A CHINESE WEDDING.

CFrom tbe Fowchow Herald.) A wedding ia high Chinese life occurred in the Ato neighborhood, when the eldest sou of Mr Chaog Akok was married to a daughter of a wealthy resident of the city. Elaborate preparations had been made for the event, and presents amounting in value to between £4000 and £6000 had been sent by the father of the groom to the bride. The bride's dowry was sent to the house of the groom's father. It consisted of costly gold bracelets, head ornaments of gold set with the blue feathers of the kingfisher, several trunks containing costly garments of silk and satin, elegantly embroidered, &c;. together with a Blave girl to be the special attendant of the bride. At about 10 o'clock a.m. the invited guests began to arrive. Not only Chinese friend 6, including several mandarins, bat a large number of foreign guests were present. The American and French Consuls, several gentlemen from tbe mercantile and missionary communities, and at least a dozen foreign ladies were among tbe interested spectators on the occasion. Tbe house, which is a new and very capacious edifice, was adorned throughout with elegant hangings, preaented by various mandarins and wealthy friends, and containing felicitous sentences in gilt or dark velvet characters, on silk or satin backgrounds. Some of the j hangings contained images embroidered iv gold thread. While the party were examining all this gorgeous array, tbe j execrable sounds of the inevitable Chinese band announced the approach of the red sedau chair, and as it entered the building the usual explosion of fire-crackers took place. The chair was borne into the reception room, where a bamboo sieve, on the centre of which was pasted a circular piece of red paper, was placed on top of the sedan. Pieces of red carpet were stretched from the door of the sedan to the bridal chamber. A fine-looking woman, 67 years old, who has five married sods and twelve grand-children stood before the chair and uttered some happy sentences. The chair was then opened by the fomale attendants of the bride, who was then led out, her head being covered with a heavy red veil; and she was conducted to the bridal chamber by her attendants, where she was seated by the side of the groom on the edge of the bedstead. Iv a few moments the groom took his station in the reception-room before & table on which two enormous red candles were burning, and which were also two miniature white cocka made of sugar, a bundle of chopsticks, a mirror, a pair of shears, a foot measure, a case containing money scales and two goblets connected by a red cord. Tbe bride was again led out, and took her position at the right of the groom. Both of them knelt four times towards tbe open heavens, after which they changed places, and again kuelt four times. One of the female assistants then took the goblets which were joined by a red cord, and poured back and forth, from one into the other, several times, a mixture of wine and honey, which she then held up to the mouths of the groom and bride alternately, but of which they did not actually partake. The sugar cocks were also held towards each ol the parties, while happy sentences were uttered. The same course was also taken with the chopsticks, scales, and ether articles after which the bride and groom were conducted to the bridal chamber, preceded by a pair of large red candles. Here the bride's head-dreea was removed, and the groom returned to the reception room. AH the foreign guests were then invited 10 see the bride. Heavy gold bracelets were upon her wrists, her finger-nails were hidden beneath long golden sheaths, her head waa wonderfully arrayed with gold and pearls, her garments were elegant and costly; and for tbe benefit of tbe guests the accommodating at'endants even lifted up her feet, which were encased in richly embroidered shoes, the soles of which just measured about two inches in length She is 19 years of age, and, some of the ladies say, more than usually good looking. The customary bowings and prostrations were observed by the groom and his father, with the frienda of the family. The two young sons of Mr Kawhoogtake attracted great attention on account of their hats, in Penang style, covered with golden images of animals and insects, tbe golden charms suspended about their necks, and the diamond rings on their fingers. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 220, 7 September 1876, Page 4