Cuar. VIII] A CHINESE DINNER. 141 
and continued as briskly as ever. The “lady 
actors” at intervals came down from the platform 
and supplied the guests with different kinds of 
wines. During the entertainment, a piece of money 
was handed to each of the guests, which they were 
desired to leave as a present for the actors at the 
conclusion of the piece. When this was given them, 
the whole of the corps dramatique came round, and 
each madeamost polite bow of acknowledgment and 
withdrew. Still, however, the dinner ceremonial 
went on; hundreds of fresh dishes were brought in, 
and as many in their turn removed. The Chinese 
guests were sometimes smoking, sometimes eating, 
just as it seemed good to them, and uniformly 
praising every thing which made its appearance on 
the table. 
We had now been three or four hours at table, 
and although the whole affair had been very 
amusing, we had had enough of it, and were begin- 
ning to tire. ‘How long shall the dinner last?” 
said I to a linguist who was placed next me, and 
who had most politely explained every thing which 
had occurred during the entertainment. “ Oh,” 
said he, “it will last for three or four hours longer, 
but if you want to go away, you may do so now.” 
We were very glad to find that Chinese etiquette 
permitted us to withdraw, and ordered our chairs, 
which were waiting in the court-yard to receive us. 
Our host and his friends lighted us out with lan- 
terns, and we took our departure in the same style 
