Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 629

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History of the Ming Dynasty.

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irrigating their fields. In this respect China resembles Holland, and the water-communications are so multiplied, that the construction of good roads is entirely forgotten. Labor being cheap, the means of subsistence easily obtained, and the population immense, works of this description are executed more cheaply than in any other

country.

Succeeding these remarks upon the elements, the historians of Ming have given us long disquisitions upon the ceremonies then in fashion, told us what music was most esteemed at court, and added sundry remarks, valuable to a professor of the kotau, upon the most appropriate genuflections when coming into the presence of celestial majesty. After these remarks, we seem to have fallen upon a tailor's journal, or the diary of some Chinese Pepys, in which the cut of his imperal majesty's robes, the successive fashions of empresses, cour- tiers, and dignitaries of all degrees, and the costumes of the people at large, are all described. It would seem that the garb of that pe- riod was more becoming than that of our degenerate age. First, the dress was so wide that the wearer looked like a lord-chancellor on the woolsack; and the sleeves were large, and served for pock- ets; then they wore a square cap, and lastly they did not shave their head and make monkeys of themselves, but tied all their long hair up in a top-knot.

The appointment of officers was similar to that which obtains at present, so that the chapters upon this subject require only a transi- tory notice.

An idea is very general abroad that merit alone leads to office in China, and that the successful candidate at examinations has alone a claim to promotion. But there are several other things which affect a man's eligibility; sons of meritorious officers and noblemen have the first claim, after whom come successful gradu- ates, who are usually appointed to be district teachers and professors; then assistants in the offices, if recommended by their superiors. These last are, in one sense, the real rulers of the country, inasmuch as being accustomed to transact business, their aid is indispensable to the actual incumbent, while in his name they often oppress the people. Last not least arc wealthy individuals who buy their offices.

In the detail of governmental departments, we have extracts of the Tá Ming Hwui tien, or Statistics of the Ming, a valuable document to the historian. The revenues of the court, amounted on an average to 40 millions of taels, besides an adequate quantity of rice, which is far below the present income Comparing the present income with these quotations from ancient revenue. It is evident, that China has