396 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



the variety of plats before us is a task far beyond my powers. 

 All the elements had furnished their different contingents. 

 The beche de la mer, or sea-slug, obtained from the islands of 

 the Pacific, and dressed in various ways, was a favourite dish ; 

 a part of the preserved and cured fins of the shark formed 

 another very high-flavoured entree. Fish of many kinds, and 

 in minute portions, fried, and a la sauce Chinoise, ducks, 

 frogs, rats ! and vegetables of several kinds, but particularly 

 broad beans, appeared in every shape of oily and greasy 

 preparation, many of which I tasted with a nervous anxiety 

 that betrayed anything but a legitimate appetite. 



On the first course being removed, it was replaced by 

 sweetmeats, sugar-plums, andentremets sucres, purely Chinese, 

 amongst which figured ices, a luxury very much appreciated 

 by Shanghai bon vivants, and the finale of the entertainment 

 was a dessert of all the fruits then in season, or attainable 

 from a distance, and at which was produced, I presume in 

 compliment to the European guests, some bottles of cham- 

 pagne, delightful substitute for the detestable samchou, and 

 which appeared to be very well appreciated by the celestials, 

 who became more noisy and convivial upon its being broached. 



About this time the annual races were about to take place, 

 and I saw some very tolerable racing, on a very pretty course 

 that had been made close to the town by the European 

 residents. The horses were chiefly Arabs, imported from 

 India, and other horses from the Colonies. Some of the 

 stakes were very well contested, and the horses well 

 ridden by amateur jockeys. The most amusing part of the 

 scene was, however, the last race of all, which was a plate 

 given by the Jockey Club, to be run for by Chinamen on 

 Chinese ponies. 



A Chinaman can use his hands and legs as well as most 

 men, but has little or no idea of equitation. His saddle is 

 a kind of nondescript nest of sheepskins, in which he is 



