From THe "NoRru-CHINA Dairy News," or Marcu 29, 1878
From Hongkong: Referring to the sale of the Peacock's feather decoration, which has been adopted as a means for raising money to aid the terrible famine that is now raging in the north of China, "China Mail" Says that a Mandarin came to Hongkong the other day with 20 certificates of Imperial, authority, And they, were eagerly be up by nese Sibi? Bere, "chiefly those from Chinchow and Fokien. The "Mail" was fold that had the Mandarin imported 300 instead of 30, he would have found Very ready buyers; but suggests ihe Sale should be placed in the hands of a licensed auctioneer, since the demand is £0. great. This decoration was originally instituted for the reward of meritorious service on the battle-field, somewhat akin at first to the Victoria Cross, but gradually its value has been much depreciated by the frequency of its conference within late years, the internal rebellions rendering the award necessary. The order underwent a suh greater depreciation in honour and Value when the straightened circum-Stances of the country rendered it necessary to sell the privilege of wearing the decoration in order to raise money to meet the eX of putting down the rebellion in Yunnan. Since then the sale of this order of merit has teen rescinded and its value has risen in proportion to the restriction. In View of the great necessity for funds to relieve the fi m people up North, the system of sale has now been revived, and the price for the privilege of' wearing the Peacock's feather now ranges from Tls. 1,500 to 500, according to the rank of the purchaser. The Chinese Festival of the Ancestral Tombs is about to begin, and housekeepers must pre themselves pons blibstions. from their servants o go home to "chin-chin" the graves of the departed. The proper day is the Sth imo, but the ceremony is kept up considerably before and after that Interesting discoveries have recently been made at the Baharia Oasis, which Fakhry Effendi, Chief Inspec-for of the Middle Egypt. has been investigating on behalf of the Egyptian Government. Three temples of the time of Amasis IL—569-525 B.C.—have been discovered. Amasis LI. was the 5th King of the 26th dynasty, states the "Daily Telegraph and Morning Post."
In one of the temples there are two big halls, the walls of which contain drawings showing the King, accompanied by his priests, making offerings to the gods, and other ceremonies. The inscriptions throw an important new light on the oasis as it was in those times and on the gods worshipped, The temple doors were closed with stones and mud. The indications are that the temples were closed during the Roman period, probably after the arrival of Christianity in Egypt, since the statuary and the vases are in many cases disfigured.
Among the statues is one in limestone of the cat-headed goddess, Bast. The head of this is broken.
Another is of King Amasis IL in copper, the head being covered with gold.
The other two temples, although built by members of the same dynasty, differ greatly in design and decoration. One shows on its walls scenes of more important religious rites, including the legendary resurrection of Osiris. AIL the inscriptions are notable for their excellent workmanship, and most of the colours are well-preserved.
In an adjacent village there are remains of tombs of the 19th as well as the 26th dynasties.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.