Hot courses were now placed on the table, our Chinese friends helping us from them with their chopsticks, which they manipulated with marvellous dexterity.

1. Puddings of several kindsToo sweet.
1. Puddings of several kindsToo sweet.
2. Fresh-water Fish (boiled)Insipid.
3. Chickens (boiled)Fair.
4. Sea SlugsPassed.
5. ShrimpsNasty.
6. White MushroomsGood.
7. EelsFirst-rate.
8. Sea-weedTough as leather.
9. White BaitGood.
10. Interiors of FishGood heavens!!!
11. Lotus Nuts and MilkVery good.
12. Chicken (boiled in different manner)Passed.
13. Rissoles of FrogsJe ne sais pas.
14. Pork and Rice FlourA curious mixture.
15. Sugared RiceToo sweet.
16. Duck (boiled)Excellent, the best dish.
17. Shark's FinsVery good.
18. PorridgeNo thanks.
19. SoupPassed.
20. Opium, cigars, etc.On this occasion opium was not smoked.

This long menu was gone through accompanied with an abundance of talk, compliments, jokes and the emission of various sounds peculiar to the Chinese while feeding.

Immediately on rising from table we donned our hats, saluted à la Chinoise by shaking our clasped hands in each other's faces, "Nin ching. Poo sung, poo sung," and took our departure, bowing repeatedly and walking backwards.

CHAPTER VII[ToC]

AROUND PEKING

The translation of the word Peking is "capital of the North," and is so called in contradistinction to Nanking[1] or "capital of the South."