204 



If the host offers you the wine-cup with two fingers, take it with one finger; if he of- 

 fers it to you with one finger, take it with two fingers; if he offers it with three fingers, 

 take it with six fingers; if he offers it with six fingers, take it with three fingers. 



If he offers it to you with the right hand, take it with the right hand; if he offers it to 

 you with the left hand, take it also with your left hand, and say: FailJi and Loyalty. (*) 



Having said this you may drink. 



SECTION VI. 



Secret signs at the dinner-table. 



Ifyou dine with a brother, and a chop-stick lies across a dish, take down the chop-stick 

 and cover, saying this quatrain: 



With. one hand I manage a metal lance, 

 And grasp firmly a pair of precious swords. ( 3 ) 

 I break open the city of Tsing; 

 And save our true lord out of it. 



^ tëË ^ ü 



tT 9fc Wt M 



ü\ a « ± 



A chop-stick laid across the dish, may he also taken down with the following verses: 



I. 



The men did not leave their armour; 



The horses did not leave their saddles; 



With a single club me may save our lord; 



But \rith a one-legged horse 't is difficult to go. ( s ) 



A ^ 





o & jö m & 



( 2 j i. e. the two chop-sticks wherewith Chinamen eat. 

 ( 3 ) With one chop-stick it is difficult to eat. 



