dance of tempting fruits--grapes
of rich bloom and large growth, apples which would do no discredit to a
West of England orchard, and peaches scarcely inferior to those v of the
Mediterranean. And how cheap everything is--eggs you can get for the
asking almost, whilst a whole fowl (prepared and cooked in a manner
which, out of charity to the Chinese culinary art, we wont pry into too
closely, but which our sailor gourmands relish nevertheless) is
obtainable for five cents! I refer, of course, to that bird which our
shipmates denominate "_dungaree chicken_." Our first impression of
Chefoo is that it is the place of all others on the station to send
emaciated ships' companies to regain their stamina.

The district has a special manufacture of silk, much prized by our
female friends at home, made from the fibres of the bamboo. Did you ever
see such a wonderful plant as that same bamboo? I could not enumerate
half the uses to which the natives of China and Japan apply its
beautiful slender golden stem. The silk, of a color resembling brown
holland, is really very good, and makes excellent summer out-door
dresses for the European ladies and girls at Chefoo. Some of the best
costumes I noticed on shore were made of this material.

Shortly after our arrival the "Vigilant" came in, en route for Tientsin,
a port further up the Gulf of Pe-chili, and to the westward of us. You
may perhaps remember that it was here the recent massacre of some
helpless French sisters of mercy took place, an event which at one time
seemed very likely to have embroiled China into a war with France.

I wonder if I should be wrong in saying that one of the principal
reasons which makes this so desirable a port for navy ships is the
advantages presented by the sand-bar at the mouth of the harbour for
shore evolutions? This may or may not be so; but scarcely a week passed
without our captain taking us ashore to play at soldiers, and sometimes
two or even three times a week. The bar has many qualities suitable for
military operations; a rocky grass-covered mound at the western
extremity in particular forming an excellent position for the field guns
and assaulting parties. This spot will be always remembered by our
ship's company by the name of Fort Cleveland, a name they themselves
bestowed on it, because the captain, who conducted these landing parties
with strict regard to military tactics, so frequently made it the
culminating point in the day's manoe