a large sea slug six or eight inches
by one, found on the flats of the
tropical islands ; it is of a dark col
or, and is purified into a rich gelat
inous substance. 2. Shark's fins,,
and fish maws. 3. The edible bird's
nest. This is the nest of a swallow,
formed of a gelatinous matter, which
the bird procures and elaborates, it
is supposed, Jrom some marine plant.,
Purified, it is worth its weight irt
silver. They dress it in soups, &ci,
like our vermacelli. To eat some
of these things may seem strange,
but may it not be asked whether he
was not as bold a man who first
swallowed an oyster? The Tartar,
dinners are very different. They
make their repasts on animals
deer, sheep, hogs, &c, cooked and
served whole. The tit-bits are
chipped off by the hand, and passed
round to the guests. The common
drinks are tea, which is seen on all
occasions, and samshoo, a liquor
distilled from rice, which is mingled
with hot water, and served in small
covered vessels wita glass to drink
from, quite in the manner of hot
whiskey toddy at some of the fash
ionable hotels in this country. The
Chinese pledge healths in drinking,
and empty and reverse their glasses.
Many of the drinking vessels now,
in use among us are copied lrom
China. Regarded commercially, the
Chinese Empire is complete within
itself, without aid from Europe. As
to the article of food: For the pro
duction of necessaries, bread-stuffs
and the like, China has every facili
ty in her vast territory and extreme
ly productive soil ; in her great va
riety of climate, ranging lrom the.
