Our Reception at Sanyuan.
On the 28th we went to Sansuan. The reception has been the best we have had. I quite thought the effusiveness would diminish in the square of the distance from Peking but even down to Sanyuaf the style and fervour have survived. When we reached the Nankuan we were suddenly surrounded in the darkness (for it was late by the time we arrived) by an enormous crowd that had gathered' on seeing the Cl'ai jen waiting for us with large lighted lanterns. Immediately we reached the spot where they were waiting, torches were lit and we were escorted into the city by the flares of blazing torches. The process sion was increased by the military detailed to protect us. It was a rather grand sight to see the sea of faces lighted up by the light of the torches, and the eager desire to understand what this exceptional crowd and procession meant. We were taken to the Kung kuan prepared for us in the large buildings of the Paochiachu. Here the Laoyeh waited to receive us. He stayed quite a long while talking with us and was very frank and seemed interested in the events of the year. He first sent in the inevitable tea and cakes. Next came the surprise that he had carefully planned. He provided hot water scented Florida, water for a wash, and had everything in foreign style—towels, soap, was-basin, ete. Then we had the usual feasts of sharks' fins, sea slugs, and measly pork. The memory of the Flory, da water was the staying thing for pork, and rotten eggs were not particular ly appetising.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.