Jogging round the world

If we were in Canton we should probably have a ride in a palanquin something like this one. Do you think you would like it?

This Chinese lady is evidently of a very rich family. See her silken robes, and her tiny foot. The women of the higher classes are seldom seen on the streets of Canton; they stay at home or are carried in closely curtained palanquins. Do you see the curtains in the picture? They are raised so that we can get a look at the Cantonese lady; if she were on a crowded street they would all be down.

The streets of Canton are very fascinating; they have a long row of shops on either side, with wares all displayed. Some of the streets are only about six feet wide, and many of the shops have large signs at the sides, either upright or hung like the signs of old English inns, so that there is not much space for passers-by.

The signs are sometimes black, sometimes scarlet, blue or green, with characters of gold or scarlet, so the street is full of colour. The street tradesmen are picturesque, particularly the barber, who carries over his shoulders a pole from which is suspended a bright scarlet stand with a brass basin resting on it. He wears loose trousers and blouse of dark blue and a broad-brimmed straw hat.

The streets are almost always crowded, night and day. At night lanterns of painted glass or horn, and sometimes paper lanterns give a touch of colour and make the streets look gay.