Chapter I: Front Matter

SOME OBSERVATIONS

UPON THE

CIVILIZATION

OF THE

WESTERN BARBARIANS,

PARTICULARLY OF THE ENGLISH;

MADE DURING A RESIDENCE OF SOME YEARS IN THOSE PARTS,

By AH-CHIN-LE,

MANDARIN OF THE FIRST CLASS, MEMBER OF THE ENLIGHTENED AND EXALTED CALAO.

TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE INTO ENGLISH,

By JOHN YESTER SMYTHE, Esq., OF SHANGHAI,

AND

NOW FIRST PUBLISHED OUT OF CHINA AND IN OTHER THAN CHINESE.

BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.

NEW YORK: CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM, 678 BROADWAY. 1876.

COPYRIGHT. J.B. SWASEY. 1876.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

This Translation of the Work of Ah-Chin-le is trustworthy as to the meaning of the Text--though the literal translation has not been, in many cases, attempted.

Preserving the Spirit of the Author, the Translator has desired to be intelligible in good, readable English. Where it is impossible to give the precise thought of a mind so differently cultured, the _nearest_ English is given. It is hoped that the inherent difficulty of the task may excuse errors of grammar and style.

The Translator has been so absorbed in his Author, that he fears he may have often slipped in his Syntax, and been rude in his manner. However, with whatever faults, he hands the volume to his Countrymen--thinking that they may be as much interested in it as he has been; and may derive as much amusement. If it do not commend itself for its Wisdom, it may, at least, for its novelty--that is, as a genuine expression of intelligent _Chinese_ opinion, concerning the "_Civilization of the Western Barbarians, and particularly of the English_."

The Author's own Preface explains the Origin of the Work, and its claims to consideration.

The Retreat, Shanghai, China, 1875.

J.Y.S.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

Ah-chin-le, Mandarin, and member of the exalted _Calao_, to the Illustrious _Wo-sung_, Mandarin, First class, President of the most Serene, the grand Council, _Calao_; virtue, health, and the highest place in the Hall of your Sublime Ancestors! Trained from my youth for many years in the school of the Foreigners [Fo-kien], so as to be versed in the languages of the chief Barbarians of the West, and particularly of the English, afterwards perfected in the latter at our port of Shanghai, and sent by your Illustrious command upon a private mission with the Imperial Embassy to the outside Barbarians of the far West to curiously seek into the state of those Peoples, and report upon the same to your Illustrious mind--that being so informed exactly, your Wisdom might, in those matters appertaining to the Western Barbarians, enlighten the Son of Heaven (our Celestial and Imperial Majesty [Bang-ztse] most renowned and exalted) when, in Council, things touching those outer Barbarians should be considered: these, my poor words, in so far as to your Illustrious Wisdom it has been thought proper to make general, are now produced: that the happy subjects of our Central, Flowery Kingdom, may understand more perfectly the condition of those outside Barbarians, respecting whom so very little is known, and may the more cautiously guard the Sacred Institutions [Kam-phfe] of our Celestial Land--wise, peaceful, powerful, and teeming with an industrious and contented people, before the Western Barbarians had so much as the rudiments of learning.

Ah-chin prostrates his poor body before your Illustrious Benevolence, and craves forbearance that these, his unworthy _Observations_, are not better ordered:--the circumstances of travel, fatigue, agitation of mind, hurry and confusion, have been unfavourable for that due ordering of the same which a respect for your Illustrious Wisdom required--in this particular the precise Report, submitted to the Exalted, the _Calao_, through the hands of your Illustrious Greatness, is more perfect. These are minutes, rather, jotted down and fastened for better reordering, if, at another time, it should be judged fit. May the Sovereign Lord of Heaven [Chang-ti] keep your Illustrious mind and body!

AH-CHIN-LE.

NOTE.--These _Observations_ now following were made in England, and refer chiefly to the _English_ Barbarians, who pride themselves upon being the most powerful and most enlightened of all the outer Barbarians, and, in fact, of any People in the whole, immense World.

Ah-Chin.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I.--OF THE RELIGION AND SUPERSTITIONS OF THE ENGLISH 1

II.--OF THE HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE ENGLISH 45

III.--SOME PARTICULARS OF THE INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION 76

IV.--UPON EDUCATION: A FEW REFLECTIONS 98

V.--OF THE LITERATURE OF THE ENGLISH 109

VI.--OF THEIR TRADE, AND REVENUE DERIVED FROM IT 131

VII.--SOME REMARKS UPON MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND BURIALS [HI-DI] 150

VIII.--OF ART, ARCHITECTURE, AND SOME WORDS ABOUT SCIENCE [KNO-TE] 170

IX.--OF AMUSEMENTS, GAMES, AND SPECTACLES 195

X.--OF EMPLOYMENTS OF THE PEOPLE, AND ASPECTS OF DAILY LIFE 214

XI.--OF THE HIGH-CASTES: SOME PARTICULARS OF THEIR DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS 223

XII.--OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY, THE CLIMATE, AND OTHER THINGS 246

XIII.--LONDON 257

XIV.--SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 278

OBSERVATIONS.