222 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



step, and the pigs yelling out of time to the song, 

 which is unpleasant, as the smell is bad enough, but 

 the noise and smell combined, overpowering. 



The art industries are of intense interest and re- 

 flect great credit on the artistic abilities of the Chi- 

 nese. The enamelling of silver with kingfishers' 

 feathers was perhaps the most engrossing to watch ; 

 but no less interesting was the ivory and wood carv- 

 ing, the painting on rice-paper, and the embroidering 

 with silk, storks, dragons, and goldfish being the 

 predominant figures in most of this last-named work. 

 I was exceedingly fortunate in picking up an old 

 mandarin coat of marvellous workmanship, speci- 

 mens of which, I believe, are now becoming difficult 

 to find. 



Ah Cum, after reaping a harvest of commissions 

 on our purchases, then took us to several Confu- 

 cian and Buddhist temples, the most remarkable of 

 which was the idol-doctor's temple, where the sick 

 man draws lots to see what malady he has and how 

 he got it, and receives the appropriate remedy. 

 Thus, it is to be presumed, a man suffering from 

 appendicitis may perhaps learn that he has whoop- 

 ing cough and be given squills, and his faith in 

 the idol will probably cure him of his appendicitis ; 

 an excellent system indeed. 



At noon we came to the pagoda on top of the hill 



