50 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. IV. 
of our taking possession of the island until it was again 
handed over to the Chinese, this trade was of course in 
a flourishing condition. Fruits and vegetables were 
brought in great quantities from the main land ; fish were 
plentiful ; good sheep were sold at about three dollars 
each ; and the Chinese even got so far over their religious 
prejudices as to keep the market well supplied with bul- 
locks, which were sold at prices varying from eight to 
twelve dollars. It was astonishing how quickly they got 
accustomed to our ha.bits, and were able to supply all 
our wants. Bread baked in the English mode was soon 
exposed for sale in the shops,* and even ready-made 
clothes were to be had in any quantity. The tailors 
flocked from all quarters : a large proportion of the shops 
near the beach were occupied by them, and they doubt- 
less reaped a rich harvest, although they made and sold 
every article of dress on the most reasonable terms. 
Then there were curiosity shops without number, con- 
taining josses or gods carved in bamboo or stone, incense- 
burners, old bronzes, animals of strange forms which 
only exist in the brains of the Chinese, and countless 
specimens of porcelain and pictures. Silk-shops, too, 
were not wanting, and here were to be had beautiful 
* A mode of baking and cooking in use here is ingenious. A 
large rice- pan is filled with water, with a fire below it : upon this is 
placed a kind of sieve, made of bamboo, and filled with bread or 
other articles to be cooked ; several of these sieves, one above 
another, have all their contents cooked at the same time, the steam 
rising through the lower to the upper ones. The sides of course fit 
nicely, and prevent the steam from escaping, and there is a close 
cover which fits on to the uppermost one. Our common brick oven 
is also in use here. 
