Chap. IX. 
DINNER AT A CHINESE INN. 
153 
from, I replied, From Chang-shan and to the ques- 
tion as to whither.I was bound I answered, " To Fokien." 
These answers were perfectly true, although not very 
definite. The Canton merchants were all eyes and ears 
while this conversation was going on, and one of them 
quietly prompted the innkeeper to ask a few more 
questions. 
These gentlemen wanted to know the starting-point 
of my journey, the particular part of Fokien to which I 
was bound, and the objects I had in view. As I could 
not see that answers to these question concerned them 
very much, or could be of any use, I judged it better to 
keep them in the dark. 
Several dishes being now set before me, and a cup of 
wine poured out by the host, I took a sip of it, and 
taking up my chopsticks went on with my dinner. 
Having had great experience in the use of the chop- 
sticks, I could handle them now nearly as well as the 
Chinese themselves; and as I had been often accus- 
tomed to all the formalities of a Chinese dinner, I went 
on with the most perfect confidence. 
On my former journey in the interior, as well as on 
this, I had discarded all European habits and luxuries. 
Chopsticks were substituted for knives and forks, tea 
and light wines for stronger drinks, and a long bamboo 
Chinese pipe for Manilla cheroots. By these means I 
had arrived at a high state of civilization and politeness. 
In eating my dinner such rude things as knives and 
forks were never thought of The cutting up of meat 
and vegetables was done by servants in the kitchen, 
before the food was cooked or brought to table. When 
H 3 
