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and there on the right is the room I occupied for the first six days after my arrival. We will go through the verandah, and just peep into the bedrooms, and then look at the study which is a comfortable room indeed. There is a sort of bow window to the verandah where one can sit and have a most wide and delightful view of the whole town. By moonlight the scene is sublime. The bay seems quite like a sheet of silver. I will now show you the Tower Room, a compact little nook. We will go then upstairs to the Upper Tower Room, another snug little corner, and at last come out on the top of the tower, where the view is beyond description, and the air is generally cool and pleasant of an evening.
Here having rested with you a short time after the fatigue of looking about, and having given you a draught of the iced water of Hong Kong, which I know you will think very refreshing and agreeable, I will conduct you downstairs to the Hall. Then taking you round the lawn, and pointing out a few of the most remarkable flowers and shrubs, I now conduct you to the gateway. As we walk down the footpath it pleases me to hear you all say you are gratified with the place; and with much gratification at having pleased you, I bow you out of the gate wishing you a safe walk home and a very good evening.
Today I sit down to give an account of my domestic arrangements. Before I could commence keeping house, I had to do what everybody has to do, lay in a stock of apparatus. Accordingly there being no earthenware for me, I went and bought a good assortment of plates, dishes, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, cruet stand, sugar basin, tea cups and saucers, and other items too numerous to mention, for which I had to pay the most extravagant prices. Next come table cloths, feather dusters, shoe brushes, blacking, two large wooden tubs for washing the aforesaid crockery, dish cloths, bowls, knife board, pots and kettles, tea pot, and tea canister, and all the necessary apparatus for a single gentleman. But once fairly started I soon began to get to rights, and now I am quite at home, although I shall never regard this as a home.
I have three servants. My personal servant I will first introduce to your notice. As he walks in and makes his bow, you will surely notice his fine pig-tail reaching to the ground. He little thinks how often I am almost tempted by his blunders, to catch hold of it and