CHINESE PUNCH AND JUDY } " " 244 THE VILLAGE STORY-TELLER } WOMEN PREPARING FOOD } " " 262 ON THE WAY TO THE FEAST } ONE OF CHINA'S PARASITES--A BEGGAR } " " 310 ONE OF HER SOURCES OF STRENGTH--A CARPENTER } LITTLE OLD PEOPLE } " " 342 GOING TO A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL } Glossary BOY, a term used by foreigners in China to denote the head-servant, irrespective of his age. CASH, Chinese copper coin with a square hole for stringing. The value of a single cash may be taken as one-thousandth of a Mexican dollar. The cash vary greatly in size. A "string" theoretically consists of a thousand cash, but in many regions has but five hundred. The latter variety is at present equal to one-third of a gold dollar. CATTY, a Chinese pound, equal by treaty to one and one-third pounds avoirdupois. CHIN-SHIH, "Entered Scholar." The third literary degree; Doctor in Literature. CHOU, a Sub-prefecture, sometimes with Districts under it, and often without them. CHÜ-JÊN, "Selected man." The second full literary degree; a Master of Arts. COMPOUND, an enclosure or yard, usually containing a number of buildings belonging to a single family or establishment. FÊNG-SHUI, literally "wind and water." A complicated system of geomantic superstition, by which the good luck of sites and buildings is determined. FU, a Prefecture, governed by a Prefect, with several Districts under it. HAN-LIN, "Forest of Pencils." The last literary degree, entitling to office. HSIEN, a District or Country, governed by the District Magistrate. HSIU-TS'AI, "Flourishing Talent." The lowest of the several literary degrees; a Bachelor of Arts. K'ANG, a raised platform of adobe or of bricks, used as a bed and heated by means of flues. K'O-T'OU or KOTOW, the act of prostration and striking the head on the ground in homage or worship. LI, a Chinese measure of length, somewhat more than three of which equal an English mile. SQUEEZE, a forced contribution exacted by those through whose hands the money of others passes. TÆL, a weight of money equivalent to a sixteenth of a Chinese pound; an ounce. TAO-T'AI, an officer of the third rank who is intendant of a circuit. YA-MÊN, the office and residence of a Chinese official. PART I The Village, Its Institutions, Usages and Public Characters I THE CHINESE VILLAGE