Chap. XIII. 



RECEPTION AT A TEMPLE. 



229 



that I came from a far country " beyond the great 

 wall." 



The little boy whom I have already noticed now 

 presented himself, and announced that dinner was on 

 the table. The old priest bowed to me, and asked 

 me to walk into the room in which the dinner was 

 served. I did not fail to ask him to precede me, 

 which of course he ' ' couldn't think of doing," but 

 followed me, and placed me at his left hand in the 

 "seat of honour." Three other priests took their 

 seats at the same table. One of them had a most 

 unprepossessing appearance ; his forehead was low, 

 he had a bold and impudent-looking eye, and was 

 badly marked with the smallpox. In short, he was 

 one of those men that one would rather avoid than 

 have anything to do with. The old high-priest was 

 quite a different-looking man from his subordinate. 

 He was about sixty years of age, and appeared to be 

 very intelligent. His countenance was such as one 

 likes to look upon; meekness, honesty, and truth 

 were stamped unmistakeably upon it. 



Having seated ourselves at table, a cup of wine 

 was poured out to each of us, and the old priest said, 

 " Che-sue, che-sue" — Drink wine, drink wine. Each 

 lifted up his cup, and brought it in contact with 

 those of the others. As the cups touched we bowed 

 to each other, and said, " Drink wine, drink wine." 

 The chopsticks which were before each of us were 

 now taken up, and dinner commenced. Our table 

 was crowded with small basins, each containing a 

 different article of food. I was surprised to see in 



