170 
OP TITE RELIGION OF SASSAIC, 
obliged to depart two days before the festival properly so called. T bey 
built an entirely new city where the great ceremonies were to be per¬ 
formed. The Rdjas, gustis, idas &c., had each their house there. 
They made images of all kinds and sizes, in pasteboard and wood. On 
the last day of the feast they bring them in grand procession to the sea 
shore, and cast them into the sea under a salute of cannons and mus¬ 
kets and the noise of a hellish music. Every one receives and bes¬ 
tows presents, and above all the priests. They do nothing but dance, 
eat, drink and look at the wctyangs. The Rajas had forbidden 
any cattle, poultry or other animals to be sold to the shipping from 
the fear that during the feast want might be felt. Mr. K. told me 
that the feast would cost the Rajas more than 150,000 florins, and 
that they would consume more than 30 piculs of gunpowder for 
the salutes during the processions. The number of animals that 
would require to be slaughtered to serve as offerings, and afterwards 
as food for the priests and the assistants, is almost incredible. The 
first offering of all is the rhinoceros which the R&ja had receiv¬ 
ed from the Government. This animal was killed the day after its 
arrival. They may not at these celebrations make any use of offer¬ 
ings of the flesh of an animal that has died a natural death. An d 
because the first rhinoceros which was sent died soon after his arri¬ 
val, the second one was killed immediately, lest the same event should 
recur. When the feast is ended they burn the town, which is only 
built for it. 
