TEMPLES. 
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beds and artificial rockeries, laid out with exquisite 
taste. Frequently we met men, children, and beauti- 
ful girls, amiable, winning, and full of gentleness, in 
light and gauzy costumes ; their hair tastefully drawn 
from off their forehead, and fastened with gold or 
silver pins in graceful knots on the crown. All 
seemed happy, talking, laughing, and smiling — their 
greetings and salutations assailed us wherever we 
went. 
Here and there, at the end of long avenues, were 
to be seen gorgeous temples embosomed amongst 
giant camphor and cedar trees ; standing about at 
their entrances were lazy -looking priests with shaven 
crowns, in robes of silk and transparent material. 
Sauntering up the shady walk, we ascend the steps and 
enter the sacred edifice dedicated to Buddha. The 
priest, for a few tempos , shows us all that is of interest. 
The floors are matted, the pillars lacquered and 
richly gilded. A large shrine, with a gilt image 
in its recess, gold and porcelain vases, lighted candles 
and tapers, surrounded by a forest of artificial flowers, 
at once attract our attention. In the rear are the 
imperial mausoleums, where lay the remains of Ty- 
coons of centuries past. Before leaving, we are 
reminded of the collecting boxes in various parts of 
the building, where the pious worshipper fails not to 
contribute a few “ cash,” not as an act of charity, 
but to provide the means by which the priest may 
be enabled to feed the hungry demons. 
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