Recovering a little from the maze into which the peculiarity of my position and the fairy-like appearance of its surroundings had thrown me, I perceived a middle-aged lady, handsomely dressed in dark material, standing on a dais at the further end of the room; who, as I looked towards her, directly bowed, and with a quiet dignity, shaking her hands before her, greeted me with the Chinese salutation--“Tsing! Tsing!”--i. e. Hail! Hail! Drawing near, I also bowed while saluting her in the same manner; but with the exception of these words of salutation, and a few simple phrases, I knew nothing of the language, and our intercourse was consequently continued in pantomime. This lady led me through a door opening back of the dais into another apartment, at the further end of which there was again another dais, with a broad passage leading from it to the rooms beyond. On each side of this passage tasteful boudoirs led to richly furnished bedrooms, near which we observed two very pretty and elegantly dressed young women standing one on each side of the entrance. They were leaning in graceful attitudes against the corners of the boudoirs, and as both continued to bow and repeat their salutations during our approach, in order to return them properly I was obliged to advance bowing and shaking my hands, first to one and then to the other, until we reached and ascended the dais. They then led me into one of the boudoirs, where, standing a little back of a table, on which was lying their embroidery, chairs were placed, and I was motioned to be seated. The middle-aged lady,--who evidently occupied a position of honor in the household,--took the chair next to mine, while the two younger ladies stood, one on our right and the other on our left, during the whole interview. With their small feet this must have been fatiguing to them, but if etiquette demanded it they were obliged to endure the discomfort without complaining. They were in costumes of rich silk fabrics ornamented in gay colors, and their hair was elaborately arranged and dressed with flowers. They also wore elegant ornaments of gold and precious stones, and had their cheeks and lips rouged; their gentle and lady-like manners, as well as their entire demeanor, being of that cast which belongs only to the most delicate refinement. We were scarcely seated when not only the room was filled, but there was also a group about the door of the apartment, and I soon found myself not only a curiosity to the ladies and children, but also to the servants, which last stood in the outer circle, and were very respectable-looking women and girls.