THE MIDDLE KINGDOM; A SURVEY OF THE GEOGRAPHY, GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, SOCIAL LIFE, OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE AND ITS INHABITANTS. WITH A NEW MAP OF THE EMPIRE, AND ILLUSTRATIONS, PRINCIPALLY ENGRAVED BY J. W. ORR. BY S. WELLS WILLIAMS. AUTHOR OF "EASY LESSONS IN CHINESE," ENGLISH AND CHINESE VOCABULARY" &c. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. NEW YORK & LONDON: 1848. ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by S. WELLS WILLIAMS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York R. CRAIGHEAD, PRINTER, 112 FULTON STREET. T. B. SMITH, STEREOTYPER, 216 WILLIAM STREET. ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. II. PORTRAIT OF REV. D. ABEEL. WHEELBARROWS USED FOR TRAVELLING, BRIDGE SHOWING THE MODE OF MAKING THE ARCH, BARBER'S ESTABLISHMENT, TRICKS PLAYED WITH THE QUEUE, PROCESSION OF LADIES TO AN ANCESTRAL TEMPLE, APPEARANCE OF THE BONES OF A FOOT WHEN COMPRESSED, FEET OF CHINESE LADIES, SHAPE OF A LADY'S SHOE, Boys GAMBLING WITH CRICKETS, PEDDLER'S BArrow, 104 CONTENTS OF VOL. II. wwwww Style and materials of Chinese dwellings-Their arrangement, orna- ments, furniture, and apartments-Gardens and summer-houses- Shops and warehouses-Temples and assembly-halls, taverns, &c.—— Streets and municipal regulations-Pagodas and carriages-Boats used for dwellings and transportation; junks-Honorary portals, bridges, forts, towers, &c.-Dress; materials and shape of gar- ments-Shaving the head-Female apparel-Cramping the feet- Food; grain and vegetables-Fruits; sugar and tea-Animal food; PAGE Professions-Separation between the sexes-Ceremonies of betroth- ment and marriage-Procession, presents, and feast-Polygamy; its effects and extent-Legal rights of woman-Power of parents- Names given to people, shops, &c.--Official etiquette-Common intercourse and visiting-Festivities-Newyear; its observances and hilarity-Feast of lanterns-Style of processions-Theatres; the actors and dresses-Gambling with money, crickets, dice, &c.— Contrarieties in Chinese customs-Lights and shades of Chinese |