architecture, and decorated with grotesque monsters, intended to represent dragons and lions.

Beside these principal buildings, there are others situated on each side of the inclosed space, employed as cells for lodging, a dining apartment, idol halls, a printing room, pens for animals, and whatever is necessary for the support of their worship and themselves. Their library contains books of many sizes and forms, chiefly prayers untranslated from the Pali, or sacred language.

No free-will offering to their gods is considered more acceptable than living domestic animals, liberally supported until death. These are most carefully preserved and feasted, until choked with fat, or worn but with age.

The eyes of some of the hogs are entirely concealed ; a deep crevice designates the place of their interment.

The whole number of priests belonging to the establishment, is between one and two hundred. There is evidently a great distinction in rank among them. Some are respectable in appearance, and much respected-others are clothed in rags, and beg along the streets of Canton.

We saw about seventy engaged in their daily devotions, in one of the largest halls. The youngest was perhaps twelve years of age, and the eldest passing threescore and ten. They were all dressed in their robes, and spent about an hour in droning their cabalistic words, aided and timed by the beat of metal vessels. During the hour, they passed through the different attitudes of kneeling, knocking their heads,

standing, bowing, and walking in single file around the hall.

The whole spectacle was calculated to impress a feeling heart with compassion. It was deeply affect- . ing to see so many, apparently in the last stage of this probationary existence, trusting to a delusion which had impressed its own unmeaningness upon their countenances, while the younger ones were early imbibing the same stupefying lesson.

In all our rambles through the country and villages of Honam, there has been nothing to discourage the hope, that, if capable of communicating with the natives, we might tax our strength to the utmost, in teaching them the “glad tidings of great joy."

For some days after our arrival, we were visited by crowds of merchants and mechanics, whose object none could mistake.

Of course, their principal business is with our mercantile fellow passengers. They generally understand a little English ; but their vocabulary is so limited and corrupt, that it is at first impossible to comprehend their meaning. With the exception of two or three, who have spent some time in England or America, there is probably not one of their number, to whom, even simple ideas expressed in correct diction, would be intelligible. There must be a system of mutual accommodation, or nothing can be done with them.

Some of the most familiar vocables in this strange compound, belong neither to correct Chinese, English, nor Portuguese, but are a corruption of each, with an admixture of a few other words, said, by philologists, to be traceable to no language, living or dead. Many

of our syllables have sounds to which their organs of speech have never been trained, and consequently, when uttered by them, they appear so unlike themselves, as not to be recognized by their old and best acquaintance.

Their own idiom is retained in some cases, and a literal translation of words attempted, which, from the great difference of structure and figurative allusion in the two languages, would frequently convey to the mind of a novice, any idea as readily as the one intended.

The appearance of these men, and in fact, of the Chinese in general, both male and female, differs, in some respects, from my preconceived notions. Those peculiarities which are the most striking to the stranger, are the great variety of complexion, the general flatness of face, and uniformity of features, and especially the strange formation of the eye, not only with its internal angle curved, as noticed by writers, but with the lid in many cases so small, as to appear unadapted to its natural use. This last peculiarity is most remarkable among children. The lid appears unnaturally distended when the eye is open; at the same time it covers so much of the ball of the eye, as to produce the impression that the latter is uncomfortably confined. It is believed that ophthalmia, which is very common in the empire, is owing in a great measure to this peculiar conformation. With the exception of the occiput, the heads of the men are shaved; while in that region, if its luxuriance will admit, it is permitted to grow until it comes in contact with their heels. In this province it is worn in a pendant plait

--the cords with which it is interwoven, frequently supplying the deficiency of its length. It is quite a comment on fashion-"old custom,” as the Chinese term it-to associate with the popularity and prevalence of the one here described, the recency of its date, and the reproach of its origin. Upon the Tartar conquest, not two centuries ago, the Chinese were compelled to adopt this style of wearing their hair, as a mark of subjugation. Many considered it such a disgrace, that they preferred losing their heads to their hair. Now it has become an ornament, and a mark of proud distinction.

The girls wear the long plait, according to the fashion of the men, but do not shave the other parts of the head. After marriage, the hair is braided upon the head, and decked with a profusion of flowers and jewels, answering to the rank or means of the possessor. The ordinary style of dress differs but little in both

It consists of loose pantaloons, and an overgarment, or robe, varying in length from the knee to the ground, and with long dangling sleeves, which hang almost as low. Their girdles, like those of the Jews, frequently answer the purpose of purses. The stocking has no reference to the shape or size of the limb, and the shoe has a thick, clumsy sole, turning up in front, and destitute of elasticity to aid the step.

CHAPTER IV.

CHINA CONTINTED.

a

With these general remarks upon the country and its inhabitants, we pass on to a few of those incidents which occurred at the time, and which will assist in torming an idea of a residence in China.

Two facts, however, must be borne in mind: the one is, that the writer did not immediately enter upon the duties of a foreign missionary, but devoted the principal part of his time to those who spoke his own language at Canton and Whampoa. His first engagement was with the American Seamen's Society. The second consideration is, that during his residence at Canton he knew nothing of the language, and was consequently unable to avail himself of those opportunities of usefulness, which were almost daily presented. This accounts for the dearth of that kind of intelligence which is found in most other missionary journals.

March 1st.—Yesterday, (Sabbath,) pursuant to public notice, which is generally hung up on a small board before the factory, divine service was performed in the large room of the building in which we reside. This is the place where Dr. Morrison has been in the habit of preaching for the last two seasons. A chapel attached to the factory occupied by the English compa