PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
491 
Their heads were shaved, similar to those of the Bodzes in China. CHAP. 
I am not aware in what this practice originated, but as an observer I 
could not help noticing that the same operation is performed on the May, 
heads of criminals, or of persons who are disgraced in China ; and from 
I’Abbe Grosier it appears to be considered a similar disgrace in Loo 
Choo*. 
I endeavoured to distribute amongst the inhabitants some reli- 
gious books which Dr. Morrison had given me in China, but there was 
a very great repugnance among the better part of the community to 
suffer them even to be looked into, much less to being carried away ; 
and several that were secretly taken on shore by the lower orders were 
brought back the next day. However, I succeeded in disposing of a 
few copies, and Mr. Lay, I am glad to find, was equally fortunate with 
some which he also obtained from the same gentleman. 
It has been shown in the course of the narrative that the present 
manner of disposing of the dead differs from that described by Pi^re 
Gaubil, who says they burn the flesh of the deceased, and preserve the 
bones. It Is not improbable that the custom may have changed, and 
that there is no mistake in the statement, as there is no reason to doubt 
the veracity of the Chinese author whom he quotes. 
They pay every possible attention and respect to their departed 
friends by attending strictly to their mourning, frequently visiting the 
tombs, and in supplying the cups and other vessels placed there with 
tea, and the lamps with oil, for a certain time after the bodies are 
deposited, and by keeping the tombs exceedingly neat and clean. We 
have frequently seen persons attending these lamps, and Lieutenant 
Wainwright noticed an old man strewing flowers and shells upon a 
newly made grave, which he said contained his son, and watching several 
sticks of incense as they burned slowly down to the earth in which they 
Were fixed. 
The trade of this island is almost entirely confined to Japan, China, 
and Formosa; Manilla is known as a commercial country, and it is 
recorded that a vessel has made the voyage to Malacca. In China 
* Description de la Chine, vol. ii. p. 143. 
3 R 2 
