58 A MOUNTAIN VILLAGE AND TAI-PEI-SHAN 



images of the gods were set up, surrounded by 

 lighted tapers and incense. The old man and his 

 assistant took hold of opposite sides of a bushel 

 measure, a square box capable of holding about 

 53 Ibs. They then twisted it round their heads, 

 at the same time indulging in a kind of dance, 

 such as is often seen on the stage. They were 

 imitated in all their movements by two young men, 

 who waved the handle of a knife from which the 

 blade had been removed. Gradually they worked 

 themselves up into a frenzy and approached the 

 god, holding out the measure as though imploring 

 him to enter. For two hours this continued, while 

 one man beat a gong monotonously and another 

 kept praying, " O Spirit ! we beseech thee to enter 

 the measure," " O Spirit ! we beseech thee to enter 

 the measure." At length the two holding the 

 measure whirled out into the yard, through the room 

 from which the money had been stolen, out of the 

 court at top speed, through the watching crowds, 

 and into the temple again. Time after time the 

 dance was repeated, until finally they tore out of 

 the temple to a distance of ten U. Here they entered 

 a mill inhabited by a decrepit old man ; also an 

 inn where dwelt a man well known for his honesty. 

 Being thus apparently at fault, they said the thief 

 must have been there, and next day tried again. 

 On this occasion the measure led them to a man 

 who eventually turned out to be the brother of the 

 thief. He, immediately after the robbery, had 

 stolen a small pig by way of proving an alibi ! 



On another occasion this old mountain wolf- 

 man was called in after 50 ozs. of opium had been 

 stolen. He actually led the crowd a distance of 



