Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-12-09

Layards Nineveh. Next was a long richly
figured satin gown, reaching to the ancles,
and over this red figured waist-coat, or
jacket-like garment, with sleeves conve-
niently loose and short. You know they
eschew shaving the head, that being one
of the denominations introduced by the
" fiendish Tartars." To they have their
long hair all twisted or braided up, and
fastened on the top of the head by piece
Of yellow silk, answering the purpose CT
turban without being as full the common
soldiers wear red silk on the head. Break.
fast was soon announced, and l was con-
Quoted into an adjoining room to square
table, with seats for two at each side. l
was politely invited to sit down first, and
then seven others, the secretaries and oth-
GERS of Lo, also took their seats. l had
heard the insurgents were in the habit OF
saying grace before eating, and | wanted
to see how this would be done, but pres
emily one of them took his chopsticks and
requested me to do the same, for, as a
mark of civility, they would not eat until
l had begun. l mentioned to them what
information we foreigners had received
about their practice of asking blessing,
and they Immediately replied it was true,
and that it had just been done in the room
from which we came. | then recollected
that after l had left that apartment |
heard human voices chanting, with the
usual Chinese musical Instruments accom-
panying, and learned that this was form
of grace before meat. l there upon in
formed them that it was our custom to ask
a blessing at the table, and if they had no
objections l would do so at that time.
They very cheerfully assented, and after |
had finished they seemed quite gratified,
saying that the spirit and design of the
thing was the same, though the manner of
performing it was different.
At every meal after this, during my
stay, all at the table waited for me to ask
a blessing. All the members and depend
ants of Los household assembled in the
large hall morning and evening, when be
or one of his secretaries read portion
either from the book of Genesis-that be-
ing the only part of the Bible yet discov-
ered among rhem-or from some of the
religious tracts written oy Fdi-ping-roay
himself. After reading, during which all
present sit and listen attentively, they all
join in chanting hymn, always closing
with the doxology above translated Then
each one takes the cushion from his chair
and putting it down on the brick or tile
floor kneels on it in very solemn manner,
with his eyes closed, while Lo himself, or
the secretary prays audibly, the rest re-
naming perfectly silent. 1t was the most
scene | ever witnessed, from
the reflections and ass )ciat tions to which it
gave rise, and which | must leave for the
of your readers to supply.
The only drawback to its solemnity to my
none in theirs-was the accom-
paniment to the chanting, consisting of all
the discordant sounds Of gongs, drums,
cymbals, horns, and various other instru-
ments, but il..suitcd, in Or estimation, to
produce that devotional feeling so impor-
tant in Christian worship. In the middle
Of the room in which We ate was a table,
placed on which were twelve bowls-three
each of rice, of net, of vegetables, and
of tea On in4uiring the meaning of this
I was told it was designed as an offering
to the Supreme Ruler-one Of each kind
for the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. After being allowed to remain
thus for some time they were removed,
but whether eaten or not by others did
not learn. The fact of their presenting
offerings of this kind is proof presumptive
that they have as yet no knowledge of the
New Testament-a need which | supplied
as far as practicable on that visit, with
what effect time only can reveal.
My boatmen had so thoroughly imbibed
the dread of the "long-haired men so
industriously cherished by the accounts Of
their cruelty, which the Imperiaiisi manda-
rims circulate in their proclamations far
and wide-that no assurances of safety
could give them would induce them to 60
any nearer the city. So, to accomplish
my objects, was under the necessity of
making three several visits on foot to my
boat, two miles distant, in doing which it
was unavoidable to pass the imperialist
lines, not very far from their camp,
as their tents lay spread out on the
hills to my left, and within gun-shot Of
.he river bank, along which my path lay.
The second time l took as many more
comics of the books as l could well carry,
and the third time took the medicines
and small case of surgical instruments,
which l had brought with me from Shang-
bai. The demand for medical aid was
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