The costume of China / illustrated by sixty engravings: with explanations in English and French. By George Henry Mason.

  • Mason, George, 1735-1806.
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The costume of China / illustrated by sixty engravings: with explanations in English and French. By George Henry Mason. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/370
    The Editor of this Publication in gratifying his inclination for inquiry had to furmount the ftern impediments above mentioned, united with the infirmity of a confiitution impaired in the Carnatic, and for the reftoration of which the phyficians at Madras had prefcribed the ineffectual air, as it unfortunately proved in his cafe, of the fouth of China. From the attentive hofpitality of fome of the gentlemen then refiding at the Britifh factory the Editor received, during a ftay of feveral months, not only many difinterefted and unforgotten kindneffes but alfo much important information. Under the aufpices of thofe gentlemen he partook of feveral entertainments given by the Hong merchants at their own houfes ; from which advantages, with the aid of fome donations, unwea¬ ried diligence, and frequent exertions of patience, he obtained no very inconfiderable knowledge of the Chinefe cuftoms. The Chinefe, collectively, appear to be ingenious in their peaceful arts ; polifhed and courteous in their manners ; moral and fagacious in their civil infiitutes ; juft and politic in their penal laws; and in want of nothing but the Blefiing of Revealed Religion to render them one of the happiefl people in the univerfe. the furrounding crowd, and began to afeend the hill ; he was arrefted near the fummit by- two (tout natives ; two of the party attempting to follow him were intercepted immediately, and a detachment of Tartar foldiers, rufhing from a fally-port, carried the firft offender within the walls of the city. The remaining gentlemen then ufed all their rhetoric of ligns (for the language on either fide was perfe&ly unintelligible to the other), to obtain a releafe of the prifoner, or even to be permitted to accompany him, but without efteft : a refeue was equally impraticable, and they were compelled into a precipitate retreat amidft the (bouts and feurrilities of thoufands. It was feveral hours before the gentleman was releafed, and then at the interceffion of the Hong merchants* with the executive power. His treatment had been better than expeted, fince, with the exception of their repeatedly attempting to fnatch his watch, and regarding him with ignorant curiofity, he got home to the Factory without farther moleftation. This adventure is here related as a convincing proof of the difficulty, if not of the danger, attending inquifitive ((rangers in China. t Particularly William Fitzhugh, James Drummond, and Thomas Fitzhugh, Efquires. * A company of Chinefe merchants, by whom all the immenfe commerce at Canton is regulated.