"Why do so many Chinese rivers end in ho and kiang?" he then asked, looking over Sybil's map.
"Both words mean river—the Yantze and the Hwang rivers. And the Chinese have all kinds of boats for use on their rivers. Here, my boy, is a picture of a Chinese junk. Look at it well, and see if you can discover anything peculiar about it."
Leonard looked for some time. "It has sails," he answered, "like butterflies' wings."
"Yes; that is how the Chinese make many of their sails."
"But the kites are what I want to see so much," said Leonard, as though the sails had reminded him of them again. "What are the most peculiar of them like?"
"Like birds, insects, animals, clusters of birds, gods on clouds: all kinds of things, in fact, are represented by these kites, which the Chinese are most clever in making, and also in flying. I have seen old men, of about seventy years of age, thoroughly enjoying flying their kites. The Chinese do not care much for your, and my, favourite games, Leonard: cricket and football."
"What games do they like?"
"They are very fond of battledore and shuttlecock, but instead of using a battledore they hit the shuttlecock with their heads, elbows, or feet. Seven or eight children play together, and nearly always aim the shuttlecock rightly. Girls play at this game too, in spite of their small feet. Tops, balls, see-saws, and quoits are also favourite toys and games amongst the Chinese."
"I remember," Sybil said, "a girl at school having a Chinese shuttlecock, and that was like a bird."
"Well, father, go on, please. What other amusements have they?" asked Leonard.