42 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. II. 



a good laugh since. Preparations began to be made 

 for dinner, and the travellers who were seated around 

 the table arose and wandered about the other parts of 

 the house. It was mid-day, and, as I had eaten no 

 breakfast, I felt rather hungry. In these circum- 

 stances it may be thought that the appearance of 

 dinner would have afforded me some pleasure. This, 

 however, was not the case, and for the following 

 reason: I had not eaten with chop-sticks for three 

 years, and I had no confidence in my talents in the 

 use of them. This important circumstance had not 

 struck me before, otherwise I would have practised 

 all the way from Shanghae to Hang-chow, and might 

 have been proficient by this time. As it was I was 

 quite certain that I should draw the eyes of the Chi- 

 namen upon me, for nothing would astonish them so 

 much as a person using the chop-sticks in an awk- 

 ward manner. I was therefore obliged, reluctantly I 

 confess, to abandon all ideas of a dinner on that day. 



Meanwhile the dishes were placed upon the table, 

 and the guests were called by their names and re- 

 quested to sit down. " Sing Wa, Sing Wa " (the 

 name I bore amongst the Chinese), " come and sit 

 down to dinner." I felt much inclined to break my 

 resolution and sit down, but prudence came to my 

 aid, and I replied, " No, I thank you, I shall dine by 

 . and by, when my servants come back." I believe it 

 is common enough for travellers to dine at different 

 hours and in different ways, according to circum- 

 stances, so that my refusal did not seem to attract 

 much notice. 



