I do not think we should like to dine with a Chinese gentleman, or Mandarin, as he would treat us to strange dainties, as—­a roast dog, a dish of stewed worms, a rat pie; or, perhaps, a bird’s-nest.  But the bird’s-nest would be the best of the list, for it is not like the kind of bird’s-nests which you have seen, but is made, I believe, of the spawn of fish, and looks something like isinglass.  It is the nest of a sort of swallow, is about the size of a goose’s egg, and is found in caverns along the sea shores; so it is not so bad as it seems at first.  And the rats are as large and fat as some of our rabbits, being fed on fruits and grain, purposely for eating; as also are their dogs, for eating.

The people of the “Celestial Empire” are celebrated for their fondness for making beautiful gardens; but their houses and gardens are quite different from ours.

What a pretty scene! what a delicious cool walk is formed by the grove of trees leading to the porcelain tower.  And those ladies walking towards the boat,—­or hobbling, more likely; for the Chinese ladies have feet not much larger than your papa’s thumb, which is there considered a great beauty.

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The common women cannot afford to have little feet, as the feet of the rich girls are bandaged up in iron shoes, when they are two or three years old, to prevent their growing larger.  These small feet are called “Golden Lilies;” but I am glad no such barbarous custom prevails in our own dear country.  The Chinese ladies, however, are extremely accomplished, and can play on many musical instruments, paint, and embroider.  The merchants of China are not at all remarkable for their honesty, though a few of them are very scrupulous.  Many of them amass great fortunes.

The Chinese have sent in embroidered shawls, table-covers, teas, curious and intricate toys, and specimens of handicraft.

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Why, we have even specimens of Russian industry, in the Great Exhibition; and very good specimens they are, too.  Russia is not such a pleasant country, in some respects, as any of those I have been telling you of; for in the winter the frost is so severe that many of the poor Russians die from cold.  The rich wrap themselves up in warm furs, and ride in fur-lined sledges, instead of the usual carriages; but the poor people are forced to continue working out of doors at their various employments, being very careful, however, to cover their legs, hands, and head with fur, lest they should be bitten with the frost, which sometimes seizes those parts and turns them white.  Though many of the poor women stand for hours together, washing their linen in holes cut in the ice, without getting frozen, yet it often happens that coachmen and other servants have been frozen to death in the streets at night, while waiting for their masters.