238 
CRUISE OF E.W.S. CHALLENGER 
The Chinese never depart in the least from their 
national dress, which is, indeed, impossible to improve 
on for a tropical climate, whether as regards comfort 
or appearance. The loosely hanging trousers and 
neat white half-shirt, half-jacket are exactly what a 
dress should be in these latitudes. 
Continuing the walk along the Queen’s Road, 
hundreds of small shops are passed where are seen 
the most marvellous and miscellaneous collection 
of “ curios ” possible. The shopkeepers are, as a 
rule, very good-natured, and will show one every- 
thing they have, not appearing to trouble whether 
a purchase is made or not. They always ask 
for their goods about twice as much as they are 
willing to take. If you buy a few things from 
them, they will invariably speak to you afterwards 
every time you pass the shop, asking you to walk 
in and sit down to rest, or to take a cup of tea 
or some chow-chow ; and you wonder how they 
manage to get a living where so many sell the same 
kind of article. 
Farther on are to be seen carpenters busy at 
packing-cases, cabinet-makers hammering away at 
camphor-wood chests, brass- workers clattering away 
making bowls or gongs ; while at every step are met 
sellers of water, vegetables, fish, soup, fruit, &c., with 
as many cries, and just as unintelligible, as those of 
London. Others carry a portable cooking apparatus 
on a pole, balanced by a table at the other end, and 
