books printed about A.D. 300, but their use has been traced still
further back than this. A very ancient book of Chinese ceremonies,
called "Tcheou-Li, or The Rites of Tcheou," directs that upon the
imperial cars the dais should be placed. "The figure of this dais
contained in the Chinese edition of Tcheou-Li, and the particular
description of it given in the explanatory commentary of Lin-hi-ye,
both identify it with an Umbrella. The latter describes the dais to
be composed of 28 arcs, which are equivalent to the whalebone ribs of
the modern instrument, and the staff supporting the covering to
consist of two parts, the upper being a rod 3/18ths of a Chinese foot
in circumference, and the lower a tube 6/10ths in circumference, into
which the upper half is capable of sliding."

In the second Tartar invasion of China the emperor's son was taken
prisoner by the Tartar chief, and made to carry his Umbrella when he
went out hunting.

Starting from the royal significance attached to the Umbrella, came
a feeling of veneration for it, very different from the contempt with
which we are now-a-days too apt to regard it. It was represented by
many ancient nations as shading their gods. In the Hindoo mythology
Vishnu is said to have paid a visit to the infernal regions with his
Umbrella over his head. One would think that in few places could an
Umbrella have been less appropriate, but doubtless Vishnu knew what
he was about, and had his own reasons for carrying his _Parapluie_
under his arm. Perhaps like Mrs. Gamp he could not be separated from
it. So much for the ancient history of our subject in the East. We may
now go on to countries about which we know a little more than of ancient
China and Assyria.