OCR Text |
Show B T . a Att The EMBaAss of th ‘--_ i Itis an Ancient cufiom at Peking, that the Embafiadours (after their ad drefles to the Emperour) in token that their Affairs ar J;f patched entertaine with three Mealsin the name and behalf of the Emperour | firft uar pon the tent day ; fo that thefe entertainments take u a whole month before they are ended butin regard our Embafiadours were defi ous to make w hat hafte they coul home again, the Providore had obtained lcave of the Emperour, though not with. out great difficulty, that thefe three Feaft fhould be given them upon three fol. lowing days At two of the clock in the Afternoon (upon the f me day that we had been at Court before the Emperour) the Embaflado rs were Invited, together with the Mandorine Pinxenton, and others,as all the Captains and Souldiers who cond u e them from Canton to Peking,in he name of the Emperour, to the firft Fea vidore Lipn's houle, which was moft oble and Splendid. . To the fame Ban or Entertainment,was alfo invited, in the ame of the Emperour, the Embaffadour of the Great Mogol, the Suytadfen, and t e Lanmas. Oup Holland Fmbaffadoy {at on one fide of the Table with him of the Mogol; and the other two over againf them,with their Followers next unto them. he Dinger confifted of two Courfes the firft Table was full of Fruits and dryed Sweet-meats; and the fecond o boiled and roafted Mutton, Beef, and othe and for two of their Followers, 2 particular Ta le was covered wich thirty Silve Difhes, ful of rare Fruits and Sweet-meats. < The mperours Controuler (wh likewife appeared at this Feaft, reprefenting ‘the per on of his Majefty) fat alon upon a broad fide-board, with his Legs acrofs, li e a Taylour.on his Shop-board ~next C 3a b .th m §fi .fe ; G ward him, as they had done when they were before the Imperial Th one - THe Banquet taken away, the boyled and roafted Meats were brou ht to th Table but only in three Difhes, and fo ill dreft, that we hardly durf venture t taftc of the Cookery of the Tartars. Dinner being almoft ended, the Emp rour Steward called his Servants, and gave them'all the Difhes which ftoo befor him, only he referved one Difh, being a roafted rib of a Camel, of which he a {o heartily, as if he had been fafting all that day This brave high Treatment finifhed, the Embaffadours,according to the cuft It was a very pleafant fight to {ee how thefe greazy Tartars ftuffed their Pock ts mk h im f{at two other great Lords, who'teok order to fee the Em entertained. . The Servants who brought the Me t ' to the Table, and waited al Dinner time, were no ordinary perfons, but of good quality and clothed all j Cloth of Cold.. o Fsa «But before the Embaffadours fat down, they were obliged to turn them towdrd the North, the Emperour being abfent, and' bowing th ee times as to of the Countrey, were to put up whatthey left into their Pockets to carr home p and Leather Drawers of their Breeches with fat Meat, that the liquor d opt fro them as they wentalong the Streets ; {o greedy were they in eating and carryin away; that they were more like Peafantsthen Courtiers After Dinner the Waiters brought up feveral Gold and Silver Pots ful o Sampfon, which they pouring out into Wooden Dithes or Cups, gave round th Company, and they drank luftily of it themfelves. 'They told us that this drin was diftilled from new Milk, and came out of the Emperours Cellar and that thi great favour and kindnefs wasdone to us, becaufe we came fro f{o remote Conntrey, and (o we muft drink away {orrow And though this Liquor was almof as ftrong as Brandy, yer the Embaffadours were forced to pledge the Steward feveral times, and to take what was Jeft home with them ; but they gave it awa t the Souldiers, and others who ftood at the Gate, who were better pleafed with it This Di ner being thus ended, the Embafladadours, as formerly, muf once mor H k |