330 COCHINCHIN A. 
to have formed a part of the Jewish dispensation ; and we 
are informed by Pliny that no one ever thought of tasting new 
fruits or new wine until the priests had first performed the 
customary libations — Ac ne degustabant quidem novas fruges 
aut villa antequam sacerdotes primitias libassent. 
On the skirts of every little grove of trees near Turon bay 
small boxes of wood or baskets of wicker work were either 
suspended from or fixed among the branches, some containing 
images made of various materials, and others painted or gilded 
paper cut into different shapes, inscriptions .on slips of wood 
in the Chinese character, and many other indications of their 
sacred destination. Trees, in fact, appear to have been 
among the first of temples that were consecrated to the 
deities. To man, but little advanced beyond a state of na- 
ture, the grandest objects that present themselves are those 
most likely to arrest his adoration. Such on the plains are 
trees of venerable antiquity, and on the mountains their high 
peaked summits of solid rock. But man, more vain and am- 
bitious in proportion as he became more civilized, conceived 
a Babel whose summit should reach to the skies. The most 
sumptuous and magnificent temples were consecrated to the 
deity by most of the polished nations of antiquity, and 
this practice has universally been adopted by the professors 
of Christianity ; but the Chinese and their neighboiu-s differ 
in their opinions on this subject, as on most others, from the 
rest of mankind. They are content to w^orsliip 
" that Spirit that does prefer 
" Before all temples the upright heart and pure," 
