A glossary of reference on subjects connected with the Far East / by Herbert A. Giles.

  • Herbert Giles
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A glossary of reference on subjects connected with the Far East / by Herbert A. Giles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    * Is that nankeen asked tke great Mencius, as he carelessly examined the robe that enfolded the bosom of the fair Yau Sing. 'No,' replied the Master, calmly, ' that's Pekin.' CONFIJCIAN TEMPLE. See Temples. CONGEE : ^ or ^ A thickened decoction made of rice or millet boiled very soft. From the Hindee Icanji ^'rice-gruel. Congee-house is sailor slang for gaol. CONGOU: Hi —labour. A kind of tea ; said to be thus named from the labour of preparing it. From the Amoy pronunciation of the above two characters. CONSOO HOUSE. The public building belonging to the old hong-merchants {q^.v.) at Canton. From the local pronunciation of St r] company. The Gonsoo fund was originally started to defray the debts of bankrupt Chinese hongs at Canton, dealing with foreigners under the old monopoly system. It was the proceeds of a tax of about 3 per cent, on all foreign exports and imports. CONTRACTS: ^ PJ. May be written or verbal. In the former case, the contract should be signed and sealed in the presence of witnesses. In the latter, it is necessary that bargain-money should have passed before the agree¬ ment can be held to be binding. COOLIE. The menial of the east. Two etymologies have been given:—(1) Kholees or KoUs, the Hindee name of a degenerate race of Rajpoots in Guzerat. (2) A Tamil word Kulij meaning wages. A third and more likely etymology is the Turki word Jculi a slave. The Chinese write the word in various ways without reference to its meaning; though we have seen u, bitterness, and ^ lif strength.
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