110 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. VII. 
was, in fact, supplied with "Moutans" from the very 
same place. 
Whilst at Shanghae, I, with some other Europeans, 
had an invitation to go to the house of a mandarin, to 
see a theatrical performance or " Sing-song,"" and to dine 
with him in Chinese style afterwards. Sedan-chairs 
were sent to take us to his house, where we were intro- 
duced to a number of his friends, and, as the invariable 
custom is, tea was immediately handed round. Shortly 
afterwards a servant came with a tray full of wet warm 
towels, not unlike those generally used in kitchens at 
home, and presented one to each of us. At first we 
could not conjecture what these were for ; but on 
looking at our Chinese friends we observed them 
rubbing their faces and hands with them, and, although 
not very agreeable to us, we immediately did the 
same. I afterwards found that this was a common 
custom amongst the Chinese, and I have often been 
much refreshed by it after a warm walk. In hot 
countries like China this plan is much better and more 
conducive to health than either washing or bathing 
in cold water. 
While this was going on in the house the players 
were getting everything ready in the large room where 
the performance was to take place. In a little while one 
of them entered the room v/here we were, carrying in 
his hand several fine long ivory cards, on which were 
written a number of the most popular plays of the day, 
any one of which the players were ready to perform at 
the command of our host and his friends. We were 
most politely consulted on the subject, which, as we did 
