485 



sea, whose sway b more circumscribed, com- 

 prizing solely the control of devils and disembo* 

 died spirits. The former of these gods is gene- 

 rally represented as riding on an animal with t!ie 

 head of a lion, and ihe body of a dragon, having 

 fciur feet, each of which are of a different nature 

 from the rest, one being the claw of a bird, 

 another, the tin of a fish, Sec. He sits in judgment 

 on tlie departed spirit, but is not so much wor- 

 .^hipped as Tai-Soo-Kwee, who, as* god of evil, 19. 

 much dreaded by the blinded Chinese. 



l*hese ceremonies having been concluded, the 

 parties return to the hou^e of the deceased, in front 

 of which a large table, spread with sweetmeats 

 and fruits, is placed, and the poor are summoned 

 to partake of the same* This act of alms- doing 

 is not performed for charity s sake, but is intend- 

 ed as a propitiatory oflWring to Tat-Soo-Kwee and 

 the evil spirits. A house in the neighborhood 

 has been previously fitted up with idoli* and flow- 

 ers, the walls being also covered with flowered 

 paper, as a place lor the priests to pray in. 

 These continue their devotion*} from the evenins' 

 until the dawn of the following morning. 



A ^gine of a man on horseback is also construct- 

 ed, and a letter, describing at length the various 

 , rites and ceremonies which the survivors have per- 



formed in honor and on behalf of the deceased, is 

 placed in the hand^ of the rider, who is worship- 

 ped by the relatives and fi iends\ After this act 

 of adoration, he is charged not to fail in speedily 

 deiivering the missive to Tai-Soo-Kwee, vvho is 

 the medium of transmitting it to the departed 

 spirit, Tim figure is moreover informed that the 



