of nature secured by the conditions of the site, and of preventing the easy ingress of malign influences. For the same reason a movable screen is commonly placed in the open doorway of a house, which, while standing in the way of the admission of supernatural evil, effectually wards off the very actual discomfort of a draught. With equal advantage a pair of stone lions placed at the doorway of a house which is unfortunate enough to be faced by a straight lane or street are said to overcome the noxious currents which might be tempted by the direct access to attack the dwelling.

Temple architecture differs little from that of the houses, and varies in the same way from splendour to squalor, from gorgeous shrines built with the costly woods of Borneo and roofed in with resplendent glazed tiles to lath-and-plaster sheds covered in with mud roofing. In country districts, and more especially in hilly regions, Buddhists show a marked predilection for the most sheltered and beautiful spots provided by nature, and there rear monasteries which might well tempt men of less ascetic mould than that they profess to be made of to assume the cowl. The contemplative life which they are in theory supposed to lead is held to tempt them to retire from the busy haunts of men and to seek in the deep ravines and sheltered valleys the repose and quiet which in more public positions would be denied them. It says much for the charity of the people that out of their poverty such sumptuous edifices can be raised to the glory of Buddha. Many owe their existence to the beneficence of emperors, and others to the superstition of notables who, in the performance of

vows, have reared stately temples to the beneficent avatars of Buddha who have listened to their prayers. The majority, however, are built from the doles secured by the priests from the wretched resources of the people. With indefatigable labour these religious beggars draw into their nets fish great and small, and prey on the superstition of the people for the glorification of their faith. Sometimes, however, the self-denial is not confined to the donors. Devout priests arouse the zeal of their congregations by placing themselves in penitential positions until the building money is collected, and thus add to their claims on the people by appealing to their pity. Not long ago, a begging priest, zealous for the faith, erected for himself a wooden case like a sentry-box in one of the public thoroughfares of Peking. Long and sharp nails were driven into the case on all sides from without, leaving their points projecting inwards. In this case the priest took his stand and declared his intention of remaining there until the sum required for building the temple for which he pleaded had been collected. The construction of the case made it impossible that he could either sit down or lean in any position which would secure him against the points of the nails. For two years he stood or professed to have stood in this impossible position, which was mitigated as time went on by the withdrawal of the nails, one by one, as the sum of money which each was held to represent was collected from the passers-by.

It is impossible to leave the architecture of the country without saying one word about the bridges which span the canals and rivers. For the most

part these are high wooden structures, such as those with which the willow-pattern plates have made us familiar, but occasionally, and especially on the highways to the capital, substantial stone bridges stretching in a series of arches across the streams are met with, carefully wrought and adorned with all kinds of fantastic devices. A noticeable instance of a bridge of this kind is one which crosses the river Hwên on the west of Peking. Though upwards of six hundred years old, its neighbourhood to the capital has secured its preservation. Its length is seven hundred feet and at its narrowest part the roadway is twelve feet wide. Stone lions of varied and quaint shapes stand at intervals along the parapets, and in such numbers that, according to the local legend, no one has been able to count them correctly. "At each end are monumental stones-huge upright slabs of marble under heavy stone or wooden canopies-on which are inscribed either laudatory notices of the builders of the bridge, or imperial eulogies of the scenery around." * For the most part, however, the condition of the bridges throughout the country is deplorable. Carters and horsemen cross them at imminent peril to life and limb, and had not the animals learnt to pick their way with as much caution as that practised by travellers on foot, the passage would often be impossible.

*

"Journeys in North China," by A. Williamson, vol. i. p. 53.

CHAPTER XX.

DOMESTIC SLAVES.

ONE of the most marked features of a wealthy Chinese household is the number of retainers who swarm on all sides. Many of these are hired servants, but a large portion commonly belong to the unfortunate class of slaves. In China, as in other Eastern countries, the practice of slavery has a long history. References to it are found in the earliest works in the literature, and the character which is usually employed to represent the word "slave" gives us some indications of the earliest form which the practice took. A "woman" and a "hand" combined compose the symbol; and if we may draw any inference from this combination, it is fair to assume that the first slaves were the women captured in warfare from hostile tribes. But we soon find that men shared captivity with their womenkind. The practice having thus originated, and a want having been created among the wealthier classes for this particular kind of goods and chattels, it was necessary that the supply should be artificially provided so soon as the more primitive method failed to produce the required numbers. Now, as for many centuries, slaves of both sexes are openly bought and sold all over the empire.

At the present day a young girl of ten or twelve is worth, at Peking, from thirty to fifty taels, and young women commonly fetch from two hundred and fifty to three hundred taels. Poverty is the prime cause of the full markets; and especially in times of famine, drought, and pestilence, it is common for men who at other times would shrink with abhorrence from the deed, to sell their wives and daughters to the highest bidders. Gambling is also responsible for much of the poverty which produces this state of things; and in all large towns there are recognized brokers who deal in these human wares.

As a rule, the dealer, before purchasing, insists on the persons offered for sale being deposited with him for a time, much as the buyer of a horse demands a trial before concluding the deal; and should they develop any ailments or defects which are likely to interfere with their re-sale, they are incontinently returned to the place whence they came. Leprosy in the south of China is always carefully watched for by the dealers, and a curious method is employed to discover whether or no they have a tendency towards the disease. Each "slave is taken into a dark room and a blue light is burned. Should the face of the slave assume a greenish hue in this light, a favourable opinion is entertained. Should it show a reddish colour, it is concluded that the blood is tainted by this loathsome disease.” *

But slaves are procured in other ways than by purchase. They are not uncommonly given as presents by one man to another, and more especially is this so in the case of girls, who very frequently

China," by Archdeacon Gray, vol. i. p. 242.