216 



HOWQUA'S GAEDEK 



Chap. X. 



requests tliat visitors will spit betle* outside the 

 railing, and knock tlie aslies of pipes also out- 

 side." Several fine fruit-trees and others are 

 growing near the walks, and afford shade from 

 the rays of the sun. On one of these we read 

 the following : — " Ramblers here will he excused 

 plucking the fruit on this tree." How exceed- 

 ingly polite ! 



Near the centre of the garden stands a sub- 

 stantial summer-house, or hall, named "the Hall 

 of Fragrant Plants." The same notice to smokers 

 and chewers of betle-nut is also put up here ; and 

 there is another and a longer one which I must 

 not forget to quote. It is this : — " In this garden 

 the plants are intended to delight the eyes of all 

 visitors : a great deal has been expended in plant- 

 ing and in keeping in order, and the garden is 

 now beginning to yield some return. Those who 

 come here to saunter about are earnestly prayed 

 not to pluck the fruit or flowers, in order that 

 the beauty of the place may be preserved." And 

 then follows a piece of true Chinese politeness — 

 " We beg persons who understand this notice to 

 excuse it ! " Passing through the Hall of Fra- 

 grant Plants we approached, between two rows of 

 Olea fragrans, a fine ornamental suite of rooms 

 tastefully furnished and decorated, in which visit- 

 ors are received and entertained. An inscription 

 informs us that this is called " the Fragrant Hall 

 of the Woo-che tree." Leaving this place by a 



* Betle-nut is much used by the southern Chinese. 



