1832.] 
LINTIN ISLAND. 
341 
might be about eleven years of age ; the toes were turned under 
the foot, the great toe formhig the front part of the foot, and the 
only part preserving its original form. This distortion in shape, 
and depression in growth, are not effected, as many have been led 
to believe, from the use of iron or metal shoes, for such are not 
used by the Chinese ; but from the use of bandages, wrapped around 
to an intolerable tightness, the child during this time being kept 
in a sitting posture ; and so excruciating is said to be the pain, that 
the little sufferer for several months requires constant attendance ; 
during which time she cannot walk a single step, and afterward 
can only hobble. The foot of one child was only four inches, 
and that of another only measured three inches in length. Their 
shoes are often fantastically ornamented. 
The origin of this custom is traced to a very remote period, 
and is said to have been introduced by some celebrated queen, 
who was required by the fancy of her husband to bind up her feet 
into as small a compass as possible ; this was followed by the 
women of her court, and from that time it has been practised by 
the higher order of the Chinese, and is not only looked upon as a 
valuable ornament in a female, but gives to the fair one thus 
mangled a decided superiority in her family. 
These people worship an idol, which they call Jos, supposed to 
be a corrupt pronunciation of the Portuguese Dios, God. The 
house, consecrated to this service is a neat httle stone building, in 
the large village, containing a gilt image, supposed to represent 
the "unknown deity whom they ignorantly worship." The 
boatmen in the river pay evening sacrifices or burnt-offerings to 
the same deity, by throwing pieces of flaming paper into the water, 
which ceremony is called, in the Anglo-Chinese slang of the boat^ 
men. Chin-chin Jos, meaning a compHment to the divinity. Our 
officers found no difficulty in obtaining admission to the Jos-house, 
as they call it, in the village of Lintin. The idol has an altar, or 
stand, in front of him, for burning the morning and evening sacri- 
fices. But his devotees seemed to pay very little reverence or 
even common respect to his godship, but rather treated him with 
a familiarity bordering on impertinence ; although he is one of 
their household gods, as almost every family has an image of him. 
The first thing they do in the morning is to light one of the 
small wooden sticks prepared expressly for the oblation, and 
