Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-11-08

was at Macao, and had taken up his lodgings at great tenn
pie mile and half out Of town. He announced his nten-
ton Of calling upon at O'Clock precisely Of the next
day. The Chinese very particular in all matters OF ETH
quette Their visiting cards. which no Chinese gentleman
can be without instead Of being such small bits Of paseboad
as used by large sheets Of paper coored figured
and embossed. The Chinese always use envelopes which
vary in size from pillow purse always employ
sealing and inscbe upon the outside of their letters
the names Of both writer and person addressed The two
are placed, with their titles, in parallel columns running
bottom to top and the rank Of the person corresponds with
the length OF space occupied by his Keyngs name,
with his numerous titles, easily filed the column Mr. Cush
ing lacking the titles made equal keyngs by being
written IN letters OF enormous length, large enough fact
for guide-board.
AT 30 minutes before the time appointed appeared mes
senge with the Minister'S card and at the hour announced
by second MESSENGER Keying himself appeared with his
suite OF these Wang Lieutenant Governor Of the two
kwang provinces the distinguished and without
any exaggeraon or qualification, Mr. Webster said he was
gentleman Of polished manners courteous and easy
address, as any TO be met in the drawing of Europe
the United States. He remarkably handsome finely
formed, and had the smallest and most gracefully delicate
hands he had ever seen upon Chang the scho-
lara PLAIN looking man, with broad face, and spec
tacles with glasses large dollar in black horn rings
With his loose dress and staring awkward look he reminded
one forciby OF the necromancer in Hudibras When the
Minister himself drew near three guns fired the
rnes drew up in the hall and presented receive him.
and in he walked keyng sixty years DID, tall large and
dgnied His face expresses talent and decision He is one
OF the most able and influential in empire Of three
provided and our guests retired.
The next day Minister returned the visit at the temple
Of Whangea, where Keying resided Like all the Chinese
temples was very asteuly situated massive, spacious
formed OF connected buildings with courts between and APP
preached by flight Of 1soad high steps As APP
preached, band struck up the unvaryng salute of three
guns was fired, and were led through the courts
ner building, where Minister received by Keyng
After some conversation, ushered into dinner and
here Mr. Webster said that the Chinese festivals very
similar to each other he would describe the last of which
they partook after the treaty had been concluded and
cason OF its signature, the Sd Of July 1914.
Eight copies of the treaty had to be prepared four in each
language and though the Americans exercised their
diligence the Chinese had theirs done FIRST They then pro-
ceeded to the place of meeting The small twenty
feet by ten, without windows and with only the door by which
they entered At the further end small table stood upon
platform, and this the Ministers seated themselves the
rest OF the company taking along the sides of the
u was excessively hot and, though toerable the thny
dressed Chinese, to the Americans almost nsuerabe.
The treaty was read the copies compared and the seals ax
ed when two Tarars entered bearing package in yellow
CLOTH which proved to be the Imperial SEAL This stamp
ed upon the document, and then proceeded dinner
The Chinese insisted that should take off our coats
we had taken to provide ourselves with white jackets
except one gentleman, who positively obliged sit this
great diplomatic dinner given the conclusion Of treaty
between two great nations in his shirt sleeves The table
was set for twenty and covered with bananas mangoes
oranges and other fruits, sweemeas &C. hot drink like
poor whskey, called samcou prepared each having
small teapot containing by his SIDE We required
nod to the friend whom wished to compliment and then
empty the cup taking to turn the inside towards him,
that he might be assured it empty This done accord
ing to the custom, helped fruits. Keying with
his own chopsick, seized fig and put upon the Minister'S
plate This order pudding introduced expressly
invented for the occasion by Keyng himself 1t excel
Commissioner. After this over two dishes of meat
brought by attendants who very and very
well drilled Keying again helped Minister dish Of
chicken and pork, like stew and the dish then passed
around to the other guests Then cups Of sanchO were
taken The dishes then set in the centre of the table
the same rapidly repeated until hundred Dishes
in silver vessels filed the table from one end to the other
Various sideshes introduced bread among
which were lotus watermelon Seeds &C. sharks fms 5ece
de mer birds nests roofs Of hogs mouths &C. Of course
abounded in the shape of sews broths The birds nests
the most costly Of the Dishes and frequently command
their weight in silver They of geatnous substance
supposed TO be collected by Swallows upon rocks from the foam
Of the sea- They perfect nests and require be cleans
ed of feathers dirt, &c, and by sagreeable
being somewhat between yermcel and opoca, sngy like
the one, transparent like the other and quite tasteless
Beche de melis sea-snai and quite unpalaabe Fish
fins seaweed, hogsouths &C. would certainly be thought
no great addition to festive boards They costly
Of taking up moses and thrusng them into the mouths of
their friends, which prevails at the Chinese tables reminds
one forcibly Of the aduraon of Meg Meies Dominic
Sampson, "Gape, sinner, and swallow"
After pause there appeared crossing the yard cooks
each with silver dish and joint Of They fol-
lowed by attendants carrying blocks covered with cloth
These were set down behind the chairs and then each cook
drawing from his girde long sharp knife, meat
into thin Slices which received plates by the attend
ants and handed the guests The served
turkeys hams pigs roasted whole and gded, &c. This
the Tartar addition 10 regular Chinese dinner and
unwecome, as il introduced TO Of which had
heard before
large bowl Of very nice soup then brought in. Key
ing took it up with both hands, drank out Of it. and then
passed to the Minister and then the round Of the
whole table. Thus at dinner spent the time from
ocockho whole order of European dinner being exactly
reversed, beginning with fruit and ending with soup. We
rose from the table, put coats, and took leave.
The band struck up, three guns fired and returned
Macao ready to exclam with Macbeth that had sup
ped full Of horrors. T"
Mr. Webster say that he did not mean to ridi-
cue the customs Of the Chinese but that seeing them
the first time they Of would strike any singular.
The Chinese dress though not graceful the Turkish
the Roman seemed him. all events far more so than our
own, and 80 likewise many of their habits ridi
culous than The mandans long robes Of rich
and heavy silk, embroidered with gold and covered by
splendid riding coat grde passes around the waist fas-
tened with buckle Of precious stones and long boots whit
ened reach the knees Around the neck string of beads
OF stones in winter and of perumsd wood in summer A
cap OF straw velvet worn, with button and feather and
attached to the belt snuff bottles, &c. of gold.
military mandarin has besides a very large ring, cut
from single precious stone, upon his right thumb The
richest dresses by players the stage The Chi
actors always nean and hired by private per-
sons by several who contribute raise fund for the pur
pose They have changing OF scenes and every thing
very rude and unneresng And yet they had played
at Macao three days and nights without nermission, many
persons standing "a hours look on receiving refreshments
from persons who have them to sell No appear and
all speak in alsetto Mr. Webster gave some account Of
their dramas, which be historical Astounding exag
geraons and absurdes and Of their comedies which are
vulgar and disgusting They have extensive literature