308 



TEA DISTKICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XVIII. 



priests took up their stations in front of the altar, and 

 the chanting went on as before. A minute or two 

 after this the whole body fell upon their knees, and 

 sang for a while in this posture. When they rose, 

 those on the left sang a part of the service by 

 themselves, then knelt down. The right side now 

 took up the chant, and, having performed their part, 

 also knelt down. The left side rose again, and so 

 they went on for ten minutes, prostrating themselves 

 alternately before the altar. The remainder of the 

 service was nearly the same as that at the commence- 

 ment. 



This striking ceremony had now lasted for about an 

 hour. During the whole time a thick screen had been 

 hanging down in front of the large door, to keep out 

 the sun's rays. Just before the conclusion of the 

 service the curtain was drawn aside, and a most 

 striking and curious effect was produced. Streams of 

 ruddy light shot across the temple, the candles on the 

 altar appeared to burn dimly, and the huge idols 

 seemed more massive and strange than they had done 

 before. One by one the priests slowly retired as 

 solemnly as they came, and apparently deeply im- 

 pressed with the services in which they had been 

 engaged. Nearly all the priests adjourned to the 

 refectory, where dinner was served immediately. 

 The Buddhists eat no animal food ; but they manage 

 to consume a very large quantity of rice and vege- 

 tables. I have been perfectly astonished at the quan- 

 tity of rice eaten by one of these priests at a meal. 

 And yet, generally, they look poor and emaciated 



