48 



TEMPLES AND PEIESTS. 



Chap. III. 



situated at the base of the hills. A side view of 

 this causeway, with its round-arched bridge and 

 alcove, the smooth water of the lake, the rich 

 vegetation on its banks, and the temples at the 

 foot of the hills, would form a lovely picture 

 worthy of the pencil of our first European artists. 

 I have looked on this scene in early morning 

 when the mist was rising from the water, at noon 

 on a summer's day when the water appeared to 

 have been melted with the fierceness of the sun's 

 rays, and again at " dewy eve " when all was still, 

 — and a more fairy-like spot it would be most diffi- 

 cult to find. 



I found the temple beyond the lake a large 

 building, or rather a series of buildings, in tole- 

 rably good repair. Here were a number of priests 

 and their attendants, and no lack of idols of great 

 size. But these I have already noticed in Ayuka's 

 temple, and shall not say anything further con- 

 cerning them here. The high-priest received me 

 with great kindness, and made me sit down in the 

 seat of honour by his side. A little boy, who 

 was destined one day to become a priest himself, 

 but who was now attending on his superior, was 

 ordered to set tea before us, which he did in the 

 usual style. Our conversation turned, as it fre- 

 quently did, upon the state of the country and the 

 rebellion. The old man asked me very earnestly 

 as to what I had heard of the Nanking rebels, and 

 whether I thought they would come to Hang- 

 chow and Ningpo. I told him he knew quite as 



