154 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. IX. 
the various dishes, prepared in this manner, were brought 
to table, the chopsticks — ^those ancient and useful articles 
— answered every purpose. Talk of knives and forks 
indeed ! One cannot eat rice with them, and how very 
awkward it would be to pick out all those dainty little 
morsels from the different dishes with a fork ! In the 
first place it would be necessary to push them to the 
bottom of the basin before the fork would take a proper 
hold ; and in many instances we should do what the 
novice in the art of using chopsticks frequently does — 
drop the food on its way from the dish to the mouth. 
There is no such difficulty or danger with the chopsticks 
when properly used. The smallest morsel, even to a 
single grain of rice, can be picked up with perfect 
ease. In sober truth, they are most useful and sensible 
things, whatever people may say to the contrary ; and 
I know of no article in use amongst ourselves which 
could supply their place. Excepting the fingers, nature's 
own invention, nothing is so convenient as the chop- 
sticks. 
When I had finished dinner, a wooden basin contain- 
ing warm water, and a wet cloth, were placed before me, 
in order that I might wash my hands and face. Wring- 
ing the wet cloth, I rubbed my face, neck, and hands 
well over with it in Chinese style. Having finished 
my ablution, I returned again to the table. The dinner 
and dishes having in the mean time been removed, tea 
was again set before me. 
The Canton men still remained at the opposite table, 
but the greater part of the others, who, at their instiga- 
tion, had been taking sly peeps at me, had gone away 
