The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-14

but heaps of ruins. AS l stood on
beautiful hill which overlooks this once
great city, l thought of the prophecies
relative to Nineveh and Babylon. But
this same hill, shaded by broad spreading
old camphor trees, In itself little city
of Buddhist temples, helped to prove to
me what | had already thought from
what l had seen in Japan, that the hea
then still choose the green trees and high
places where they may worship the idols
their own hands have made, instead of
giving their hearts devotion to the high
and holy God who made them, At the
foot of this hill, on the principal street
which leads TO it, stands an edifce, which,
although not temple, contains idols for
the convenience of passers by. One,
horrible cast-iron figure, of life size, and
as rough as possible to have any recog-
nizable shape, | noticed, had bits of
straw, paper, hap, and strings tied around
It's arms, as offerings from those who had
had something stolen from them, and
wished TO know how they could regain
their property. The thieves in some
portions of China, as in this city for in
stance, have regularly organised associa
tiOns. When Chinaman is robbed, he
calls in the thief-king, who pretends to
examine his premises, and says he knows
who has stolen the articles; and if GER
tain sum of money be paid him he will
return the stolen goods. There is no
hope of justice from the government; for
any one who is wealthy enough can buy
himself out of punishment. The beg.
gars-Or the demanders they should be
called-have a king also. Two of them
came to our house few days ago to de-
mand their usual fee, which the Chinese
teacher, made bold by the certainty of
the presence of foreigners upstairs, re-
fused; whereupon they threatened to
bring forty others to beat down the doors;
but, on being told to 90 and bring four
hundred, they thought it expedient to
90 but not TO return. But, had there
been no Barbarian" in the house, they
would no doubt have carried their threat
into execution, as people who refuse to
submit to this system of black-mail are
often besieged in this manner and COM
PEELED to renew their doors frequently
The houses here are surrounded by very
high fire walls made Of mud and the trash
of the city. Any one who is unfortunate
enough to set a house on fire has but two
things TO choose between: that is, to re-
main in the flames, or to be thrown into
the fire by the populace.
have been in the Buddhist temples
during service, and have been surprised
at great resemblance to the Roman
Catholic forms. The priests wear long
yellow gowns with flowing sleeves, and
the head is perfectly bald. They walk
around in circle before the idol, bowing
to the ground as they come in front of it,
all the while chanting in a monotonous
tone. The female devotees follow them,
telling their beads" Long spiral coils
of incense-tapers are suspended in front
of their idols and kept continually burn.
ing. These tapers are made of sandal
wood, and the larger ones will burn slowly
without blaze for week.
The natives accuse foreigners of be
quilting their children to their houses
that they may make opium of their
blood. One missionary had an under
ground cistern made: the Chinese said it
was to pickle babies in. Some, of course,
are more sensible; but all arc very su
perstitious and need gospel ight.-Me
Missionary.