RELIGIOUS CEREMONY. 
229 
afternoon. At this hour bare-headed bonzes, clothed in long cloaks 
descending to their ancles, some of a yellow, and others of a dark 
brown colour, were seen issuing from all the surrounding buildings. 
Over these they wore a kind of scarf that crossed their left shoulders, 
and was fastened by an ivory ring under the right arm ; and 
some of them had on their left breasts pieces of white copper which 
might have been taken for orders of knighthood. Having entered 
the temple, they all, excepting one of the principal priests, knelt 
around the idols. He began the ceremony by lighting a sandal-wood 
match at a taper that was burning on the altar ; and having prayed 
with it in his hand for a few seconds, carried it to the door of the 
temple, and fixed it in a small post that stood without. Returning to 
the altar, he took up a small vessel containing rice, and having also 
prayed over it, carried it to the door, and placed it before the burning 
match. He then consecrated a cup of sam-tchoo in the same 
manner, and placed it by the side of the rice ; again knelt before 
them, and having prayed for some minutes, emptied both cups 
upon the altar, and rejoined his brethren. During the consecration, 
the whole company of bonzes chaunted in measured time, and 
appeared to be regulated in their pauses by a man who every now 
and then struck the wooden head occasioning a ringing sound. 
Having continued on their knees for some time, they suddenly arose, 
and forming into two lines marched chaunting several times round 
the temple, and then dispersed. 
Near the temple was a library of religious books, containing the 
doctrines of Fo, descriptions of local ceremonial observances, and 
figures of the idols in very correct outline; and attached to the library 
was an office in which they were printed. Nothing could be more 
simple than the method of printing which I saw practised. On a 
piece of wood about two feet square, carved into the necessary 
characters, and covered with ink, a thin paper was laid, which having 
been pressed down by the hand, received the desired impression. 
The use of moveable types in wood is confined to the printing of 
the Pekin Gazette and a few other periodical works. All others are 
