288 
CGCHINCHINA. 
no use ; but before each person is laid a spoon of potter's 
ware, and a pair of porcupine quills or small sticks of bam- 
boo, of rose or sandal wood, sometimes tipped with silver or 
tootanague, of the same kind in every respect as those used 
by the Chinese, and known to the English under the name 
of chop-iiticks. The contents of the bowls are preparations of 
beef, pork, fowls, and fish, cut into small pieces, mixed with 
vegetables, and dressed in soups and gravies variously sea- 
soned and composed of various materials. We had nothing 
roasted nor prepared in the dry way. Neither wine nor 
spirits, nor fermented liquors of any kind, nor even water, 
were served round during the time of eating ; but when dinner 
was over, Chinese seau-chao was handed about in little por- 
celain cups. 
As from our mutual ignorance of each other's language 
there could be no exchange of conversation, we found little 
inducement for sitting long at table. The Governor or 
General commanding at Turon did not indeed condescend to 
sit down with us, but usually on these occasions lay stretched 
on a mattress spread on a mat at the end of the room, smok- 
ing tobacco, or eating his areca nut and betel pepper, while 
two tall fellows fanned the air the whole time with large fans 
made of the wing feathers of the Argus pheasant. From the 
table we usually repaired to the theatre, whicli was also a 
shed of bamboo ; and here, as in China, we invariably found 
the actors busily engaged in the performance at all hours of 
the day, proceeding apparently with as much ardour when 
no spectators were present as when they were. Being hired 
for the day, a crowded or a thin audience made little dif~ 
