424 Voyage of the Novara. 



is no parallel in Europe, is the Tung-jin-tang Cfpl-^:'^^ 

 or Hall of United Benevolence, founded by a number of 

 philanthropists in 1804, for the interment of the poor. This 

 establishment, through its legacies, donations, and voluntary 

 contributions, speedily became so wealthy that it has been 

 enabled to take up, in addition to its original business, other 

 objects of a not less humane nature. It pensions poor 

 widows of respectable families with 700 cash (about £1 85.) 

 per month; it presents persons above 60 years of age, if 

 sickly and unable to work, with 600 cash (about £1 4^.) a 

 month, and provides, free of charge, wooden coffins, as also 

 digging implements, for those who are too poor to inter their 

 dead relatives. Another humane occupation of the society is 

 the interment of coffins containing dead bodies, which used to 

 be exposed on the bare ground in various parts of the city. 

 Finally, it was the intention of the founder of this charitable 

 institution, so soon as the money should permit, to erect 

 schools for the poor, to provide warm clothing in winter for 

 the helpless, as also to buy up animals destined for the 

 slaughter-house, and set them at liberty again. 



The proceedings connected with the direction of the insti- 

 tution are transacted in public, and the managers for tlie 

 time being are bound to furnish for each year a detailed 

 report* of the management. This humane institution has 



* An English translation of one of these reports will be found in the 1S45 number 

 of Morrison's admirably edited, but now rather rarely met with, monthly periodical, 

 " The Chinese Repository." 



