The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-11

the first rank, being the capital of a pro-
vince and the residence of a viceroy whose
jurisdiction extends over two entire pro-
vinces. 1t is a great literary center and
contains the provincial examination hail.
where examinations for the second degree
are held twice every five years. Fifteen
thousand students are said to be now in
attendance upon this examination. The
foreign quarter is a pleasant and healthful
place with two small churches and popu-
lation of 200.
MT. KUsHAN.
The third day after our arrival was set
apart for trip to the summit of Mt.
kushan, the highest peak of the northern
range, the scenery of which is SURPRISING
ly grand, reminding one of the choicest
regions of the White Mountains in New
Hampshire. Kushan is one of the sacred
mountains of China and is filled with
temples and shrines, which are frequented
by the literati of the empire. 1t is also
the seat of famous Buddhist monastery,
the revenues of which are drawn from the
tillable lands on the mountain side and in
the valley at it's base.
Starting early in the morning, we rowed
down the river some six miles, gaining
the little village where our sedan chairs
were awaiting us in good season, and i'm
medately commenced the ascent. The
ancient road, which zig Gags up the noun
tain side, is well paved with broad slabs
of granite, in the steepest places forming
an easy staircase, and along the edge Of
each dangerous precipice protected by a
/ low wall. The mountain is 3, 500 feet high,
and the inscription, spread in broad char
acters upon the face of huge rock at the
foot of the first staircase, cob Buddha.
help usr' seemed appropriate to us all,
especially to the coolies who bore our
chairs. From their vigorous appearance,
however, we concluded they were accus-
toned to depend more upon good supply
of rice and pork than the power of Buddha
in all such exhibitions. At any rate, they
carried us up the steep with speed and
safety.
Tumbled about the mountain side are
thousands of broken rocks, upon the faces
of which are chiseled the virtues of Buddha
and the most eminent sages among his
followers, as well as the names and titles
of the officials who have honored the place
with visit. The little tea houses, which
every half mile invite the pilgrim to rest,
are located with excellent taste on the
very spots where the best views of the
valley and the river are afforded, and the
| glorious panorama spread out below us
became more and more enchanting as we
proceeded The principal trees are the
evergreen frs, but in the more sheltered
glens we found the finest specimens of the
bamboo that we have yet seen. Every
few yards we caught glimpses of charming
! little valleys and ravines, in nearly every
one of which is shrine or tomb of some
noted parsonage, half hidden among the
foliage. When about half way to the
summit we came upon deep ravine called
''Stopped- water DELL" from the legend
that when an ancient sage who resorted
here for meditation and prayer was dis
| uiuSu ny luC Vi GuC oIiCdlI, hC
commanded it to cease flowing and it i'm
medately sank into the earth, to appear
again quarter of mile further south
whence it runs off to the rice terraces be-
low. Here is quiet little grotto fitted up
in costly manner as a temple and called
the water Cloud Pavilion" the altar of
which is styled the GO Heart of Heaven and
Earth Several good natured priests
were strolling about, and, as from this
point we had our best view of the broad
valley below and the ocean beyond, we
tarried for an hour to enjoy the prospect
and our dinner. For music, we had the
sweet tones of large bell struck by
wooden hammer kept moving by an inge.
niously contrived water-wheel, which also
moved ! praying machine.
BUDDHIST TEMPLE.
When near the top of Kushan we reach
ed the celebrated " Monastery of the Bub
bling Fountain" in the center of shell
tered amphitheater sunk into the noun
tain side, thickly shaded with ancient cam
phor trees of enormous size. Here are
two costly temples: in the largest of which
are Il rec Buddhas of giant size, surround
ed by the eighteen wise men of disciples
of Buddha. The lesser temple is dedi
Gated to the Goddess of Mercy, and con
tains more than one hundred well wrought
images, each with its altar for incense and
worship. The monastery itself supports
over one hundred and fifty Buddhist
monks, who live in state of celibacy and
lead a lazy, sleepy life: the monotony of
each day being broken only by the regular
worship, which we witnessed in the great
hall of the temple. About fifty priests in
their long yellow robes took part chant
ing. marching, bowling, kneeling and beat
ing gongs and drums for one long hour.
Large wax candles and quantities of in
cense were burning before the idols; i'm
ages of demons were standing about in
every corner of the gloomy apartment, and
the entire place had weird, ghostly ap
pearance, from which it was relief to
escape.
The Buddhist form of worship is strik-
indeed, some writers ascribe to them
common pagan origin.
After worship, we were shown the sacred
fish pond, where thousands of goldfi
and other varieties are kept and none ever
allowed to be taken ont. Some of them
are very large, and furnished us endless
amusement as they came up to be fed from
our hands, or scrambled together for the
cakes we threw upon the surface. In reg
ular order. and with much ceremony, we
were shown the Sacred white pig (the Chi
nesc pigs are always black and hens and
ducks and other fowls kept until they die
of old age. This custom in Buddhist TEN
pies is in some way connected with the
doctrine of Metempsychoss. and is regard,
ed as peculiarly mertorious.
AS we left this remarkable place, for
ages past devoted to the rites of heather
worship. we could not suppress an earnest
prayer that the time would quickly come
! xxbap tho VOC cums Of monav now animal