Page 395 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

PAINTED IN COLOURS OVER THE GLAZE. 221

Davis, vol. ii. p. 27, Canton : " It must be observed that
no inconsiderable portion of what may be considered as the
population of Canton exists upon the river, in the multitudes
that inhabit the junks, barges, and small boats. A very large
of the latter are tdn-hea, or ' ' boats, from
majority egg-house
their shape resembling the longitudinal section of an egg;.
They are generally not more than ten or twelve feet long,
about six broad, and so low that a can stand
person scarcely
up in them. Their covering consists of a bamboo or mat tilt,
like that of a which and serves
shaped waggon, is very light,
as a defence the weather. Whole families
tolerably against
live in these boats, and are considered as a distinct part of
the population, being under a separate regulation, and not
allowed to intermarry with those on shore."
No. 372. Eggshell plate. Diameter, 8§ inches; height, 1^
inch. backed at centre. This is what is known as
Purple except
a seven-border plate. The prevailing colour is pink, beginning
from the rim— a narrow band a
(1) of peacock-green ; (2)
pink border with four reserves, and four dark blue scrolls
"
four lotus flowers blue Y "
supporting gilt ; (3) light pattern
work and band
diaper- ; (4) light green, yellow, pink ; (5) pink
border (similar to No. 2) with four reserves filled with dark
blue scrolls and flower or blue band with
gilt symbol ; (6)
" '
trellis-work diaper ; (7) foliated border with gilt Y diaper.
two ladies, two and one These three latter
Subject, boys, girl.
show the various styles of shaving the heads of children ; and
as the and it their
boys girls are dressed alike, is only by
heads that we can tell the one from the other.
"
96 after the first of
Doolittle, p. : Many parents, shaving
the head of a child when one month old, allow the hair to
grow on a part of the top of the head ; if a boy, in the shape
and of the size of a small until or ten
peach, eight years old,
or even until sixteen old if a a of hair is
years ; girl, patch
often allowed to on one or both sides of the head.
grow Many
Chinese seem to be at a loss why the tuft is left. Some explain
that which is left on the of a to be for a defence of
pate boy
the soft of the skull. all seem to it as an
part They regard
omen of or a kind of charm, and conducive to the health
good,
or welfare of the child.
" ' '
Sometimes neither the nor the cue is allowed to
peach
p 3