The Chinese : a general description of the empire of China and its inhabitants . passing. Withindoors they usually wear in cold weather a smallscullcap, either plain or ornamented. The summer garment of the better classes is along loose gown of light silk, gauze, or linen, hang-ing free at ordinary times, but on occasions of dressgathered in round the middle by a girdle of strongwrought silk, which is fastened in front by a claspof agate, or of the^arfe, which the Chinese call yuIn an oppressive climate, when the thermometer isat 80° or 90°, there is much ease and comfort in theloose sleeves,
The Chinese : a general description of the empire of China and its inhabitants . passing. Withindoors they usually wear in cold weather a smallscullcap, either plain or ornamented. The summer garment of the better classes is along loose gown of light silk, gauze, or linen, hang-ing free at ordinary times, but on occasions of dressgathered in round the middle by a girdle of strongwrought silk, which is fastened in front by a claspof agate, or of the^arfe, which the Chinese call yuIn an oppressive climate, when the thermometer isat 80° or 90°, there is much ease and comfort in theloose sleeves, and the freedom from restraint aboutthe neck, by which this dress is distinguished; andthe tight sleeves and huge collars of Europeans verynaturally make them objects of compassion, if notridicule. To the girdle are fastened the various ar-ticles noticed by Dr. Abel, as the fan case, tobaccopouch, flint and steel, and sometimes a sbeath witha small knife and pair of chopsticks. Thev are veryproud of displaying a watch, which is inserted in anembroidered silk case or COSTUMES. 325 The winter dress, being nearly as loose as that olsummer, is less calculated to promote warmth andcomfort than the European costume, and at the sametime more unfavourable to bodily activity and exer-tion. Over a longer dress of silk or crape, whichreaches to the ankles, they wear a large-sleevedspencer, called ma-kwa, (or riding coat,) which doesnot descend below the hips. This is often entirelyof fur, but sometimes of silk or broadcloth, linedwith skins. The neck, which in summer is leftquite bare, is protected in winter with a narrowcollar of silk or fur; their loose dresses always foldover to the right breast, where they are fastenedfrom top to bottom, at intervals of a few inches, bygilt or crystal buttons (the latter in mourning) withloops. In summer the nether garment is loose, and notunlike ancient Dutch breeches ; but in winter an in-describable pair of tight leggins are drawn on sepa
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1800, booksubjectchinade, bookyear1800
