The group, which (it must be admitted) appeared somewhat bores with proceedings which had continued almost unceasingly for several days. stood of knelt around the {ables, droning the masses, or beating little Wooden knockers; neither costumes or furnishings of the platform seemed to be very Unusual. Possibly our party, however, did not devote an adequate amount of attention to this ceremony, {for at the time our attention was pezforce given to maintaining our fect In the midst of the mob packed around this platform!
It we had experienced dimiculty before, now our position appeared almes! dangerous, The crowd had probably gazed ils fil upon the plat Form, snd was hot and restless, for every few seconds a wave of pushing would sweep over it, followed by a Feaetion as the annoyed stalwarts on tthe other side returned the compliment. An officer at one and of the plalfcrm could be heard rapping out Angry commands, but received little attention, When those nearest its per~ fecived the "foreign devils" and the Jnews. of our presence spread the shoving-process (good-natured but somewhat rough) was augmented if anything, and for a few minutes our retire efforts were bent upon making '2 dignified and nonchalant, but hurried, exit from the crowd." This was more "atmosphere" than the ladies of our party had bargained for!
Once free from the more sardine-like portion of the throng, we completed the circuit of the "cathedral," "hoting Ghat {ho "hells" lining the other wall were less intimidating and more bearable for the victims at the judgment seats. We also inspected two huge decorated bamboo pagoda-shaped structures which ascended from the earth floor in the centre of the hall, pierced the ceiling, and rose toa height of 100 feet (visible through the Ietllce work covering the central court), dwarfed only by the main [Hower over the entrance.
At this point we were fortunate enough to. make contact with an English-speaking gentleman connected with Ue Hospital, who was kind enough to guide us during the next our. Reluctantly we left the magiflthe assemblage of matsheds, themselves of no inconsiderable size, in which the more earnest duties of the worshippers were being carried on. Access to these buildings was gained through runways down which visitors wore admitted every few minutes by [groups of fifty or so, in order that the onrush of humanity would not swamp the more restricted floor space.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.