THE TAOUIST RELIGION. 33 i 



the idea that they will fool the devils. They cut up the roof -lines 

 on dwellings into fantastic shapes for the purpose of preventing 

 devils using them for promenade purposes ; and, as a matter of 

 fact, these imps have hard work to get into the houses. But, 

 when they once get in, no power is able to get them out except 

 the priests. 



The white horse is a common form in which devils infest a 

 community. They appear in the form of a white horse walking 

 upon the city walls, and over graveyards, and even stepping 

 from one roof to another. He is thus seen by some truthful wit- 

 ness, and the evil omen soon gains currency. 



The intervention of the nearest priest is sought, who takes a 

 survey of the situation, and discovers the number of devils, if 

 more than one, and calculates on the necessary steps to capture it 

 or them. 



The financial ability of the community has much to do in 

 determining the means of safety. If the locality is wealthy, or 

 has a few wealthy men in it, the priest generally makes out a 

 strong case. He may require to call in other priests in consulta- 

 tion. All this time the people dwell in morbid fear, pending de- 

 liverance. At length the priests announce their ultimatum. It 

 will require a fee of one hundred taels (about one hundred and 

 thirty-three dollars, American money) to procure safety. The 

 money is raised by public subscription and paid over to the priest 

 in charge. Then the capture of the devils is the next step. 



A bottle or jar is secured for each devil, and the priests secure 

 a bait in the shape of imitation gold and silver tinted paper 

 (called Joss paper). This paper is imitation money, and when 

 it is reduced to spirit by being burned, the devils do not know 

 it from genuine money here again showing their low mentality 

 and they enter the bottle in which the Joss paper has been 

 burned. When they are thus entrapped, the bottle is sealed and 

 carried away by the priest. Then the people feel grateful to 

 their deliverer, and the priest has again impressed his importance 

 to the welfare of the community and at the same time replenished 

 his bank account. The " Tsung li Yamen," or office of the head 

 priest of this sect, is a curiosity. It has large halls and rooms 

 filled with dust-covered and sealed jars, in every one of which is 

 confined a devil, captured in the above unique plan. And were 

 each and every jar filled with silver, I question if it would equal 

 the sums paid for the capture of these imprisoned devils. 



This demonology enters into every phase of Chinese life. The 

 priest is the only medium between the people and their invisible foe. 

 Not a voyage is undertaken until the devils are baited by burning 

 bogus paper money. Not a wedding, but the priest is called in to 

 decipher the omens for good or ill luck. And when a man is sick, 



