Topics of Convey m lion ivlth the Tdu-Tal. 475 



and almond tea. The Mandarin drank to all present, and 

 seemed to take more to sherry and Maraschino than to his 

 own native diinks. The slim liqueur bottle, with its neat gilt 

 label and the thick cork stopper, seemed especially to attract 

 his attention. 



After a few commonplace observations, the Tau-Tai once 

 more turned the conversation upon Austria, and remarked he 

 had never before heard of that power. Mr. Meadows endea- 

 voured to prompt the memory of tlie Chinese official, produced 

 Muirhead's universal geography translated into Chinese, turn- 

 ed up therein the section relating to Austria, and handed the 

 book to the Tau-Tai, who had the entire passage read to him 

 by one of his attendants, that he might '' get up " the country 

 from wliicli the strangers had come who were seated on his 

 left and right hands. 



The inquisitiveness of every Cliinese now displayed itself in 

 a series of inquiries as to the principal products and articles 

 of export of the Empire, and he expressed a hope he should 

 ere long see more of the " Austrian Mandarins" in Shanghai. 

 The Novara travellers on their side with a patriotic pride, 

 readily pardonable under the cii'cum stances, endeavoured 

 through the medium of the Government interpreter to leave 

 the best possible impression of their native country upon the 

 mind of the Tau-Tai, by giving a glowing description of the 

 Austrian Empire, its natm^al advantages, and its people. Of 

 numbers the worthy man seemed to have no definite idcii, 

 for the remark that the Empire contained (1st August, 1858) 



