Cuar. X.] DEVOTION OF THE CHINESE. 187 
by the servants and lookers on, who were taking 
no part in the ceremony, and not by the respect- 
able portion of the priests. On the contrary, | 
have generally been struck with the solemnity with 
which their devotional exercises were conducted. 
I have often walked into Chinese temples when the 
priests were engaged in prayer, and, although there 
would have been some apology for them had their 
attention been diverted, they went on in the most 
solemn manner until the conclusion of the service, 
as if no foreigner were present. They then came 
politely up to me, examining my dress and every 
thing about me with the most earnest curiosity. 
Nor does this apply to priests only ; the laity, and 
particularly the female sex, seem equally sincere 
when they engage in their public devotions. 
Whether they are what they appear to be, or how 
often they are in this pious frame of mind, are 
questions which I cannot answer. Before judging 
harshly of the Chinese let the reader consider what 
effect would be produced upon the members of a 
Christian church by the unexpected entrance of a 
small-footed Chinese lady, or a Mandarin, with the 
gold button and peacock feather mounted on his 
hat, and his long tail dangling over his shoulders. 
I am far from being an admirer of the Budhist 
priesthood; they are generally an imbecile Tace, 
and shamefully ignorant of every thing but the 
simple forms of their religion, but nevertheless 
there are many traits in their character not un- 
worthy of imitation. 
