It seems to me, that very few of
the Chinese are aware of the fact, that this custom still exists among the
Taouists. In the rituals of the Taouists the _K'ow-ch'i_ (_Ko'w_ = 'to
knock against,'_ch'i_ = 'teeth') is prescribed as a comminatory and
propitiatory act. It is effected by the four upper and lower foreteeth.
The Taouists are obliged before the service begins to perform a certain
number of '_K'ow-ch'i_, turning their heads alternately to the left and to
the right, in order to drive away mundane thoughts and aggressions of bad
spirits. The _K'ow-ch'i_ repeated three times is called _ming fa ku_ in
Chinese, i.e. 'to beat the spiritual drum.' The ritual says, that it is
heard by the Most High Ruler, who is moved by it to grace.

"M. Polo observed this custom among the lay heathen. Indeed, it appears
from a small treatise, written in China more than a hundred years before
M. Polo, that at the time the Chinese author wrote, all devout men,
entering a temple, used to perform the _K'ow-ch'i_, and considered it an
expression of veneration and devotion to the idols. Thus this custom had
been preserved to the time of M. Polo, who did not fail to mention this
strange peculiarity in the exterior observances of the Chinese. As regards
the present time it seems to me, that this custom is not known among the
people, and even with respect to the Taouists it is only performed on
certain occasions, and not in all Taouist temples." (_Palladius_, pp.
53-54.)--H. C.]

NOTE 4.--"True politeness cannot of course be taught by rules merely, but
a great degree of urbanity and kindness is everywhere shown, whether owing
to the naturally placable disposition of the people, or to the effects of
their early instruction in the forms of politeness." (_Mid. Kingdom_, II.
68.) As regards the "ornate style of speech," a well-bred Chinaman never
says _I_ or _You_, but for the former "the little person," "the disciple,"
"the inferior," and so on; and for the latter, "the learned man," "the
master," or even "the emperor." These phrases, however, are not confined
to China, most of them having exact parallels in Hindustani courtesy. On
this subject and the courteous disposition of the Chinese, see _Fontaney_,
in _Lett. Edif._ VII. 287 seqq.; also XI. 287 seqq.; _Semedo_, 36;
_Lecomte_, II. 48 seqq. There are, however, strong differences of opinion
expressed on this subject; there is, apparently, much more genuine
courtesy in the north than in the sou