When about taking our leave, Mingqua informed us that his cousin, living only a few doors from him, wished us to make a call at his house. Being aware that the well-bred Chinese regard any breach of etiquette as an unpardonable offence, and fearing that by making so unceremonious a visit we might compromise ourselves in their estimation, we hesitated. The gentlemen, however, learning from Mingqua that his cousin,--who was a wealthy member of the Pun family, and belonged to the class of Mandarins,--having been aware that we were about to leave Canton, had already arranged the matter of etiquette in such a way that it would be _comme il faut_ for us to go there at once, we gladly assented. This Chinese gentleman had at one time filled the office of Taou-tai, at the North, whence, after amassing a handsome fortune, he returned to Canton, and built a splendid mansion on Howqua Street, which is said to be the finest residence in the western suburbs. A servant having been despatched to apprise the Taou-tai of our coming, accompanied by Mingqua we were again in our chairs, and following our _avant courier_. The spacious portal of the Taou-tai’s residence opening on our approach, we were conveyed through a fine large porch, into an inner court. Beautiful lanterns were hanging in the porch, and the guardians of the household, in the shape of two brilliantly ornamented images, stood one on each side of the door leading into the court. Leaving our chairs, we were met at a door entrance, connecting with one of the apartments of the house, by the Taou-tai himself, who, without raising his eyes[30] towards me, bowed, and waving his hand, without a word, and almost without volition, I moved on in the direction indicated, to a door that opened apparently without aid from any one, and which, as I passed through it, closed in the same unaccountable manner. The spacious porch, the inner court, and the apartment where the Taou-tai first received us, being in construction, arrangement, and ornament very much superior to anything I had seen, my surprise and admiration increased at every step until I reached the rooms occupied by the ladies. But these Inner Apartments--as they are termed--as far exceeded the rest of the house, in the superb brilliancy and beauty of their adornments, as the finest china in Ushing’s shop, in the elegance of its design and painting, surpasses the common and cheap article which is sold at the little stands by the way-side.