they were disappointed. The same absence of
ceremony and reserve was to be observed here, with respect to the
queen's grandsons, as was recently followed out in Shanghai, and which
gave so much umbrage to the residents of that city. It was soon
officially known that whilst staying at Hong Kong, the princes would be
publicly recognised simply as "mids."

The Europeans and other foreign residents were quite prepared to do the
honors handsomely, had things been ordered differently. These
shortcomings were however amply compensated for by the magnificence of
the Chinamen. It did not signify to them as to _how_ the princes were to
be treated; to them they were the queen's grandsons, midshipmen or not.

The two nights immediately preceding Christmas Day were devoted to the
grandest display of fireworks and illuminations I have ever witnessed,
and which, possibly, few men see but once in a lifetime. All accounts of
China agree that in the pyrotechnic art the Chinese stand alone,
unequalled.

We have all, no doubt, been struck when reading of the wonderful changes
of form assumed by their fireworks in the air. This, like many other
descriptions about this people, is rather misleading. What actually does
take place I will endeavour to show; only bear in mind the most perfect
description must fall far short of the startling reality.

In the present instance two skeleton, tower-like structures of bamboo
were erected in the soldiers' drill ground, and within this simple
framework all the business was to be transacted. Seats for the
accommodation of the governor and other high functionaries, and for the
leading Chinese, were set up at a convenient distance, whilst the
respectable public were permitted within the enclosure. For several
hours before dusk, relays of coolies had been bearing into the open
space curious-looking balls of wicker, innocent of anything like the
gorgeous things they really were. At sunset the programme opened. One of
the balls was hoisted to the top of a tower, and set fire to in its
ascent, so that by the time it had reached its highest altitude it was
all one blaze. But behold the change! so sudden and brilliant that a
shout expressive of admiration was involuntarily sent up by the sea of
faces around. In place of the homogenous ball, hundreds of small figures
of mandarins and ladies, some seated at tables, some riding on mules,
others playing at shuttlecock or flying kites, and all clothed in the
most