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TEA DISTEICTS OF CHINA. Chap. XVIII. 



manner, — scarcely lifting their eyes from the ground, 

 and arranged themselves on the right and left sides 

 of the altar, kneeling on the hassocks, and bending 

 down lowly several times to the idols. Again the 

 large bell tolled, — slowly and solemnly at first, then 

 gradually quicker ; and then everything was per- 

 fectly still. 



The priests were now all assembled — about eighty 

 in number — and the services of the temple began. 

 I took a seat near the door. The priest nearest to 

 the altar now rang a small bell, — another struck a 

 drum ; and the whole eighty bent down several times 

 upon their knees. One of them then struck a round 

 piece of wood, rather larger than a man's skull, and 

 hollow inside, alternately with a large bronze bell. 

 At this stage of the ceremonies a young priest stepped 

 out from amongst the others, and took his station directly 

 in front of the altar, bowing lowly and repeatedly as 

 he did so. Then the hymn of praise began. One of 

 the priests, apparently the leader, kept time by beat- 

 ing upon the hollow piece of wood, and the whole of 

 the others sang or chanted the service in a most 

 mournful key. At the commencement of the service, 

 the priests who were ranged in front of the altar, half 

 on the right side and half on the left, stood with their 

 faces to the large images. Now, however, they sud- 

 denly wheeled round and faced each other. The 

 chanting, which began slowly, increased in quickness 

 as it went on, and when at the quickest part suddenly 

 stopped. All was then silent for a second or two. 

 At last, a single voice was heard to chant a few notes 



