Page:The costume of China, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings.pdf/269

 EXAMINATION OF A CULPRIT

Before a Mandarin,

THIS subject represents a Female, charged with prostitution. Such an offender is generally punished publicly, by numerous blows with the pan-tsee, or bamboo; and, in cases of notorious infamy, is doomed to suffer the additional sentence of bearing thecan-gue; sometimes, however, corporal punishment is commuted into a pecuniary fine.

The Magistrate, habited in full dress, is known to be of royal blood, by the circular badge on his breast, that worn by every other Mandarin being square. The Secretary, who is taking minutes of the proceedings, wears on his girdle his handkerchief and purses, together with a case containing his knife and chopsticks. These purses are merely for ornament, not being made to open.

The Chinese write with a hair pencil and Indian ink: the pencil Is held vertically, and the letters are arranged in perpendicular lines from the top of the page to the bottom, beginning at the right and ending on the left side of the paper. The cap worn by the officer of police is distinguished by certain letters which denote the name of the Mandarin he serves.

The manner in which the prisoner is presented is characteristic of the insolence of office and harshness which (even female) delinquents are subject to in that country.