Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ... winding motion. This monster is accompanied by numerous fish, similarly constructed and illuminated, of large dimensions, and well executed. The visitor will observe a specimen of the latter in the collection. At nearly all the festivals observed by the Chinese a profusion of fireworks are exhibited. Their proficiency in the pyrotechnic art was lately displayed at Canton on the temporary cessation of hostilities. A representation was made of an immense vine arbour, which burned without consuming;--the trunk, branches, leaves, and fruit appeared in their natural colours, with, occasionally, butterflies apparently flitting among the branches. To this succeeded an immense number of rockets which formed themselves into innumerable stars, serpents, comets, and flying dragons. This magnificent display was followed by a grand discharge on all sides of a shower of fire, with which were intermixed variegated lanterns, some with sentences written on them, --together with figures of fruit, flowers, fans, &c. Then ascended a display of columns formed by rings of light, which lasted a few minutes and was unequalled in brilliancy by any previous device. At last the grand finale took place; the Chinese dragon of an immense size, appeared in all his majesty, surrounded by ten thousand winged reptiles, standards, and banners, when in an instant appeared upon the back of the monster, the figure of the Emperor, in blue lights. These successively changed to yellow, and lastly to the most intense white. A deafening report now rent the air, while a green veil arose over the Emperor, from the midst of which a volcano of rockets ascended. By [an ingenious contrivance, figures of boats, made of paper, arc capable of floating and moving upon the water, by means of..
