with them. How they contrive to cat foup with them will be shewn in a future note. P. Semedo, p. 66, &c. P. Du Halde, vol. i. p. 299, 301, ^c. Mod. Univ. Hill. viii. 277.*

her

A CHINESE HISTORY, igj

her is but juft« I now. look upon you as my friend, and shall tell you one thing very truly. When I faw her the firft time at your audience, her beauty made the deepeft impreflSon on my heart. But afterwards when my ill fortune involved me in trou* ble, and (he was pleafed to take me into her house, where fhe treated me with all the tendcrnefsof a sister: then was I forced to relinquifh my hopes. For my having been her gueft fo long hath caused a suspicion, which, al- though at present it seems forgotten, would not fail to revive, should such a marriage take place y and we should both be involved in difgrace and un- happinefs. Do not urge me therefore, any more on this fubjcft, left you «94 HAU KIOU CHOAAN.^

cauie me to take an oath to you, thM I never will think of it. After what hath pailed, to profecute this marriage would be againft all good order/' The de-hren urged him no farther on the fubjeftr When therefore they both had drank till mklnight^ they retired to reft.

' jfn the mormng when Tieh-cbung-u was about to profecute his journey, the Pao Cbe-bien ordered his servants to bring him twelve Jhoes^ or pieces of filver i which he presented to the young gendeman in order to defray his expen- ccs on the road. When he would have returned him thanks, he prevent- ed him, faying, " This is not worth mentioning : I only defire you to hear

me me a word or two. You muft not- go travelling about the' world in this manner. You had better return to your house, and pafs your time with books in study. And when the day of examination arrives, you may come to be made a great doftor, and have your name famous throughout the world. But if you proceed in your present method, ypu will never acquire reputation and glory.** " Sir, said the youth, I thank you for your good counfel ; and shall not forget it.*^ Then bidding adieu to each other, they parted.

When Tieh'chung'U was got upon

the road, he could not help refledling

on the change fo vifible in the Che-hieif's

O 2 beha- behaviour: and elpccially on the ear^ neftnefs with which he had urged hin> to profecute the marriage. " Is it, said he to himielf, from any private views of his own, or from a sincere inclination to ferve me? Whatever were his intentions, I havQ fald nothing., that can bear an. ill conftru£tioil.** Then he reflefted on the lovely features and fine person of Sbtay-png-Jini as well as on her great ingenuity and sense. " What a capacity muft flie^ poflefs> would he fay ; to extricate hcr- fclf out of fomuch danger? Again, what goodnefs muft Ihc have, whca I had left her house fo abruptly upon the difcourie of her uncle without ta- king leaving of her, that (he did not leient it : but on the contrary lent m^

a pre- a present for my journey? Another woman would have been highly aflfront- ed at my going away in fo unhand- some a manner. Whoever can obtain her will be very happy. I am the mofl unlucky of all mankind. Had I been fortunate, 1 fliould have come to the city where (he lives like myself, with- out any difturbance; Then I might have heard of her in such a manner, as with a good grace to have pro- pofed a treaty of marriage, and miglit perhaps have fucceeded. 3ut as my acquaintance commenced with her through trouble and misfortune, there is no touching upon such a fobjeft. I am very unhappy. Her a^e is eX" ceeding fuitable, and fo is her eond^ tion and temper to mine.'* A? he Q 3 ^^ was going on in this penfive manner, his iervant intreated him to mind his way, which they fhouid be in danger of lofing, and begged of him not to be fo much call down. " Siow-tan^ said he, I was thinking of Sbutf-fing-Jin^ what a lovely and what a fenfible lady (he is : and how great is my mif- fortune not to have known her but through troubles and difturbance *. Were I to search the world through, I (hould never m.et with one of fo many perfe6tions, and such tranfcendent goodnefs." ** I believe, Sir, said he, her equal is not be found under hea- ven -f-." "Now, said his rpafter, I will

• The Cbine/e cxprcflion is, " Through troa*

• • fomc times."

t In the original it is, ** Under the copes of •• Heaven."

go

A, CHINESE HISTORY, i^

go home and stay a year, and when the examination is held, will offer my- self a candidate. If I come oflf with credit and fliccefs, I shall have fulfilled my duty to my father and mother, y/hether I am promoted to an office or not, I shall be unconcerned, pro- vided I can but acquire a name. Then will Shuey-png-Jin hear of it, and be convinced how fteadily I adhere to my wqrdt and how pundually I follow the advice fhe gave me.**

Hayii}g confirmed himfclf V] thef^ resolutions, he put forward op the rqad towards the city oi^^ab-ming^ tl^K {dace of his birth.

O 4 CHAP.

^00 HAU KIOU CHOAAN^'

CHAP. VIII.

CHUET'ping'Jln having fcnt her fcr- vant with a preient of money and Iwcetmcats [as was before related] was not a little impatient, when fhe found he did not return. Her fears fuggefted some mifchief had happened, fo that (he was plunged in great anxiety and con* ^rn, till the afternoon, when her me& fenger came back. She inquired the reafbn of his (tay, and was mformed that the young ilranger was but juft departed from the city : that her present had been delivered to him, and that with it he had hired a mule for his journey. She afked what he bad laid at bis departure. Then Shuy^

A CHINESE HISTORY, lot

yeong faithfully related all that he was ordered to report.. She said no- thing to him farther at that time, but bidding him refrelh himself retired to her apartment. When Ihe was alone, flic refleftcd, that although Tielhcbuftg-u had met with difturbance on her ac« count, ihe had made him all the retumt in her power: that he was now fully recovered) and was no longer involved in trouble for her iake. This gave her a > {atisfa£tion, which was alone interrupted by her fears of fbme new attack from Kwo-kbe-lzu and her un- cle : to prevent and obviate thefe would, ihe thought, require her attention.

Shame for the ill fuccefi of hit ^hemes had kept Sbug-gmnn for feme

days days from her boufe ; when one morn* ing fhe faw him enter with a vifible iatisfadion in his countenance. He came up and afked if Ihe had beard the news. ^^ How (hould I who ^m a woman and live reclufe, (be anfwer* ed, know what pai&s abroad io the world ?** J^c replied, " I will tell you, When you brought home to your houie the young stranger Tiib^ I thought fo highly of hinx, as to propoie him to you for a hufband. Your ileady refuial was a great proof of your judgment and penetration. If you had consentr 0d9 yoy would have been very unhap* py. Whom could you believe thi^ stranger to be ?'* She replied, " I know nothing of hicp or his family. But his ilHcourfe and a^ons ihewed him to

be

A CHINESE HISTORY. • aoj

ht a man of sense and honour." Her wncle aflfc6bed to laugh at this very heartily : " Ay, ay ! said he, a man of great sense iand honour to be sure ! You have always difcoveredgreatdifcernnient hitherto. Your eyes were like the fun. How came they now to be fo eclip- fed ? Tiib'cbung'U is an impoftor ; his pretended ficknefs was all a cheat. What ill intentions he had, I know not : but you gre very lucky, that he did nothing here to involve you in dif- grace. The pitcher goes often up anci down the well, but is broken at laft*.

He

• The Tranflator hath here fabjoined the ori- ginal words, JVauh quoan poo ly tfthing fi?an fe. The Reader will remark the difference between this proverb and its correfpondent one with us, ^he pitcher goes many times to tht inelU hut comts fjome broken at laft.

The Cbintfe apply their Eaithen-ware to He had no sooner left this city^ but coming to the village Tong-cbin he was

guilty

snore nfes than we» but we are not to fapjpofe that it U all of that kind, which we call China* ware or Porcelain. Thb is eren with Uiem a dear and valuable commodity. They have many forts of common potters ware inade a!l over the empire ; but this laft is mapnfadored only at one place called King-te-ching. This is a large town in the province of Kiang-fi^ three miles long and containing near a million of fools : which hath something lo peculiar in the temper of the air or quality of the waters, that although none of the principal ingredients are fo^nd ia its neighbourhood, the Manufa^ure could never be made to fucceed any where elfe.

P. Dentrecolles a French Jefuit hath obliged the world with a very ingenious and txidt De- fcription of the whole procefs, from which and the other authors referred to below, we (hall ex- tract such an account as may anfwer all the pur- pofes of amufement.

The Chinefe call this curious ware Tfe^M* ^^ name of Poreeiain is derived from the Portu-

Sefe, with whom PoreeUana iignifies a (up, or son, or (aucer ; and was firft applied to thoie white glofly fliells called Cowrie^^ which jpaft for money on the coaft of Africa\ and aner- - wards to china-ware, probably ftropi an opinion tjutf it m»;ht be composed of them. Tliia sne jnanufa&uxc u of ^o\oTi^^t)^v&!^ guilty of a very fcandalous aftion." She eagerly inquired, " What he had

done?*'

among the Cbiuefe^ tfhat their oldeft recordf mention nothing of its inventor or difcovery. The town abovementioned hath been famous for making it upwards of thirteen hundred years.

There are, exclufive of (he colours, three prin- cipal ingredients in china : thefe are a dry Earth, a moift Clay, and a ftony Oil.

The firft is a kind of done, of a very fine grain, ground to powder, which being mixed with water and reduced to a cream, is brought tb the coniiftence of pafle*

The second is a kind of fullers earth, of a greyi(h white, full of ihining particles. Thefe two are brought to King-te-cbingf in the form of bricks : the former of them is called by the Cbim/e, ** the fielh'* and ** the latter the bones'* of the china.

The third ingredient is the oil, which is drawn from a particular ftone by a very curious pro- cefs, and mixed with another liquid extraded ^ from lime and fern afhes. The former are the materials of which china is corapofed ; the latter, the vamilh which gives it the glofly whitenefs.

It would be ufeleis to trace the work through all the different hands of the manufadturers : let it fuffice to fay, that their firft care is to pre- pare the materials to the highefl dmee of fine- ' nefs and purity, a hair or grain of fand bein^ fu£cicnttofpoilthcpi6C«itum« "IV&i&ax^- done ?" " He went into the house, said be, of a rich man there, who had a

beautiful

rials are then delirered over to the Potttrs, where it paiTes from wheel to wheel and from hand to hand ; one applying it to the mold, ano^tr thinning it with the chizzel, a third fmootk- iftg the edges : thus a cap or fancer (hall fomc* times pafi through feventy hands before it it compleated ; each of which uies foch difpatch, that a workman at the wheel j'eqoirei bat tifrt£ dimers [half a farthing] for twcnQr-iix pieces.

From thefe it pafiei to be painted and vamifli* ed with the oil abovementioned Of the Pain- ters, one flrikes the circle at the edge, a iecond iketches the figures, which are painted by a third, &:c.

Laft of all it is sentto the furnace, of whidi there are not lefs than three thoafand in Kin^ U'cbing.

•* I have been surprized, fays P. DentncoUet^

• • to fee a porter ballance upon his (hoaldert
  • two long narrow boards ranged with china-
• ' ware, and pafs through fo many croaded
  • ftreets without breaking them. It is true,
  • people are careful to avoid hitting them
• < never fo little ; for in that cafe tbty * would
• ' be obliged to make good the damage ; bat

^ still it is furprizing mat he can prclerve his

• ' cquilibrinm.

When ^ Moi^ Porter oi it it cibfardl;^ e9(VreJ)td tn P« IHc Uaidg, £ng. 'voL i.^. ^49*

A CHINESE HISTORY, toy

beautiful concubine, of whom he was very sond. What brought him there I

know

When brought to the- oven the chma is in« clofed in earthen cafes ; one or more pieces in a cafe: which are afterwards piled up within the oven in fach a manner, that the bottom of one ferves for a cover to the top of another.

The Ovens or Furnaces are each about twelve feet high, and twenty four wide ; and will re- quire at one baking one hundred and eighty bur- dens [charges frJ\ of wood. At firft the oven is heated for a day and a night : the fire is after- wards kept up by two men, who relieve each other and throw in wood. The Chinefe are of opinion that the whole mafs is reduced to a state of fluidity, which they infer from hence, that if a small copper coi^ f be put on the top of one of the piles in the furnace, it will pierce all the cafes and veiTels, fo that each will have a hole in the middle. When the ware is baked, &c. they difcontinue the fire, and keep the door of the ovsn (hut for some time. It is afterwards taken out for fale.

After fo much care and labotu', we are not to wonder that fFne china-ware is dear in Europe^ efpecially if we add, that few bakings fac- ceed quite well, and that often the whole is loft, the ware and cafes being reduced to a fubfUnce as folid as a rock. Too fierce a fire, or infulE-

cient

t N. B- No kind: of mtt&\ can >at xcvai^it \a vcwst* porate withForcdain. know not, but Tieh-cbung-u carried this woman away. The rich men in the

villages,

cient cafes, may fpoil all. Thus a Handred workmen are rained for one that gets rich ; to which the rigoroas demands of £e Emperor and the Mandarines do not a little contribate* Thefe often require works impoilible to be performed*

Every trade in China hath its tutelar deitj^^ and that of the Potters owes its original to the following accident. The Emperor sent down models, which after many vain attempts^ the workmen huml)ly represented it was not poliible to execute : they received no other an-« iwer but blows, and flill more pre^g inflahces : at laft one of the workmen in despair thrcfir himself into the burning oven and was confumed in an inftant. The china«ware then baking it is said proved perfedly fine, and entirely ta the Emperor^s liking. The defperado became an hero, and was thenceforth worihipped as the divinity prefiding ove rthe Porcelain works, under the name of Pu-fa.

A Ithough the Cbine/i Workmen cannot execute all the models which are brought them, yet they compleat many furprizing works : thus we are told they cannot make muare Slabs of china of one piece big enough lor the top of a table, or feat, or pidure-firame, &c : the largeft th^ can attain to beine but about a foot fquare, all tfxcreding that are lore to warp ; jtxP.Dintri^ villages, have a greater authority over the inhabitants, than thofe of the city ; So that a great many people were dif- patched after them, who overtook them both together ; when they came up with them, blows enfued, in confequence of which they beat him till he was almoft killed. Then they carried him before

the

coUes aiTares us that he hath feen a large Lan- thorn, like that of a fhip, all of china, through which one candle enlightened a whole room. He tells us alfo that they make Flutes, Flage- lets, and other mufical inilruments of porcelain ; as like wife Ducks and Tortoifes to float on the water: and that he hath feen a Cat fo painted to the life, with a lamp placed in its head to re- present the eyes, that Rats were frightened at it. The fame Writer informs us that they have made Urns, which have coft more than eighty crowns a piece at the furnace.

To conclude this long Notc,-wc are told the Chinefe are almoft as curious in European glafies and cryftals, &c. * as we are in china-ware : and that if a sondnefs for Old china prevails

• M B, The Chinefe Mirrours are of polified fictU P, Du Halde 1. 196. Leiirti cdifiant* 3cv;^u* \^v

Vol. II. ? ^xcwCiTi^

a 10 HAU KIOU CHOAAN.

the Mandarine of the village. There he difputed with, and fo provoked thac magiftrate, that he gave out an or* dcr to carry him before the ^ao-^yii. The refult I have not heard : but when he came before that audience, I doubt not but he would let fall sonic provoking word, and procure himself to be beat fo fevercly, as not to ftir-

vive it.'*

" Pray, Sir, said Sbuey-ping-finj how

ai^ong our Virtuofosy it is carried to flill greater height in China^ w)^ere the smalleft uteniil which is of great antiquity will setch an extravagant price. It is believed that the fuperior beauty and excellence of the ancient china, was owing to their taking greater time to mature and pre- pare their materials, than the present quick demands from Eurofe will allow them.

See Lettres edifiant. Rec. 12. p. 258—360.

Rec. 16. p. 320 — 366. P. Du Halde. vol,

I. p. 338 — 353. Mod. Univ. Hill. vol. 8. p.

243, &c. See alfo a curious memoir on.

tlutf fttbjed in Harris^ njayages^ &c. ii. 940.^ - came you to know all this ?" He re- plied, " The Cbe-hien having been to pay his compliments* to that Man*

darine.

• The Chinefe Expreffion is, " Having been

to with him a good feaft."

Feafling is a very important article among the Chinefe. There is no meeting, departure or slrrival ; no profperous event, nor occasion of grief, but what is fubjeft matter for an enter- tainment either of welcome or farewell, con- gratulation or condolence. At their grand feafts it is common to have twenty or twenty- four [little] dilhes [chiefly of ragooYkivcd. up one after another on each table, none of which are removed till all. is over. Between every feven or eight di(hes they bring in Soup either of flefh or fifn, with a fort of small loaves or pies, which they take with their Chop- flicks, dip inte the foup and eat without any ceremony: all the, reft is condu£led in great form.

The French, vfho have refined fo much on the art of eating, are far out-done by the Chinefi cooks. With nothing but the Beans which grow in their country, and with the meal of Rice and Corn, together with Spices and Herbs, ' they can prepare a great many diflies very dif- ferent from each other. ,

The Chinefe are not only sond of hogs-flefh, &c. but of that of horfes and dog^s \ viV^vOci ^^ Pa ^^^ darine, all his people give this ac- count/' His niece upon this, laugh- not rejedled by the common people, the* they die of age ordifeafe. Even Cats, Rats, and fach like animals, are fold openly by the butchers. And here it may be observed, that the beef is fold there without an/ bones, thefe being always firft taken out.

But the mod delicious food of all are flags pizzles, birds nefis, and hears cla*ws. The Jirfi arc dried in the fun in fummer and rolled in pepper and nutmeg : before they are drefTed they are foaked in rice-water to make them foft, and, after being boiled in the gravy of a kid, are seasoned with various fpices. T/?e birds nefts are com- monly found on the rocks along the coafts of ' Tonquirty &c. and are built by birds not unlike the fwallow ; they are supposed to make them with little fea-fiflies cemented by the fcum of the fca and fomc vifcous juice, which dilHls from their backs. Thefe nefts contradt a tranfparent fo- lidity and greenifh hue when dried ; and re- femble the rind of a large candied citron in fhape and fize : mixed with other meats they give them a very agreeable reliih. The bears pa-ws^ of which the hindmoft are in highcft cllecm, are ftrippedof their (kin and prefervcd like flagb pizzles.

SeeP. Du Halde, vol. i. p. 208— 303. p. 314. Lettrcs edifiant. xi. 2<;o. P. Scmedo, ^. 4, 65. Mod. Univ. Hill. viii. 277.

ecT td and said, " Why do you tell me, that ^ieb'chung-u is a bad man and a cheat ? If you should come and re- port that CoN-Fu-CEE * was guilty 'of murder ; what were that to me ?" " It is true, said her uncle, this is nothing to you. I only tell you a fad I have he^rd. I could not but be sorry to fee you receive a person into your house, whom you neither knew, nor whence he was. If you would look out for men that are truly wife and learned, you Ihould go nearer home; where their charaders and fa- milies are well known; where you may eafily be informed what ftudies they follow, and what repute they are in for their learning." " Uncle, said

• Confucius. Sec above note pag. 1 16.

P 3 ftvt^ ike, although what you have been td- ling me were true, I am no way con* cerned in it ; nor is it any bufinefs of mine to enter upon its confutation. Yet such is the opinion I have of that young gentleman, and such proofs have I feep of his integrity and worth, that I am persuaded this is a malicious and groundlefs calumny." " This young man, he replied, is no enemy of mine. Why then should I report this, if it were not true? It was re- lated to me thus, by the Cbe^biefCs people. You are miftaken therefore if you think him an honeft man ; you might as well fay, ^be yellow river is clear *." ** Till I fee it with my own

eyes,

, • The second river in China is the Whang-HO. or (as it written by the Portuguefe with whom M

h^th eyes, Ihe replied, I (hall still deem him incapable of any thing bafe. This story is incredible : It cannot be. Perhaps it was some one, who refembled him

hath the nafal soond of N G) Hoam-HO *, i. e. the yellonv Ri*ver, which rifes not far from the fource of the Ganges in the Tartarian mountains weft of China^ and having run through it with a conrfe of more than fix hundred leagues, dif- charges itself into the eaftem Yea. It hath its name from a yellow mud, which always ftains its water, and which after rains compofes a third part of its quantity. The Watermen dear it for ufc by throwing in alum. The Chinefe {zy, its waters cannot become clear in a thoufand years ^ whence it is a common proverb among them for any thing which is never likely to hap- pen, *' When the yellow river (hall run bright.**

This river is in some places half a league over, and every where fo Yapid, that it would make terrible ravages if the Chinefe did not reftrain it with very strong dykes, one of which is ten leagues long: they are even said to have turned its current out of one province into another.

Vid. Martin. Atlas Sin. p. 14. P. Le Comp^e, tom. I . p. 1 69. P. Du Halde, vol. i . p. 40, 326. Lettres edifiant. vii. 170, &c.

• Hot Hoambo, as it is errbneoujly giifen in Mod. Univ, Hift. 'viii, $t^c. inLockman^s Jefuitis trofudfi • *7* and in many ctber books.

p 4 ^'^

2i6 HAU KIOU CHOAAN.

in person, that was taken for him. Uncle, be fo good as to make farther inquiry into this affair : and if you find it to be, as you have related, I will venture to give up both my eyes. For certain I am, that he cannot have been guilty of fo dilhonourable a thing." Sbuey-guwin laughed and said, " I would not have you lofe your eyes, but keep them in their places. However^ to con- vince you, I will go again and in- quire ; and when you find it true, how will you be able to look me in the face ?" *' I rather believe. Sir, said (he, you will be afliamed to fee me, when you find you are miftaken."

Sbuey-guwin was a little piqued at her anfwer, and haftcd to the Cbe-hien^s audience. He inquired of the officers. 5ome said that Tieh-cbung-u was guilty. Others believed he was falfely accufed. At laft he met with one who had been present at the examination. From him he learnt the whole > truth of the matter. Sbugy-guwin was fo ashamed of his miftake, that he did not venture at firft to return to his niece. ** This girl, said he, is as cunning as a witch. She is miilaken in nothing. What ftiall I now do to get clear of this affair? I will go and confult Xw^-^i^/- /z«." To his house he repaired j where he told him all that had pafTed, and how afliamed he should be to contradift his story. " Sir, and^ father-in-law, he replied/ you are surely a faint. Who in thefe days, bcflde yourself, makes any fcruple of reporting a faft, as they

would

2i8 HAU KIOU CHOAAN.

would have it f Who fcruples to fay the thing that is not* ? Tieh-cbung uhzxh given us a good handle, and (hall not we make a song or history of him ? There are thofc, who can convert the lead fhadow into fubflance ; and if they catch i hold of a word, will compofe a vo- lume.'* " You fay true, replied the other: but whom (hall we get to draw up this ballad ?'* " Who (hould do it but myself, said Kwo-kbe^tzu? Am not I a student ? I can do that surely !" Sbuey- fwwin said, •' If you will do it, it will be very fufficient/' ** But although I ifaould compofe this song, said the other, I do not chufe to write it.** " That, replied his father-in-law, may be per-

• To th€ original, «« They will make any thing

^d CO be alive/'

foimc4 formed by another hand. To .pro- cure it to be written shall be my care. Come, let us fee what you will make of it/' KwO'kbe-izu ftood a little to recoi- led himself, and thus began, f

Kwo-kbe-tzu having repeated the fore- going lines, Sbuey-guwin^ who had lif*- tened to them with great attenticm, clapped his hands and cried out, " Ex- cellent ! Excellently good ! But I am afraid, said he, from the particular

.+ In the Tranflator*s M.S. there is left a blank of a page and half in folio for this curious lampoon, which it mud have been entertaining to have feen, as a fpecimen of Cbinefi fatire. manner of the defcription, my niece will fcarcely believe they are of any bo- dy's compofing but our own.'* «* Let her think fo, if fhe pleafes, replied the other ; that signifies nothing.'* Sbu^- guwin procured a person to write them 5 and then took them with him : but before he went, the other said to him,

• ' If your niece will be influenced in

my favour by thofe lines, it will be well. If not, I (hall fbon be able to plague her; for in a short time there will come a Ngan-yuen or Grand Vifitor into this province *, who was a pupil

of

• Bcfidc the Viceroy, there is fcnt occasionally

inter each of the Provinces, fays P. Magalhaens^ a Vifitor called Ngan-tai or Ngan-yuen *. His ofHce continues but for one year, and is very

formidable.

• Called Chn-yitcn, h; P. SemedOf probably from the trihunal ivhicb d'ij'putcbcs tbem. See note abo*ve /ag. i«5. of my father's. Him will I get to oblige her to marry me. And as your brother hath no son, inftead of

bringing

formidable. He takes cognizance of all caofes criminal and civil ; of the militia, revenue, &c. He vifits, inquires and informs himself of every thing. He receives the accufations of the people againft all their governors, not excepting the Viceroy himself The inferior Mandarines he paniQies or cafhiers : he gives in a memorial againfl the greater, and they are immediately iufpended from the fundlion of their offices 'till an anfwer comes from court.

Besides this, there are often private Infpedors, or Spies, sent into the provinces to observe the condud of the Mandarines, and to report them accordingly.

It is eafy to conceive what excellent purposes thefe inititutions might anfwer ; but thefe good ends are too often defeated by the corruption and avarice of the officers, who are seldom found proof againfl bribes and presents, notvvithiland* ing the rifk they run in taking them.

P. Magal. p. 241. P. Semedo, p. 129. P, Du Halde, vol. i. 258, &c.

N. B. We are told by some author?, that since the conqueft of the Tartars, it having bee^;i found that the Spies or private Infpcdlors men- tioned

122 UAU KIOU GHOAAN.

bringing her home to my houie, 1 will go and folemnize the marriage at her own*. Then what tricks will flic find to evade it ?" Here Sbuty-guwin ftarted, and said, " I thought, at firft, you only wanted my niece. Now I find you would have all (he is pofliefied of. I cannot consent to this. You muft carry her home, otherwise her house and effeds will be yours ; nor will it be in my power to handle then

tioned above abufed their tni(l, the/e have been laid aside. However the Mandarines are obliged to tranfmit from time to time to court a fu.l and juft accoent of their adminiftration, noting all the mifcarriages and mifmanagements laid to their charge ; and in cafe they are found to have concealed or palliated them, they are liable to be feverely punifhed. Sec Mod. Univ. Hift. viii. 148, &c.

• This is frequently the Chittefe cuHom in such circumdances.

fo fo much as a ftraw." " Sir, and fa- ther*in-law, said Kwo-kbe-tzu^ can you think I have any thing in view befidc your niece ? You cannot but know I want for nothing. I am son of a prime minifter ; and have every thing at command. As for your brother's house, when I am once possessed of his daughter, you may depend on that and all that belongs to it." **I am satisfied, Taid the other, I will go and carry the verfes to my niece. If (he acquiefces, it is welL If (he fcolds, or is angry, I will give her a hint about the Grand Vifitor. And whatever (he faysi I will come and impart to you.

• • Well, go then, replied the youth ;

I will wait here till you bring me an anfwer.'*

,What What the young lady lays to this, we muft look for in the next chapter.