Chap. VII. 
SHANGHAE. 
95 
of the walls is about three and a half miles, and the 
greater part of the inside is densely studded with houses; 
the suburbs, particularly all along the side of the river, 
are very extensive. Although the gates of the city are 
closed soon after dark, the people are allowed to pass 
through afterwards on the payment of a few "cash." 
When the gate is opened to one, a whole crowd are 
ready to rush through along with him, the first only 
paying the " cash." Such is the custom ; so that if a 
poor man comes to the gate he has only to wait until 
one richer than himself arrives, when, the fee being 
paid, they pass through together. Joss-houses are met 
with in all directions, both in the city and suburbs ; at 
certain parts on the ramparts, also, these temples are 
built and crowded with idols, where the natives come to 
burn incense, bow the knee, and engage in the other 
ceremonies of heathen idol-worship. Fortune-tellers and 
jugglers are also in great request, and reap a rich 
harvest by working upon the credulity of their country- 
men. You meet these characters in all the streets and 
public squares in Shanghae, and, what is very strange, 
the sing-song, or theatricals, of which the Chinese are 
particularly fond, are frequently exhibited in the 
temples. This is much opposed to our ideas of religion 
and propriety ; but, somehow or other, the customs of 
our Celestial friends are in many instances directly 
opposed to ours. 
The streets are generally very narrow, and in the 
dajrtime are crowded with people actively engaged in 
business. The merchandise which is the most striking 
to a stranger walking through the streets is the silk and 
