The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-07-17
,EIGHTR voLUME---NUMBER AL.
A CHINESE FEAST.
[From the San Francisco Herald

From the San Francisco Herald.1
Monday night All Ching, wealthy Chinese
merchant of this city, and for seven years director
Of the Canton Companys affairs, and now chief of
the Board of Administrators, gave dinner to
Judge McAllster; Judge Freedom, Mr. Henry
Hentsch Mr. Is. Davidson, MIR Selim Weodworth,
Mr. Fred. Woodwork, and Mr. Thomas W. Cary.
Mr. Carvalho, the Chinese interpreter, did the
honors of the table, All Ching occupying the seat
next to Judge McAllister. For the information
of those of our readers who have never been pre-
sent at regular Chinese dinner, We give the fol-
lowing description: The table was laid with fig
ured porcelain, and ornamented along the centre
with large porcelain vases, containing bananas,
oranges and apples, all very fine, and of superior
flavor Beside each plate stood "a saucer contain
ing the tinest cups, and a large porcelain spoon
upon each, the latter for soup. The first thing
served up was the tiny cup full of species of
Chinese liquor by way of an appetizer. 1t had
flavor somewhat resembling orange peel; and was
an extract from that substance This follow
ed by glass of fine brown Cantegnac claret, which
was also absorbed before any eatables were placed
upon the board Then came the soup, composed
of chickens flesh, cut into strips like narrow rib
bons, and preserved by drying in the open air. and
isinglass 1t was quite palatabe. This course
was followed by pigeons stewed with delicate green
beans, spring onions and other condiments. Fol
lowing this came dish of pigeons, cooked in an
other style. This was succeeded by Chinese
ortolans other small birds. The courses follow
ed each other in regular succession, until ten had
been gone through with. washed down at short
intervals with Clquot champagne and fine claret,
The eleventh course consisted of the famed bird
nests, worth their weigh in gold in China. These
nests built by species Of swallow found in
the Indian seas, particularly the island of Sumatra
The nest is the shape of common swallows nest
and is about the size Of goose egg, and has the
appearance Of fbrous, ,imperfecly connected isin-
glass. The substance of which it is composed is
not known, but 1t is supposed to be the spawn Of
fishes, gathered by the bird, secretion elabo-
rated from the body of the swallow. The finest
are those gathered before the young swallows
hatched, at which time they are pure and white.
These nests are found in caverns and almost mac
cessibe places rendering it impossible for any
to collect them who has not been regularly brought
up to the business After the birds nest dish
of shark fins, great delicacy with the Chinese,
was placed upon the table. 1t had rank, musty
flavor, by no mea, palatabe to outside barbarians.
Another course Of some Chinese preparations, and
the last one, consisting Of stewed duck, wound up
the meats, making fourteen courses in all
Then came the desert, consisting of Chinese
cakes, jelies and dates Of different kinds, all of
which were served up at one time. The bread
consisted of two kinds one in small-szed loavcs,
about as large and looking just like moderate sized
freshly peeled mushrooms: They were exquisitely
white and light. The other sort of bread was in
loaves of the same shape, but about four times
larger. On being broken open, thin plastic
covering made Of -four, peeled off and revealed the
light and snowy bread baked in layers, which de-
tached from each other like separate pancakes
Both of these sorts of bread were slightly sweet
ened.
At halfpast 9 o'clock, All Ching invited his
guests to visit the Chinese theatre. The last per-
formances Of the season being given by the com
pany, who are going tour through the inte-
rior private boxes were provided, from whence
the stage and audience could be distinctly seen.
The dress circle occupied entirely by women,
aud the pit by men. 1t would be impossible to
convey anything like accurate idea of the per-
formances but several of the actors exhibited
agility in their combat scenes. At ten
o'clock the company separated, highly pleased with
their host and his entertainment.