OCR Text |
Show .... the Empire of C u 1N a {quare Tabl well furnifhed with Difhes, upon Chairs lai over with Gold ip moft rich manner, in {everal fhapes and figures. Before they fit down, the Mafie of the houfe takes a Bowl in hishand of Gold or Silver, filled with Wine, and fa lutes thofe therewith that are to fit atthe upper end, in the ordinary manner o bowing and holding up his hands ; which done, he goesout into the Court-yard where firft bowing,he ofters up the Bowl,with his Face turned to the South,& pour out the Winé asalibationupon the ground returns 1nto the Dining-room, takesanother Bowland falutes him that is to it at the upper end, bowing to him but once only, and then leading his chief Gueft b the hand,and placing him at the Table, which ftands in the middle of the room; h binefes Saluge, Vi, , an ::N Solemn Entert ip then invites the reft to ficdown after the fame manner. When all the Company i feated, the chief Gueft receives the Bowl full of Wine from the Servant of th moft of their bufin f chas five 3 well or ere %G count the greatn fso nends; and thefe ind houfe, and drinks tothe reft of the Guefts, and to the Mafter of the Feaft ; where upon they all bow in manner as aforefaid And here obferve, that the Table o the Inviter {tands in the loweft part of the Hall, at which he fits with his back t according to the antjep cy fip bue Jittle at a tine the South, and againft the door of the Hall ; but withhis Face he looks upon th chiefeft Table, where hefits that isaccounted the prime Gueft of the Feaft And inregard the Chinefes do not touch the Meat with their Fingers, they neither wafh their hands, either before or after Dinner During the repaft, the Mafier of the houfe often calls for a Bowl of Wine, and drinking thereof, invites hi they a nc ar Then bowing the fecond time h Guefis to pledge him, who likewife call for Wine to do him reafon at the fam They make {everal {mall draughts before they empty their Cups, after th time manner of drinking in Holland ; and this 1s duely obferved, as well when the touchin Wo ¢ notice, that all forts o drink Water as Wine ; for whatever the liquor be, they do but fip itoff by ded e P t l {a w a P t t o s grees,neve Whilft the firft Glafs is pafling about, Meat isbrought to the Table ; then th Mafier of the Feaft performing the ufual Ceremonies of bowing and putting hi fticks into the Difh, they all begin to fall to, and take two or three bits of g bot i d they tomack, being ver r the gn ok a Difh, being the moft they eat of one : all the Company hold their fticks in thei yg great ved t vants fill into every ones Bow] warm Wine ; they all drink firft, having bowed t one another The greateft part of the time they {quander away rather in drink snceiv hands, till che chief Gueft has firft laid down his, and when that is done, the Ser groe ing theneating, and fo long as the Meal lafts, which is generally protraded to great length , they ufe no other then merry difcourfes, or elfe have Plays or Mu ::.‘!tb otained {ick to exhilarate and revive their Spirits At thefe Feafts the Tables are generally furnifhed for the moft part with fuc . the n Meatsasare eaten in E#rope ; and though they cannot Cook them with Europea curiofity, yet they know how to drefs themto pleafe the Palate : Neither are th Difhes fully crammed, but of each fort a modicum is only brought to the Table refo 13 td(b:kom ide of the {am .On So that truely, the Magnificence of a Feaft in China confifts in the multiplicity an manner of Difhes of {everal forts, with which they always fill the Table board The Epicurean fafhion of drefling Fifh and Fleth ata Meal, is in ufe withthem asin Europe 5 but herein they greatly differ, for after that once a Difh of Meat i brought to the Table, it is not taken away till the Dinner is ended, fo that the pile up the Difhes one upon another, that the Table ina manner refembles a Ca the chiclelt pam . l dcnomma indvid aw‘f‘:: sinall fent be Gors 200 Lably 1 o don o ',"l)‘t dhe ufal (bm?‘cm: wher o are condutE {umtflifd piffor e. ule here oot wid aa four !) g No Breadis fet before the Gueltsat thefe great Feafts, nor Rice, whic ftle ‘they ufeinftead of Bread, only at fome ordinary Dinners perhaps they do, but the Litis only at the end of the Meal; and if at anytime Riceis brought to the Ta ble, they eat of thatbefore they drink any Wine: Neither are their Feaft lengthned out only by eating and drinking, for the Guefts play at feveral Games wit e er eb i to cu thi An k ri to ig ob i s lof ve fo wh re wh {o great delight by the whole Company, that they laugh and clap their hands fo A joy |