" In the province of Fo-kien is a famous port called Hiamen, or Emouy. Here is a celebrated temple dedi cated to Fo. It stands on a plain by the sea coast, and at the foot of a high mountain. The front of this building is 180 feet in length, and the gate is ornamented with figures in relief. Immediately within the entrance is a large portico, having an altar in the middle, on which is a gigantic figure of Fo, made of brass, gilt, sitting cross legged. At the corners of this portico arc four other statues in a sitting form, 18 feet high, each of which is formed of one entire stone. One of them holds a serpent, which is twisted in different folds round his body; ano ther has a bow and quiver; the third has a battle-axe; and the fourth a musical instrument, resembling a gui tar. Next to this portico is a square outer court, paved with stones of a grey colour, the least of which is 10 feet long, and 4 broad. There is a pavilion on each side of this court, with a dome at the top, which communicate with each other by a gallery. In one of these pavilions is a bell 10 feet in diameter; in the other is an enormous drum, with which the Bonzes proclaim the new and full moon. The Chinese bells are struck on the outside with wooden hammers. The two other pavilions are appro priated to the use of the Bonzes, who are obliged to en tertain all travellers that come hither.
" In the middle of this court is a tower, round which winds a stone staircase, that leads to a temple, the dome of which is adorned with Mosaic work, and the walls with stone figures in relief, of animals and monsters. The roof is supported by pillars of varnished wood. The pavement is composed of shells, so placed as to re present birds, insects, flowers," &c.
" In this temple is an altar, on which incense is always burning, and the lamps are always lighted. At one cud of the altar is an urn of brass, which emits a mournful sound on being struck ; and opposite to it is a wooden machine of an oval form, and hollow ; and both are de signed to accompany the voices of the Bonzes, in cele brating the praises of their idol. This deity is called Poussa, whose image stands on the altar, holding an in fant in his arms; several inferior deities are ranged round him in respectful attitudes. On the wall are hierogly phical characters in praise of the idol ; and among others is a painting in fresco, representing a burning lake, in which several persons appear to be swimming, some borne by monsters, and others guarded by dragons and winged serpents. Out of the lake rises a rock, on which sits the god, holding a child, who seems to call to the men in the lake, who arc prevented from ascending the rock by an old man, having hanging cars and horns on his head, and who keeps them off by a large club. The Bonzes are themselves ignorant of the meaning of this piece.
"Leaving the tower, we cross the court into a gallery, containing 24 statues of Chinese philosophers ; and at the end is a dining hall for the Bonzes. After passing through a large apartment, we enter the temple of Fo, which is decorated with vases, filled with artificial flow ers; but the idol is veiled by a deep curtain of black gauze. On the declivity of the mountain arc several
gardens; and numerous pleasant grottos are cut out in the rock." Pp. 20, 21, and 22, of Introduction.
In the further account of the embassy, we are inform ed, " they stopped to breakfast at a village near Pekin. The inn in which they were refreshed was not like those in England. It had neither elegance or ornament ; but the rooms, though small, were neat and cool. All kinds of refreshments were produced. The party were anxious to discover the capital ; but no scats or villas announced its appearance. At last they came to one of the eastern suburbs. They passed through a paved street, full of manufacturers, shop-keepers, and purchasers. The par ty were about a quarter of an hour passing through this suburb, when they came before the walls of Pekin. The ambassador's arrival was announced by the firing of guns ; and refreshments were provided for the suite, at a rest ing place inside of the gate. The walls near it were pav ed with stone, but in other places with brick. Over the gate was a high watch-tower of several stories, each hav ing sham port-holes painted on them. Outside of the gate was a semicircular wall, having a lateral gate, which, bearing a resemblance to the European plan of fortifica tion, is probably a late addition. The walls of the city were about 40 feet high. The parapet was deeply crena ted, but without regular embrazures, nor were any can non seen on the walls; but in the mertons, there were loop-holes for archery. At the base, the walls were about 20 feet thick ; and across the terepleine, on which stood the parapet, 12. The outside of the wall, though not quite perpendicular, was smooth, but the inside sloped considerably; the rows of bricks, of which it is built, be ing ranged like steps, one above and behind the other. Square towers flanked the outside of the walls, the dis tance between each being about 60 yards, and the pro jection of the curtain between them 40 or 50 feet. Many horsemen might ride abreast on the ramparts, the ascent to which is by slopes of earth NVithillSide.
" On the entrance of this city, it appeared different from those of Europe, the streets of which are frequent ly so narrow, and the houses so high, that at one end of a street, the houses at the other seem to lean, and to bear towards those opposite. Here the houses were mostly of one story, and none above two, while the street itself was much above 100 feet in breadth. It exhibited also a gay and jovial appearance. As the street had no pavement, water was thrown upon it, to allay the dust. Across it stood a good building, called het c Pailoo, which has been erroneously rendered a triumphal arch ; it was built en tirely of wood, and consisted of three gateways, the larg est of which is in the middle; over these were three roofs, one above another, highly adorned. The design of this structure was expressed by large characters, painted and gilt on the uprights and transoms. They are erected to celebrate particular persons, or some iinpor taut events.