THE NATIVES ABKOAD. 293 



but it turned out to be salt ; and pure melted butter, 

 without any admixture of flour and water, was handed 

 round as sauce. After this came veal and beef cutlets, 

 which we ate mixed with cranberry jam, pickles, and 

 potatoes. Then came the concluding course cold sponge 

 cake, with almjnds and raioins scattered over it. By 

 this arrangement we were enabled, after eating the cake 

 as pudding, to slide naturally and pleasantly into dessert 

 without a change of plates. 



There was a general tendency in the company to bend 

 their heads over, and rather close to, their plates while 

 eating, as if for the purpose of communing privately with 

 the viands, and a particular tendency on the part of the 

 man next me to spread his arms and thrust one of his 

 elbows into my side, in regard to which I exercised 

 much forbearance. The only beverages used, besides 

 cold water, were table beer and St. Julien, the latter a 

 thin acid wine much used in Norway ; but there was 

 no drinking after dinner. It seemed to be the eti- 

 quette to rise from table simultaneously. We did so 

 on this occasion, and then a general process of bowing 

 ensued. 



In regard to this latter proceeding I have never been 

 able to arrive at a clear understanding as to what was 

 actually done or intended to be done, but my impression 

 is, that each bowed to the other, and all bowed to the 

 captain ; then the captain bowed tc each individually, 

 and to all collectively ; after which a comprehensive bow 

 was made by everybody to all the rest all round, and 



