(Translated specially for the North-China Daily News.) (Concluded)
Tea and comfits are taken twice a day, and a heavy meal twice; or tea and comfita Jonce, and the heavy meal twice. About the time for the latter a bell is rung once to let people know s0 that they may change their clothes and wash their hands; when the bell is again rung they assemble toother in the dining room, They also sound a gong.
At the heavy meals, every one is given bread and then first' soup and afterwards meats. The soup ordinarily consists of beef or chicken broth. Turtle soup is considered the most excellent. Later on, come mutton, fish, geese, chickens or pigeons still latter beef-oil-cakes (cheese or butter), Discuits and fruits. Last of all coffee is served, and the affair is over.
At few time they take cows' milk and white sugar mixed with coffee or black tea, Rither is taken with bread accompanied by butter or delicacies such as ham. The meal is in fact what is called in the Middle Kingdom tien-hsin ('stay the stomach.')
Their greet: meat is exceedingly tender. It is the custom to eat it uncooked, rinsed in water and dried, then mixed with sesamum oil, salt and vinegar, Clean, fresh and sweet to munch, it is exceedingly delicious, and may be described as extremely sup Upon the dining table is laid out a square white napkin, like the "food paper" of the iddio Kingdom, but enclosed in an ivory ring, inscribed with a number. This napkin is changed once every seven days. When eating, each person spreads his open in front of his chest, to receive gravy or soup, as well as to wipe his mouth, At each meal flower bowls and vases are placed on the table keeping alive fresh flowers or an arrangement of green leaves, or every kind of flower and spray made up into a ball to add to the effect.
Men and women are seated together indiscriminately round the same dish and at
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.