(!hap. V. 



COLLECTOR OF ANTIQUITIES. 



79 



as we were in the habit of collecting knew us both 

 well, and not unfreqnently made ns pay for the 

 similarity of our tastes. Oftentimes I was in- 

 formed, on asking the price of an article, that 

 my Tse-kee friend was anxious to get it, and had 

 offered such and such a price, and I have no doubt 

 the same game was played with him. That what 

 they told me was sometimes true I have no doubt, 

 for in more than one instance I have known speci- 

 mens purchased by him the moment he heard of 

 my arrival. But for all this rivalry we were 

 excellent friends, and he frequently invited me 

 to visit him and see 

 his collections when 

 I came to Tse-kee. 



I found him the 

 owner and occupant 

 of a large house in 

 the centre of the 

 city, and apparently 

 a man of consider- 

 able wealth. He re- 

 ceived me with the 

 greatest cordiality, 

 and led me in the 

 usual way to the seat 

 of honour at the end 

 of the reception-hall. 

 His house was fur- 

 nished and ornamented with great taste. In front 

 of the room in which I had been received was a 



Curious Pilgrim-shaped Bottle, enamelled with 

 Butterflies, &c. 



