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Nieuhof, Johannes, 1618-1672 / An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham, emperor of China: delivered by their excellencies Peter de Goyer and Jacob de Keyzer, at his imperial city of Peking wherein the cities, towns, villages, ports, rivers, &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously described by John Nieuhoff; also an epistle of Father John Adams, their antagonist, concerning the whole negotiation; with an appendix of several remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher; Englished and set forth with their several sculptures by John Ogilby
(1673)
Chap. IV. Of some strange customs, fashions, and manners, in use amongst the Chineses., pp. 164-175
Page 172
gi eneral Vefcriptior of le H1t, as formerly at Pome the Young Men did t )wn; and this is when they have attain'd twenty ater Splendor, and more extraordinary State, is N ugh the whole Country, to wit, upon the firft da n; for that is the Emperor's Feftival, on which SHoufe great flore of Artificial Candles, made o which arefold in the Markets in great quantities. the Rooms hung therewith very thick, make aft were all-of a light Fire : And as an addition p and down the Streets, with the like Candles and hollowing likt mad People. e the old (Romans, have feveral Names by which firft, they have a Sir-name, which is ancient, aq rifian Name; and lafily a Proper Name; and th nd fignifies one thing or other, as their Sir-nan This fecond Name, which the Father blbows o rays writ with One Chara&er, and pronounc'd ' W'omen have no fuch Name, being call'd-by their he number of Place in which they fRand in regard Riers. is put out to School, he receives !fom the Mali call'd the Scbool;Name, whereby he is call'd by tht ely. Again, when a young Man puts on the Vir prefented by ome Perfon of Quality with a mot d 7he Letter, by which any Perfon may afterwa rvants. , Now when he is grown to Years of perfe ed by fome other Perfon with a very honorable The Great Name : By this Name he is call'd by all :ept his Parents. who think him unworthy of that and continue to call him onely by the Name of the Letter. If any Perfon embraces a new Se& or" Opinion, the Do6ior wh duces him betows upon him a new Name ; and therefore the Jefuit higher Name given them-than what they receiv'd in Baptifm. All manner of Antiquities are of great value and account arion fuch as old Veff'els made of Chalk, Wood, Marble, or Copper ; but ly Pi&ures that arc well Drawn, as alfo the Chara&ers and Writin mous Pen.men, writ upon Cloth and Linnen ; and thefe two latthey as mol precious. Allthe Magiffiates wear a diftin& Badge or Ma known by, as to their Offices and Employments, which they prefet great care; for if they flipuld unhappily lofe it, they would not turn'd out.of their Employments, but alfo be feverelj punifhid; ti whenever they go from home, they nail it up in a Cheff, and feal their Seal. o Men of great Places and Dignity never go on foot, but are carried Shoulders in Chairs, made cdofe round about, fo that they cannot be fuch as walk the Streets, unlefs they draw pen one of the Curtains difference there is between them and the Magirates, who are carried (hairs. The Women arealfo carried in clofe Chairs, but fornethingd fkom thofe of the Men. C
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