to make enough soup for ten people. We had a very
pleasant evening, talking over our experiences, and exchanging news as
to our mutual friends.

CHAPTER XXIII.

CANTON AND MACAO TO SINGAPORE.

_I remember the black wharves and the slips,_
_And the sea-tides tossing free;_
_And Spanish sailors with bearded lips,_
_And the beauty and mystery of the ship_
_And the magic of the sea._

_Saturday, March 3rd_.--After our long day yesterday, I did not feel
capable of acceding to our guide's proposition of being ready at
half-past six for further explorations before breakfast; besides, I
wanted to see Tom off by the nine o'clock boat to Hongkong, whither he
is obliged to return in order to keep various engagements. The rest of
our party have been persuaded to stay and see a little more of Canton
and to go with some friends to a picnic in the White Cloud Mountains.
A man brought home to-day some carved tortoiseshell brushes Tom has
given me, with my name carved on them in Chinese. It was no good
writing it down for the engraver's guidance, and after hearing it
several times he wrote down two characters; but, as the 'r' is always
a great difficulty with the Chinese, I much doubt whether the name is
really spelt rightly.

It was a most lovely day, and after some little delay we started about
eleven o'clock, a party of seventeen in chairs. There were five ladies
and twelve gentlemen--a most unusual proportion for Canton. A few
weeks ago they wanted to get up a fancy ball, but there were only five
available ladies to be found in the city. At present one or two more
are staying here on a visit, and it is hoped that another ball may be
arranged during this week, which may boast of at least ten ladies. We
made quite a procession, with all the servants, bearers, &c., and
excited much commotion in the narrow streets, where everybody had to
make room and squeeze up to the side as best they could. Men ran
before to clear the way for us, shouting, yet we were more than an
hour going right across the city. On our way we passed through the egg
market, saw the pork fat market, and the poulterers' and fowlers'
shops.

We managed to visit several shops for the sale of real Chinese
furniture. It is very handsome, but curious in form, and, unless it is
specially ordered, is made only for native use. Every Chinese
reception-room is furnished in precisely the same manner, with very
stiff high arm-chairs, arran