112 SACRED HOGS. 



to their respective rooms, divested themselves 

 of their official robes, and the senseless- figures 

 were left to themselves, with some lamps burn- 

 ing before them ; and the silence of the temple 

 was a type of that portentous spectre, superstition. 

 Another large and handsomely-adorned temple 

 was situated beyond this, as well as numerous 

 others, of smaller size, within the inclosure, all 

 kept in a very neat and clean state. 



Being soon satiated with the sight of gilded 

 gods, and fanatical priests, mingled with all the 

 gaudy paraphernalia of superstition, we adjourned 

 to view the fat pigs which saluted us by their 

 effluvia some time before we attained their dwell- 

 ing, — where we beheld them luxuriating in a 

 bed of filth, having nothing to do but undergo 

 the laborious occupations of eating, drinking, 

 sleeping, and getting fat : before them were 

 sacred buckets, which had been probably filled 

 with food, but were now empty. They were 

 enormously fat, and seven or eight in num- 

 ber. Some persons informed me that they were 

 kept until they died suflfocated with fat ; but 

 others said that they formed an annual sacri- 

 fice to the gods, during the grand festivals. 

 These huge, filthy creatures, are so gross as 

 to cause the mouths of the Chinese who behold 



