(FRox OUR OWN corrEsPoNDENT.)
'THE RICE FLEET, During the past few weeks the great annual event of this quiet city has taken place, viz:, the passage of the Imperial rice boats on their way to Peking, with the attendant excitement so dear to the Chinese heart, of gong-beating and cracker firing and the display of many-coloured bunting. The full number of boats required by law is about 950—18 pany p of 53 boats each. A host of officials accompanies the expedition. Ten pang of boats carry rice from north of the River, 8 pany from south of the River, Most of the Kiangpeh rice is loaded at. Fan: hui (7K) in Paoyinghien (ER A hitch occurred in loading the boats owing to the officials in charge, it is said, trying to buy the rice at less than the customary price, and at least a quarter of the fleet was delayed a fortnight behind the other boats in reaching this city.
SNAKE WORSHIP, The passage of the rice boats through the chieh (ff), or sluice, at this -city was marked by the usual snake worship, which takes place annually at the neigh? bouring Taiwang temple, The priests say that at this season several of the Tai-wang worthies, who are supposed to preside over the Grand Canal, come down'the Canal in the form of acertain kind of snake which is caught and put in glass cases in the temple and worshipped by the Tsaotai and by multitudes of people. Theatricals are held for several weeks in honour of these snake gods, of which 20 or more are often placed in the temple. The Chinese are pretty well hardened in idolatry but this snake worship is so grovelling that it even makes the staunchest idolater wince a little. The people know that it isa wretched deception, hey are aware that many of the so-called Taiwangs are procured by the peddlers in order to continue the theatricals longer and make trade brisker in peanuts and tobacco smoking. A "trick of the trade!" We venture to commend this enlightened feature of Buddhism to, Western admirers, who are too acute and philosophic to accept Christian miracles, and yet can bolt whole the camel of heathen superstition! The Theosophists would find in this worship a very edifying addition to their crazy patchwork of ideas which they are pleased to dub a religion.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.