Page:Through China with a camera.pdf/411

 outer court care had been taken to supply a fowl-house with a steam saw-mill, with which the owner had achieved wonders in the short space of a single day.

The machine, indeed, had never enjoyed but that one chance of distinguishing itself; for the Pekingese, disturbed by the whirr of the engine, scaled the walls with ladders, clustered on to the roofs and compelled the startled proprietor to abandon his un- dertaking. There, then, stood the motionless mill, with one or two dejected fowls perched upon its cylinder — a monster whom long familiarity had taught even the poultry to despise. I saw the ladies several times while I was teaching my friend how to concoct nitrate of silver and other photographic chemicals. Some of these women were handsome, and all were dressed in rich satins; but the following information which I received from an English lady (Mrs. Edkins), who was much esteemed, and deser- vedly so, for her good works among the natives, will give further insight into the daily life of the Pekingese ladies.

Many Chinese ladies spend a great portion of their time in gossiping, smoking and gambling — very unlady-like occupations my fair readers will exclaim ; nevertheless, these accomplishments, taken either singly or collectively, require years of assiduous training before they can be practised with that perfection which prevails in polite circles in China. Gambling, it is to be regret- ted, is by far the most favourite pastime, and it is perhaps but cold comfort to reflect that this vice is not monopolised by the ladies of Cathay, but that it is their lords who set them the example. They never dream of playing except for money; and when they have no visitors of their own rank to gamble with, they call up the domestics and play with them. Poorer women meet at some gaming den, and there manage to squander considerable sums of money ; thus affording their