ClIAP. IX. 
SALE OF GODS. 
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superstitious. In all the southern towns every house has 
its temple or altar both inside and outside. The altar in 
the inside is generally placed at the end of the principal 
hall or shop, as the case may be, raised a few feet from 
the ground, and having some kind of representation of 
the family deity placed upon it. This is surrounded 
with gaudy tinsel paper, and on the first of the Chinese 
month or other high days candles and incense are 
burned on the table which is placed in front of it. The 
altar on the outside of the door resembles a little furnace, 
in which the same ceremonies are regularly performed. 
In the vicinity of small villages, and sometimes in the 
most retired situations, the stranger meets with little joss- 
houses or temples, gaudily decorated with paintings and 
tinsel paper, and stuck round about with the remains of 
candles and sticks of incense. In almost all Chinese 
towns there are shops for the sale of idols of all kinds 
and sizes, varying in price from a few " cash " to a very 
large sum. Many of those exposed for sale are of 
great age, and have evidently changed hands several 
times. I am inclined to believe that the Chinese 
exchange those gods which do not please them for 
others of higher character, and which they suppose 
are more likely to grant an answer to their prayers, or 
bring prosperity to their homes or their villages. 
The periodical offerings to the gods are very striking 
exhibitions to the stranger who looks upon them for the 
first time. When staying at Shanghae, in November, 
1844, I witnessed a most curious spectacle in the house 
where I was residing. It was a family offering to the 
gods. Early in the morning the principal haU in the 
