28 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA, 
Chap. II. 
snulf, and rather agreeable. There were two couches 
or beds in the room, on one of which I observed a small 
lamp burning and an opium-pipe lying by its side, by 
which I conjectured we had disturbed an opium-smoker 
in the midst of his enjojnuent. Tea was immediately 
set before us, as is the custom in this country ; but it was 
very indifferent, and, as Mr. Abele informed us that we 
should get much better when we were introduced to thie 
principal mandarin, we only tasted it in compliment to 
our good friends. 
In a few minutes the mandarin himself came to con- 
duct us into a more splendid apartment. It was a large 
airy room, one side fitted up with finely carved cases, in 
the centre of which stood a timepiece and some beau- 
tiful jars filled with flowers. I here had an opportunity 
of seeing the great veneration with which the Chinese 
regard anything that is old. One of these pieces of 
\ j^ i porcelain, he informed us, had been in his family for five 
hundred years, and had the peculiar property of pre- 
■ serving flowers or fruits from decay for a lengthened 
i}^ j' period. He seemed to prize it much on account of its 
age, and handled it with great veneration. The other 
side of the room was elevated a little, and fitted up for 
the " sing-song," or theatricals, of which the Chinese, 
from the highest to the lowest, are passionately fond. 
Tea was soon brought in, in a teapot, in the European 
fashion, and not in the manner usual amongst the 
Chinese ; for the custom with them is first to put the tea 
into the cup, and then to pour the water over it, the 
visitor drinking the beverage and leaving the leaves in the 
bottom of the cup — an admirable mode for such persons 
