342 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
plant it down before him on the altar ; they then pour out a cup of 
tea, and place near the burning stick. On one of them being 
asked why he offered tea to Jos, he replied, " Chin-chin Jos — he 
like him very much." On being again interrogated, " How do 
you know that Jos likes tea, when he never drinks any ?" he 
answered, " Oh, yes, Jos will drink it presently." Feeling some 
curiosity to witness the end of this superstitious rite, the officers 
remained for some time, looking on ; but the cunning rascal con- 
trived to divert their attention for a moment, and seizing the 
cup, he threw a portion of the tea towards the image, and then 
called on them to see how much his god had drunk ! This cere-r 
mony is performed every morning and evening ; but whether any 
particular days are set apart for the public worship of Jos, could 
not be ascertained from their evasive answers, in which they 
excel the shrewdest Scotch peasant of whom we have ever read. 
These people were generally very civil, and are mostly of 
dark complexion, with more of the Tartar than the Chinese in 
their physiognomy. They live chiefly on small fish, taken daily 
with an apparatus of truly a novel construction. It comprises a 
net, perhaps forty feet square, attached by cords to the upper ends 
of four long poles, planted obliquely in the water, inclining from 
the shore. To the summit of these poles are also fastened land- 
ropes, which pass around a windlass on the shore, by heaving on 
which the poles bend from their oblique to an upright position. 
This simple process raises the net out of the river, when a boat 
passes under and takes care of the fish, which are thus drawn up 
iji great multitudes, 
These fish are very small, but of great importance to the poor 
wretches, who scarcely have it in their power to taste other food. 
The few vegetables and small portions of fruit raised on the 
island, are generally disposed of to the foreign vessels lying in 
the bay. Provisions for such ships, however, are mostly procured 
from Macao. Lintin Island contains buffaloes, and numerous goats. 
Here also were seen many monkeys of a large size, scampering 
from rock to rock, on the upper part of the island. Excellent 
fresh water is plenty here, and very easily procured. 
The pilot, Jemmy Thompson, was now the constant companion 
of the inferior officers remaining on board the Potomac ; he being 
ship purveyor. To perforifli th,e duties of this office, and enjoy 
