ACCOUNT 
vidual failures of the means to pro- 
cure fubfiftence, give occafion, at all 
times, in moft other countries, to 
the affecting fpeétacle of human be- 
ings dependent for their exiitence, 
on the precarious aid of thofe whom 
they may chance to meet, but who 
have the power of withholding it. 
In travelling through China, the 
{pectator obferves fewer public 
buildings than might be expected in 
fo ancient a kingdom; the reafon of 
whichis, that hitherto the cruel poli- 
cy of every dynafty, or new family 
mounting the throne of China, has 
been not only todeftroy the remain- 
ing branches of the former race, but 
to level the edifices dedicated to 
their memory. Of thofe circular 
and lofty buildings termed Pagodas, 
there are feveral kinds, and dedi- 
eated to feveral ufes: but none, as 
commonly fuppofed, to religious 
worthip. The temples confecrated 
to this purpofe differ little in height 
from common dwelling-houfes. 
There is in China no ftate-reli- 
gion. None is paid, preferred, or 
encouraged by it. The Emperor 
is of one faith; many of the man- 
darins of another; and the majori- 
ty of the common people ofa third, 
which is that of Fo. This laft clafs, 
the leaft capable, from ignorance, 
of explaining the phoenomena of 
nature, and the moft expofed to 
wants which it cannot fupply by 
ordinary means, is willing to recur 
to the fuppofition of extraordinary 
owers, which may operate the ef- 
ects it cannot explain, and grant 
the requefts which it cannot other- 
wife obtain. 
__ No people are, in fact, more fu- 
perftitious than the common Chi- 
nefe. Befides the habitual offices 
of devotion on the part of the priefts 
and females, the temples are varti- 
OF BOOKS. 463 
cularly frequented by the difciples 
of Fo, previoufly to any undertak- 
ing of importance :—whether to 
marry, or go a journey, or conclude 
a bargain, or change fituation, or 
for any other material event in life, 
it is neceflary firft to confult the 
fuperintendent deity. Thisis per- 
formed by various methods. Some 
place a parcel of confecrated fticks, 
differently marked and numbered, 
which the confultant, kneeling be- 
fore the altar, fhakes in a hollow 
bamboo until one of them falls on 
the ground; its mark is examined, 
and referred to a correfpondent 
mark in a book which the prieft 
holds open; and fometimes even it 
is written upon a fheet of paper 
pafted upon the infide of the tem- 
ple. Polygonal pieces of wood are 
by others thrown into the air. Each 
fide has its particular mark; the 
fide that is uppermoft when fallen 
on the floor, is in like manner re- 
ferred to its correfpondent mark in 
the book or fheet of fate. If the 
firft throw be favourable, the per- 
fon who made it proftrates himfelf 
in gratitude, and undertakes atter- 
wards, with confidence, the butine/s 
inagitation. But ifthe throw fhouid 
be adverfe, he tries a fecond time; 
and \the third throw determines, 
at any rate, the queftion. In other 
refpects the people of the prefent 
day feem to pay litile attention to 
their. priefts. The temples are, 
however, always open for fuch as 
choofe to confult the decrees of 
Heaven. They return thanks when 
the oracle proves propitious to their 
wifhes. Yet they oftener caft lots, 
to know the iffue of a projected en- 
terprize, than fupplicate for its be- 
ing favourable; and their worfhip 
confifts more in thankfgiving than 
in prayer. 
g2 Few 
