Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-12-11

Temples. shrines, and professions a.
bound, dedicated to the Precipitation OF
the spirits Of the elements, and the pas
sions. The form of worship consists
in prostration, as before described; the
burning Of the incense in the shape OF
gilt paper, and composition sticks OF
perfumed wood, called joss-sticks; the
beating of gongs, and the burning OF
fireworks. These things are going on
before the eye at all times and places.
8. Mahomedanism, JEWISH, and all
otherreligions, except Christianity, the
reason for prescribing, which will be
mentioned hereafter, are freely tolera-
ted, just as among the ancient Romans.
A. Lumaism. Thepeculiarand strange
religion Of Thibct prevails extensivel"
among the Tartar and other interior
nations of the Empire, and is some
what favored by the Emperor himself,
asa means Of authority and influence
among the Tartars. 5. The special
alteration paid to the Emperor himself.
Such are the chief religious creeds.-
The dwellings Of the rich in China are
built of brick and stone, and are rich
and tastefuly furnished, objects of taste
being as much in request as in Europe,
or with US; the houses of the poor are
Of wood, bamboo predominaiing on ac-
count of its value and cheapness as a
building material.
The favoritc and chief staple offood
is rice, very little of wheat, maize or
potatoc being used; food is eaten with
two sticks, and it requires some skill
to dexterously pick it up and convey
it TO the mouth by their means; every
thing is served cut up, in small bowls;
and it is considered compliment to
hand a morsel to your neighbor with
your sticks, he taking it on his own
In setting the table, they decorate it
with flowers, and bottles of scented wa.
ter, and musicians arc employed to
play during the repast. The Chinese
are excellent cooks, and, in this respect,
may be regarded the French of Asia.
The greatest luxuries served on the ia
bic Of the rich, are, LIST. Trepang, or
bicho de mar, a large sea slug six or
eight inches by one, found on the flats
of the tropical islands; it is Of DARK
color, and is purified into n rich gelat-
inous substance. 9. Sharks fins aud
fish maws. 3. The edible birds nest.
This is the nest Of a swallow, formed
Of gclatinous matter, which the bird
procnres and Celebrates, it is supposed,
from some marine plant. Purified, it
is worth its weight in silver They
dress il in soups, &C., like our verma-
cell. To eat some Of these things may
seem strange, but may it not be asked
whether he was not rs bold man who
first swallowed an oyster? The Tar
tar dinners are very different. They
make their rcpasts on animals--deer,
sheep, hogs, &c. cooked and served
whole. The tit-bits are Clipped off by
the hand, and passed round to the
guests. The common drinks are tea,
which is seen on all occasions, and sam
shoe, liquor distilled from rice, which
is mingled with hot water, and served
in small covered vessels with glass
to drink from, quite in the manner of
hot whiskey toddy at some Of the fash
ionable hotels in this country. The
Chinese pledge healths in drinking.
and empty and reverse their glasses.
Many of the drinking vessels now in
use among us are copied from China.
Regarded commercially, the Chinese
Empire is complete within itself, with
out aid from Europe. AS TO the arti-
Gle Of food:.-For the production of
necessarics, breadstufls and the like,
China has every facility in her vast ter
ritory and extremely productive soil; in
her great variety of climate, ranging
from the cold, through the temperate,
into the tropical attitudes; and we see
that she produces immense quantities
Of these nccessaries, importing but lit
Tie, comparativey; though perhaps posi-
lively considerable amounts; she might
however, with lit lie more exertion sup
ply herself entirely. Then as to semi
necessaries, such as tea, sugars, liquors,
&c.: OF the first she has complete
monopoly, supplying not only her own
consumption, but the rest of the world
besides; of the others she has every "a
cility for producing as much as she plea
ses, and does now produce them in
vast quantities. AS to her arts and
manufactures: Her fame is universal