Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-02
NIEGpO.
AN INTERESTING CITY OF THE
CELESTIAL EMPIRE.
Curious Architectural Features
Religions Services Peculiar
Business Methods.

DhShACSS 14CtAOuS.
One of the many interesting places Of
that distant and comparatively unknown
land-China-is the old walled City of
Ningpo. 1t is on the Ningpo river, near
its mouth, in Chusau harbor, with an esti-
mated population of nearly 100000.
When approaching Ningpo by vessel sew
eral hundred buildings, with high matched
roofs, are among the prominent objects to
first catch the eye. These are ice-houses.
in which ice is stored during the winter
for preserving fish in hot weather. As the
cold is not severe, it is seldom the ice ex-
exceeds one-half an inch in thickness,
making the filling of the buildings labori-
Gus Job. Another conspicuous structure is
the great pagoda that rears 160 feet
high. 1t was built over 1000 years ago.
From the top superb view of the city
and surrounding country is had. For
miles in one direction along the line of
the river are tens of thousands of little
hillocks that mark old graves On every
side the land is fiat, but the outlines of blue
hills show in the horizon. Riyaling the
pagoda as an attraction to strangers is the
Temple of the City Defenders, where the
city authorities have religious festivities at
stated times. The subjects of alteration
are huge idols. There are numerous affairs
covered with bronze vessels, incense burn
ers, candles and queerly-carved mythology
cal stone animals, and furnace in which
is burned daily all the refuse paper found
on the streets. Everything is grimy with
age and dirt, that seems a vitality import
ant adjunct to Chinese temples. The burn
ing of paper is an act of worship, the car
rying Of basket to pick up stray frag-
ments being regarded highly praiseworthy.
To make journey about Ningpo is
pretty certain to prove bewildering to any
one not familiar with Celestial manners
and customs. The narrow streets are
thronged with picturesque mass of men,
women and children of all classes and con-
ditions. The shops are narrow and are
open to the thoroughfare. with all kinds
of signs hanging from the edge of the roof
and sides. Every artisan carries on his
work in plain sight of the passer, making
the open street various occupations are
also prosecuted. Cakes are baked and
soups stewed in movable ovens, BARRIERS
shave customers in the open air and doc
tors examine patients. One street is de-
voted entirely to the sale of carved wood
furniture. Ningpo is famous for its cary
ings in ivory and wood, and some of the
productions in that line are exquisite.
The wall about the city is old and gray,
but it offers one of the best of promenades.
being little frequented by native Chinese,
who see no pleasure in an idle saunter.
Inside the wall is considerable waste
ground that is overgrown with flowers,
making it as verdant and fragrant as an
English lane. But the fragrance does not
altogether cover the disgusting odor of
decaying flesh that arises from time to
time. At one spot are the Baby towers,
in which the bodies of the youngest babies,
that it is maintained have no souls, are
placed. The towers are square and tall
About twelve feet from the ground are
windows, through which the bodies are
thrown.
Filial reverence is strongly developed in
China, but it does not seem to spring from
any love or respect for the living parents,
but out of fear for the dead. 1t is an
article of faith, common to all sects, that
has existed since Confucius, that the
dead have power to ayenge any slight put
upon them when in life. The belief
makes the living slaves of the departed.
The whole religious system is permeated
with superstition. There are gods of
everything, even to time and its diyis-
ion Of years, months, weeks and days In
one temple is chamber or horrors, in
which the penalties for sin are represented
by dolls supposed to be human beings
undergoing torture at the hands of devils.
Presiding over the scene is a large re-
pulsiye figure in white. Blood runs from
the eyes and nose, and the idea is that it
is waiting to appropriate the souls of those
dying in sin.
Outside the city wall at the west are
groups of curious structures erected to the
memory of virgins whose lovers died be-
fore marriage and to whom they remain
constant. They are called arches, and
many widows also have them in COM
memoration of their estimable qualities.
At distance beyond there is a large
monastery with fine temple, in which are
the three gods of the pure. These are i'm
mense images of gilt, with gold canopies
back of them. Each figure is 40 feet high.
On each side of the temple is row of gilt
| images of the disciples. When there is a
service the exercises begin soon after day
break. The priests wear gray or yellow
under robes with nantes made of small
bits of crimson silk sewed together in
crazy quilt style After grace they have
repast of rice and vegetables. Among
the monks are usually some who
have shaved their heads and donned
yellow garments simply to escape the law.
For the convenience of persons coming
from distance, and who were able to
pay for the accommodations, there were
rooms furnished for lodging with board to
be found in an annex. Some of the fam
lilies coming to have special services for
dead ancestors stay week and pay $50 a
day for rooms, with meals one-half as
much more. Heavy, indeed, are the
live after them. The funeral alone costs
a considerable sum. The body has new
and fine clothing, that worn in life being
burned. A splendid coffin is likewise an
essential, and the priests are paid gener-
ously for services at the house, and for
learning through the gods lucky day for
burial. There is no end hardly to the
succeeding outlay for services to prevent
the return of spirits and to protect the
living, as well as to insure the dead from
torture in purgatory. 1t is not infrequent
that family is impoverished and incurs
Indebtedness it will take lifetime to
meet. 1t is estimated by American resi-
dents that fully S3O,O00,0O0 are spent
every year in public festivals to the dead,
and even more in individual services to
quiet the spirits.-& Louis Globe-Demo-
erat
LIFE IN AZTEC LAND.