Imperial Valley press., 1936-08-30

= -
might work out, so provided myself with a
relay of bearers and chair - in case my good
intentions proved stronger than my energy.
Hordes of pilgrims with million or
who make the long journey from all parts OF
China every season. The crowds were poor IN
purse but rich in spirit. A curious joy spread
over their placid faces they approached
everyone in sort of holiday attire.
Beggers, too = from fifty hundred miles
away, ragged dirty, whining for aims They
cried for pity and money, and received both in
generous amounts. Pilgrims generous at the
Mountains side, they about to have their
own hopes fulfilled their prayers answered, and
cannot bear the sight of hunger or poverty.
Gongs, bells, began to peel, gently, softly =
and the crowds kneeled in prayer.
We struggled forward = elbowing our slow
way through the seething, crowding human
mass. There signs of sadness or weari-
ness. Even the beggers looked satisfied with
their harvest
We climbed six thousand feet upwards.
Steps were shallow, comfortably high and built
in groups You come to series of steps, then
fiat space - a dozen steps, pause, and
hundred more steps together. Up we went,
slowly, pausing to catch breath, and satis-
1eQ TO be SO lar toward success.
"A /E MADE the last lap" series of four
Wv hundred steps at a sharp angle - and
rested on the top part of the converging
throng most of whom were pausing, too catch
ing their breath preparing to do reverence
to the sage
Every ruler since the Emperor Fuki has OBJ
served the custom of attending this ancient
shrine older tran Christianity more sacred
in China than anV other hOlV place.
Visiting the Mountain is ancient custom
and more than even habit, pilgrims climb to the
top to pray.
They might possibly pray as well at the bot
tom at home in their own villages. But on
the summit is temple especially for the offer
ing of prayers several wishing trees" over
which preside special spirits which grant desires
The temple itself filled with women,
praying repeated prayer:
'Oh, son = give me son!"
Their walls reach heavenward, and must in
reach listening attendants of the
several gods = for in China to be without son
is dire disgrace; moreover it's the woman's
fault. And prayers in this temple, it is said
often bring What is so powerful as Faith?
Nothing equals the faith of these wailing women
but, practical, still they do not allow anything
to chance If the temple gods by chance are not
listening carefully, there is the wishing tree
Outside the temple, the praying women make
doubly sure of success = they twist a strip of
white cotton around branch of the old tree
secure it by double knot. gong hangs to the
tree, chain attached to it - and this is pulled
calling attention to the wish hanging on
the tree.
1 spoke to dozens of praying women. Some
waited to enter the temple, some crowding
around the wishing tree - awaiting their turn
to clang the gong and tie their wish where the
gods might find it.
Soon it was time to descend. The walk to the
top meant eight hours of climbing, and I was
ready to be carried down again = this time not
disikng chair bearers, thankful that it was pos
sible to 60 down easily. The route downward
was narrow, with steps four five inches wide.
Two chair bearers picked up my comfortable
chair, and raced down at a speed amazing
and swift. Down, down we went plunging
toward the bottom as l clung tightly to the
arms of my hurting chair Git probably seemed
faster than it WASH, the two poles holding my
chair fitting at sharp angles. How they de-
scended so swiftly - and so safely, haven't
the least idea. Possibly carrying thousands up
and down daily had given these coolies an ex-
pertness unequalled anywhere else in China.
THE day 1 made my own pilgrimage 100000
men and women had climbed to the sum-
NIT. was one among thousands, as glad to
reach the top as they and even more happy to
arrive safely and unharmed at the bottom -
and like thousands of others, having made
wish (even though it wasn't hung on the wish
ing tree') a wish that might come to know
the real China, the heart of its people, whose
rules of conduct came from Confucus - that I
might understand the Chinese accomplish
ment said to be difficult but which a world
traveller (even woman) can attempt!
PAGE THREE-A