burning incense rose columns of fragrant smoke. The inmates of the house and
their friends were all clothed in their best attire, and came in turn to ko-too, or
bow lowly and repeatedly in front of the table and the altar. “The scene,” says
our authority, “although it was an idolatrous one, seemed to me to have
something very impressive about it, and whilst I pitied the delusion of our host
and his friends, I could not but admire their devotion. In a short time after this
ceremony was completed a large quantity of tinsel paper, made up in the form
and shape of the ingots of Sycee silver common in China, was heaped on the
floor in front of the tables, the burning incense was then taken from the table and
placed in the midst of it, and the whole consumed together. By-and-by, when the
gods were supposed to have finished their repast, all the articles of food were
removed from the tables, cut up, and consumed by people connected with the
family.”
On another occasion, Mr. Fortune, when at Ning-po, having been abroad all day,
did not return to the city until nightfall. The city gates were closed, but, on
knocking, he was admitted by the warder. Passing into the widest and finest
street in the city, he observed a blaze of light and a general liveliness very
unusual in any Chinese town after dark. The sounds of music fell upon his ear,
the monotonous beat of the drum and gong, and the more pleasing and varied
tones of several wind instruments. On approaching nearer he discovered that a
public offering was being made to the gods, and it proved to be a more striking
scene than he could have anticipated. The table was spread in the open street,
and all the preparations were on a large and expensive scale. Instead of small
dishes, whole animals were sacrificed. On one side of the table was placed a pig,
on the other a sheep; the former, scraped clean in the usual fashion, the latter
skinned; of both the entrails had been removed, and on both were placed
flowers, an onion, and a knife. The other parts of the table “groaned” with the
delicacies in vogue among the more respectable Chinese, such as fowls, ducks,
numerous compound dishes, fruits, vegetables, and rice. At one end of the table,
when the gods were supposed to sit during the meal, chairs were set; and
chopsticks were laid in order by the side of every dish. The whole place glared
with light, and wreaths of incense filled the air with sweet odours. At intervals,
bands of musicians struck up the favourite national airs, which are all of a
plaintive cast, and altogether the scene was a strange and curious revelation of
human superstition.[35]