Page 126 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

94 CHINESE PORCELAIN.

Doolittle, p. 615: "As we came near the gate through
which we entered Peking, were a number of camels lying down
and quietly chewing the cud, while awaiting the reception of
their burdens. None of these animals are to be found in the
southern of the
portions empire."
Davis, vol. ii. p. 324 : " Dromedaries are much used as
beasts of burden between and
Peking Tartary."
" "
Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 256 : The Chinese have
the camel in trained small
employed war, and it to carry
swivels on its back."
Cat.— Doolittle, p. 571 : " The coming of a cat to a house-
hold is an omen of The of a
approaching poverty. coming
strange cat, and its staying in a house, are believed to fore-
shadow an unfavourable in the condition of
change pecuniary
the It is that a cat can foresee where it will
family. supposed
find of rats and mice in of
plenty consequence approaching
dilapidation of a house, following the ruin or poverty of its
inhabitants." On the roofs of houses, as a charm, may often
"
be found an of a cat, made out of lime and
(p. 563), image
near the centre of one side of the roof in a
clay burnt, placed
and as at in the
sitting posture, looking off, something
distance."
—
Ass. Davis, vol. ii. p. 324 : " Asses and mules are common
in the north of the The mules are of a
empire. generally good
size, and said to bear a higher price than horses, as being
capable of more labour on less food."
" "
Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 77 : Province of Shantung.
On several occasions, young ladies clothed in gay silks and
satins, riding astride upon bags on donkeys, were seen."
The ass, as in this is of and
country, symbolical stupidity,
the name is sometimes to Buddhist
applied priests.
Birds.
— "
Stork. Franks, p. 245 : The stork (ho) is one of the
commonest emblems of It is said to reach a fabulous
longevity.
and when six hundred old to drink, but no
age, years longer
eat ; after two thousand years to turn black."
52 " Next to the
Mayers, p. : Ho, the crane. feng (phoenix),
this bird is the most celebrated in Chinese
legends, in which it
is endowed with attributes. It is as the
many mythical reputed