ETHNOGRAPHY OP LEW CHEW. 49 



locked. Several thousand persons selling and buying in the markets would desert their stores 

 merely at the sight of any one. Their custom, formerly, was to supply vessels coming in with 

 everything they required, hut they would take no remuneration, and would tell them to leave. 

 Most of these prejudices have been in a measure overcome, and they now are about as fond of 

 the dollar as most people, and do not hesitate to dispose of their marketing. I do not believe 

 that this fear is created by the foreigners, but rather that it is the result of the absolute and 

 despotic laws operating upon tkein,^,nd forbidding them to hold the slightest communication 

 with strangers. The lower classes appear to be in a state of slavery, and are kept under the closest 

 surveillance ; the upper classes lead a most indolent life, and are apparently dependent entirely 

 upon the former for all their wants. 



They are a very polite people, and treat each other with the utmost courtesy at all times. 

 When meeting, they close the two hands, and, putting them to the forehead, make a most pro- 

 found bow; if to a person of high rank, they nearly fall to the ground. These marks of civility 

 are extended to foreigners. 



Here, as in all eastern countries, the Buddhist religion prevails; in some instances engrafted 

 upon other idolatries. The people, however, appear to be indifferent to it, and do not seem 

 to have much veneration for it. There are not many temples, and seldom are there seen any 

 worshippers in them. Notwithstanding this apparent indifference, the bonzes or priests hold a 

 higher position than they do in China, and consequently are treated with more respect, and 

 are not looked upon as worthless and degraded as soon as they leave the precincts of the tem- 

 ples. Though their social position here is better than in China, it is by no means enviable, 

 and they are the same bald-headed mendicants that they are there. 



The greatest honor and respect are paid to the dead; they are put in coffins, and are carefully 

 interred in large well-built stone vaults or tombs for a period of seven years, until all the flesh 

 has decayed from the bones; the latter are then collected and carefully deposited in stone jars, 

 which are placed upon shelves in the vaults. Poor people put the bones of the dead in 

 earthern jars, and, generally having no tombs, place them in the crevices of rocks, where they 

 are sometimes found exposed, being broken by accident. The remains of the dead are followed 

 to the tomb by a large number of relations and friends. The body is carried in a coffin in a 

 sitting posture. The women who accompany it as mourners wear long white veils over their 

 heads and faces. Eegular visits are, from time to time, paid by the relatives of the deceased, 

 and offerings are made upon the tomb. 



The literature is principally obtained from China and Japan, and many of the literati and 

 professional men go to the former country to finish their education. The physicians all go 

 there to pursue their studies, and remain several years, and then return prepared to combat the 

 enemy. 



They have no commerce of any note; it consists in a few Chinese and Japanese junks each 

 year. They interchange such articles of clothing and provision as they require and can spare. 

 They have no money currency of their own, but the Chinese cash supplies this in some measure. 



The arts and manufactures are but little known by them, except some of the more simple, 

 and these are in the most primitive state. The manufacture of sugar, a coarse kind of grass 

 cloth, and an inferior kind of lacquered ware, are the only ones of any note. The sugar, when 

 finished, is merely the juice of the cane pressed out by means of a mill, evaporated to a proper 

 consistency, without any clarification; it is, therefore, very crude and dark, and almost unfit 

 for use. The manufacture of salt must not be overlooked, as it is carried on quite extensively, 

 Is 



