Cuar. VIII] A CHINESE DINNER. 137 
-peans, had an invitation to go to the house of a 
mandarin, to see a theatrical performance or “ Sing- 
song,” and to dine with him in Chinese style after- 
wards. Sedan chairs were sent to take us to his 
house, where we were introduced to a number of 
his friends, and, as the invariable custom is, tea was 
immediately handed round. Shortly afterwards a 
servant came with a tray full of wet, warm towels, 
not unlike those generally used in kitchens at home, 
and presented one to each of us. At first, we could 
not conjecture what these were for; but, on look- 
ing at our Chinese friends, we observed them 
rubbing their faces and hands with them, and, al- 
though not very agreeable to us, we immediately 
did the same. I afterwards found that this was a 
common custom amongst the Chinese, and I have 
often been much refreshed by it after a warm walk. 
Tn hot countries like China this plan is much better, 
and more conducive to health, than either washing 
or bathing in cold water. 
While this was going on in the house, the players 
were getting every thing ready in the large room 
where the performance was to take place. Ina little 
while one of them entered the room where we were, 
carrying in his hand several fine long ivory cards, ~ 
on which were written a number of the most po- 
pular plays of the day, any one of which the 
players were ready to perform at the command of 
our host and his friends. We were most politely 
consulted on the subject, which, as we did not 
know a single character of the language, and had 
