Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-08-21
A Chinese Dinner.

Hang Yang, q merchant, who was q
superior man, ,and to whom my husband
had become quite attached (writes an
English lady from Hong Kong,) one
day invited him to call at his house, and
take meal, a great honor, and finding
it would be agreeable, included me in
the invitation. He sent two sedan
chairs for us. When we arrived we
were ushered into the receptioh-rootn |;
there were raised seats running around
the sides, of beautiful bamboo, and
many chairs standing at intervals about
the room. Elegant little tables sup
ported vases Of beautiful porcelain, and
hideous monsters of soap-stone were in
the corners.
A profusion of bows passed, and I
was taken into an inner room, where
sat Madame Hang Yang before little
box, filed with drawers, like the little
Chinese cabinets. She had not quite
completed her toilet arrangements, but
bowed and smiled as entered, pointing
to a chair, and kept on with her opera
tions, about which there is no secrecy.
She was very good-looking, but was
painted with the thickest white I had
ever seen, and had her teeth stained
black with betel-nut-as is the custom
when married. Her attendant hair
dresser, who had just finished her per-
formance, stood by to take the little
brushes from the hands of her mistress
and replace them in the drawers when
she had finished. Her hair was jet
black, and was very much creased, was
plated and rolled up in masses upon
the back of her head, and stuck full OF
jeweled pins and flowers madeof bright.
colored paper, also silver and gold.
She wore a gay lowered robe, with
long hanging sleeves, and her arms were
adorned with bracelets of heavy gold.
As she spoke no English, and I spoke
no Chinese, we looked at each other in
a smiling fashion, nodded and bowed.
We sat together at table upon settees
of cane, and her two children were also
at table, and were as decorus in be-
havior as young people of twelve and
fourteen years of age with us. First,
sweetmeats were brought; then hot
wine, in lovely tiny porcelain cups ;
then cups of larger size, with a pinch
of tea at the bottom of each, upon which
hot water was poured, which is the way
Chinese tea is always made thus one
gets the flavor and none of the bitter
ness. Then boiled rice and some kind
of food cut in mouthfuls. Chop-sticks
were laid by each plate, and 1 found
my husband was nearly as de1terous in
their use as his host. I labored heavily
with mine, and made many Intellectual
attempts at spearing morsels swimming
about in my plate, not daring to Sit
quiet or decline anything, for fear OF
being impolite. Little squares of soft
colored paper, edged with gilt, were
placed by each plate as napkins. Last
ly, we finished with the famous birds
nest soup. After the dinner, towels,
dipped in hot water, were passed round
upon trays, for US to wipe our mouths
and hands upon.
Scraps of verses and proverbs were
engraved upon the walls, and sheets oi
colored paper were hung in conspicuous
positions, bearing various notices.
Some were interpreted to me, such as
the following
"We can do without the world, but we
need q friend" "Great wealth comes
by destiny, moderate wealth by indus
try" "Great minds have wills, Others
only wishes"