Ch. XIX.] CONGEATULATOEY VISIT. 315 



which by no means added anything desirable to the other- 

 wise pretty features of the child. 



In company with a gentleman long engaged in business 

 in Hong Kong, I went on a round of visits to the better 

 class of the Chinese community, his correspondents. At 

 every place we found a little room fitted up in a tasteful 

 manner with pictures, flowers, and ornaments ; around the 

 walls settees were arranged with tea-poys between ; a little 

 extempore slirine, with its joss-stick taper and gilt paper ; 

 and on a little table before it, a dish, divided into several 

 compartments, and containing a variety of assorted fruits 

 and sweetmeats. The inevitable tea-equipage was of course 

 everywhere ; and we were invited to partake of this slight 

 complimentary repast at each house. Every visitor who 

 entered, folding his hands and bowing, repeated the saluta- 

 tion, at the same time presenting his red-paper card. If he 

 were of equal or superior rank to the host, he was invited to 

 be seated and take a cup of tea ; but if of iuferior rank, or a 

 younger person, his visit was usually brief, and sittiag down 

 was dispensed with. Our visit was in most cases, either 

 through Chinese politeness, or real appreciation, received 

 with great empressement, and the best of tea and of sweet- 

 meats were pressed upon us with apparent cordiality. In 

 one house our host placed before us tea which he avowed 

 was sold at the rate of 45 dollars, or about 10 guineas, the 

 pound ; one of those fancy articles for which the rich gave 

 nominal and extravagant prices. He took it from a small 

 sample canister, and it was made in the usual way — that is, 

 by pouring boiling water upon the leaves in a covered cup, 

 from which the infusion was drunk without milk or sugar. 

 Not being a professional tea-taster, however, I was unable to 

 detect the immense superiority of this tea over the more 



