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EAST ASIA.
division, led by his plait. He was obliged to remain on his knees during the
trial.
" This man had pretended that he was a broker, and had gone to the different
European firms, from each of which he had obtained a sample of sugar, which
he afterwards sold retail. He was convicted and sentenced to two months'
imprisonment.
" The Chinese official at this stage of the proceedings offered me a cigar, and tea
was brought in ;
after which refection another prisoner was arraigned for driving a
jinnyrickshaw without a license, and for which he received twenty blows with a stick.
" The next had stolen a watch ; and the last in a crdwded thoroughfare had
refused to ' move on.' It was a very amusing sight, and strangely like '
orderly
room '
in an English barrack." (Gill, i. p. 170.)
Meantime the natives enjoy many traditional liberties unknown in some
European states. They.may combine to dismiss an unpopular mandarin, politely
escorting him out of the district, with much parade and congratulations on his
happy release from the burdens of office. They may move about freely in all parts
of the empire without being challenged by the gendarmes to show their papers.
They follow whatever profession they please without permits or diplomas of any
sort. The right of publication through the press or by posters is generally
respected, and public meetings are held without giving notice to the police.
Even
in the restless city of Canton the Government has never attempted to close the
doors of the Ming-lun-tang, or Palace of Free Discussion, it although does not forget
to send orators who take part in the debates, and endeavour to give them a
turn favourable to the interests of the mandarins.
The fundamental principle that society rests on the family has for ages main-
tained the old communal autonomy. In the villages all the heads of families take
part in the election of their representatives, who are chosen mostly from the agri-
cultural class. These rural officials fulfil the functions of mayors, notaries,
registrars, tax-gatherers, justices of the peace, arbitrators in family differences,
ministers of agriculture, and even masters of ceremonies. No stipends are attached
to the office, but they are assisted by other employes, such as foresters, surveyors,
writers, also appointed by the community. In the towns all the kific/iang, or
householders, of each quarter, numbering from sixty to one hundred, form a Muni-
cipal Council, which elects its own paochimj as
(mayor),
well as all the other muni-
cipal officers. The mayors of the several Chinese quarters elect district magistrates
to look after the common interests, but the Manchu quarter depends directly on the
Central Government.
ARMY AND NAVY.
Although the military forces are being gradually reorganized on the European
model, public opinion is still unfavourable to large standing armies. The people
have constantly in their mouth the saying of Confucius, that "for every man who
does no work there is another who lacks bread ;
" and the little esteem entertained
for the military is illustrated by another popular saying, to the effect that " good