CH. XIV CHINESE FEAST IN MAN ABO 341 



is natural then that as a class they should hare forgotten 

 the details of their religion, and I found to my surprise 

 that not one Chinaman in ten could give a con'iistent story 

 of his religious beliefs. 



At one end of the Chinese Kampong stands the temple, a 

 handsome little building of wood, sumptuously decorated 

 inside with fine silks, Cjuaint and curious wood-carving, and 

 painting and gilt ornamental work in a characteristic 

 Chinese style. It contains the shrines of the three deities, 

 of whom the Tapi Kong, occupying the central place, is in 

 every respect the most important. Of the other two, one 

 is a goddess whose name I have forgotten, and the other 

 is called Li-Hong. Before each shrine there is a table 

 bearing the food and drinks of the gods, httle tiny saucers 

 containing rice and chilis, pork and durian, and three tiny 

 cups containing tea. 



The Tapi Kong having signified to the chief priest that, 

 owing to the prevalence of sickness amongst the Chinamen 

 and the commercial depression, he would graciously consent 

 to walk abroad in the evening of the Chinese New Year's 

 Day, elaborate preparations were made to celebrate the 

 occasion in a befitting manner. 



Just after sunset the preparations were completed, and 

 then Mr. De Tries and I made om- way to the temple 

 through the noisy crowd of Chinamen who filled the streets 

 of the Kampong, and by hiding away at the side of the 

 temple when the ceremony commenced we were able to see 

 all that went on. 



When the allegorical designs, the snakes, lanterns, and 

 other things to be carried in the procession were all ready 

 to start, the priest advanced to the central shrine, and 

 moving his two extended hands first to the right, then to 

 the left, and lastly to his forehead, reverently removed the 

 little v.'ooden image of the Tapi Kong from the shrine to a 



