“It happened one night by moonshine, ” Gaspar da Cruz recalled of a moment in south China during the winter of 1556-57, “that I and certain Portugals were sitting on a bench at the riverside by the door of our lodging, when a few young men came along the river in a boat passing the time, playing on divers instruments; and we, being glad to hear the music, sent for them to come near where we were, and that we would invite them. They as gallant youths came near with the boat and began to tune their instruments, in such sort that we were glad to see them fit themselves that they might make no discord. ” Da Cruz and his Portuguese friends enjoyed the music so much that they asked the Chinese players to come back the next day, this time bringing some singers. The Chinese promised to do so, but did not appear. Yet, as if sensing the sincerity of da Cruz’s interest, “at daybreàk one morning they came with the same instruments to give us a dawn-song, so as not to disappoint us altogether.