298 A PROCESSION. 



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, folio wed with his tambourine; 



