THE FEAST OF LANTERNS.              75
After these innumerable courses, the table was cleared, when, from the upper end of the room, came attendants, bearing tables, on which were several whole pigs, roasted in the most approved style, and approaching quite to the front of the chief, exhibited to the guests this crowning glory of the "feast," all smoking hot. The chief bowed approvingly to the cook, and the pigs disappeared by a side door. Then came clean saucers and more soy, and soon followed well filled bowls of the aforesaid pigs, all finely cut into thin strips, with pieces of the crisped skin broken into small squares. Finally, small bowls of plain boiled rice, perfectly dry, were served, and the feast closed in honor of the Russian guests with sparkling champagne.
A few minutes before we sat down to dinner, we were invited into the court in front of the hall to witness the performance of a band of players, among whom were several men dressed as women, in a native Mongol dance. During the dinner the band of musicians were piping their music, and performing their antics for the gratification of the crowd on the outside. After champagne was freely drank, the chief invited the company to visit the theatre. This we did on foot; and here was presented a scene worthy of the pencil. The chief, preceded by a few Mongol guards to clear the way of the crowding multitude, conducted us to an open pavilion in front of the theatre, where we were seated on wooden benches around a table. The theatre is simply a stage open in front and on the sides, with screens for the performers to retire behind. The audience stand in the open air. The players were already in the midst of some grand scene when we arrived.
The Mongol guards cleared, and kept free a space in