The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-02-26
he Chinese Consul-Generals Dinner to
Kalakaua.

The Chinese Consul General entertained King
Kalakaua with a dinner at the Hang Fer Low
restaurant, the elmonic of Chinatown, last even
ing. In a Celestial way it was a very swell affair.
All the hobs of Chinatown were there in their best
bibs and fuckers The company outside of the state
table included the President and Secretary of each OF
the nine Chinese Benevolent Associations Of the city
and all of the rich wholesale merchants, 10 the num-
Der of sixty. They wore an extraordinary costume
for tho occasion, being dressed in mandarin rank.
with buttons and other insignia to denote their stand
ing. The buttons are worn in their caps, the color
denoting the rank of their blue-blood wearers. The
majority wore the crystal button, a few the red, the
latter indicating the bluest of the blue bloods. The
restaurant, which is orientally gorgeous IN It's ap-
pointnents, was splendidly decorated for the occa
sion, aud its usual display of gas Jets being supple
mented With an abundance of large vari-colored lam
terms of paper and bamboo, gave 1t a brilliant aspect
viewed from the street or the surrounding houses.
The royal table was spread in the small room oil the
restaurant, which was specially dressed for the
occasion
THE GUESTS.
On the wall at the foot of the table, facing the
Consul General, who presided, were festooned Inc
American, Chinese and Hawaiian flags Around the
regal board were gathered the King, the Consul, the
principal members of the Consulate, the travelling
companions of the King, and such of our citizens as
were invited. On the landing they were drawn up
in a line and the Chinese. after making a concerted
salaam and shaking each his own hand. after their
sociable custom, were brought forward and each in
turn was presented to the King. shaking his hand
and passing TO eacn MEMBER q i IN party. 1uIS tltlle
reception, in which the Chinese showed an easy.
polished politeness, over, the festal party were seatedI
The persons named above were seated at the State
table, the others in the adjoining room about little
SQUARE tables, each accommodating five guests, the
outer side of the table being left unOccnpied in order
that its hanging of rich crimson satin with gold
embroidery might be shown to advantage.
THE FEAST.
The names given to the various dishes we're hard
ones. but the viands proved not only less repulsive,
but positively toothsome. There was a great variety
of dishes, all palatable, cooked with art, and served
in unexcept enable style, aud when their composition
was rendered into English,t there was discovered nom
ing to revolt the most fastidiOus OF civilized stomachs.
feast was what is den minated q mandarin
idinner, aud in the costliness, rarity and delIcacy
of yiands, has not been exceeded by any festlvIty that
has ever taken place on this coast. Inc 'aOles s.oou
all the evening, before, during and after the dinner,
loaded with nuts, melon seeds, CONNECTIONS and fresn
fruits, at which the guests niboled continually
First, by way of appetizer for the feast, was brought
on in small teapots a delicate WIne aIter the oTder Oh
sherry but milder, a subtle distillatien of the Chinese
pear, Shich was served in thimble cups. Then fol
lowed a sup of edible birds nests Next was a
soup or stew made Of a snow white fungus that grows
on ~decaying wood.
CALIFORNIA SHARKS FINS.
The next dish was a delicious couglomeration of
fish brain, shredded ham and preserved egg slices,
followed by a stew made Of mushrooms. young chicken,
tender bamboo shoots, sliced ham ana cabbage. a
dish of sharks fms with shredded ham and fragments
of crab rolled in -four and pulverlzed egg, W s next
on the list. The Chinese exponent at the reporters
elbow said that these were the inns Of California
sharks which were larger and preferable on other
accounts to the propeller Of the Chinese shark, and
that the business of taking sharks here and shipping
their fms to China was becoming quite a large one
Among the other tempting dishes were a mess OF
fishes, nav. and stewed wild duck on a substratum
Of edible birds nests. After an hour and q halfs
feasting the wine was removed, giving place TO a cup
of genuine Oolong finely breWed, and which was
used without milk and sugar to wash down the