2,a8 , C O M M E R C E B E T W E E N 



no Chinefe ever fails to make his appearance once in the 

 temple; he enters Avidlont taking off his cap-, joins his 

 hands before his face, bows five times to each idol, 

 touches with his forehead the pedeftal on which the idol 

 fits, and then retires. Their principal feflivals are held 

 in the firfl' month of their year, which anfwers- to Febru- 

 ary. It is called by them, as well as by the Mongols,. 

 the white month ; and is confidered as a lucky time for 

 the tranfaction of bulinefs; at that time they hoiit flags 

 before the temples; and place meat upon the tables of 

 the idols, which the priefts take away in the eveii;- 

 ing, and eat in the fmall apartments of the interior 

 court. On thefe folemnities plays are performed in the 

 theatre, in honour of the idols : the pieces are generally 

 fatyrical, and moftly written againil unjuft magiftrates 

 and judges. 



supcrftion of Eut altliougli the Chinefe have fuch few ceremonies in 



the Chicefe. 



their fyftem of religious worfliip, yet they are remark- 

 ably infefted with fuperftition. Mr. Pailas gives tlse 

 following defcription of their behaviour at Maimatf- 

 chin duiing an eclipfe of the moon; At the clofe of 

 the evening in which the eclipfe appeared, all the inha- 

 bitants were indefatigable in raifing an incefiant uproar, 



* They do not take off their caps out of refpeft ; for among the 

 Chinefe, as well as other Eaftern nations, it is reckoned a mark of difre- 

 fped: to uncover the head before a fuperior. 



fome 



