Page 153 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

FAMILLE VERTE. 331

some game like gobang, and following on the same line further
round the vase is another some
figure and attendant, evidently
divinity or god, who is seated on clouds watching the proceed-
The enamels on this vase are
ings. extremely brilliant,
and
consisting of black, green, yellow, red, purple, aubergine,
and as the caps and headdresses of nearly every figure in the
crowd are black, and the legs and boots too, as well as the
umbrellas, the general effect is most striking. No mark, but
without doubt a fine of the
any possible example Kang-he
period, 1661-1722, There are forty-five figures on this vase,
and the I have been told, represents the
subject, people soliciting
the for more to build the Low-Yan-Tow, i.e. the
gods money
large stone bridge across the river at Foochow, which is of
ancient date. Sent to me from China by Mr. Arbuthnot."
The following is the account the Zenana ladies give of this
motive :
"
In the Black of the Ch'ien
Dragon pool T'ang river, there
lived in ancient times a fierce dragon, who had power to stir
up the waves and injure passing boats. The officials were
accustomed year by year to go to the spot and cast young
children into the pool, hoping thus to appease the monster.
This is the scene
represented."
"
55 In the
Mayers, p. : reign of Wen How of Wei, B.C.
424, Si-men Pao was governor of Yeh, and on taking office,
learnt that what the suffered from in his district
people chiefly
was the of ' a wife in to the
practice annually giving marriage
The elders were accustomed to
river-god.' ruling every year
enormous sums from the under this and
levy people pretence,
in consort with the male and female, to select a
soothsayers,
well-favoured maiden, who, after a period of sacrificial orgies,
was attired as a bride and cast into the river to meet the
richly
embraces of the Si-men Pao an end to this sinister
god. put
practice, by casting the chief priestess and some of her
associates into the river when the time next set for the
apart
ceremony came round."
No. 567. "A cylindrical white vase, with sloping shoulder
and neck running up to lip, which abruptly becomes larger
before forming the rim. Height, 19 inches. Commonly known
as club shape. Around the neck are four bands, the upper con-
of on
sisting palm leaves in various coloured enamels, resting

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