114 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Oh. Vn. 



were really striking, and sometimes sounded more like a 

 gentle singing than speaking. 



We looked in vain for any indication of their religious 

 ideas. Over the door of the village, by which we entered, 

 some one had stuck a joss-paper, after the manner of the 

 Chinese, and probably some Chinese had done it, but there 

 were no joss-houses or temples in the hamlet, nor did we 

 find any in the houses, though among the poorer Chinese 

 almost every house has a little altar to the lares in the prin- 

 cipal room. We inquired as well as we were able of the 

 inhabitants on this point, but could ehcit nothing from 

 them. Nor could we discover any indication of a written 

 language. 



With regard to their diseases, we had no means of learn- 

 ing anything of the mortality of the village. One young 

 woman appeared to be recovering from small-pox, and one 

 old woman was covered with a skin disease, which gave her 

 a leprous appearance, but the people in general were 

 healthy-looking and physically strong, hardy, and well-made. 

 We observed no deformities among them, with the exception 

 of one child of three or four years old, which crawled nimbly 

 about on its hands and knees, but appeared to be physically 

 unable to stand or walk. The village may have contained, 

 at a rough estimate, 250 inhabitants. There were plenty of 

 children, but old, grey-headed persons were not numerous. 



In conclusion, I think it is evident that the race of people 

 inhabiting this village is distinct from the Chinese. Among 

 the women, particidarly, there was scarcely one who had a 

 Chinese feature, and their habits and modes of life also dififer 

 considerably. The feet were in no instance bandaged, as is 

 universally the custom among the neighbouring Chinese. 

 With regard to the men, it was not always so easy to dis- 



