I was sitting on the steamer at Shanghai conversing with a friend
about the productions, natural and artificial, of that region, and I
expressed the desire to find something peculiar to the place which
I might take to America. In about an hour, happening to look at the
people on the wharf my friend clapped his hands and said, “Here is
something peculiar to Shanghai; now you can have your wish gratified.”
He called a man on board who laid down before us a large basket filled
with small teapots. I thought of course that he was indulging in humor
at my expense, but he said that people from all parts would buy baskets
and barrels of this ware; that they declared that nothing was more
popular at home, at fairs, and for presents. He selected twenty-five
small teapots and packed them for me in a basket, saying that if I did
not appreciate them my venerable lady friends would. They were made
of a material found in that region, a fine clay, brown, of different
shades, some of them highly ornamented with an intermixture of green,
all of them furnished with strainers and other conveniences. I brought
them to America and when I say that in a few weeks only one of them
remained in my possession, nothing need be added to confirm the Rev.
Mr. Syle’s judgment in his selection of a representative present from
Shanghai. When I add that the twenty-five articles cost a dollar and
twenty-five cents, no further inducement will be necessary to persuade
visitors to provide themselves with one means of furnishing friends
with acceptable presents.