order for a ship-load of embroidered silks. In the market- place in the Chinese quarter the chief business of the day is concluded by about seven in the morning. Here the avenues are rendered picturesque by painted and gilded sign-boards, inscribed with Chinese or EngUsh characters, though the dealers are all of them Chinamen. Thus, Ah- Yet, Sam-Ching, Canton Tom and Cheap Jack announce that as ship compradors, they are prepared to supply poultry, beef, vegetables and groceries of the best quality at the lowest rates, and solicit a trial, or at least an inspection of their stalls. Such men keep monthly market-books for their customers, and these with each item supplied and price jotted down, are settled at the end of each month. Apart from the well-fitted shops of these useful mem- bers of society there are stalls which supply special commo- dities, preserved European provisions, fruit, fish and so forth. Perhaps the most interesting of these is the fishmonger's, whose establishment consists of a number of tanks or aquaria, filled with clear running water and teeming with living sea or river fish, for the most part reared in the Canton fish-breeding ponds and brought to market in water-boats. The purchaser stands over the tank, selects some finny occupant which he fancies, and this is at once caught and supplied to him. The fish are of great variety and beauty, as may be gathered from an inspection of Mr. Reeves' collection in the British Museum. Then at the butchers' stalls sundry delicacies are met with, unknown to the European palate, and in which the natives delight; rats strung up by their tails, temptingly plump, and festoons of living frogs, fattened for the epicure. Here and there one may see small ribs and legs, undoubtedly canine ; these are exceptional and are more commonly exposed for sale in purely Chinese cities. As a rule the Chinese are not particular
