264 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. Chap. XVII. 
in height. Its roof was supported by numerous massive 
wooden pillars. Three large idols — the Past, the Present, 
and the Future, each at least 80 feet in height — stood in 
the middle of the temple. An altar was in front of them, 
and more than a hundred hassocks were on the floor 
in front of the altar for the priests to kneel on during 
the service. Eanged on each side of this spacious 
hall were numerous idols of a smaller size ; said to 
be the representatives of deified kings and other great 
men who had been remarkable for piety during their 
lifetime. 
Entering with the priests, I observed a man lighting 
the candles placed upon the altar and burning incense. 
The smoke of the incense as it rose in the air filled the 
place with a heavy yet pleasing perfume. A solemn 
stillness seemed to pervade the temple. The priests 
came in one by one, in the most devout manner, — 
scarcely lifting their eyes from the ground, and arranged 
themselves on the right and left sides of the altar, kneel- 
ing on the hassocks, and bending down lowly several 
times to the idols. Again the large bell tolled, — slowly 
and solemnly at first, then gradually quicker ; and then 
everything was perfectly still. 
The priests were now all assembled — about eighty in 
number — and the services of the temple began. I took a 
seat near the door. The priest nearest to the altar now 
rang a small bell, — another struck a drum ; and the whole 
eighty bent down several times upon their knees. One 
of them then struck a round piece of wood, rather larger 
than a man's skull, and hollow inside, alternately with a 
large bronze bell. At this stage of the ceremonies a 
