160 Notice of a Chinese Geographical work. [Feb. 



tower stands oblique in the court yard of the temple of the Three Pre- 

 cious Ones. The decayed ropes still exist in the roof. Foreign vessels 

 tie a piece of cloth resembling this cap to the mast to make the ship 

 light and quick, and to this they attach sails, in the manner of studding 

 sails, availing thus of the strength of the wind without causing the 

 vessel to lie over. 



When the natives are sick they always go to the Three Precious 

 Ones, and solicit medicine. If the medicine prove not beneficial, they 

 cast it into the river, and are ordered to bathe. From that time to now 

 the natives and the people of Thdng continue to bathe in rivers and 

 besprinkle themselves with water when they are sick. All the na- 

 tives of the outside sea call the people of Han, Thdng jin, because 

 in the time of the Thdng [dynasty] intercourse began [with those 

 countries] . 



When the people die, their bodies are burnt and [the ashes] after- 

 terwards buried, to escape divine judgments. Again, one class, seek- 

 ing tranquillity of mind, make an oath that after their death they will 

 serve as food for birds or of fishes. This tranquillity of mind consists 

 in indifference to the body. The bodies of those who seek tranquillity 

 by birds, are exposed upon rocks among the mountains. The birds 

 fly round about them, and assemble. Then enters a crow with red 

 beak and feet, and gives the first peck. All the crows then descend, 

 and in a moment only the skull and bones remain. They gather and 

 bury these. Such as seek tranquillity by fishes, are burnt to ashes ; 

 these are gathered and made into pieces with flour and thrown into the 

 river. Some there are who in this manner feed both the birds and 

 then the fishes. 



These people build large ships capable of carrying ten thousand shi. 

 They supplicate wood for masts from the great trees in the mountains. 

 They first, with incantations, supplicate in sincerity and faith ; and then 

 strike with the ax. If they proceed not thus, fresh blood issues from 

 the tree, and those engaged in the work instantly die. They employ 

 oxen to drag the cart, and on the road play and rejoice. When the 

 charm is addressed advisedly, should the tree not obey, those who 

 should eradicate it and bring it away to their store, are certain to die. 



The country produces silver, lead, tin, ocean-cloth,* aloe wood, ivory, 



* According to M. Klaproth this means Indian cloth : but the author so often 



