ABSTRACT
The Chinas do use on their birthdays to make great feasts, continuing yet in them the custom of the old gentiles. In the feasts are wont to meet all the kinsmen and friends, and all do help the host to bear the charges of the feasts by sending him presents; and because they have the helps, they make great expence and solemnity. In the feasts is great abundance of meat and great store of wine; all the night they spend in eating and drinking, and in music, playing on divers instruments. In the general feast-days of all the people, all the streets and doors are very richly dressed, and chiefly they do endeavour and labour to deck the triumphal arches, covering them with many cloths of damask and other silk, and with many lanthorns. There is much playing of sundry instruments, and singing, and jointly with this great store of meat of sundry kinds, and great abundance of wine.
