by George Henry Mason. Illustrated by J. Dadley

“ The malefactor, who is condemned to be beheaded, is made to kneel upon the ground, the board of infamy is taken from his back, and the executioner, by a single blow of a two-handed sword, strikes off his head with great dexterity. These headsmen, and indeed, the generality of inferior officers of justice in China, are selected from the soldiery, according to the custom of primitive barbarians ”

“ The Chinese code of penal laws is compiled in such a manner as to have a punishment appropriated for every crime; a series of these is displayed in the following Plates.
The wisdom of the Chinese Legislature is no where more conspicuous than in its treatment of robbers, no person being doomed to suffer death for having merely deprived another of some temporal property, provided he neither uses, nor carries, any offensive weapon. ”

“ Men of distinction, are usually strangled, as the more honourable death; and where the Emperor is inclined to shew an extraordinary mark of attention towards a mandarin, condemned to die, he sends him a silken cord, with permission to be his own executioner.
PLATE XXII.
THE MANNER OF BEHEADING. THIS sort of punishment, being deemed in the highest degree ignominious, is only inflicted for crimes, which are regarded by the Chinese government, as the most prejudicial to society ”

“ Exclusive of their novelty and information, the principal recommendations, possessed by representations of this nature, arise from the sensation of security, which they produce in those bosoms that heave upon a tract of the globe, where they are protected from being torn by lengthened agonies; where a person's innocence is not estimated by his mental or corporeal powers of enduring pain; where tyranny, fanaticism, or anarchy, cannot exercise their demoniacal propensities for cruelty ”

“ A strong ring of iron is passed through one corner of a short, heavy, piece of timber. From this ring, a weighty chain is continued round the neck of the man, and fastened, by a padlock, upon his breast. ”

“ Their proceedings in capital accusations are thus protracted in China, lest any man should be unjustly deprived of the inestimable benefits of honour or life: and no criminal can be executed, until his trial has been sent to court, and his sentence has been confirmed by the Emperor. ”

“ These intentions are fully answered by publicly depriving the malefactor of his existence, which is effected, in England, in a manner the most instantaneous and least sanguinary, that a compassionate people could adopt; and whose natural intrepidity is farther manifested by this attention to the pangs of suffering humanity. ”

“ He is not permitted to reside in any habitation, nor even to take rest for any considerable length of time, an inferior officer of justice constantly attending, to prevent him. By night and by day, he carries this load, which is heavier or lighter, according to the nature of the crime, and the strength of the wearer. ”

“ After the head is severed, it is frequently suspended from a tree, by the side of a public road; the body is thrown into a ditch, the law having deemed it unworthy the respect of regular funereal rites. ”

“ Mandarins of power have usually some persons in their train, who attend them with these pan-tsees, whenever they travel, or go into public, and who are ready, at the nod of their master, to exercise their office in the manner described. ”

“ A Man fastened to a Block of Wood. A Malefactor in a Cage. Punishment of a Woooden Tube. Hamstringing a Malefactor. Close confinement. Conducting an Offender into Banishment. A Malefactor conducted to Execution. The capital Punishment of the Cord. The Manner of Beheading.
PLATE I.
A CULPRIT BEFORE A MAGISTRATE.
It is the custom in China, for a Mandarin of justice to administer it daily, morning and evening, in his own house, where he is attended by his secretary, or clerk, and by inferior officers, some of them bearing iron shackles, and others, pan-tsees. ”

“ The criminals find various methods, however, of mitigating this punishment: by walking in company with their relations and friends, who support the corners of the collar, and prevent it from pressing upon the shoulders ”

“ An iron chain, fastened by a padlock, is put round his neck, and, if he refuses to proceed, inferior officers of justice compel him, after the manner described.
PLATE III.
A CULPRIT CONDUCTED TO TRIAL.
He is preceded by a man, who strikes upon a gong, in order to draw upon the offender the notice of the public. ”

“ The ankles of the culprit being placed in the machine, a cord is passed round the uprights, and held fast by two men. The chief tormentor then gradually introduces a wedge into the intervals, alternately changing sides. ”

“ A Culprit before a Magistrate. A Culprit conveyed to Prison. A Culprit conducted to Trial. An Offender undergoing the Bastinade. Twisting a Man's Ears. Punishment of the Swing. Punishing a Boatman. Punishing an Interpreter. The Rack. Torturing the Fingers. Burning a Man's Eyes with Lime. A Malefactor chained to an Iron Bar. Punishment of the Wooden Collar. ”