Drawing by william alexander, draughtsman of the macartney embassy to china in 1793. Image taken from the costume of china, illustrated in forty-eight coloured engravings, published in london in 1805. The subject is a female charged with prostitution. The magistrate is known to be of royal blood, by the circular badge on his breast instead of a square one; the secretary, who is taking minutes, wears on his girdle his handkerchief and purses, together with a case containing his knife and chopsticks. The cap worn by the officer of police is distinguished by certain letters which denote the name of the mandarin he serves. Date: circa 1800.
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