Dragon Boats Race in the Grand Canal

Van Gulik describes the boat race in the Grand Canal that transverses his district. One of the drummers collapses and dies (poisoned). The public rejoices because the White Woman, the river goddess, has therefore been paid her due, an annual human sacrifice, and she will bring good harvests and good fish catch. The psychology of the tension before the sacrifice, followed by the general eruption of joy and free drinking, is well described. The Dutch have been in the Far East for five hundred years, and have a deep understanding of its peoples. Van Gulik's China makes sense and it is a good distraction in these troubled times in Israel and for me, as my daughter is divorcing and I cannot sleep at night.