. The land of the pigtail : its people and customs : from a boy's point of view . gto break one when it is a matter of perfect indifferenceto whom one is engaged. When the cards are sent to the girls family, a presentis sent for her of a pair of silver or gold wristlets; andfor her family, various articles of food, as pigs feet, apair of fowls, two fish, &c. When they send back tothe family to which the boy belongs the engagementcard, they send, as a present, some artificial gilt flowers,vermicelli, and bread cakes. Two large threads of red silk and four needles arealso exchanged; and I have n
. The land of the pigtail : its people and customs : from a boy's point of view . gto break one when it is a matter of perfect indifferenceto whom one is engaged. When the cards are sent to the girls family, a presentis sent for her of a pair of silver or gold wristlets; andfor her family, various articles of food, as pigs feet, apair of fowls, two fish, &c. When they send back tothe family to which the boy belongs the engagementcard, they send, as a present, some artificial gilt flowers,vermicelli, and bread cakes. Two large threads of red silk and four needles arealso exchanged; and I have no doubt this is an impor-tant part of the transaction. There is some meaningin it, for the Chinese use symbols for everything—nowthen. Master Charles, I know what you said—yes, andcymbals, too, when marriages take place; but dont be ina hurry to get to the wedding-—the Chinese never are. MATCH-MAKING. 37 There is an old story about tlie red thread, but I wonttrouble you or myself either with it; I dare say it meanstying the young people together, or something oi that. ■WEDDING SEETIOE. sort. As to the needle, it may serve to suggest that athreaded needle is appropriated, or to be used, and thatneither of the young people need keep the eye open foranybody else—but I have not the authority of Confu-cius for this explanation. The next step in the process appears to us a littlemore sensible ; and I am sure the boys present wiU wishthat our own custom were more after the same fashion. 38 THE LAND OF THE PIGTAIL. When our young people are engaged, they usuallythink of making presents to one another. Adolphus,perhaps, buys a gold locket, and has his photographtaken, and inserted inside; and Clementina, perhaps.
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