Viva a familia real Viva o dignissimo Ropresentante de Portugal em Shanghai Shanghai, 17th May, 1898.
The entertainment given by the Portuguese community at Chang Ssu-ho's garden on Wednesday evening proved a success, in spite of the unpropitious wether. The large hall was very prettily and tastefully decorated, the Portuguese ensign of course being conspicuous. A very well selected programme of dances had been arranged, but the pleasures of Terpsichore were considerably lessened by the crush, and as the evening wore on only the most enthusiastic of the dancers kept it up. Without wishing to criticise unkindly, we cannot help saying that there was rather too much of the youthful element present, many children of tender years being allowed to roam about the hall at their own sweet will. However, this by the way. After the sixth dance a very good supper was provided to which ample justice was done. and then dancing was resumed and carried on until an early hour in the morning. A firework display was arranged to take place at intervals, and gave considerable pleasure to the guests, who gathered on the verandahs to witness it, in the intervals between the dances, -For those who cared for such entertainments, a very good troupe of native actors had a Chinese play in full swing, but the average foreigner who can hardly be said to be educated up to these things, lost very little time in watching this performance, the din of gong-beating, which seemed to be the principal part of the show, being simply ear-splitting. Among the guests we noticed a number of the members of the Consular Body, Tsai Taotai, and both Mixed Court magistrates..On the whole a very enjoyable evening was spent by the numerous guests, and the Portuguese hosts deserve the. warmest congratulations for the very efficient manner in which the arrangements for the comfort and convenience of the guests were carried out.
In connection with the celebrations in honour of Vasco da Gama by the local Portuguese colony, an enjoyable literary and musical evening was spent at the Astor Hall on Thursday night. The hall was splendidly decorated for the occasion, a succession of gaily-painted medallions around the walls illustrating the principal points of call by the great Navigator, on hia famous voyage to the East, 400 years ago, whilst amid a great profusion of bunting, flowers, and foliage, shields of striking design indicated the various _posses-us of this once great colonizing nam. There was a capital attendance, including: a @ number of Consular and native officials, and the proceedings, chiefly conducted in Portuguese, were apparently much appreciated. Senhor Valdez, the Portuguese Consul-General, delivered a somewhat lengthy but withal interesting address dealing with the principal incidents in the career of the intrepid Vasco, Snr.
A. Lubeck recited Vasco da Gama e a Humanidade, whilst subsequently Dr. Iidkins read a' carefully prepared paper on the influence on China of Vasco da Gama's discovery as seen in the works of the Ming dynasty. Senhor L. de Gieter recited, whilst other papers, which were attentively followed were submitted by Senhores Adeline Diniz and de Lopes e Ozorio, and Mr. Fischer, who read an essay on the influence of Vasco da Gama's discoveries and travels on the trade of Europe, in the unavoidable absence of its author, Herr P. G. von Méllendorff. The musical portion of the evening was most praiseworthy both from a vocal and an instrumental point of The overture to Auber's " Black Domino" executed by Snras. D. Anna Lubeck, D. Zelinda Pereira, D. Augusta da Silva, and Snrs. Boaventura Botelho and
rendered whilst the concerted vocal pieces Procopio da Silva was hers prior well all_boro evidence of more than ordinary ability. We print the text of the Cen-ten ary Hymn which was accompanied by an amateur band Gloria ao Gama, quo os mares suleando Nunea d'antes arados vingou Que os portaes do Oriente a0 sen mando Descorrassem; © a patria exaltou.
Quatre seculos proves passaram, E haje os fillies do sen Portugal ju'outro'ra cantaram Sons aves, haje contain igual.
Ocortejo dos pavos do munda Dobra a front saudando esse audaz Capitiio, que o segredo profunda Oceano arrancou contumaz, Gloria no Gama, que os mares suleando Nunca d'antes arados vingou Quo os portaes do Oriente as sen mando Descorrassom; ¢ a patria exaltou.
The following is the text of the paper read by Dr. Edkins The Effect of the Discovery of the Ocean Route to India on the Chinese, as shown in Books of the Ming Dynasty. By J. Edkins, vince itis sated. that in the year 517 the In the Chinese History of Kuangtung pro-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.