Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-01-23

uo pCIl uuo VI luCSuSo duu buo OuOI
Of the burning oil were heavy and
Weakening. For a few minutes it
seemed as though I would suffocate,
but gradually I became accustomed to
the pungency, and the sense of Ian.
guor produced by the heavy perfumes
was not unpleasant.
If this was place Of worship, the
choice of gods. was liberal indeed.
Upon raised dais of marble there
was great Chinese god, or Joss,
made of precious woods inlaid in
blocks. This idol was hollow, and
within his capacious stomach there
burned a lamp. For eyes, he had
windows of amethyst, which were so
lighted by the internal lamp as to be
very brilliant.
The mouth of this idol was open as
if to devour, and his teeth were pre-.
cious stones. Rubies, emeralds,
diamonds and sapphires were sci
around the ugly mouth in tooth-like
order.
A tongue of coral, upon which the
light of the lamp reflected strongly,
threw myriads of bright rays of color
from the gems that surrounded it.
The nails of this idol were of pol.
ished mica. He was in a crouchina
position, with arms extended, as if td
receive an Offering. Around his neck
hung a priceless necklace of dia.
monds.
To one side of the temple, in an al
cove, a hinge dragon, with eyes and
tongue ahame, glared at me as at all
Intruder. This dragon was made of
polished stone, with wings of beaten
brass. The tail and claws were like.
wise of brass.
On the side of the large idol, oppo.
site the dragon, was huge and hide.
ous Buddha.
Here. then, was choice enough OF
religions. Here could come the
Buddhist and learn his artificial wor
ship from his god, who stood in the
position as if teaching multitude.
The Taoist could come. and his JOY
could not be surpassed. His idol was
tho richest, the ugliest, the largest,
Confucianism is not represented by
idols or images, but the Philosophy Of
Light, as it is called, may easily be
discerned in the magnificent gardens
outside the temples.
All these things I was not long in
admiring. But in short time I was
almost a Taoist. For the sight that
made my heart beat faster and sent
the hope of life into my brain was a
huge dish of solid gold set before the
great idol, containing cooked rice.
Profane the sanctity of the heath
ems temples though I should, here
we're life and sustenance for time at
least. Across the top of the dish were
golden chopsticks.
I ate my fill.
Then I made profound bow to the
frowning idol who had so considerably
come to my timely relief, and shared
with me the offerings of his worship
ers.
Revived, sustained by the meal ]
had eaten, I became new man. Twas
now ready for further adventures, and
eager to continue the exploration of
the submarine palace I had so miracu-
lousy discovered.
From what seemed to be the rear OF
the temple, another arch, hung like
the first with rich curtains, led into
large room carpeted with velvet.
There was but little furniture in the
room. 1t seemed like an antechamber
to the temple. Across this room still
another arch could be seen, and,
pushing the curtains in this to one
side, I passed through it.
If I had been surprised before I was
now. This inner room
was not large-not more than thirty
feet square-but fortunes hung upon
it's walls. There were panels of gold
and other panels of silver. Between
them the walls were covered with in.
laid precious wood, studded with
choicest gems. No rock could be
seen. Heavy Turkish rugs covered
the floor. Richly upholstered chairs,
livans and ottomans were scattered
about. A golden lamp, in which
burned the perfumed oil, was sus.
pended from the ceiling which
vas covered with silk, draped and fes-
;ooned. 1t was q place enchanted.
I saw no exit from this room save
he arch through which I had come.
On one side Of the chamber in an al
,ove, nearly hidden by a swinging
PANEL of etched bronze, T found bed.
t was undisturbed. There were
,ipes and tobacco lying upon a small
able.
had evidently seen everything in
he rock palace.
"But where" 7 asked myself, "were
he human inhabitants of this magnifi'
ent palace? Were they absent OF
we're they in hiding, and perhaps
me from their place of con.
ealment?"
I closely inspected this last discuv-
red room, but found nothing to indi.
ate that any person had been there
ecently. And yet it was unmistaka-
ly the abiding-place of some one OF
asst wealth, eccentricity and luxuri-
us tastes.
I had become accustomed to the
trangeness of the place.
My condition was so much improved
yer the predicament I had been in,