HOO miNI^E FESTIVAL!). 



Europe. In the mean lime, threatricals are being 1 

 exhibited at I lie chief places of worship ; for the Chi* 

 nese, like the ancient nations of the wis!, have always 

 joined these to their religious ceremonials. Indetd, 

 where the plays often embody the heroic art ions of 

 the verv gods and immortalized mortals wor- 

 shipped, these would seem bch'UiujLr rituals in honor 

 of the two latter. 



Amongst other amusements are fencing and leger- 

 demain. 



On the tenth day of this month, the image of 

 Ssainnktmg, a deified saint, is carried in procession 

 from the house of the elder of the tribe — with whom 

 it had remained during the past year — Jo the Kivan 

 gin iiu an, or temple. Bands nf, to refined ears, dis* 

 cordanl and harsh music, accompany the eflijry. 



ChoakGe* or banner oi red cloth, and Kotcn, or 

 huge lanterns painted with /lowers, are carried in ad- 

 vance ; and ni(W(/-*< o*, or two-liercd umhrellas striped 

 red and yellow, with deep fringes, are held over the 

 eitigy. C loth flags are likewise displayed, emblazon- 

 ed with devices. Among* these is the horned alli- 

 gator, the type of Capricorn. But it is here represent- 

 ed with only four toes. In this procession, a large 

 wooden frame is carried ijong, supported by men 

 who are coucealed. Near each end of this frame, and 

 above it, a man is to be seen standing in a fixed atti- 

 tude, in w hich he is kept by means of iron rods 

 concealed under his clothes, and rivet ted into ih<* 

 frame-work below. l^aeh of these men is surmount- 

 t'J by another, who appears to stand self- supported 

 on the shoulders of bis pediment, but who is also kept 

 up by the iron rods alluded to. One of these upper 

 men holds nut a.i artificial flower, which, with he; 

 arm, rests on an iron rod. On the flower, and borm- up 

 ;u the iiaute manner* statute a handsome and spleiw 



