146 
ENTERTAINMENT. 
This decided treatment seemed to bring them at 
once to their senses, for ‘the interpreter brought 
back from the Japanese authorities an invitation to 
the officers to come on shore and dine with them. 
We, of course, accepted the invitation, and at the 
appointed time made our appearance in epaulettes 
and side-arms. We were conducted to a handsome 
lofty hall of audience, where the Great ]\Ian sat 
in state, with a page holding a drawn sword on 
either side of him. On the same elevated dais sat 
two other officials of lower rank. They begged us 
to be seated, and when we had complied with their 
request, some young men appeared Avith little tables 
and cups of saki, which they placed before us. We 
all soon became very sociable together, and were on 
the best terms with our entertainers. The Esha, or 
doctor of the establishment, Avas particularly atten- 
tive to me. He insisted on presenting me with the 
medicine box which he usually carried about him, 
and AAdiich, on examination, I saAv contained some 
of those Avonderful musk-scented red pills Avhich 
the Chinese style ^^supernatural treasure for all 
