JOSS, THE MYSTEBY. 
243 
smouldering in trays, bamboo boxes, with bundles 
of small sticks, on the end of which are inscribed 
certain cabalistic characters, surround the figure. At 
certain hours in the morning the temple becomes 
sacred. It is the hour of divination. Any one now 
about to undertake a journey or make a purchase, 
and desirous of knowing if he will arrive in safety 
or make a profitable investment, comes to Joss. 
He pays his obeisance by profoundly bowing and 
salaaming, then lights a certain number of matches 
or tapers, and makes a present ; after a while, 
when it is thought Joss is conciliated, the suppliant 
takes the box of marked sticks, and, after shaking 
them about, selects half a dozen and passes them to 
the priest, or Sheong-ti (son of heaven), in attend- 
ance, who refers to the book of mysteries, and there 
reads the will of Joss. If he is warned of misfor- 
tune, he forbears the journey, or declines the bargain, 
and waits for a more fortunate day. If Joss advises 
otherwise, and a good profit is the result, the happy 
merchant makes a substantial present. Joss is 
therefore (as will be seen) a fortune-teller, and 
nothing more, and Sheong-ti is only a sensible, 
cunning fellow, who prefers to live by the credulity 
of his neighbour rather than by the labour of his 
hands. 
Buddhist temples literally swarm over China. The 
officiating priests are consequently very numerous. 
The gods they worship are the three precious 
