66
Notices of China, No. V.
FEB.
why there are so many unhappy women who find no end to their domestic troubles, but in suicide. Ordinarily, the parents take the first steps towards concluding a matrimonial contract, but there are persons in the country, men and women, intrusted with the business of match-making. These people make it their profession, get their livelihood by it, and generally follow no other. Marriage is a sort of trade, of which these go-betweens are the monopolists!
It is dishonorable to a girl ten years of age not to have been be- trothed, and after that period, the saying is, 'the market is dull.' At the age of fourteen or fifteen years, a girl can no longer go out of the house, though she may be pardoned if curiosity has led her now and then to peep out at the door. But when strangers enter the house she is obliged to hide herself in the most retired apartment. Every thing being ready for the espousals, the parents of the lad inform those of the girl, that they may fix the day. At the appointed time, the go-between, attended by two men and as many women, goes to the house of the future spouse with the usual presents in baskets. In one are found the two gilt books, mentioned above, around which are arranged diverse kinds of fruits, according to etiquette; and in the four corners are coins ranged in piles. Another contains a small fresh ham, the foot of which must be sent back to the intended fa- ther-in-law. A third basket has vermicelli in it. On the arrival of the bearess of the presents, crackers are fired to proclaim the news to the neighbors, and two red tapers are lighted in the hall of entrance. Afterwards, the betrothed apportions the ham to those present, but the number is often so great, that there is scarcely a morsel for each. She also sends the little book, containing the promise of marriage, to Her intended husband; and her parents send him as many baskets. containing articles of the same value as those presented to her. They are, however, of a different kind, and consist of various fruits, of which they make six separate parcels, each having a certain flower, set upon red paper, fastened to its four corners. ¡
The affianced boy likewise receives from his mother-in-law (that is to be) some small tokens of trifling value, which he immediately distributes to those who may be present. The seed of the gourd, dried in the sun, forms one of the latter. After these ceremonies; the youth cannot upon any account see his espoused; he has never sgen her yet, nor will he till the day of their nuptials. If he has not done it already, the father of the girl is not tardy to demand her price, about $32 being the most moderate sum for a wife. More commonly it is from 66 to 80 taels. In all cases, the young man