SUICIDES OF PILGRIMS 171 
there is a statue of Buddha about fifteen feet high and 
closed in by curtains, many incense bowls, and other 
things commonly found in such places. 
There were a large number of pilgrims, who worship 
at all the temples on the way up. Many tales are told 
by the priests of tigers carrying off pilgrims, who are 
never heard of again. All men so carried off are put 
down as being very wicked. I may add that if this 
is the case, the tigers on Mount Oméi differ very much 
from those in other parts of China that I have been 
in, for everywhere else a man-eating tiger is unknown. 
This mountain is considered to be the most holy in 
China, and many pilgrims commit suicide every year 
by casting themselves over the precipice. 
The morning of April 15 was beautifully clear, and 
a splendid view was obtained from the summit. Over 
the clouds beneath could be seen Mount Wa to the 
8.8.W., while to the northward of west the snowy range 
above and beyond Ta-tsien-lu could be seen clearly 
cut against the sky. The upper surface of the clouds 
appeared remarkably level, and the appearance of range 
after range of mountains showing above them formed a 
magnificent spectacle. I left the summit at 10 a.m., and 
soon after got into mist, then rain, and, after having 
travelled sixty li, reached Chang-lao-ping, still on the 
mountain, and one of the temples of Wan-nien-tze. Here 
