SHARK FINS AT BANQUET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHARK FINS AT BANQUET.

THE CHINESE CUSTOM.

SNAILS AND DUCKS' TONGUES.

One of the members of the Chinese Customs Service was invited, some time ago, -to an official Chinese banquet, and gives the following account of it: — The- master of the house received the guests, and showed them into the dining room, which is' only '(fivided from the courtyard by a glass partition. • In tho middle of the room was a large round table, and against the walls were chairs with a small table before each to put teacups on, tea being served immediately before dinner.

Tho walls were covered with Chinese pictures, and numberless lamps "and lanterns hung from, the ceiling. After a short conversation in the Chinese language, the table was laid in tho presence of the guests. When all was ready the host asked each guest to come to the table, pointing out his seat, and handing him with many compliments a set erf red lacquered chopstickd. When this ceremony was completed the company sat down to dinner. Rice wine was the first brought up, together with ham, eggs, and various cold vegetables. The next course consisted of bird's-nest soup, and 34 dishes followed, among which were sharks! 1 fin*, a soup made of diminutive snails of the size of small beans, which came from Lake Tah'u.. a ragout of ducks' tongues, fishes' brains with

brown sauce (a most disgusting dish to a European palate), and puddings baked in oil.

Roast pork and ducks were also served : these were eatable, and tho fish was particularly well cooked, but in my opinion the simplest European dish is far preferable to the most elaborate, delicacy of the Chinese cuisine, s>nd aftej dinner I felt as if I had eaten boiled gutta perchaTho best part of the entertainment was a dish of excellent fruit.

Champagne was served towards thu end of the dinner; this is the only wine drunk 'by the Chinese, and only the wealthy fan afford to buy it, as a case costs from 1C to 15 Mexican ducats.

Cigars were handed round after the soup, and it is the custom to go away directly after dinner. It is also remarkable that at a banquet of this kind the host only appears in official costume, tho guests, b'eing all in mufti.