R U S S I A A N D C H I N A. 227 



crown upon his head. He has, in common with the 

 other idols, a mirror upon his breaft. The Chinefe 

 imagine him to be the fame with the Yamandaga of the 

 Mongols ; and it is faid his Manfliurifli name is Chain 

 Killova ; his Mongol name, which relates to the hiftory 

 of GhefTur, is Bars-Batir, the Hero of Tygers. 



Before thefe feveral idols there are tables, or altars, on 

 which cakes, paltry, dried fruit, and flefli, are placed, 

 on feflivals and prayer days : on particular occafions 

 even whole carcafes of flieep are offered up. Tapers 

 and lamps are kept burning day and night before the 

 idols. Among the utenfils of the temple, the moft re- 

 markable is a veffel fhaped like a quiver, and filled with 

 flat pieces of cleft reed, on which fliort Chinefe devices 

 are infcribed. Thefe devices are taken out by the Chi- 

 nefe on new-years day, and are confidered as oracles, 

 which fouetel the good or ill luck of the perfon, by whom 

 they are drawn, during the following year. There lies 

 alio upon a table an hollow wooden black lackered hel- 

 met, which all perlons of devotion ftrike with a wooden 

 hammer, whenever they enter the temple. This hel- 

 met is regarded with fuch peculiar awe, that no Itrangers 

 are permitted to handle it, although they are allowed to 

 touch even the idols themfelves. 



The firft day of the new and fall moon is appointed 

 for the celebration of worfhip. Upon each of thofe days 



Gf g J no 



