Ch. XIX.] CHINESE NEW YEAE. 313 



■with small tapers, thus fulfilling its purpose of a little shrine. 

 The temples, or joss-houses, were crowded with devotees, 

 who eagerly tried their fortune at the lucky stones, which 

 are considered to he more than usually significant upon this 

 occasion ; and the smoke of joss-sticks and little tapers, 

 which rivalled the atmosphere of a catholic village church 

 on a saiat's day, rendered it at first somewhat difiicult to 

 see what was going on. Men there were, and women, maldng 

 the ko-tou, or oheisance, hefore the gilded idol, investing 

 minute sums of money in paper dollars and joss-papers, 

 which latter — squares of thin paper with a daub of gilt upon 

 them — they took iu large numbers, and having set fire to 

 them, held them till they were in a somewhat -dangerous 

 blaze, and then deposited them in braziers to consume to 

 ashes. 



Out of doors the scene was pecuhar, and exhibited the 

 characteristics of the Chinese enjoying themselves in their 

 own way. From an early hour the streets (the shops being 

 all closed) were crowded with people walking in an orderly 

 manner, seeing and to be seen — all well-dressed, and either 

 exhibiting themselves or gazing at the passers-by — each one 

 looking for an acquaintance to whom he might wish the com- 

 pliments of the season, which they interchange with alacrity ; 

 the words " koong-haye, koong-haye " being heard on all 

 sides, accompanied with folding of the hands and pohte 

 bows of various degrees of depth, according to the relative 

 ranks of the individuals. Most of these parties were bound 

 on visits of ceremony to their acquaintance, who remained 

 in their decorated apartments and received visitors. In this 

 case those who remained at home, as some evidently must 

 do, performed their visits by proxy ; and in all directions 

 might be seen weU-dressed servants or clerks running about 



