按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of this luxury is from 25s。 to 45s。 a pound）； and champagne from the
finest Rhenish vineyards！ At eleven all the Chinese children came forth
in carriages shaped like boats； turned up at both ends； painted red and
yellow； and with white…fringed canopies over them。 These were drawn by
servants； and in the case of the wealthy； a train of servants
accompanied each carriage。 It was a sight worthy of a fabled age。 The
wealth of the East in all its gorgeousness was poured out upon these
dignified and solemn infants； who wore coronals of gold and diamonds；
stuffs of cloth of gold brocade； and satin sewn with pearls； and whose
cloth…of…gold shoes flashed with diamonds！
During the morning four children of a rich Chinese merchant； attended
by a train of Chinese and Malay servants； came to see Mrs。 Shaw。 There
were a boy and girl of five and six years old； and two younger
children。 A literal description of their appearance reads like fiction。
The girl wore a yellow petticoat of treble satin （mandarin yellow） with
broad box plaits in front and behind； exquisitely embroidered with
flowers in shades of blue silk； with narrow box plaits between； with a
trail of blue silk flowers on each。 Over this there was a short robe of
crimson brocaded silk； with a broad border of cream…white satin； with
the same exquisite floral embroidery in shades of blue silk。 Above this
was a tippet of three rows of embroidered lozenge…shaped 〃tabs〃 of
satin。 The child wore a crown on her head； the basis of which was black
velvet。 At the top was an aigrette of diamonds of the purest water；
the centre one as large as a sixpenny…piece。 Solitaires flashing blue
flames blazed all over the cap； and the front was ornamented with a
dragon in fine filigree work in red Malay gold set with diamonds。 I
fear to be thought guilty of exaggeration when I write that this child
wore seven necklaces； all of gorgeous beauty。 The stones were all cut
in facets at the back； and highly polished； and their beauty was
enhanced by the good taste and skilful workmanship of the setting。 The
first necklace was of diamonds set as roses and crescents； some of them
very large； and all of great brilliancy； the second of emeralds； a few
of which were as large as acorns； but spoilt by being pierced； the
third of pearls set whole； the fourth of hollow filigree beads in red；
burned gold； the fifth of sapphires and diamonds； the sixth a number of
finely worked chains of gold with a pendant of a gold filigree fish set
with diamonds； the seventh； what they all wear； a massive gold chain；
which looked heavy enough even by itself to weigh down the fragile
little wearer； from which depended a gold shield； on which the Chinese
characters forming the child's name were raised in rubies； with fishes
and flowers in diamonds round it； and at the back a god in rubies
similarly surrounded。 Magnificent diamond earrings and heavy gold
bracelets completed the display。
And all this weight of splendor； valued at the very least at 40；000；
was carried by a frail human mite barely four feet high； with a
powdered face； gentle； pensive expression； and quiet grace of manner；
who came forward and most winsomely shook hands with us； as did all the
other grave gentle mites。 They were also loaded with gold and diamonds。
Some sugar…plums fell on the floor； and as the eldest girl stooped to
pick them up； diamond solitaires fell out of her hair； which were
gathered up by her attendants as if they were used to such occurrences。
Whenever she moved her diamonds flashed； scintillated； and gave forth
their blue light。 Then came the children of the richest Chinaman in
Malacca； but the little gentle creatures were motherless； and mourning
for a mother lasts three years； so they were dressed in plain blue and
white； and as ornaments wore only very beautiful sapphires and diamonds
set in silver。
Do not suppose that the Chinese New Year is a fixed； annual holiday
lasting a day； as in Scotland； and to a minor extent in England。 In
Canton a month ago active preparations were being made for it； and in
Japan nine weeks ago。 It is a 〃movable feast；〃 and is regulated by the
date on which the new moon falls nearest to the day 〃when the sun
reaches the 15 degrees of Aquarius；〃 and occurs this year on January
21st。 Everything becomes cheap before it； for shopkeepers are anxious
to realize ready money at any loss； for it is imperative that all
accounts be closed by the last day of the old year； on pain of a man
being disgraced； losing all hope of getting credit； and of having his
name written up on his door as a defaulter。 It appears also that debts
which are not settled by the New Year's Eve cannot thereafter be
recovered； though it is lawful for a creditor who has vainly hunted a
debtor throughout that last night to pursue him for the first hours
after daybreak； provided he still carries a lantern！
The festival lasts a fortnight； and is a succession of feasts and
theatrical entertainments； everybody's object being to cast care and
work to the winds。 Even the official seals of the mandarins are
formally and with much rejoicing sealed up and laid aside for one
month。 On the 20th day of the 12th month houses and temples are
thoroughly washed and cleaned； rich and poor decorate with
cloth…of…gold； silk embroideries； artificial and real flowers； banners；
scrolls； lucky characters； illuminated strips of paper； and bunches of
gilt…paper flowers； and even the poorest coolie contrives to greet the
festival with some natural blossom。 There is no rest either by night
or day； joss…sticks burn incessantly； and lamps before the ancestral
tablets； gongs are beaten； gingalls fire incessantly； and great
crackers like cartridges fastened together in rows are let off at
intervals before every door to frighten away evil spirits； there are
family banquets of wearisome length； feasts to the household gods；
offerings in the temples； processions in the street by torch and
lantern light； presents are given to the living； and offerings to the
dead； the poor are feasted； and the general din is heightened by
messengers perambulating the streets with gongs； calling them to the
different banquets。 When the fortnight of rejoicing is over its signs
are removed； and after the outbreak of extravagant expenditure the
Chinese return to their quiet； industrious habits and frugal ways。
Just as this brilliant display left the room； a figure in richer
coloring of skin appearedBabu； the head servant； in his beautiful
Hadji dress。 He wore white full trousers； drawn in tightly at the
ankles over black shoes； but very little of these trousers showed below
a long； fine； linen tunic of spotless white； with a girdle of orange
silk。 Over this was a short jacket of rich green silk； embroidered in
front with green of the same color； and over all a pure white robe
falling from the shoulders。 The turban was a Mecca turban made of many
yards of soft white silk； embroidered in white silk。 It was difficult
to believe that this gorgeous Mussulman； in the odor of double
sanctity； with his scornful face and superb air； could so far demean
himself as to wait on 〃dogs of infidels〃 at dinner； or appe