the golden chersonese and the way thither-第33章
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beast let go the corporal and turn on him； but fortunately he had
scarcely got hold of him when he fell dead。 The corporal is just coming
out of hospital； almost completely paralyzed； to be taken care of for
the rest of his life； and the man who rescued him has got promotion and
a pension。 A short time ago a fine young tiger was brought alive to
Captain Shaw； and he ordered a proper cage to be made； in which to send
him to England； telling Babu； the 〃double Hadji；〃 to put it into the
〃godown〃 in its bamboo cage； but the man put it into the kitchen； and
in the morning the cage was found broken into pieces； the kitchen
shutters torn down； and the tiger gone！ There was a complete panic in
Malacca； people kept their houses shut； and did not dare to go out even
on business； and not only was the whole police force turned out in
pursuit； but the English garrison。 It was some days before the scare
subsided and the people believed that the beast had escaped to its
natural home in the jungle。
A tropical thunderstorm of the most violent kind occurred yesterday；
when I was quite alone in the Stadthaus。 The rain fell in sheets；
deluges； streams； and the lightning flashed perfectly blue through a
〃darkness which could be felt。〃 There is a sort of grandeur about this
old Dutch Stadthaus； with its tale of two centuries。 Its smooth lawns；
sloping steeply to the sea； are now brilliant with the gaudy
parrot…like blossoms of the 〃flame of the forest；〃 the gorgeous
Poinciana regia； with which they are studded。 Malacca is such a rest
after the crowds of Japan and the noisy hurry of China！ Its endless
afternoon remains unbroken except by the dreamy； colored； slow…moving
Malay life which passes below the hill。 There is never any hurry or
noise。
So had I written without prescience！ The night of the awful silence
which succeeded the thunderstorm was also the eve of the Chinese New
Year； and Captain Shaw gave permission for 〃fireworks〃 from 7 P。M。 till
midnight。 The term 〃fireworks〃 received a most liberal construction。
The noise was something awful； and as it came into the lonely
Stadthaus； and red； blue； crimson； and greenish…yellow glares at short
intervals lighted up the picturesque Malacca steam and its blue and
yellow houses； with their steep red…tiled roofs and balconies and
quaint projections； and the streets were traced in fire and smoke；
while crackers； squibs； and rockets went off in hundreds； and cannon；
petards； and gingalls were fired incessantly； and gongs； drums； and
tom…toms were beaten； the sights； and the ceaseless； tremendous；
universal din made a rehearsal of the final assault on a city in old
days。 At 1 A。M。； every house being decorated and illuminated； the
Chinese men began to make their New Year's calls； and at six the din
began again。 After breakfast the Governor drove out in state to visit
the leading Chinese merchants； with whom he is on terms of the most
cordial amity； and at each house was offered two dishes of cakes；
twelve dishes of candied and preserved fruits； mandarin tea （the price
of this luxury is from 25s。 to 45s。 a pound）； and champagne from the
finest Rhenish vineyards！ At eleven all the Chinese children came forth
in carriages shaped like boats； turned up at both ends； painted red and
yellow； and with white…fringed canopies over them。 These were drawn by
servants； and in the case of the wealthy； a train of servants
accompanied each carriage。 It was a sight worthy of a fabled age。 The
wealth of the East in all its gorgeousness was poured out upon these
dignified and solemn infants； who wore coronals of gold and diamonds；
stuffs of cloth of gold brocade； and satin sewn with pearls； and whose
cloth…of…gold shoes flashed with diamonds！
During the morning four children of a rich Chinese merchant； attended
by a train of Chinese and Malay servants； came to see Mrs。 Shaw。 There
were a boy and girl of five and six years old； and two younger
children。 A literal description of their appearance reads like fiction。
The girl wore a yellow petticoat of treble satin （mandarin yellow） with
broad box plaits in front and behind； exquisitely embroidered with
flowers in shades of blue silk； with narrow box plaits between； with a
trail of blue silk flowers on each。 Over this there was a short robe of
crimson brocaded silk； with a broad border of cream…white satin； with
the same exquisite floral embroidery in shades of blue silk。 Above this
was a tippet of three rows of embroidered lozenge…shaped 〃tabs〃 of
satin。 The child wore a crown on her head； the basis of which was black
velvet。 At the top was an aigrette of diamonds of the purest water；
the centre one as large as a sixpenny…piece。 Solitaires flashing blue
flames blazed all over the cap； and the front was ornamented with a
dragon in fine filigree work in red Malay gold set with diamonds。 I
fear to be thought guilty of exaggeration when I write that this child
wore seven necklaces； all of gorgeous beauty。 The stones were all cut
in facets at the back； and highly polished； and their beauty was
enhanced by the good taste and skilful workmanship of the setting。 The
first necklace was of diamonds set as roses and crescents； some of them
very large； and all of great brilliancy； the second of emeralds； a few
of which were as large as acorns； but spoilt by being pierced； the
third of pearls set whole； the fourth of hollow filigree beads in red；
burned gold； the fifth of sapphires and diamonds； the sixth a number of
finely worked chains of gold with a pendant of a gold filigree fish set
with diamonds； the seventh； what they all wear； a massive gold chain；
which looked heavy enough even by itself to weigh down the fragile
little wearer； from which depended a gold shield； on which the Chinese
characters forming the child's name were raised in rubies； with fishes
and flowers in diamonds round it； and at the back a god in rubies
similarly surrounded。 Magnificent diamond earrings and heavy gold
bracelets completed the display。
And all this weight of splendor； valued at the very least at 40；000；
was carried by a frail human mite barely four feet high； with a
powdered face； gentle； pensive expression； and quiet grace of manner；
who came forward and most winsomely shook hands with us； as did all the
other grave gentle mites。 They were also loaded with gold and diamonds。
Some sugar…plums fell on the floor； and as the eldest girl stooped to
pick them up； diamond solitaires fell out of her hair； which were
gathered up by her attendants as if they were used to such occurrences。
Whenever she moved her diamonds flashed； scintillated； and gave forth
their blue light。 Then came the children of the richest Chinaman in
Malacca； but the little gentle creatures were motherless； and mourning
for a mother lasts three years； so they were dressed in plain blue and
white； and as ornaments wore only very beautiful sapphires and diamonds
set in silver。
Do not suppose that the Chinese New Year is a fixed； annual holiday
lasting a day； as in Scotland； and to a minor extent in England。 In
Canton a month ago active preparations were being made for it； and in
Japan nine weeks ago。 It is a 〃movable feast；〃 and is regulated by the
date on which the new moon falls nearest to the day 〃when the sun
reaches the 15 degrees of Aquarius；〃 and occurs this year on January
21st。 Everything becomes cheap before it； for shopkeepers are anxious
to realize ready money at any loss； for it is imperative that all
accounts be closed by the last day of the old year； on pain of a man
being disgraced； losing all hope of getting credit； and of having his
name written up on his door as a defaulter。 It appears also that debts
which are not settled by the New Year's Eve cannot thereafter be
recovered； though it is lawful for a creditor who has vainly hunted a
debtor throughout that last night to pursue him for the first hours
after daybreak； provided he still carries a lantern！
The festival lasts a fortnight； and is a succession of feasts and
theatrical entertainments； everybody's object being to cast care and
work to the winds。 Even the official seals of the mandarins are
formally and with much rejoicing sealed up and la
