s, and
beverages. These provisions, having been left for some hours on the
tombs, were partly consumed by the family of the deceased, some was
offered to the spectators, and the rest carried away. Roasted fowls,
which had been kept whole on purpose, were, however, left behind by
some; for what purpose I could not ascertain. These travelled Chinese
had got over many of their national prejudices, and very politely
offered Newman and me some of the good things; of which we partook with
no little satisfaction, though, as my companion observed, a cemetery was
an odd place to pic-nic in.

Movable theatres were erected on one side of the cemetery, and temples
had been built on the plain below. These temples are large saloons,
ornamented with grotesque and antique statues, especially those
representing Josi in the midst of his family. Josi, a disciple of
Confucius, and afterwards his most confidential friend, rose from the
dregs of the people, and became the greatest legislator of his nation.
After the death of Confucius, the emperor banished him; so he retired in
the bosom of his family to the low state from which he had sprung, where
he declared that he enjoyed far more true happiness than he had ever
done in his exalted position. To him and his benignant laws the Chinese
are indebted for the preservation of their manners, customs, and dress.
He is always represented in his retirement after his labours for the
public good were concluded. We had here, as Newman observed, an example
of the way in which the ancients deified their great men, and learned to
worship them.

Opposite each idol were burning red wax tapers, of different sizes, and
matches of incense. An altar or table covered with dainties stood in
the middle of the temple, surrounded by idols; and in a room behind it
was another altar, surmounted with a statue of Josi. An old bonze or
priest of venerable aspect, with a long white beard, stood up, reciting
some prayers in a low voice. He had on his head a white straw-hat, in
the shape of a cone. On the top of it was a little ball of gold, and
behind a small tuft of red silk. He kept continually bowing with great
regularity, and every now and then let fall a piece of wood like a
ruler, which he as often picked up again. He was habited in a tunic of
transparent violet silk, with a girdle of twisted silk ornamented with
gold; and to it were attached the instruments required for the ceremony.
Over this he wo