These visits were made on Saturday, and while at Mingqua’s house he politely invited me to dine with the ladies of his family on the Monday following. Having, however, not forgotten our visit to the dog and cat market, and also not having any assurance that the better classes of the people were not fond of cat meat, but rather the reverse, I felicitated myself on being able to say that we intended to leave for the North on that day, and could not accept the invitation. The excellent tea, together with the delicious sweetmeats and candied fruits which are served when on visits of ceremony among this people, are always acceptable and agreeable entertainments; but when it comes to the question of a formal dinner, it is not quite so pleasant to fancy the possibility of being served to a cat ragout or a dish of kitten cutlet! A ceremonious dinner would have greatly gratified our curiosity, and doubtless given us some further insight into the secluded mode of life led by the Chinese ladies; but in view of these considerations we felt little regret in being obliged to decline Mingqua’s polite invitation. FOOTNOTE: [30] According to Chinese etiquette it is very impolite, if not highly indecorous for a gentleman to look at a lady. The Taou-tai, therefore, treated me with marked respect. CHAPTER XI. Mr. W---- having been ordered by the Chinese Government to remove to Swatow, a seaport one hundred and eighty miles north of Hong Kong, our “chop”-life drew rapidly to a close, and one morning early in the month of June, 1862, we found ourselves _en route_ for our new home, and once more on board the American steamer _Spark_, bound for Macao. A few weeks previous to this time some Chinese pirates had taken passage at Hong Kong on board a small English steamer bound for Macao, and while on their way thither, in attempting to take the vessel, had killed one of the officers, besides injuring some of the passengers. In consequence of this, we found the large crowd of Chinese passengers on board the steamer properly secured below. There was also a small force of well-armed Malays, who not only guarded that part of the boat, but were also stationed at other exposed points, giving to the little vessel quite a warlike appearance. Each officer had one of Colt’s revolvers in his belt, and the foreign passengers were also armed; so that, although sailing under our own flag, we felt that we were not altogether among friends. The number of European passengers was, however, larger than usual, and in case of any difficulty, they would of themselves have constituted a very efficient force. In view of all this, and being at the same time aware that the Chinese pirates seldom attack foreigners unless they are greatly off their guard, we went on board with no real solicitude in reference to our safety.