the sun shines on the face appear in front; hence some suppose these figures are seen through from the back, whereas they are imperceptibly traced on the front, requiring a strong light to bring them into sight; this metal mirror is usually placed in an ebony frame, richly covered, and is an exceedingly handsome adjunct to the dressing-table.

The females frequently use a species of dressingcase, or multum in parvo box, measuring about ten by six inches; within the lid is a looking-glass, with a double hinge, the bottom of which rests on the point of the box; attached to this box, underneath, are two small drawers, in which are kept cosmetics and paint.

The exteriors of these boxes are lacquered, very prettily ornamented with silver, and inlaid with motherof-pearl in many devices.

The ladies occasionally indulge in smoking opium, and pipes of delicate manufacture are strewed about their apartments; smoking tobacco is carried to a great extent, and little girls of five years of age are allowed to commence this disgusting and pernicious habit; and an embroidered tobacco-bag is a necessary appendage to a female's dress, from earliest childhood to advanced age.

There are no Chinese customs so little understood as their marriages; thus we often hear of the number of a Chinaman's wives, while, in reality, he has but one wife, the remainder being handmaids or concubines; among the mandarins and wealthy classes, a wife is always chosen from their own sphere of life, the marriage ceremony is celebrated with solemn rites,

and she takes her husband's name. The marriage tie can only be dissolved by the husband, for one of seven causes,-barrenness, adultery, disobedience to himself or parents, talkativeness,* thieving, ill temper, and inveterate infirmities; although the wife should be found guilty of any or all of these offences, yet she cannot be divorced if she has mourned for her husband's parents, if property has been acquired since their marriage, or if her parents are dead. Thus the wife is in possession of established legalised rights; but it is otherwise with the handmaid or concubine, who never receives the name of wife, and is invariably bought from a family inferior in social position to that of the purchaser; she is brought home without ceremony, has no legal rights, and can be sold or given away, when her master is weary of her person. The offspring of these handmaids inherit property, but the children of the wife take precedence; if there is no male issue by the wife, then the son of a handmaid will succeed to the estate, if such should be the father's pleasure.

A man may have as many handmaids as he can afford to support or purchase, and we know an instance of a wealthy Chinaman who had a wife and ten handmaids; although handmaids are allowed, occasionally the Emperor will express or signify his displeasure when an official personage has too many. A Tartar general had twelve of these encumbrances, besides his lawful wife; the Emperor desired him to resign his post, as he was too much occupied with

• Think of this, ye happy wives of England;-disobedience and talkativeness, are they just causes for divorce?

domestic affairs to attend to the duties of his appointment. No obloquy attends the position of a concubine or handmaid, as they are looked upon in the light of the handmaids we read of in Abraham's days. When a new Emperor ascends the throne, it is reported and believed that many families occupying a good position, send their daughters to his palace for approbation, and those who are accepted as concubines or handmaids, deem themselves and families highly honoured; those who are rejected by the Emperor, are frequently presented to the princes of the blood royal.

Little is really known as to how or from what family the Empress of China is selected, as the Chinese of all ranks scrupulously abstain from giving any information on this subject. Some authors assert that the Imperial harem is principally supplied with the daughters of mandarins, who are entrusted to the care of eunuchs and elderly females, who educate them according to the regulations laid down, and that when an Empress or Consort is wanted, the birth and education of the individual selected is taken into consideration, the most nobly born, and the most highly educated being fixed upon. All this must be a matter of mere surmise, as no European can state positively from what family the imperial Consort is chosen; but it is quite certain that by the laws of China, no woman can ascend the throne, or interfere in state affairs; that the Empress of China is charged with the worship of the god of the silk-worm, and that silks are woven by the ladies of the palace, which are presented by the Empress to the god.

Amongst the higher orders, there is a distinction in the dress of the wife and handmaid, the former wearing a petticoat over her trousers as well as the jacket, whilst the latter only wears the jacket over her trousers; the wife's dress and ornaments are also more costly, and although they sit and eat in the same room, the wife is seated (with her children, if she has any) at a separate table, and to a certain extent the handmaids are her servants.

All ranks have handmaids, from the highest to the lowest, who can purchase or support them; the upper class of servants have generally a wife, and one or more handmaids, the wife invariably having distorted feet, and amongst the higher and wealthier classes, the handmaids have generally the same deformity.

Whether the custom of having concubines has arisen from the affection which the Chinese have for children, and from their desire to be the fathers of a numerous progeny, is a point that is and has ofttimes been mooted and disputed; for our part, we opine that the habit is indulged in from their uncurbed licentious propensities; for no nation under the sun's glow, is more essentially immoral than the Chinese; vice of all descriptions, and of the most revolting character, being openly indulged in; we allow that a Chinaman is fond of children, but that would not lead him to sell the mother of his child, or give her away, as soon as he became sated with her person; purchasing another and younger slave to supply her place; alas! for human nature, this constantly occurs in numberless households.