BOOK OF CURIOSITIES.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

FEAST OF THE LANTERNS.

THIS is a splendid festival among the Chinese, when every part of the empire is completely illuminated. Both in city and country, on the coast and on the rivers, every person lights up his painted lanterns. These are of various forms and sizes, covered with transparent silk, ornamented with flowers, animals and human figures. They are lighted by lamps or wax candles, and adorned with gilding, japanning, sculpture, and elegant streamers of silk or satin.

Some of these lanterns are very huge, so that the Chinese eat, lodge, receive visits, have balls and act plays in them. The largest lanterns frequently exhibit moving figures, which are set in motion by means of hidden threads. The spectators are in this manner amused by the sight of horses galloping, ships sailing, and armies in full march. Some carry about serpents of an enormous length, illuminated within from the head to the tail, and

so contrived that they wreathe about in different forms as if they were alive.

To add to the brilliancy of this festival, a variety of fire-works are exhibited. In one of these exhibitions, an arbour of vines with red grapes was represented, in which the color of the wood, fruit and leaves was exactly imitated; the whole appeared to be burnt, and yet remained uninjured.

This feast is held on the fifteenth day of the first month. The number of lanterns lighted throughout the whole of China, and hung out of the houses and in the streets, is said to be over two hundred millions. People of common rank will expend fifty or sixty dollars on the occasion; and even the poorest will exert themselves to contribute to the general illumination.

TATTOOING.

The custom of marking the skin, or, as it is called in some of the Pacific Islands, Tattooing, is one of the most general practices of savage life. It is performed by means of pointed instruments of bone, made in different forms, and gently driven into the skin. The operation is in many places entrusted to people who get their entire livelihood by it. Those who show the most skill and taste in arranging these ornaments, are as much sought after as the best tailors are amongst civilized nations.

The principal strokes of the figures to be tattooed are first sketched upon the body, with the same dye that is afterwards rubbed into the punctures. When these fig

ures have been traced by the instruments, a thick dye, composed of ashes from the kernel of an oily nut mixed with water, is rubbed into the skin. This at first occasions a slight smarting and inflammation; it then heals, and after some days the blueish or blackish blue figure appears.

The art of tattooing, has been carried to its greatest perfection among the inhabitants of the Washington Islands. As soon as a youth of one of these islands approaches towards manhood, the operation is begun, and this forms one of the most important periods of his life. The artist is sent for, and an agreement made with him in respect to his pay. This generally consists of a certain number of hogs, and is large or small according to the wealth of the party. In the first year, only the ground-work of the principal figures upon the breast, arms, back and thighs is laid some addition is constantly made to them at intervals of from three to six months, and this is often continued for thirty or forty years before the whole tattooing is completed.

The women of the Washington Islands are very little tattooed, differing in this respect from the inhabitants of the other South Sea islands. The hands are punctured from the ends of the fingers to the wrists, which gives them the appearance of wearing gloves. The feet are made to resemble highly ornamented half-boots; the arms are decorated with long stripes, and with circles which have much the effect of the bracelets worn by Europear. ladies.

Sometimes a rich islander will make a feast in honor of his wife, when she has her ear ornaments, or a bracelet tattooed about her arm. A hog is then killed, and the friends of both sexes are invited to partake of it.

The objects with which the body is tattooed are selected with great care. They consist partly of sketches of men, birds, dogs and various animals; partly of squares, circles, diamonds and other such figures. The head of a man is tattooed in every part. The breast is commonly ornamented with a figure resembling a shield; on the arms and thighs are broad and narrow stripes. Upon the back is a large cross, beginning at the neck. On each side of the calf of the leg is an oval figure. The whole in short displays much taste and skill.

THE VENETIAN GONDOLAS.

Venice is situated on a number of islands, and has canals for highways, and gondolas for hackney coaches. Of these there are now in this city of waters, about two thousand. At one time the Venetian noble had always six or seven of his own, which were fixed to high poles. before the gates of his palace, and rowed by servants in liveries. Few individuals have now more than two or! three.

The gondola is a sort of canoe, thirty-three feet in length and four feet in breadth. The head is formed of steel, and projects like a swan's neck. In the middle is a low, covered apartment fitted up like a carriage, with glass windows, blinds, and cushioned seats for four per

sons. Behind this stands the gondolier, who rows with one oar and keeps time with one foot. The cabin, and the whole vessel, with the exception of the steel prow, and some brass ornaments, is painted black.

At night they all carry a lantern at the prow and stern; and the effect of these lights, flitting to and fro in every direction, is very pleasing. In the lustre of a Venetian moonlight, the silent motion of these dark barks over the serene and shining waters, has a still more beautiful appearance. At that time, the solitary song of the gondolier, when softened and mellowed by distance, acquires a plaintive and touching harmony.

TURKISH MANNERS.

The Turks are not fond of allowing people to draw or sketch, and are in fact very particular as to this. They eat with their fingers; for instance, one takes a fowl, tears off a leg or a wing, and offers it to his neighbour. Dishes of flesh are served in small bits in one large dish, into which each one thrusts his finger in his turn, and takes out his mess. The wealthy eat of twenty dishes, and only a mouthful of each. They take two meals a day; one at ten, and the other at about six. They are very careful to wash their hands before eating.

The dress of the men is always the same, but the women are subject to the changes of fashion. This is chiefly in the head dress. They never wear stockings, but have trowsers which are tied below the knee, and double