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Page [269]

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.

PAGE 7. lin. 11. note [returned *?]

* It may not be improper to observe here,
what care is taken of human life in China.
No criminal is put to death 'till the whole
process hath been examined by several different
tribunals. And even their prisons are constantly
inspected by one or more Mandarines,
who pay great attention to the health of the
confined, and in case of sickness provide a
physician and proper medicines at the Emperor's
expence. But if any one dies the Emperor
must be acquainted with it, who often
sends a superior Mandarine to see that there
hath been no foul play, or neglect of duty.—

P. Du Halde, v. 1. p. 310, &c. Let, ed. xj.
278. Mod. Univ. Hist. viij. 177. Vid. supra,
vol.
1. p. 242.

Page 78. Addition the note.

N. B. Title and rank are not hereditary
in China: the sons of the greatest Mandarines
are reduced to the level of the people
in point of distinction and dignity.

See vol. 1. additional note to p. 59.

Page 81. Addition to the note (†)

It may be observed here that the Chinese
are great topers: when they speak of a
banquet they make mention only of wine.
We say in English, "to invite to a feast,"


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"to give an entertainment." In Chinese the
expression is, "to invite to drink," "to prepare
wine," Tsing-tsioo, Pai-tsioo, because wine is
regarded as the most essential part of a repast.—
[Let. ed. xjx. 326.] P. Semedo tells us, that
it is usual at their entertainments after the dishes
are removed, for them to discourse for about
an hour: and then various kinds of salt meats
are served in, of the nature of our gammons
of bacon, tongues, &c. which they call guides,
i. e. provocatives to drink: [P. Semedo, p. 66.
As under the notion of wine, the Chinese include
various kinds of spirituous liquors, to
which they are much addicted, this will account
for the readiness with which the Chinese
Mandarines took of their glasses of Frontiniac
and Citron-water at the entertainment given
them on board the Centurion, as described by
the writer of Lord Anson's voyage, page 482.

Vid. P. Du Halde, P. Le Compte, &c.

Ibid. To note (†) prefix the following lines.

† This is not a random expression. In the
Chinese play translated in P. Du Halde's collection:
the person, who hath the care of a
young Mandarine's education, says, "I have
taught him the eighteen different ways of
fighting." [Je luy ai appris les dix-huit manieres
de se battre.
] P. Du Halde, vol. 2. p.
180.

Page 153. lin. 15. note [city *.]

* The cities in China are so much alike.


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that the Reader may conceive an idea of them
all, from a short description of the metropolis.
The name of Pe-king, by which it is
known to us, signifies the northern court, by
way of distinction from Nan-king, or the southern
court,
where the Emperors have formerly
resided. The Chinese more usually call it Shuntien-foo,
[or the city according to heaven. Trans.
MS.]

It is divided into two parts, one of which
is inhabited by the Chinese, the other by the
Tartars; is of an oblong square form, about
eighteen miles in circuit, and is surrounded
with strong and stately walls, of forty or fifty
cubits high, flanked with towers, and wide
enough for several horsemen to ride a-breast.

The city gates, nine in number, are very
lofty and magnificent: the streets are laid out
with a line, and cross each other at right angles.
They are decorated with triumphal
arches, glittering towers, temples, piazzas, &c.
and are distinguished by pompous names, as
the street of the king's relations, of the white
tower, of eternal rest,
&c: the last of these is
near four miles long and sixty yards in breadth.
But all the streets are sadly incommoded with
dust, &c. for want of being paved.

The shops are ranged on each side the
streets, and tho' but one story high and very
low, are finely set out rich merchandizes. Before
each door stands a pedestal to which is
fastened a board from 20 to 22 feet high; on
this is carved, painted or gilt the shopkeeper's
name; with the words pû-pû, or he will not cheat


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you, inscribed thereon This double row of
pilasters has a fine effect.

The streets are so continually thronged with
people, as well as horses, mules, camels, carriages,
&c. that those of our most populous
cities in Europe are said to be meer solitudes
compared to them: yet no women ever appear
in public. This concourse is attributed to the
great retinues of the Mandarines; to the vast
resort from all parts of the empire; and especially
to the great numbers of handicrafts people,
as tailors, smiths, braziers, joiners, &c.
who in China go about the streets in quest of
work, and always exercise their arts at the
houses of those who employ them. This creates
a vast throng, as many of these for want
of employment stand staring in large groups
around juglers, mountebanks, &c. who take
their stand at every quarter of the town.

To describe all the curiosities of this great
city, its police and government, squares, buildings,
palaces, especially that of the Emperor
(which itself is equal to a large city) would
require a volume.

See P. Du Halde, vol. 1. p. 46. 66, &c.
P. Magal. chap. 17. P. Le Compte, tom. 1. p.
84, &c. Mart. Atlas. p. 29. Mod. Univ. Hist.
viij. 18, &c.

THE END OF THE THIRD VOLUME.


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