ften
sleeveless--are worn, according to the weather. For winter wear the
jackets are wadded, and a Chinaman will speak of "a three, four or six
coat cold day." A man's robe is generally longer than that of a woman.
Petticoats are worn by ladies on ceremonial occasions and the long
robe is removed when in the house. "It is considered very unwomanly
not to wear trousers, and very indelicate for a man not to have skirts
to his coat." No Chinese woman ever bares any part of her body in
public--even the hands are concealed in the large sleeves--and the
evening dress of European ladies is considered indelicate; but Hakka
women move about freely without shoes or stockings. A Chinese man
will, however, in warm weather often strip naked to the waist. Coolies
frequently go bare-legged; they use sandals made of rope and possess
rain-coats made of palm leaves. The garments of the poorer classes are
made of cotton, generally dyed blue. Wealthy people have their clothes
made of silk. Skirts and jackets are elaborately embroidered. Costly
furs and fur-lined clothes are much prized, and many wealthy Chinese
have fine collections of furs. Certain colours may only be used with
official permission as denoting a definite rank or distinction, e.g.
the yellow jacket. The colours used harmonize--the contrasts in colour
seen in the clothes of Europeans is avoided. Dark purple over blue are
usual colour combinations. The mourning colour is white. Common shoes
are made of cotton or silk and have thick felt soles; all officials
wear boots of satin into which is thrust the pipe or the fan--the
latter carried equally by men and women. The fan is otherwise stuck at
the back of the neck, or attached to the girdle, which may also hold
the purse, watch, snuff-box and a pair of chop-sticks.

Formerly Chinese men let their hair grow sufficiently long to gather
it in a knot at the top; on the conquest of the country by the Manchu
they were compelled to adopt the queue or pigtail, which is often
artificially lengthened by the employment of silk thread, usually
black in colour. The front part of the head is shaved. As no Chinese
dress their own hair, barbers are numerous and do a thriving trade.
Women do not shave the head nor adopt the queue. Men wear in general a
close-fitting cap, and the peasants large straw hats. Circular caps,
larger at the crown than round the head and with an outwa