Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1832-11-01

H. 1872. Lat 20 N. Long ia f. China Sea
W. are row very near the Celestial Empllr,'
and shall shortly be at the Nagac 1r5s, Canton
commence my letter now, not KNOWING tia, elnll
have time to write a, Canton. II woai give nc
pleasure 10 enter INTO some details respecting Rata
via. bat can only make a few remarks on this
head OF present I became acquainted with the
Rev W H. Mcdhurst, an English Missionary sta
tor ed 81 TINT place, and went with him one day TO
witness the celebration Of heather and snPerstl-
hous rite ;-tha, OF the Chinese passing through
tire of lvn. Goals with their barr fret was so
much excited on the occasion, TINT hive hardly
recovered from II yet. There were upwards Of
two thousand people present md all eager specta-
tors OF the ceremony. some on trees, others IN
booths or temporary stoelngs must give yona
description Of il a, some future day These fools,
when sick, often make VOWS, that if they recover
they will pass through the fire. This ceremony
occurs only once a year II was for the purpose
Of PERFORM ug these vows that the scene | Witness
ed took place The fire about twelve feet IN
diameter and would roas, large OK On another
occasion went with the Rev Mr.. M. to witness
what is called the Feast Of Tie T'ombs. This OF
ours only onco year. Every child who survives
his parents visits their graves, and presents various
L nds Of offerings to their departed spirits. They
also have large bon fires Of gdod paper in front Of
tie tomhs. This is for the purpose of deiraying
the expenses of the departed spirits, They hrmly
believe tina, tins gilt paper mcIts and Is converted
into money in the other world.
There was every kind Of Thearica!s gong On
upon the occasion. I, secmed like grand far I'M
like, however, any thing | ever saw before. Eve
cry thing would remind one Of primitive times.
f YOU have ever read the Arabian Nights" you
will have some idea Of the scene for 10 this day 1t
seems mere like = dream than areallty. ] can
hardly believe that witnessed such a scene. The
whole OF i, was to me puerile iii the extreme most
of all the music The Hottcntots would excel them
They had gongs, kettle drums, duclmers, and
,rumpcts. Ru, there was no regular time played,
II was all ridiculous barbarous iaraon
We left Batavia on the l0th ul,. and have iad
thus far Il tedious and unpleasant passage Inc
Vncennes was only fifty five days IN gong ron
Manila 10 the Cape of Good Hope. We have
been now ,hirty-seven days from BATAVIA, ana
have not reached Canton yet With fair wind
we could have run it in fourteen days
THIS is also very sckly climate. While Al la
tavia we had upwards of iiftv men on the SICK 'lst
and during the passage from there here the number
has never been less than thlrty-iiye We burieo
several at Batavia and four or five on our passage
lherefrom. The dysentery has been tho prlnc'pal
complaint. AT half-past nine the eve OF the rst Oh
May, Mr. n. X. G. Oliver, the Commodore's Sc
cretary, died OF the consumption lie was buried
the next day few moments past eleven IN inc
forenoon, with the honors OF war. n subscr iption
was then raised for Mr. Divers children ne has
left eight behind him The sum 1T tro tadnsdna
ami eig na-trc dollars wag raised for ihem by Inc
crew NF. Grief tho Chaplain, s'iceeeds nv VI
i,or Com Doanes gave one bundF.4 dol!ags'