May 6th.-IVth moon 14th day. also called Latung ping.
May 7th.-IVth moon, 15th day, May 9th.-IVth moon, 17th day. their children have the small pox.
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Lushin yángshing, one of the eight gen ii
Chung-lí tsú-sz', one of the eight genii. Kin-hwa fú.jin; women worship her when
May 10th.-IVth moon, 18th day. Wa.to siensz', a celebrated physician, spoken of in the Sán Kwoh Chí; worshiped by the sick.
May 12th.-IVth moon, 20th day. Yen-kwáng Shing-mú, Holy Mother of Bright eyes, a goddess worshiped by the blind, and those who have diseased eyes. May 20th.-IVth moon, 28th day. Yoh Wáng, king of Medicine; the Escula- pius of Chinese mythology.
June 24th.-Vth moon, 5th day. Festival of dragon boats, called in Chinese, Twán-wu or Twán-yáng, and also Tien-chung. On this day, many people race backwards and forwards, in long narrow boats, which being variously painted and ornamented so as to resemble dragons, are called lung chuen, 'dragon boats.' From the narrowness of the boats, and the number of persons on board, there being sometimes from sixty to eighty paddles, it not unfrequently happens that several of the boats break in two; so that the festivities seldom conclude without loss of several lives. Tradesmen's accounts are cleared off at this period.
June 30th.-Vth moon, 1st day. Nán-kih Tá-tí, the Great Ruler of the South pole; a god of the Rationalists.
July 25th.-VIth moon, 6th day. Sai í-fuh, festival of airing clothes.
August 1st.-VIth moon, 13th day. Lú-pán, the god of carpenters and ma- sons. Tsing-shin lung-wang, god of wells and dragon.king, worshiped by sailors and others, to avert calamity and storms.
August 4th.-VIth moon, 16th day. Wángling kwánshing; a deified states. man worshiped for averting punishment.
August 7th.-VIth moon, 19th day. Assumption of Kwányin; she ascends to heaven.
Aug. 11th.-VIth moon, 23d day. God of fire born. This deity is frequently propitiated by exhibitions of plays. In China there are no regular theatres. Sheds are erected in the streets, and a platform being raised about four feet above the ground, the spectators all stand in the street in front. The expenses are paid by private subscription, usually, of several merchants, Gentlemen have them also at their own houses, where in some instances there are substantial buildings erected for the performance of the players, and the accommodation of persons invited to see the play. Even in this case, an open space is left for the free ad- mission of the people. Also Kwán shing tái tí, god of War born; Má wáng-shing, the god of horses, worshiped to avert disease from horses, and by horsemen to be- come skillful in equestrian exercises.
Aug. 18th.-VIIth moon, 1st day. Sháu-í, or burning clothes festival. At this period, which lasts fifteen days, clothes made of various colored papers are burnt, that they may so pass to the invisible world, for the benefit of deceased relatives. Prayers also are recited and food offered, chiefly for those who have been drowned at sea. This festival is much observed by the people of Fuhkien province. The custom arises from a tradition respecting a young man who obtain. ed admission to Tartarus, and brought his mother from thence.
Aug. 24th.-VIIth moon, 7th day. Sháng kung sien nu, the female genii of the seven palaces descend; a festival observed by women, who worship these fairies to avert disease, and get skill in domestic work.
Sep. 8th--VIIth moon, 22d day. Tsang-fuh Tsái-shin, god of happiness and wealth; placed in niches at the doors of shops.
Sep. 10th.-VIIth moon, 24th day. Tú ching hwáng shing, festival of the municipal deity, worshiped by officers and people; he might be termed the palla- dium deity, as he has a temple in every city in China.
Sep. 16th.-VIIth moon, 30th day.
worshiped for remission of sins.
Tí-tsang wang shing, a deified Budhist,
Sep. 17th.-VIIIth moon, 1st day. Autumn festival commences. This festival continues from the 1st to the 16th of the moon; during which period families
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