298 A PROCESSIOM. 



were followed by a troop of Chinese bearing 

 silken banners, upon which were represented 

 their idols, and dragons of all sorts and sizes, 

 surrounded by hieroglyphical devices. Next 

 followed, in a kind of litter richly ornamented, 

 a young Chinese girl with a pair of scales in her 

 hand, and intended, as I was told, to repre- 

 sent Justice, a virtue for which her country- 

 people, in these parts, have not much cause to 

 applaud themselves. Another set of musicians 

 surrounded the goddess, making din enough 

 with their copper plates to drown every com- 

 plaint that might endeavour to reach her ear. 

 Then came the rest of the Chinese, in differ- 

 ent bands, with the symbols of their respec- 

 tive trades represented upon banners. Four 

 Bacchantes, somewhat advanced in age, and 

 in an attire more loose than was consistent 

 with modesty, followed next : from their long, 

 black, dishevelled hair, they might have been 

 taken for Furies ; and it was only their crowns 

 of vine-leaves, and the goblets in their hands, 

 that enabled us to guess what they were intend- 

 ed to represent. Bacchus, very much resem- 

 bling a Harlequin, followed with his tambourine; 



