The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-17
The Ed-pne.

many of them eager to fad free candies in
some store or other, but they were gener-
ally disappointed.
New Year began at midnight. In the
morning runk-stieks and sandalwood were
lighted in honor of various spirits of the
departed Chinese great. and all work and
business was completely stopped. Tie
poorer class will give but one or two days
TO the celebration. The merchant class
will prOlong it for about four days. but few,
if any, viii put in tile full week as many
used to do.
The queer ceremony OF driving the devil
away was carried out at several places
yesterday by the Chinese wizards, who are
often called jim jim men. Many Chinese
believe in the efficacy OF the operation, but
others say it's foolish"
There are several jim jim fellows here
who are learned IN the wisdom Of gods and
devils and the arts Of incarnation and get
jobs as assistants about the jOsshouses,
etc. Yesterday forenoon an old jim jim
man who had been employed 10 drive the
devil away from house on Waveriy place
took up his place I'm the middle Of tile street
10 front Of the house. He was dressed a
little like Satan himself and had with him a
big bundle and long pole with a horn at
one end Of II. He spread a cloth on the
ground, arranged some sweetmeats on II in
regular designs, placed on il a queer lamp,
which be lighted, and laid a small jug of
water beside it. He then went through with
a series Of antics and ineantsti0ns, which
drew the evi spirit into some peers of
paper. which were lighted in the fame of
the lamp. and the evil spirit passed away
in the smoke. Then the jim jim swung his
pole round and round aud the devil was
conquered.
When the Chinese visit the temples at
this season OF the year they are extremely
anxious to know how it will fare with them
during the year to come. and il that which
they most hope for will happen.
The average Monaghan, ii is we'll knO wn.
IS very superstlliOus and believes in omens,
oraeles and chance. When he wants to dis
cover what his fortune will be he visits the
temple during the festive days OF the new
year, as these are considered the luckiest,
for the reason that the gods and g0ddesses
are presumed to be in the best of humOr,
having been rendered So by the frequent
and plentiful offerings of olesginous duck.
dried watermelon seeds. sweetmeatS and
pyramids OF rice cakes In contrast OF colors
that would give an artist an attack of the
blues that would last him week
There he seeks to learn the pleasure OF
the particular god he worshiDs by means
OF the ka-pue and the casting OF lots.
THE Cal man who yesterday visited The
temple on line street, above Kearny, alter
wading through yellow. green and red
shreds OF paper, the residue of exploded
crackers that had been get of TO scare away
the tall white deviP' and "tbe short black
deViP that were supposed to haunt the
courtyard, in spite Of the sitting smoke
from burning pink and opium, found his
way to the room in the sky paror where
the Celestials make their offerings.
A very tall son OF the Orient volunteered
to explain the mystery of the ceremonies
that the idolatOrs take part in. and Ia pigeon
English told Of the different gods and their
followers.
While he was thus engaged. an idoIator
who was dressed in robes of state, with
queue rich with new red silk braid, black
skull-cap with blue topknOt supposed TO be
indicative Of rank, still he may have been
dishwasher in a cheap Chinatown restau-
rant, entered and, placing quarter in the
hand of the keeper Of the josshouse. re-
ceived In return number OF gaudiy col
ored candles and package of punk.
Without further ceremony he picked up
straw haI, which like Joseph's coat was of
manv colors. laid it on the floor before one
of the wooden gods, placed both hands be-
fore him and made bow, after which he
held the offerI gs he had purchased for a
moment over the smoke of sandalwood that
was burning in censor, and, lighting his
purchase. stuck candle and piece Of punk
here and there in the ashes that fill the
urns and censers on the table.
Then he devoted his time to discovering
what his luck would be by means of the ka-
pue.
The ka-pue is a utensiI made of wood
and is in the shape OF n large banana split
lengthwise. Each Of the two pieces has a
fiat and round side.
Him." said the josshouse-keeper, "tell
good, ALA same bad" Then he placed the
pieces OF wood in various positions. In
one position, one Of the pieces being round
side up and the other fiat side W, he de-
clared means YES" both round sides up
means mo-" while both round sides down
means II don't care"
The idolator took I'D the ka-pue. knseled
before the god he had selected. muttered
something which was undoubtedly under
stood by the god as well as by the Joss
house-keeper. who in confidential whisper
told HE CALL man that the individual
wanted to know II he was going to be rich.
The worshlper then arose aud held the
two fiat surfaces of the ka-pue toward the
smoke OF incense and placing the two pieces
together made circular motion and tossed
them up In the air. They answered his
question by coming down ON the floor, one
fiat side up and the other round side up.
which was an affirmative answer
TINS so pleased him that he picked up a
circular wooden tube containing a great
number OF small wooden bamboo strips. on
each OF which are Chinese characters. He
held this in one hand, while with the other
he picked up candle, lit and stuck it in
the censor. This having been done he held
the wooden tube in both hands, and bowling
three times before his chosen idol made
known his wants and shook the tube gently
until one OF the strips came out of IL and
fell at his feet. Replacing the tube on the
table lie picked up the strip and read aloud
the number written it. He placed it in
the censor written side TO the god and again
consulted the ka-pue TO determine il the
god approved or disapproved of the matter
to which the strip referred. a record of
which is kept In book. The ka-rue came.
as b. 90. aifrmativeiy, and The keener of
the reeor ID furnished the writ en- L. f0sma-