A NATIVE MEAL 45 



whimper which, in a second, developed into an ear- 

 splitting squeal. The squeals continued, reached 

 their climax in one more comprehensive, agonised 

 and earsplitting than the rest, after which they died 

 faintly away and expired in a horrible guggling 

 gurgle which made my blood run cold. That marked 

 the end of the first victim, and there were usually 

 six every night, so that I was not altogether sorry 

 w r hen the time came to leave Sian. 



The night before our departure some friends of 

 Dr. Smith's invited us to a Chinese meal, the menu 

 of which, at the risk of being thought tedious, 

 I give : 



1. Tea, melon and cigarettes. 



2. Mushroom soup. 



3. Fried Wei River fish. 



4. Breaded mutton cutlets. 



5. Roast strips of beef. 



6. Pork rissoles and cabbage. 



7. Shredded chicken with oak lichen. 



8. Sea slugs (a great luxury and quite good). 



9. Eggs forced with pork and onions. 



10. Fat pork. 



11. Egg plant. 



12. Strips of bacon and boiled pork. 



13. Boiled chicken. 



14. Peaches and apple jelly (hot). 



15. Sweetened pork with fermented rice. 



16. Lotus root jelly. 



17. Peaches and custard. 



18. Apples, peaches, plums, melon seeds, pea- 

 nuts, salted apricot seeds, and burnt walnuts. 



To drink, we had sweetened rice wine in tiny cups, 

 tea, and lemonade which tasted like pear drops. 



