Besides these military gentlemen, the Eleuth Tartars now form a part of the military force of the Chinese, and are regarded as the handsomest and finest-looking men of the Empire. They retain their national dress, as you see it in the picture. They are a numerous people, divided into various tribes, living in the north and west of the Chinese territory. They had, for ages, been at war with the Chinese, and a long while ago some of these tribes eventually gained a complete victory, and settled the family of one of their chiefs upon the throne—so that the present emperor is not a Chinese by descent, but a Tartar, and this is one of the causes of the “Great Rebellion” now raging in China, the object of which is to destroy idolatry, and to drive the Tartar race from the Empire.
The naval force of the Chinese is very numerous, but, compared with European ships, of little service. Their war vessels are little better than trade junks, one thousand of which would not have the least effect upon one of our frigates. The barges and boats of the Chinese are, however, more useful; and the waterman is an important personage. The engraving is a representation of one. The boatmen have a peculiar song. One person repeats the sentences, which have a meaning, and the whole join in chorus “Hee-o-noto-hee-o,” the import of which is, “Pull away, my boys, heartily.” Near the head of the vessel or boat is suspended a gong, which serves to regulate the motions of the boatmen.
WATERMAN.
WATCHMAN.
In all the cities of China watchmen are regularly kept. The watch is set at nine o’clock, and remains till five in the morning. The watchman carries in his left hand a long bamboo tube, which he strikes with a short thick stick in his right as many blows as there may be half-hours elapsed since the watch was set. The sound of the instrument is loud, but dull. Sometimes the bamboo, instead of being cylindrical, is shaped like a fish, about two feet and a-half long, and six inches in diameter. Each watchman is also furnished with a paper lanthorn, on which is inscribed his name, and that of the division to which he belongs.
The Chinese laws are contained in the canonical books, which constitute the laws and literature of the country. They have been compiled so as to lay down with great exactness the various descriptions of offences, with a suitable punishment for each. In China, the cane is the grand instrument of punishment; and all China has been compared to a school,—kept in awe by the rod of the master.
