The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-16
FUN FOR FESTIVE MANDAR1Ns.
How Wealthy Chinese Anuse Them
selves in Houseboats at Canton.

How Wealthy Chinese Amuse Them
selves in Households at Canton.
Canton Letter in London Telegraph
1t was a bitter cold rainy night when
we set out from the hotel in search of the
flower boats of Canton. This was a new
experience. have before now been half
frozen in a gondola at Venice in the win
ter, but l never expected 70 be frost
bitten within a few degrees of the
equator. Up streets and down streets of
boats we padded, until at last we were
landed in a dark corner and hauled up
upon recovered, slippery planks, which
nearly collapsed under one of the
party, who was within an inch of
the dark and dreadful river. A
more unlikely place for festival could
not be imagined. No Thames site be-
low Bridge inhabited by any amount of
Quilps could have looked more forlorn,
but Sus San and All Cam guided US to
distant boat house, from which came
sounds of mirth and revelry | could
scarcely believe my eyes. A door was
opened and ! beheld the most luxuriously
furnished palace Conceivable, bright with
electric light, covered with mirrors and
tapestry, and presenting scene such as
the stage has never offered. Mandarins,
young and old, in their costliest robes of
blue silk and plain colored satin, lolled
idly on the rich chairs and cosy divans
Some were drowsy with opium fumes,
some enjoyed a Whit or so from scented
tobacco pipe handed at intervals by
painted girl or an Obscquious attendant
At the end of the room a splendid feast
was spread, as yet untaSted. A company
of singing damsels, all with challxed and
painted faces drored in corner dr0wsv
chant to the twangOf a guitar Hearing
that party of Englishmen haduarrived
who were DESTROYS of seeing the interior
of Chinese flower boat, the wealthy
mandarin who vas giving the feast
courteously invited US inside, and we
were at once treaed as guests Our host
talked excellent English, and he de-
scribed the eastern delights of these
floating palaces Tea was offered
to US out of the most
costly porcelain cups. Fruits and
sweets were handed round, and then
over rosewater pipes and scented tobacco
we We're told how rich Cinnamon enjoy
themselves in thewatches of the night
Very rarely they nave Gowerboats of their
own. They are hired for the night or
week from some 'cOmpIador'' or agent
who provides the boat, the feast and the
fittings, down to the singing girls and
their companions with the eternal grin,
the black rolled and grease incumbered
hair, and the chalk face. Tastes differ in
the matter of beauty, but after the ever
lasting black hair stuck all over with pins
and flowers, massed with pomatum an
inch thick, the sight of a chestnut or
blonde English female head would
be positive relief to the eye Peep
ing in hairdrcsser's shop the other day,
| found that the Chinese or japanese black
hair is built up on cushions in the most
elaborate fashion, so elaborate. indeed,
that l imagine the edifice is seldom taken
down, certainly not for many days. But
the custom is not distastefuI to the man
darins of old Canton, who can afford a
party on flower boat anchored in creek
in winter, and in summer sailing away
with its feasts and guests to the upper
reaches Of the mighty river.