“We have paid our first visit to some of the rich families in the city.  Mrs. Ahok sent a coolie on the day before to ask if they could see us, and they having signified their willingness, we agreed to meet Mrs. Ahok and go with her.  We had some dinner at 12 o’clock, as the city is so far away it takes a great deal of time to go, and then started in our sedan chairs to meet Mrs. Ahok.  We found her ready, waiting for us, dressed in a most lovely coral pink jacket, beautifully embroidered, and with very pretty ornaments in her hair....”

“After an hour and a half’s ride through the narrow, crowded streets of the suburbs we reached the city gates; then through more streets even more thronged, till we reached the house.  We were carried through the large outer door, then through a small courtyard, and our chairs put down in a row facing the partition which shut off the next portion of the house.  There we had to sit some little time, as I fancy the ladies had not quite finished dressing, but at last out came one of the heads of the family and invited us in.  We got out of our chairs and in turn made a sort of low bow to the newcomer, shaking our own hands (Chinese fashion) all the time.  This over, she escorted us into an inner room....  There was a rug on the floor, a round table, some very high chairs with straight backs, and some mirrors.  We sat in state some few minutes and then more ladies came in one after another, and each one we had to salute in the same ceremonious way....”

“We had to drink tea when we first went in, and later quite a meal was spread on the round table, cakes, fruits, and tea again.  We sat at the table with about three of the principal ladies, and the others looked on.  I was a good deal struck with the respectful way the young women treat the older ones, always rising when they enter the room, and remaining standing until they are seated....  We were invited to go and inspect the house, and I was soon quite bewildered at the number of courtyards with rooms all round, which we were led through.  I think I was never before in so large a house in China, all one story, but it must cover a great deal of ground.  The number of people, too, seemed very great; wives, sons’ wives, brothers’ wives, children in dozens and scores, servants and slave girls to any number—­altogether in that one establishment, one hundred and twenty people.”

“At last we finished our tour of inspection, and arrived again in the inner court; but alas! more refreshments were waiting, a bowl of soup for each of us, with some white stuff inside....  We got through the greater part of the concoction, wiped our mouths with a cloth wrung out in very hot water presented to us by a slave girl, and began to take our leave, bowed to the ladies of the house, begged them to be seated, informed them that we had given them much trouble, but felt grateful for their kindness, and amid repeated