CHAPTER IV.Reeves’s pheasants—Golden pheasants—Silver pheasants—Blue pigeons—Stabbed-breast pigeons—Widow birds—The horned Tragopan—The mandarin teal—Conjugal fidelity—Nicobar pigeons—Peacock pheasants—Pink cockatoo—The Ounderou monkey—A Pitta—Mr. Beale’s gardens—Rare productions of the vegetable kingdom—Native drawings—Extortionate custom.
Reeves’s pheasants—Golden pheasants—Silver pheasants—Blue pigeons—Stabbed-breast pigeons—Widow birds—The horned Tragopan—The mandarin teal—Conjugal fidelity—Nicobar pigeons—Peacock pheasants—Pink cockatoo—The Ounderou monkey—A Pitta—Mr. Beale’s gardens—Rare productions of the vegetable kingdom—Native drawings—Extortionate custom.
In the aviary, the beautifulPhasianus veneratusof Temminck; theP. Reevesiiof Gray, now commonly known by the name of Reeves’s Pheasant, was seen: it is theChee Kai[21]of the Chinese. The longest of the beautiful tail feathers of this bird are six feet in length, and are placed in the caps of the players, when acting military characters: this I observed at Canton, where some of the beautiful tail feathers (rather in a dirty condition, like the actors themselves, who, in their tawdry and dirty dresses, remind one ofchimney-sweepers in London on May-day) were placed erect, on each side of their caps, as a decoration. The Chinese do not venerate this bird, as was first supposed, and which may have caused Temminck to bestow upon it the specific name ofveneratus; but it is superstitiously believed that the blood of this bird is possessed of poisonous properties, and that the mandarins, when in expectation of losing their rank, and being suddenly put to death by order of the emperor, preserve some of it, in a dried state, upon a handkerchief, on sucking which they fall down and instantly expire. I heard the male of this bird, in the aviary, utter a very sweet, mild, and harmonious, whistling note, as it strutted about proudly, arrayed in its elegant plumage; occasionally approaching near the wires of its habitation, to let the visitors notice and admire him. The ends of the longest feathers of the tail in the living specimen were broken, although in this place of confinement there is much extent for his movements; but the feathers are too long ever to expect them to be preserved perfect in any confined place.
Mr. Beale first succeeded in procuring a living male specimen of this elegant bird in 1808, and kept it in a healthy state for thirteen years. After its death, he endeavoured to procure others, butdid not succeed until the year 1831. Four specimens were brought, from the interior of China, to Mr. Beale’s aviary, and purchased for one hundred and thirty dollars. These specimens were those, I believe, subsequently taken to England by Mr. Reeves. A female of this elegant creature has not yet been procured, although large offers have been made for one. Much difficulty has been experienced in procuring from the Chinese, female birds of the Reeves’s or golden pheasants: many think it proceeds from a desire of preventing the birds being bred; but it may more correctly be attributable to the difficulty of persuading the Chinese that the females can at all be an object of attraction, or worthy of purchase, from being deficient in the brilliant plumage of the male birds; and it is probable that they misunderstand the person who requests females to be brought, and therefore male specimens are usually brought in place of them. A drawing of this bird was sent to England, by Mr. Beale, in 1804; and on the death, before mentioned, of the first living specimen ever seen by Europeans in China, it was stuffed, and presented to a gentleman belonging to the Dutch Factory at Canton, who expressed a great desire to send it to Holland, as it would materially favour his interest at home: it was, therefore,sent thither in 1817, or 1818, and was very probably the specimen from which Temminck’s description was given.
The golden, or painted pheasants, (Phasianus pictus,) now so well known even at home, are decked in elegant plumage: it can, however, be no compliment to their harmonious blending of colours, to call them painted, although the epithet may be considered very applicable to their general gaudy appearance. Their brilliant tints excite more admiration in vulgar minds than the delicate pencilling of the silver pheasant, or the less gaudy but more elegant tinting of plumage in the Reeves’s, or the ring-neck pheasants. The painted pheasant is called Kum, kai,[22]or Kin, kai, by the Chinese: the eggs of the bird are described as being white, with brown spots. These beautiful birds are brought from the districts of Che, Kien, and Keang, nan.
The male of this bird, when courting the female, or bullying the males, conceals the purple feathers of the wings with the golden feathers of the back, at the same time bringing those feathers, seen like a hood upon the back of the neck, forward, and concealing the bill; thus,on whatever side the object of attack or courtship may be, the hood is so brought as to hide all but the sharp, bright eye. The attitudes of this, as well as of others of the pheasant tribe, are invariably graceful, whether upon the ground, or perched upon the branches of a tree.
The silver, or pencilled pheasants, the Pah, haan of the Chinese, were in fine plumage; and among many other attractions in the collection, was the Wow, wow, or blue pigeon, of New South Wales, which has bred in the aviary. The present, full-grown and fine specimens of that bird, Mr. Beale told me, were the young of a pair originally brought from Australia. They were born and reared in the aviary, and the parents died a short time since. There were also several of the stabbed-breast pigeons, (Columba cruenta,) from Manilla, whose breasts exhibited the exact appearance of having received a wound; the feathers, for a short distance, seeming to be smeared with the blood which flowed from it. What could have caused this very extraordinary and exact resemblance?
Widow Birds are peculiar objects of attraction; they are of a diminutive size, and their flight and hopping motion, when jumping or flitting from branch to branch, reminded one of the unsettled disposition of widows in most countries.So rapid were their evolutions, that at times it was difficult for the eye to follow them. They had certainly a beautiful appearance, arrayed in their dark plumage, with a tinge of yellow over the male. The male of the widow-bird is like the female for four months of the year, about the spring season.
There is a species ofTringa, or Turnstone, which was lately brought by Captain Duran, who presented it to Mr. Beale: it was caught alive three hundred miles from the nearest land, in lat. 15° north, and 169° east longitude.
Another beautiful bird, which merits some notice, is that elegant creature, theTragopan satyrus, or hornedTragopan: it is theTû, Xoû, Nieu, of the Chinese, and may receive an appropriate English name in theMedallion Pheasant, from a beautiful membrane of resplendent colours, (more or less brilliant, according to the excitement the bird may be in at the time,) which is displayed or contracted at the will of the animal; at which time its purple horns are also elevated: this appearance is usually observed during the months of January to March, when courting the female. In the contracted state it has merely the appearance of a purple skin under the lower mandible, and sometimes there is not the slightest indication of the existence of anymembrane in that situation. The colours are most brilliant, being principally purple, with bright red and green spots; they are vivid and dazzling, varying, as in the wattle of the turkey-cock, according to the greater or lesser degree of passion exhibited by the bird. It is supposed, and no doubt correctly, that it is only to be found in the male specimens of this bird, for a female has not yet been seen. This beautiful appendage is never perceived to descend, excepting during the spring months or pairing season of the year. The birds in Mr. Beale’s aviary were procured from the Yun-nan province, bordering upon the country of Thibet: he has not, however, succeeded in his endeavours to obtain females of this elegant bird. I have coloured drawings of this bird in my possession, correctly executed by a Chinese artist.[23]
The Mandarin Teal, orEen-yêongof the Chinese, is also much and justly admired. The plumage of the drake is remarkably elegant, that of the female plain and undecorated. The male bird, however, during four months of the year, that is, from May to August, changes its beautiful plumage, and bears a close resemblance, at that time, to the female. This change is not confined solely to the tints of the feathers, but extends even to the epidermis of the mandibles. This bird, unlike the tribe, generally roosts in elevated situations, upon trees, high rocks, or over the windows of the aviary. These little creatures are regarded by the Chinese as emblems of conjugal fidelity, and are usually carried about in their marriage processions.
The following curious instance of fidelity was mentioned to me, as having occurred in the instance of two birds of this species:—A drake was stolen one night, with some other birds, from Mr. Beale’s aviary; the beautiful male was alone taken; the poor duck, in spite of her quacks during the distressing scene, was left behind.The morning following the loss of her husband the female was seen in a most disconsolate condition; brooding in secret sorrow, she remained in a retired part of the aviary, pondering over the severe loss she had just sustained.
Whilst she was thus delivering her soul to grief, a gay, prim drake, who had not long before lost his dear duck, which had been accidentally killed, trimmed his beautiful feathers, and, appearing quite handsome, pitying the forlorn condition of the bereaved, waddled towards her; and, after devoting much of his time and all his attention to the unfortunate female, he offered her his protection, and made a thousand promises to treat her with more kindness and attention than her dear, dear, lost drake; she, however, refused all his offers, having made, in audible quacks, a solemn vow to live and die a widow, if her mate did not return. From the day she met with her loss, she neglected her usual avocations; her plumage became ragged and dirty; she was regardless of her appearance; forsook her food, and usual scenes of delight, where she loved to roam with him, now absent, and to excite his brave spirit to drive away all the rivals that might attempt even to approach them. But those fleeting hoursof enjoyment had passed, perhaps never to return; and no consolation that could be offered by any of her tribe had the least effect. Every endeavour was made to recover the lost bird, as it was not expected that the beautiful creature would be killed.
Some time had elapsed after the loss, when a person, accidentally passing a hut, overheard some Chinese of the lower class conversing together; he understood sufficient of their language to find out that they said, “It would be a pity to kill so handsome a bird.”—“How, then,” said another, “can we dispose of it?” The hut was noted, as it was immediately suspected that the lost Mandarin drake was the subject of the conversation. A servant was sent, and, after some trouble, recovered the long-lost drake by paying four dollars for him. He was then brought back to the aviary in one of the usual cane cages.
As soon as the bird recognized the aviary, he expressed his joy by quacking vehemently and flapping his wings. An interval of three weeks had elapsed since he was taken away by force; but when the forlorn duck heard the note of her lost husband, she quacked, even to screaming, with ecstacy, and flew as far as she could in the aviary to greet him on his restoration.Being let out from the cage, the drake immediately entered the aviary—the unfortunate couple were again united; they quacked, crossed necks, bathed together, and then are supposed to have related all their mutual hopes and fears during the long separation.
One word more on the unfortunate widower, who kindly offered consolation to the duck when overwhelmed with grief: she in a most ungrateful manner informed her drake of the impudent and gallant proposals he made to her during his absence;—it is merely supposition that she did so; but at all events the result was, that the recovered drake attacked the other, the day subsequent to his return, pecked his eyes out, and inflicted on him so many other injuries, as to occasion his death in a few days. Thus did this unfortunate drake meet with a premature and violent death for his kindness and attention to a disconsolate lady. It may perhaps be correctly written on a tablet over his grave—“A victim to conjugal fidelity.”
Several of the beautiful Nicobar pigeons are also in the aviary, and are usually seen perched upon the trees, even upon the loftiest branches. They build their rude nests and rear their young upon trees, similar to all the pigeon tribe. They usually come down to feed upon the ground, butreturn to their elevated situation to repose during the night and most part of the day. Their plumage is of a splendid bronze, and their shape most graceful; but the long loose plumage pending from the breast, which they seem to delight in ruffling out, in some degree conceals their beauteous form, as seen in others of the tribe who have a smoother and more delicate plumage. These birds inhabit Sumatra, Nicobar, and other islands forming the eastern archipelago.[24]
Two elegant peacock pheasants from Cochin China; the jungle cock and hen from Java; the bright scarlet cardinal; the crested partridge from the Malay peninsula; the pretty and delicate Java sparrows; several of the Chinese water-fowl; and numerous doves, adorn and enliven this interesting place.[25]
A beautiful pink cockatoo, from the eastern islands, attached to a hanging perch, is placed near the aviary; and a large, elegant Persian cat, with fur of a most delicate silky texture, is seen attached by a long string to a tree. The docile creature reposes during the fine sunny weather upon the grass-plot in front of the aviary. The two latter are removed into the house at night, and placed in the garden during fine and serene weather.
Upon a large tree, also, on the terrace, near the aviary, is a fine female specimen of the Ounderou monkey of Ceylon (Simia silenus et leonina, Gm.) The fur of the animal is black, with a large white mane falling over on each side of the head. This specimen is nearly two feet high, but does not walk in the erect position. A house is placed for it in the branches of the tree, and the animal is secured by a chain, with a moveable ring, passing round a lofty bamboo, which communicates with the tree; so that Jenny, as the creature is called, can ascend or descend from the tree, and range for a certain extent through the branches, or for a short distance over the ground, when she descends. She is not readilyattracted by strangers, unless they excite heralimentivenessby displaying some food. Her appearance is very ludicrous,—the black physiognomy peering through the huge white mane, when she is seen peeping from her kennel in the tree, exercising her secretiveness by pretending, when called, not to notice or understand, while, in reality, her attention is directed towards the person who may be addressing her. But, let some fruit be displayed—rapid as thought she slides down the bamboo, and is close to the object of attraction. Do not imagine, stranger, that you are the object of attraction—as in the plenitude of your vanity you might;—no, she is paying a devoted attention to your donations of oranges or plantains, which having attained, she will soon forsake your society to enjoy the proceeds of her efforts upon the branches of the tree, far removed from your reach.
One morning, when I was visiting Mr. Beale, a bird had been just received, which was purchased in Canton from a Mantchow Tartar: it was aPitta, and supposed to be theP. brachyuraof Gould, figured in his splendid illustrations of the birds of the Himalaya mountains; but, from the red abdomen and vent, it appeared to accord more with the species calledP. erythrogastraof Temminck; it was in excellentcondition, very tame, feeding on insects, boiled rice, &c. This specimen was mentioned as having been procured from Tartary; but thehabitatof the first species is usually stated in our works on Natural History to be Ceylon and the Himalayas, and the second the Philippine islands.
Much care is required when the aviary is painted, to prevent the birds being injured, not alone from their pecking it, but, from getting the paint upon their feathers, as they eat it when cleaning their soiled plumage; the aviary is therefore painted as seldom as possible, and, when done, the interior of the painted part is lined with mats, until thoroughly dry.
The gardens around the dwelling-house display the taste of Mr. Beale, (in spite of the frequent destructive effects of the typhoons,) in arrangement, as well as choice of rare and valuable productions of the vegetable kingdom. Among others may be mentioned theLaurus Cassia, or China cinnamon, the leaves of which, and every part of the tree, yield, on being broken or rubbed, a most powerful and agreeable fragrance. Here also is a beautiful species ofNauclea, of the elevation of sixty or seventy feet, and a circumference of two feet; it was of straight growth, covered by a profusion of beautifulflowers in corymbs, and was branchy only at or near the summit. There were also some young trees ofCookea punctata, which bears the fruit called Whampee by the Chinese, and another species of the same genus from Manilla, which differed, however, materially from the preceding, from the foliage having a very strong taste and smell of aniseed: from this peculiarity it has been namedCookea anisetta.
Besides a multitude of theChrysanthemum indicaof different brilliant hues, in which China is so prolific, both for the number, size, and beauty of the varieties, Mr. Beale has a low shrubby species from Japan, which bears a profusion of small dark-red flowers. I saw a beautiful drawing of one of the plants in full bloom, but the plant itself, at the time of my departure from Macao, had not entirely expanded its flowers.[26]There is a flourishing plant of the single JapaneseCaucus,[27]numerousvarieties of the beautiful Chinese Camellias, several species ofBauhiniasfrom India, and the Black Chilly plant also from India. The fruit of this latter plant, before attaining maturity, is perfectly black, or rather, as a true black does not exist in the vegetable kingdom, a purplish black, but when ripe it becomes red; the stem, &c. of the plant has also a dark tinge. Two species ofAnnona, indigenous to China, and removed from its wild state in the vicinity of Macao to this garden, particularly attracted my notice; one is probably an undescribed species; it is found growing upon the hills near Macao. The tree was now both in fruit and flower, the latter being very fragrant; the Chinese name it the Hill Annona, or, in their language, Shan, Ying, Chāo; the other species is theA. uncata, called by the Chinese, Ying, Chāo.
In a pond in the garden are some beautiful specimens of the Golden Carp, (Cyprinus auratus, Linn.) which inhabits the lakes of southern China; the tail has a trifid form, the anal fins become double, and they appear subject to several variations, which, when depicted in drawings, has caused many to regard them asmerely specimens, proceeding from the imagination of the artist. At night the ponds are covered with a gauze frame, to preserve the finned creatures from nocturnal enemies; but with all the precautions used, the kingfishers sometimes capture them, and many had received injury, although they escaped from those depredators.
A number of the Chinese varieties of oranges are in the garden, including theCitrus nobilis, or Mandarin orange, and numerous others.[28]
There were also several plants of a species ofLycopodium, planted in pots, and kept well watered; it is an elegant species, rising from a stalk of about five inches in height, having on the summit its peculiar foliage, sometimes expanded and sometimes closed. This is a very ornamental plant; it resembles the species given me at Manilla, which I was told had been procured from Mexico, where it is found growing upon the rocks; and although kept for years in a dried state, revives and expands its foliage when placed in the water.[29]
There is a plantain-tree frequently seen growing in the gardens, which is called Fāā, tsieu, or red flowering plantain, by the Chinese. The anthers appear fertile, but it is said not to produce fruit; the flower proceeds from the centre of the upper part of the stem, growing erect, the scapes being of a crimson colour, frequently tipped with yellow: this plant has a very ornamental appearance in the gardens. I remarked also, in several of the plants, that many of the scapes become partially changed to floral leaflets, and the others remain in their original state.
The roots, or rather the creeping stem of the Lien, wha, of the Chinese, (Nelumbium speciosum,) are seen carried about for sale in the streets of Macao and Canton, as well as in large quantities in the bazaars. Although highly esteemed by the Chinese, I do not admire it as an esculent vegetable, being of a soft, pappy, and tasteless flavour; the only gratification derived from it is found in the growth of the plant and elegance of its blossom. According to Dr. Abel,the Chinese cultivate and prize it above all other plants. “This splendid flower,” he says, “celebrated for its beauty by the Chinese poets, and ranked for its virtues among the plants which, according to Chinese theology, enter into the beverage of immortality, flourished in the greatest vigour in the gardens of Tung, chow. Its tulip-like blossoms of many petals, tinted with the most delicate pink, hung over its fan-like leaves, floated on the surface of the water, or rising on long footstalks, of unequal height, bent them into elegant curves, and shaded with graceful festoons the plants beneath. Near Yuen-Ming-Yuen, and under the walls of Pekin,” continues Dr. Abel, “I saw it covering, with pink and yellow blossoms, large tracts of land, and could sympathise with the enthusiasm of the Chinese bards, who have sung of the delight of moonlight excursions on rivers, covered with the flowering Lien, wha. Its seeds, in size and form, like a small acorn without its cup, are eaten green, or dried as nuts, and are often preserved as sweetmeats; they have a nut-like flower. Its roots, sometimes as thick as the arm, of a pale green without, and whitish within, in a raw state, are eaten as fruit, being juicy, and of a sweetish and refreshing flavour, and when boiled are served as vegetables. The leaves are said topossess a strengthening quality; the seed vessel to cure the colic, to facilitate parturition, and to counteract the effects of poison.”[30]
TheArachis hypogæa, or ground nuts, are sold in great abundance in the bazaars, and about the streets of Macao and Canton, and are much eaten by the Chinese, who also extract an oil from the seeds for a variety of purposes.
Mr. Beale presented me with drawings by a Chinese artist, of the plants from which the pith, used in the manufacture of that kind of paper known to Europeans under the denomination ofrice-paper, and that from which the fibre used in the manufacture of thegrass-clothis procured. I suspect that the fibre used for the Manilla senimaya, or grass-cloth, is not produced from theMusa textilis, as is commonly supposed, which point has not, although often asserted by writers, been actually decided; it is more probably produced from a plant similar to that used by the Chinese, which isCorchorus, probablycapsularis.
The following engraving is from the Chinese drawing.
The pith plant is procured from Oan, nāām, near the province of See, chuen, and is named, in the language of the country,ToongShue,[31]and the following representation may convey some idea of the shrub, and assist persons visiting China to procure, if possible, specimens in flower or fructification.
CORCHORUS CAPSULARIS.
CORCHORUS CAPSULARIS.
CORCHORUS CAPSULARIS.
The grass-cloth plant is produced in great abundance, both in a wild and cultivated state,in the provinces of Fo, kien, and Che, kien, and is named by the Chinese Māā, Shūe.[32]
TOONG SHUE.
TOONG SHUE.
TOONG SHUE.
That curious plant, theNepenthes distillatoria, or monkey-cup of the Malays, is occasionally found abundant near running streams, upon the islands in the vicinity of Macao; the Chinesename it the pig-basket grass, (Chu, long, tzo,[33]) from the appendages or pitchers of the leaves having, when placed horizontally, some resemblance to the form of the baskets in which the pigs are carried to market. The Chinese avail themselves of the well-known obstinacy of these animals, and by that means succeed in getting the beast into the narrow conveyance; by placing the head of the animal close to the entrance of the basket, and pulling the creature by the tail, it enters immediately.
The dwarf trees are certainly one of the curiosities of the vegetable kingdom in China, being a joint production of nature and art: they are very small, placed in pots of various kinds, upon the backs of earthenware buffaloes, frogs, towers, and rock-work, which constitutes the Chinese taste in what these people would be pleased to term “ornamental gardening.” The plants have all the growth and appearance of an antiquated tree, but of an exceedingly diminutive size. Elms, bamboos, and other trees, are treated in this manner, and are abundant in the nursery gardens about Macao and Canton: they are produced from young healthy branches, selected from a large tree, which, being decorticated and covered with a mixture of clay and chopped straw,as soon as they give out roots, are cut off and transplanted: the branches are then tied in the various forms required, so as to oblige them to grow in particular positions; and many other methods are adopted to confine and prevent the spreading of the root; the stems, or perhaps they might then be termed trunks, are smeared with sugar, and holes are bored in them, in which sugar is also placed to attract the ants, who, eating about it, give the trunk an appearance of age. I saw at Mr. Beale’s a number of dwarf trees, which have been in his possession nearly forty years; and the only operation performed to keep them in that peculiar and curious state, is to clip the sprigs that may sprout out too luxuriantly.
There is an infamous custom existing at Macao, obliging Europeans, arriving or taking their departure in Chinese boats, to pay several dollars to the mandarins. Great blame is certainly attached to the imbecility of the Portuguese government, for permitting such proceedings to take place in their city, and not far distant from the house of the governors. It has been said, “if strangers will resist the demand, the governor will support them.” This is a miserable system of legislation, and can only be construed into a fear of the Chinese by the Macao government, which Ireally believe is the truth. Strangers arriving are beset by these pug-nosed, pig’s-eyed followers of the mandarins, and find they are absolutely forced to comply with their demands, except they choose to be bullied and severely beaten by a multitude, which has often taken place when resistance has been made to their demands. Why, if the governor has the power, does he not overthrow the chop-house into the sea, and by such active measures put a stop to the tax altogether? It is certainly disagreeable, after a long voyage, with ladies under your charge, to be bullied by these scoundrels, very probably some Portuguese soldiers and residents looking on at the same time without offering any assistance. It is not demanded of strangers at Canton: why, therefore, is it at Macao? A demand also is made separately for ladies landing; and should a refusal take place, the unfortunate Chinese boatmen are squeezed, to satisfy the cupidity of the mandarins, or the ladies insulted. Passengers and goods landing in European boats are exempt from this imposition, as well as on embarking; so that the tax is confined to Europeans embarking or arriving in Chinese boats.