290 EXAMINATION HALL. 



side, each cell only large eiiougli to hold a small table 

 and a form for one student. There are said to be 

 10,000 such compartments, indeed I counted 9,730, 

 where candidates meet every three years. Here they 

 are kej)t for eight hours daily, three days in succession, 

 answering- in writing the various questions laid Ijefore 

 tliem, mostly appertaining to the ancient literature of 

 the country. Elegant caligraphy, however, is by no 

 means overlooked at these exhibitions. There are other 

 halls connected with this institution, such as a judge's 

 room, and where degrees are conferred upon students, 

 those of bachelor, licentiate, and doctor. A fourth de- 

 gree, that of the "Ten Thousand," or Chwang-Youen, 

 can only be competed for at Pekin ; that examination 

 lasts nine days, and is divided into three parts or 

 " goes," and such is the ambition amongst the 

 students to obtain this award, by which they may 

 rise to the highest dignities of the State, that they 

 come up time after time, often until they grow old. 



Very few words will suffice to give an idea of the 

 temples of Canton, many of which are used for State 

 purposes, and to lodge foreign ambassadoi's. The 

 Chinese, upon whom^ worship sits very lightly, content 

 themselves to leave the performance of it almost 

 entirely in the hands of their priests, for although 

 every house has its Joss, or little altar, carefully tended 



