Chap. IIT. 



MASSACEE OF PRIESTS. 



49 



much, of their proceedings and intentions as I did, 

 and that with my present knowledge it was im- 

 possible to form an opinion on the matter. He 

 said, if they did come to either of the places 

 named, they would not visit Tse-kee — -an opinion 

 which I ventured to dispute. I then asked him if 

 he had heard of the massacre of the Buddhist 

 priests on Silver Island, near Ohing-keang-foo, the 

 news of which had reached me a short time before. 

 This massacre was reported by some to be the 

 results of intense Christian feeling and hatred of 

 idolatry. The old man had heard of this, but 

 would not allow of the interpretation which was 

 generally put upon the matter. He told me — and 

 he was probably correct — that the priests had 

 been trying to save the lives of some mandarins 

 who had taken shelter in their temples, and that 

 for this sin, and not for idolatry, they were put to 

 death. The subject was evidently one of deep 

 interest to all the Buddhist priesthood, a con- 

 siderable number of whom now surrounded us as 

 this conversation was going on. 



While engaged in this manner with the high- 

 priest the room had gradually become more and 

 more crowded with the inferior priests, with wor- 

 shippers who happened to be at the temple, and 

 with the servants and labourers who were attached 

 to it. It is a curious fact that, although the 

 Chinese as a nation have a high respect for their 

 superiors, they do not show it in the same manner 

 as we do. Hence it is not unusual for strangers 



