Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-06-07
From The San pssneisec HefsIds
A Chinese Feast in California.

A Chinese Feast in California.
Monday night last, An Cstse, wealthy
Chinese merchant Of this city, and for
seven years director ofthe Canton Comps-
ny's affairs. and now Chief ofthe Bosfd Of
Administrators, gave dinner 70 Judge
MoAttssrRR. Judge FREsLoes, Mr.. Hts
nv Hrvrsos, Mr.. n. DAvipsos, Mr.. ssLIN
woopwosrH. Mr.. FRtpkRioK wcopwoRrH
and Mr.. Thomas W. CARY. Mr.. CAnvAt-
no, the Chinese Interpreter, did the hon
ofs Of the table, An Csiss Occupying .
seat next TO Judge MoALLisrER. For the
information Of those Of our readers who
have never been present at a regular Chi
pese dinner. we give the following desefip-
ton The table was laid with figured
porcelain, and ornamented along the cen
ire with large porcelain vases, containing
bananas, oranges and apples, ell very fine
and Of superior flavor.
Reside each plate stood saucer contain
ing the tiniest Of cups, and q large poree-
lain 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. n had favor somew hat
resembling orange peel. and was probably
an extract from that substance. This was
followed by glass Of fine brown Csnteg-
nae clafet, which was also absorbed befOfs
any eatables were placed upon the board.
Then came the soup, composed OF ehieE-
ems flesh, cut into strips like narrow fib
bones, and preserved by drying In the open
sir, aud isinelsss. II was quite palstsble.
This course was followed by pigeons
stewed with delicate green beans, spring
onions. and other condiments. Following
this came dish Of pigeons, cooked In an
other style. This was succeeded by Chi
nese oftolans, or other small birds. The
courses followed each othefin fegu ar sue
eession, until ten had been gone through
with, washed down At shOftintefvals with
Cliquot champagne and fine claret.
The eleventh course consisted OF the
famed bird nests, worth their weight In
gold in China. These nests are built by q
species Of swallow found in the India seas,
particularly the island Of sunntrs. The
nest IL the shape Of common swallows and
IL about the sike Of goose's egg, and has
the appearance Of ibfous, lmperfectly con
cocted isinglsss. The substance Of which
10 IL composed IL not known, but ~ u sup.
posed 20 be the spawn Of fishes, gathered
by the bird, or n secretion elaborated from
the body Of the swallow. The finest are
those gathered before the young swallows
are Matched, nj which time they are pure
verns and almost inaccessible places, rem
dering II impossible for any one TO collect
them who has not been regularly brought
up TO the business. After the bifd's nest
q dish Of sharks fms, a great delecaey
with the Chinese, was placed upon the To
Bile. IL had rank. musty flavor ny no
means palstable TO outside barbarisns.
Another course Of some Chinese pfepare-
tions, and the last one, consisting or stew-
ed duck wound up the meats, making four
teen courses In all
Then came the desert, consisting OF
Chinese cakes, jeIIiss and pates Of differ
ept kinds, all Of which were served mp at
one time. The bread consisted two kinds,
one in small sized losves, abedt as large
and looking just like moderate sized,
freshly peeled mushroom. They were en-
quisitely white and light. The other sort
Of bread was In loaves OF the same shape,
but about four times larger. On being
broken open q thin. plastic covering made
Of -four peeled eff aud revealed the light
aud snowy bread, baked in layers which
detached from each ether like separate
pancakes. Both Of these sorts Of bread
were slightly sweeiened.
At half past nine o'clock An CHfre in
vited his guests to visit the Chinese thes-
tire. The last performance Of the season
being then given by the company, who
are going on tour through the interior.
Private boxss wereprovided from whence
| the stage and audience could he distsnctly
seen. The dress circle was occupied en-
trely by women and the pit by the men.
! IL would be I'M possible TO convey any thing
| like an accurate idea Of the performances,
| but several Of the actors exhibited wonder
ful agility in their combat scenes, Az ten
o'clock the company separated, highly
pleased with their host and his enteftaia-
ment.