These feasts were very enjoyable, even when their novelty had worn off; the host, full of _bonhomie_ and politeness, never failing to escort us to the great outer gate on leaving, and place us under the charge of his coolies, who would there be waiting with large lanterns bearing his name to escort us back to the Factories.
It is not true, as has been supposed, that on these convivial occasions the guests were served with roast or boiled 'puppy' as a _bonne bouche_, and I am sure that the author of the following lines gave way to his imagination after a 'chopstick' dinner with 'green pea' wine when he wrote them, or to fortify a current joke:--
The feast spread out, the splendour round Allowed the eye no rest; The wealth of Kwang-Tung, of all Ind, Appeared to greet each guest.
All tongues are still; no converse free The solemn silence broke; Because, alas! friend Se-Ta-Che No word of Chinese spoke.
Now here, now there, he picked a bit Of what he could not name; And all he knew was that, in fact, They made him sick the same!
Mingqua, his host, pressed on each dish With polished Chinese grace; And much, Ming thought, he relished them, At every ugly face!
At last he swore he'd eat no more, 'Twas written in his looks; For, 'Zounds!' said he, 'the devil here Sends both the meats and cooks!'
But, covers changed, he brightened up, And thought himself in luck When close before him, what he saw Looked something like a duck!
Still cautious grown, but, to be sure, His brain he set to rack; At length he turned to one behind, And, pointing, cried: 'Quack, Quack.'
The Chinese gravely shook his head, Next made a reverend bow; And then expressed what dish it was By uttering, 'Bow-wow-wow!'
Numerous instances of munificence and generosity can be recorded on the part of the Hong merchants. I relate some of the _senior_ one as illustrations. He would accept the direct consignment of an American ship, if it was commanded by an old friend. Such a one came to Whampoa, commanded by Captain C----, having on board a cargo consisting in a great measure of quicksilver. The price of this article was much depressed at the time. It was landed at Houqua's Hong and stored, he offering to take it at its market value. Several months elapsed, when the close of the south-west monsoon foretold 'business,' and the Factories began to look out for return cargoes for their ships of new teas daily arriving. Quicksilver still remained without demand. At the price it bore, a considerable deficiency would exist in the capacity of the vessel and the quantity of teas which could be bought with the proceeds. At the same time news had arrived of an improvement in prices at New York which exhibited a large profit. Captain C----, therefore, judging it better to sell his quicksilver and load with all the despatch he could with as many teas as it would purchase, closed the sale, which was, in commercial phraseology, 'puttee book' (duly recorded). Tea purchases were then immediately made, in the course of which Houqua said to his consignor, 'Olo flen,[19] you shall have a full cargo to return with; I will furnish it, you can pay my next voyage--you no trub' (give yourself no anxiety). Everything being thus definitely arranged, the vessel commenced loading, and was half full, when Houqua came to Captain C---- and informed him that a sudden demand had arisen for 'quick'[20] on the part of northern merchants returning to their provinces, that it had advanced materially in value, and he had been credited with the parcel he brought out _at the price of the day_; moreover, that he had cancelled on his books the first purchase. This generous act on the part of his consignee enabled Captain C---- to leave with a full cargo, all paid for, and made a difference in the outturn of his voyage of nearly 30,000 dollars. This information I received some years after at Canton from Captain C---- himself.