490 Voyage of the Novara. 



the apartments of the women. Ta-ki carried his hospitality 

 even this length, and presented us to his wives, as also to his 

 grey-haired mother, seventy years old, for whom he showed 

 the utmost love and respect. Ta-ki's wives, four or five in num- 

 ber, had '' assisted " at the theatrical performances, each seated 

 on elevated seats expressly prepared for them, and behaved 

 with the greatest courtesy and ease of manner. They seemed 

 not to have the slightest thought of showing off, or of tittering 

 or joking with the strangers. All were attired in silk, and 

 most tastefully decorated with jewels ; all had the usual pain- 

 fully distorted small feet, which greatly interfered with their 

 powers of locomotion. They did not attend at the banquet, 

 but had their food served in the private apartments. 



For supper the quondam theatre was converted into a 

 banqueting-hall. But there was no long wide table set out 

 as in Europe, only small four-cornered tables covered with 

 red cloth, at each of which three Europeans and one Chinese 

 took their seats ; the duty of the latter being to do the hon- 

 ours to his companions in the name of the host, who took 

 his seat beside the Commodore, and to minister to their 

 comfort. 



As it was the object to give us the most accurate idea pos- 

 sible of a genuine Chinese repast, everything was eliminated 

 which could in any way interfere with the design, and we 

 had accordingly to begin with dessert and conclude with the 

 soup, as also to convey the various descriptions of food to our 



