estone is a material very difficult to work, and in
many cases the result attained is not worth the labour expended upon
it. It is more a _tour de force_ than a work of art. For a good stone,
green as grass (as it ought to be), they ask from 2,500 to 3,000
dollars; for a necklace of beads, 5,000 dollars; a set of mandarin's
buttons, one large and one small, 50 to 150 dollars.

After looking in at the goldbeaters at work, we next made our way to
the temple of the Five Genii who are supposed to have founded the city
of Canton. Being a Tartar temple, all the gods have a totally
different cast of features, and are represented as Tartars with long
beards. It is much frequented by women of all classes, and up and down
the numerous flights of steps leading from one shrine to another, poor
little women tottered and tumbled on their crippled feet, holding on
to one another, or leaning on a stick. This temple is interesting as
having been the head-quarters of the allied forces during their
occupation of Canton from 1858 to 1861. The great bell in front of its
principal shrine has been broken by a shot.

We then went to see the Flowery Pagoda, built A.D. 512, but now
deprived of many of its decorations. The Brilliant Pagoda too, so
called from having once been covered with snow-white porcelain, is now
only a tall brick-pointed tower nine stories high.

By this time we all felt hungry, and began to wend our way towards the
_yamun_. On the outskirts may be seen prisoners in chains, or wearing
the _cangue_, imprisoned in a cage, or else suffering one of the
numerous tortures inflicted in this country. I did not go to see any
of these horrors, neither did I visit the execution ground; but some
of the party did, and described it as a most horrible sight. Skulls
were lying about in all directions, one of which had been quite
recently severed from its trunk, the ground being still moist and red.

Whilst luncheon was being prepared we were taken over many of the
rooms and through several of the enclosures within the fortified gate.
The meal was excellently served by Chinese servants in a charmingly
picturesque Tartar room, and after it we wandered about the park,
looked at the deer, and admired the Nagasaki bantams. Then it was time
to start on a fresh sight-seeing expedition, armed with fresh
directions. We set out first to the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha,
where there is a large, fat, reclining figure; then to the Temple of
Horrors