I never heard but one single Chinese who could be said to sing with feeling or plaintiveness. Accompanied with a kind of guittar, he sung the following air in praise of the flower Moo-lee, which it seems is one of the most popular songs in the whole country. The simple melody was taken down by Mr. Hittner, and I understand has been published in London, with head and tail-pieces, accompaniments, and all the refined arts of European music; so that it ceases to be a specimen of the plain melody of China. I have therefore given it in its unadorned state, as sung and played by the Chinese, together with the words of the first stanza, and their literal translation.

[MIDI]

Moo-lee-wha.

I.

12345
Hau ye-to sien wha,
678910111213
Yeu tchau yeu jie lo tsai go kia
141516171819
Go pun tai, poo tchoo mun
202122232425
Twee tcho sien wha ul lo.

II.

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Hau ye to Moo-lee-wha
7891011121314
Man yuen wha kai soy poo quee ta
151617181920
Go pun tai tsai ye ta
21222324252627
Tai you kung kan wha jin ma.

Literal Translation.