(Cuar. TX. FLOWER BOATS. 149 
much to answer for, for his practice has a most 
prejudicial effect upon the eyes and ears of his 
countrymen. He, however, works his little boat 
with great dexterity, and with his scull manages 
to propel himself with ease and swiftness through 
the floating city of boats, larger and more power- 
ful than his own. Then you see boats of various 
sizes, such as those at Macao and Hong-kong, 
covered over, divided into three compartments, and 
kept remarkably clean and neat. These are hired 
by either natives or foreigners for the purpose of 
going off to the large junks, or other vessels 
moored out in the river, or for short excursions to 
the island of Honan, the Fa-Tee Gardens, or such 
places. The centre division of the boat forms a 
very neat little room, having windows in the sides, 
ornamented with pictures and flowers of various 
kinds. The compartment at the bow is occupied 
by the rowers, and that at the stern is used for 
preparing the food of the family to whom the boat 
belongs. 
The boats of the Hong merchants, and the large 
flower-boats are very splendid. They are arranged 
in compartments like the others, but are built in a 
more superb and costly manner. The reader must 
imagine a kind of wooden house raised upon the 
floor of the boat, having the entrance near the 
bows, space being left there for the boatmen to 
stand and row. This entrance being the front, is 
carved in a most superb style, forming a prelude 
to what may be seen within. Numerous lanterns 
L3 
