CHINA. 1751. 287 



an hour together, during which time they look 

 at nobody. During fervice feveral Chinefe in- 

 ftruments are played upon, at certain times. 

 Sometimes they fall down three times with 

 their faces to the ground, burn incenfe and fa- 

 crifice. They fometimes go about in the town 

 and facrifice in the houfes, and on that occa* 

 fton their drefs is a little different. They do 

 not marry, and eat neither flefh nor eggs. 

 The chief pried of the whole empire is called 

 Wo-aiv Siong Tao. The people go into the 

 Pagoda on certain feftivals only, when they 

 bring their facrifices ; but during fervice 

 they ftand at the doors, and look in through 

 the rails. However, every body fays his 

 morning and evening prayer befides, both in 

 the houfes and in the boats, kneeling before 

 their God ; in the latter they light on this oc- 

 cafion a trough, or Chinefe boat, which they 

 call Lintkyee, of gold or fdver paper, which 

 they throw into the water ; becaufe, accord- 

 ing to their opinion, it will turn into gold or 

 fdver if it is thrown into the fea when it is 

 burnt during the mufic of the Gungung* 



They have four holy feafts every year; 

 among which is the lanthorn feaft, which will 

 be deicribed hereafter. 



The 



