CiiAP. IX. THE PIUESTS OF POO-TO. 153 
Poo-to, is of a different opinion. He says, " We were 
present at the vespers of the priests, which they chanted 
in the PaU language, not unlike the Latin service of the 
Romish church. They held rosaries in their hands, 
which rested folded upon their breasts. One of them 
had a small bell, by the tinkling of which their service 
was regulated ; and they occasionally beat the drum and 
large bell to rouse Buddha's attention to their prayers. 
The same words were a hundred times /repeated. None 
of the officiating persons showed any interest in the 
ceremony, for some were looking around laughing and 
joking, while others muttered their prayers. The few 
people who were present, not to attend the worship, but 
to gaze at us, did not seem, in the least degree, to feel 
the solemnity of the service.'' What Mr. Gutzlaff says 
is doubtless true, but after residing for months in their 
temples, at different times, and in different parts of the 
country, I have no hesitation in saying that such con- 
duct is very far from being general. In certain instances 
I have seen it myself, but this levity and apparent want 
of attention was exhibited by the servants and lookers-on, 
who were taking no part in the ceremony, and not by 
the respectable portion of the priests. On the contrary, 
I have generally been struck with the solemnity with 
which their devotional exercises were conducted. I have 
often walked into Chinese temples when the priests 
were engaged in prayer, and, although there would have 
been some apology for them had their attention been 
diverted, they went on in the most solemn manner 
until the conclusion of the service, as if no foreigner 
were present. They then came politely up to me, 
H 3 
