Moors, dress, customs, &c. of the, 107 Murder, expiation of, 236 Negro slavery, origin of, 493 Nobility of Naples, 50 Noctilucus nereis, a kind of worn. 762 Numerical figures, 501 Kabobiquas, a nation of South Africa, 184 Oak pucerons, 744 Kalmacs, a tribe of Tartars, 177 Kantschatka, inhabitants of, 22 Kettlewell, Lamley, esq. 432 Lally, William, the astrologer, 342 ancient and modern instances of, 443,790 Long hair, clerical zeal against, 453 Loretta, chapel of, in Italy, 712 Low-bell to take birds, 570 Manicheans, ancient heretics, 551 the royal, 776 Old times, prices of articles in, 242 Ostiacs, a people of Siberia, 158 Otaheite, inhabitants of, 155 Owbyhee (Hawaii) volcano in, 626 Pagoda of Mavalipuran in India, 703 Parias, or Perreas, a tribe of Hindoos, 43 Palmyra, ruins of, 704 Parisian or St. Bartholomew massacre, 509 Parental despots in Russia, 198 Pastimes in Great Britain, 268 Persia, people and capital of, 193 Pestilence and fire of London, 507 Peter the wild boy, 399 Marriage ceremonies, 63, 65, 81, 109, 123 Phenomenon in Bengal, 711 198,279 Martinmas, 233 Massacre of St. Bartholomew, 509 Massianello, the fisherman of Naples, 355 Medina, mosque at, (with a view) 714 Moon, superstition respecting the, 682 Phenix, a fabulous bird, 788 Pholeys of Africa, 204 Plant, wonderful, of Sombrero, 729 Poets laureat, 483 Poison tree of Java, 774 Poland, inhabitants of, 193 Poligars, natives of Hindoostan, 173 Population of the world, 479 Porcupine man, 400 Portugal, inhabitants of, 205 Posts for the conveyance of letters, 587 . - Psalm-singing, origin of, 251 Recovery of a female unjustly executed, 480 Rivers, disappearing of, 607 Rock of Aultgrande, in Scotland, 62° Rosicrucians, bermetical philosophers, 564 Salt-mines in Poland, 656 Salutation, modes of, 245 Samoieda, inhabitants of, 201 Sarcophagus, 617 Scylla and Charybdis, 619 - serpent, 743- ape, 773 Second-sight, 687 Seeks, a religious sect in Persia, 544 Sego in Africa, Park's account of, 33 Senegaliens, of Senegar in Africa, 75 Six-nations of American Indians, 174 Spain, inhabitants of, 191 Spanish armada, history of the, 503 Sponge, 768 Stukeley, Mr. the perpetual-motion seeker, 413 Stockings, and weaving of, 582 Stones of various kinds, 610 Superstition of the N. Amer. Indians, 82 Hottentots, 106 Russians, 199 respecting the moon, 683 observed in Bombay, 538 Suspended animation, 515 Swift, a species of swallow, 769 Hiannen in China, 701 Theodore, Anthony, king of Corsica, 383 Tongues, confusion of, 487 Trade to Guinea, history of, 491 Valley of Waipio, in Owhyhce, 660 Venice, account of the prison in, 698 - Iceland, 650 Wars of the N. Amer. Indians, 84 Weather, changes of the, 804 White bre hren, a popish sect, 559. Witchcraft, 676 Women, 26, 44, 48, 108, 140, 146, 185 209, 300, 443 Writing, origin of the materials of, 589 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, &c. PART I. THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. MANNERS OF THE CHINESE. THE manners of the Chinese bear little resemblance to those of any other nation; and, their historians say, they are the same now that they were 4000 years ago. The women are condemned to almost perpetual imprisonment within the precincts of their own houses. A woman is never seen, not even by her intended husband, before marriage. He knows nothing of her looks or person, but from the account of some female relation or confidant, who in these cases acts the part of match-maker; though when imposed upon, either with regard to her age or figure, he can have recourse to a divorce. The same matrons who negociate the marriage, also determine the sum which the intended husband must pay to the parents of the bride, for in China a father does not give a dowry to his daughter; it is a husband who gives a dowry to the wife. When the day appointed arrives, the bride is placed in a palánquin, the key of which is committed to the care of a trusty domestic, who must deliver it to none but the husband. The latter, richly dressed, waits at his gates for the arrival of the procession. As soon as it approaches, the key is put into his hands; he eagerly opens the chair, and for the first time perceives his good or bad fortune. If he is contented with his new spouse, the bride descends and enters the house, where the marriage is celebrated by feasting and merriment as in other countries; but if the bridegroom is very much dis appointed, he suddenly shuts the chair, and sends the bride home to her relations. To get rid of her in this manner, however, costs a sum equal to what he originally gave in dowry to obtain her. The Chinese women, even of the first rank, seldom quit their apartment, which is situated in the most retired part of the house, and in which they are secluded from all society but that of their domestics. B The book of ceremonies requires that there should be two apartments in every house; the exterior one for the husband, and the interior for the wife. They must even be separated by a partition, the door of which is carefully guarded; nor is the husband at liberty to enter the wife's apartment, or she to quit it without good reason. A widow of superior rank, who has children, seldom enters a second time into the marriage state, though those of the ordinary. rank generally do. Poor widows are not at liberty to follow their inclinations, but are sold for the benefit of the parents of the deceased. As soon as the bargain is concluded, a couple of porters bring a chair, which is guarded by a number of trusty people. In this the widow is shut up, and thus conducted to her new husband. Concubinage is tolerated in China, though not authorized by law. This privilege is granted only to the emperor, the princes of the blood, and mandarins; and none but the emperor is permitted to have more than one. But the people generally avail themselves of the toleration, and have two or three concubines, if they can afford to pay the customary sum to the parents, &c. They, however, excuse themselves as well as they can to their wives in this respect, pretending only a desire of having many children, and a number of women to attend their wives; for the concubines and children must all be subject to the lawful wife. Others, desirous of having a male child, which perhaps their lawful wife cannot have, take a concubine for this reason only, and dismiss her as soon as their wishes are accomplished; they then permit her to marry whom she pleases, and frequently even provide a husband for her themselves. These concubines are almost all procured from two cities, named Yang-Tcheou and Sou-Tcheou, where they are educated, and taught singing, dancing, music, and every accomplishment suitable to women of quality, or which can render them agreeable and pleasing. The greater part of them are purchased in other places, to be again disposed of in these cities. Unlawful intrigues are seldom heard of in China. CUSTOMS PECULIAR TO THE CHINESE.. ALL authors agree, that an absurd custom prevails throughout China, of confining the feet of female infants in such a mauner, that they are never allowed to grow to near their full size. "Of most of the women we saw," says Sir G. Staunton, "even in the middle and inferior classes, the feet were unnaturally small, or rather truncated. They appear as if the forepart of the foot had been accidentally cut off, leaving the remainder of the usual size, and bandaged like the stump of an amputated limb. They undergo, indeed, much torment, and cripple themselves in a great measure, in imitation of ladies of higher rank, among whom it is the custom to stop by pressure the growth of the ankle as well as foot, from the earliest infancy; and leaving the great toe in its natural position, forcibly to bend the others, and retain them under the foot, till at length they adhere to, as if buried in the sole, and can no more be separated. It is said, indeed, that this practice is now less frequent than formerly, at least among the lower sort in the lower provinces." In China, every father of a family is responsible for his children, and even his domestics; all those faults being imputed to him which it was his duty to have prevented. Every father has the power of of selling his son, “provided," says the law, "the son has a right of selling himself." This custom, howewer, is barely tolerated among the middling and inferior ranks; and all are forbidden to sell them to comedians, or people of infamous character, or very mean stations. In China a son remains a minor during his father's life, and is even liable for the debts contracted by him, those from gaming only excepted. Adoption is authorized by law, and the adopted child immediately enters into all the rights of a lawful son; only the law gives a right to the father, of making a few dispositions in favour of his real children. The children, however, whether real or adopted, cannot succeed to the dignity of their father, though they may to his estate. The emperor alone can confer honours; and even then they must be resigned when the person atains the age of seventy; though this resignation is considered as an advice, rather than a law. The will of a father cannot be set aside in China on account of any informality; nor can a mother make a will. CHINESE ENTERTAINMENTS. NOTHING can appear more irksome to an European, than the multitude of ceremonies used on all occasions by the Chinese. An invitation to an entertainment is not supposed to be given with sincerity, until it has been renewed three or four times in writing. A eard is sent the evening before the entertainment-a second on the morning of the appointed day-and a third when every thing is prepared. The master of the house introduces the guests into the hall, where he salutes them one after another. He then orders wine to be. brought him in a small cup, made of silver, porcelain, or precious wood, and placed on a small varnished salver. He lays hold of it with both his hands, makes a bow to all the surrounding guests, and advances towards the fore part of the hall, where he raises his eyes and cup towards heaven; after which, he pours the wine on the ground. He afterwards pours some wine into the cup, makes a bow to the principal person in company, and then goes to place the cup on the table before him; for in China every guest has a table to himself. The person for whom he intends this honour, however, generally saves him the trouble of placing the cup; calls for wine in his turn, and offers to place the cup on the master's table, who endeavours to prevent him, with a thousand apologies and compliments, according to Chinese politeness. A superior domestic conducts the principal guest to an elbow chair, covered with rich flowered silk, where the stranger again begins his compliments, and begs to be excused from sitting in such an bonourable seat, which, however, he accepts of; and all the rest of the guests do the same, otherwise the ceremonial must be gone through with each of them. The entertainments of the Chinese are begun, not by eating, but by drinking; and the liquor they drink must always be pure wine. The intendant, or maitre de hotel, falling down on one knee, first |