350 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[May, 
market, or the first plate of strawberries, nay, not even the; 
luscious and savoury canvass-back duck of the Potomac, cant be 
more highly prized than those sweetened grub-worms, which, 
owing to their cost, can only find a place on the table of the^ 
wealthy. 
There are no people in the world who appear to have acquired 
more singular tastes in exotics for the table, than the Chinese. 
The edible' birds'-nests, from Java and other islands, are in great 
demand, and find a place on their tables, at least, on feast-days. 
This luxury forms no inconsiderable article of trade. Sharks' 
fins, another article highly prized, may be found on their table, 
on all great occasions. There is scarcely any exotic, however,, 
of which they are more fond, than hiche de mer, a gelatinous sub- 
stance procured from the rocks of the islands in the East Indies, 
and of late years found, we beheve, in considerable quantities, 
among some of the islands of the Pacific. Many of our small 
vessels have found a good business in procuring and carrying this* 
article to Canton. 
Ascending the river on their return, our party passed by a larg& 
theatre, where a Chinese play was being acted in all the noise and 
grotesque buffoonery for which those amusements are so notorious- 
among them. But from this their attention was soon called to a 
spectacle far more interesting : — a long, low, narrow, and beauti- 
fully-modelled boat, the head fashioned and painted in resem- 
blance of a large snake, and the tail projecting from the stern, re- 
sembling that of the same animal. It was manned with about 
fifty rowers on each side, with paddles ; while in the centre, and 
at each end, were groups of men, dressed in all the fantastic 
colours imaginable. From all parts, variegated streamers were fly- 
ing in the breeze. At the sound of a gong and drum, shouts, 
clapping of hands, and voices, they dipped their paddles, and the 
boat moved through the water with incredible velocity, every one 
keeping time to the gongs. Again they ceased, and at a given 
signal every oar was raised ; and the rowers wheeling on their 
seats, the boat, without turning, was impelled again with incredible 
celerity in the opposite direction. This was repeated amid loud 
shouts and sound of gongs, calling and attracting the attention of 
the world of China around. 
The anniversary of the snake-boats is religiously observed 
