The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-13


together with thc AoworpOts that ornament
neerly all the boats, give the scene pecu atly
attractive aspect Tne women, in fact, of ali
cases arc in the habit Of dressing their heads
with flowers and however grey the hair or
bald the head or soed and tattCrtd the garments.
those beautiful ornaments, tastefully arranged In
little bouquets, are seen, fastened with metal pins
TO the side or near the top Of the head The pins
used are ornamental, and we observed some
made Of silver wire that ma chcd well with the
hoop rings OF extraordinary circumference which
they wore IN their tars. Many Of these floral
ornaments were composed Of chinG.lsters of ex-
qui.itC tnts which, In regard 10 tbe contrast of
cootsi showed mucb fine taste On their arrange
mcut Not unir6quenty bouquets are worn
on both sides Of the bead ana the charming
effect OF these decorations, AS viewed I'm the con-
stahty changing crowds which one encounters in
the streets, must he seen u order 81 he fully ap-
prccaicd. No descriptOu-at at least none that
can give-is adequate to the subject. Natural
iowcrs are much In favor with these women
although many Of them wear artificial ones and
ior the purpose OF answering the constant demand
which this fashion has created, artificial flowers
are extensively manufactured Upon many Of
these / observed butterflies Of brilliant hucs
which were represented as having alighted to
ia to their sweets. OF course the flowers ina lc
Tor tbc use Of the ladies' are much more elegant
and expensive than those used by the lover
classes. The fed-hower5, hOweyer-whirh are
particularly designed for the lAttor--arc very
beautiful.
WEDDING.
The marriage processOns-which are common
In the streets Of CautOn-are usually moro GU
Ilous tnau imposing. They consist Of display
OF highly ornamcntcd and gilded sedan chairs
which are occupied by the bride, her friends, and
also 10y her hOWScGu and presents. These are
proceed by band of music, and followed i'm the
rear by number OF men aud boys wearing short
req robes and carrying red boxes that contain the
marriage feast II the parties are of high rank
there is long procession of people carving
honorary tablets, flags, fancy lanterns, umbrellas
and various other articles.
The accounts given by Mrs. Williams Of the
idol homes of China are peculiarly interesting.
We copy this account of
rHE TEMrLB OF THE Five HUNDRED Gops.
The entrance to this temple was guarded by
soidIers, but we were readily admitted and pass
ing ON, were led 10 Il yeTanduh bordering the re-
iectory, where the BONES were at their midday
meal. Leaving this apartment and entering the
clOlster, we made our way through several long
lug the gods.
The eye of the visitor, on entering this hall, is
nlsl Gtctied by two gigantic gdCd wooden
images, elevated on high pcdcstals, and placed
one on each side of the door. They are fat and
Jolly IN appearance, and, sitting in u half-reclin-
ing posture, are playing with little children.
Inc merrily genial and gay physiognOmy Of
one OF item reminded us OF HaCkett's "FastaT"
anu MS ,aue hing face was quite as irresistible
merry little children, in all kinds of baby atti-
tudes, were sitting upon his knees, and also
standing upon his feet and arms, or climbing
upon his shoulders. Some of them were point.
ing, or pulling at his hair, eyes and mouth SEEM
lngiy intent, IN every conceivable manner upon
gelllng all the fun they could out Of the old tel
low, who appeared TO be the happest, not of
gods, but mortals. 10 be childless is regarded
ny the ChlDefe as the greatest Of misfortunes
aid these gods were doubtless intended TO
set forth the happiness of parent This large
apartment was nearly filled with images. ali OF
which were not only we'll kept, but as brilliant
as gut, pant, and bronze could make them. They
were placed on shelves eight or ten feet in height
and arranged in sitting POSTURE facing each
other, with long passages between They were
represented in variety Of attitudes-often with
upnIteQ arms-whlIe some had six or eight arms
ana one we observed with five eyes. Beyond
these rows of idols, seated under rich canopy
were large images of the Past, Present and Fu-
ture buddhai and little in front, in sitting
posture, there was a statue of Kion-uug the EN-
per0r, whom Lord Amherst saw at Peking. He
was here represented gorgeous in gilt and paint
and aIrayed in royal robes This temple contains
representations Of nearly, if not ALL the heathen
Celtles OF the East, and painfully impresSes one
with sense of the moral darkness and gross
superstition Of the people. Il deserves TO be
called the Pantheon of Canton.
CHINESE DEvorIoNs,
The evening worship had Just commenced as
we reached the door of this grand presence
chamber. Here We found a large number of |
in full canonicals-w6o were march |
ing IN single file around the idols, and chanting
in drawing and nasal tone of voice their idols
trOus invocation, accompanied by a sort of drum, |
tom-tOms, and the occasional ringing of a bell |
Inc oihciating priests were arrayed in yellow, !
but most OF the rest were in flowing grey robes |
we observed one who had not performed the |
tonSWe In long time, and whose clothing was |
also old and much patched; but we afterwards |
learned that an old garb and an uncombed head |
were the prescribed mourning of the Bud. |
hist monasteries. Towards the close of the |
swoIshlp, lew at time, on passing before the !
idols, stepped out Of the ranks aud foil on their
knees before them, until finally all were pros
trate. The Priest playing the tOm-tOm knelt |
upon low stool, and bowed himself close at the |
base of the centre idol; but the increas ed yigor
with which he used the instrument, together with
the beating of the drum and the ringing of the
bell, rendered It impossible 10 hear the chanting
Finally, in the midst of this noise, bowing them
selves three times and touching their fOreheads
aach time 20 the floor, they all performed the
fo,aU, and thus ended their alterations.
Although the BONES, with Clasped hands and
downcast eyes, assumed the most devont atti-
tude, and chanted their vespers in most implor-
ing accents, still many of them were more intent
upon looking at their visitors and appeared TO be
more interested in them than in their evening
prisons. Nor could we observe any appearance
Df real solemnty in the officiating priests. who.
IN rising from their knees, and while taking off
heir yellow robes and other trappings, fell right
nerrily TO abattiug and laughing. Most of the
invocation consisted Of a repetition of the words
' 'OnHo:tM' linda BWddha), or "Buddha, have
mercy upon us which reminded us of the words
u our Saviour Matt. vi. y.
Mrs. Williams gives long and lucid account
'f her capture by the Florida, thus concluding in
rather exciting way her book OF entertaining
adventure.
"A man applied to DR.. Jackson, the celebrated