230 



TEA DISTRICTS OF CHINA. Chap. XIII. 



one of them some small fish, for I had always under- 

 stood that the Buddhist priesthood were prohibited 

 from eating any kinds of animal food. The other 

 dishes were all composed of vegetables. There were 

 young bamboo shoots, cabbages of various kinds 

 both fresh and pickled, turnips, beans, peas, and 

 various other articles, served up in a manner which 

 made them very palatable. Besides these there was 

 a fungus of the mushroom tribe, which was really 

 excellent. Some of these vegetables were prepared 

 in such a manner as made it difficult to believe that 

 they were really vegetables. All the dishes, how- 

 ever, were of this description, except the fish already 

 noticed. Rice was also set before each of us, and 

 formed the principal part of our dinner. 



While the meal was going on the priests conti- 

 nually pressed me to eat. They praised the different 

 dishes, and, as they pointed them out, said, "Eat 

 fish, eat cabbage," or, " eat rice," as the case might 

 be. Not unfrequently their politeness, in my humble 

 opinion, was carried rather too far ; for they not only 

 pointed out the dishes which they recommended, but 

 plunged their own chopsticks into them, and drew to 

 the surface such delicate morsels as they thought 

 I should prefer, saying, " Eat this, eat this." This 

 was far from agreeable, but I took it all as it was 

 intended, and we were the best of friends. 



An interesting conversation was carried on during 

 dinner between Sing-Hoo and the priests. Sing-Hoo 

 had been a great traveller in his time, and gave them 

 a good deal of information concerning many of the 



