]82 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XI. 
might have made an excellent meal, but in the present 
circumstances I could not be expected to enjoy it with 
much relish. The landlord waited upon me himself, 
and pressed me to eat. He kept constantly pointing 
to the different dishes, saying "Eat this, eat this," in 
his most pressing manner. I tasted the different dishes, 
eating more or less of each as they took my fancy, and 
at last, considering I had gone quite as far as even 
Chinese politeness required, I laid down my chopsticks, 
and expressed my delight at the manner in which the 
Tein-sin had been served. But he pressed me more 
and more by putting the different dishes near me 
and praising their quality. At last he finished his 
part of the play by removing the viands from the table 
and setting tea before me. I was now free again, and 
retired to rest, afraid of nightmare and all the evils of 
not taking supper sparingly. 
Early the next morning our host appeared, and 
informed me that the Tein-sin was ready. I partook 
of it in the same manner as I had done the night 
before, but with much greater relish. To my surprise, 
however, a few minutes afterwards my breakfast was 
placed upon the table, as if I had eaten nothing. 
Sing-Hoo now presented himself, and asked what he 
was to give the landlord for the treatment we had 
received, observing at the same time that he would 
make no charge. Of course I was obliged to give the 
man a handsome present. Half suspecting that Sing- 
Hoo or the coolies had been at the bottom of the 
Tein-sin affair, I desired him to take care and dis- 
