FESTIV.VT 



ihese temples occasionally play the cymbaK n!r of 

 which they now and then throw up to some height 

 tmd catch it on the other as it descends They 

 should only eat vegetable food. They are also bound 

 to celibacy, and are interdicted the use of inebriating 

 liquor*. It is more than Suspected that these rule* 

 are not here always strictly adhered to; 



Women present offering* at the temples, as well $$ 

 the Ijm-u. Huth" supplicate the Tokong to be propi- 

 tious* <ui any named ocrashm. The lots, tyhwh fttfg 

 small pieces of wood of a flatfish oblong* shape, are 

 cast thrice, and if the result is unfavorable, the desire 

 of the supplicatory is abandoned fir the lime. It has 

 before been observed that the chief thing- which is 

 done at the greftl fcuival, is to cajat lots for the guar- 

 dianship of die tokont; and purse of his tern pie, during* 

 the ensuing \ear: in rioin^ which much electioneering 

 ardour is evinced. But every one cannot indiscrimi- 

 nately become a candidate for the honor and respon- 

 sibilitv. The whole body of each Chinese Cong*! is 

 represented by district deputies chosen by vote, and 

 their number is freuerally ten. The popular votes 

 are eurolled by people appointed by the voters. The 

 deputies thru proceed to the toh ottg or temple, where 

 the lots, or Skhifj k'hao, which are pieces of bamboo, 

 are cast thrice for each deputy, by the rhief oftheConjrsi 

 for die past yeftPi When the lots have Brbeated that 

 five out of die ten are elected, a ballot takes place out 

 of these five y in the same manner, fir the chiefof the 

 Con^si, or Loo-choo, for the ensuing- year. The 

 Thau A>> or remaining four, are stewards fur the 

 tokong-. 



Those Chinese who can aflbrd it, and are strict fol- 

 lowers of ancient usages, have portraits painted of 

 their nearest relatives. When any one of the hitter 

 happens to die, his or her picture is carefully locked 



