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A SACRIFICE AT THE TEMPLE.
T he C h in e se hav e n o re g u la r sabba th, o r fixed tim e fo r w o rsh ip p in g the
D e ity in congregation. T lie ir temples b e in g c o n stan tly o p en , are visited
b y the su p p lic an ts on every im p o rta n t u n d e rta k in g , su ch as an in ten d ed
marriag e, the commenc ement o f a lo n g jo u rn e y , b u ild in g a h o u se , k c .
T lie figure on the rig h t h a n d is an x io u sly wa tc h in g the fa ll o f tallies,
w h ich h e is sh ak in g in a jo in t o f b am b o o ; these are seve rally m arked
w ith c e rta in ch a ra c te rs , an d as th e y fa ll, the characters are inserted b y
th e p rie s t in the b ook o f fate. A fte r the ce rem o n y , th e p riest com m u nicates
to the v o ta ry th e success o f h is p ra y e rs , w h ich h a s been th u s
d ete rm in e d b y lo t.
T h e p rie sth o o d always shave th e head e n tire ly , an d we ar a loose
dress o f s ilk o r n an k e en , the co lo u r o f w h ich is cha rac teristic o f th eir
p a rtic u la r sect.
T h e figure kn ee lin g before the sacred u rn , in w h ich perfumed matches
are b u rn in g , is about to perform a sacrifice. O n these occasions ro u n d
pieces o f g ilt and silvered p ap e r are b u rn t in trip o d s for th a t p u rp o se ,
an d at th e same time qu an titie s o f crackers are d ischarged.
Behind the figures are seen two h id eo u s idols. T h e se statues are
u su a lly arranged aga inst th e walls o f th e temple, inclosed w ith in a
ra ilin g .