Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 54

1850.

Letter from B. J. Bettelheim.

31

"I yesterday received your letter. You went to see the IIú-kwoh (Country-protecting) monastery, and found it in all respects commo- dious and suitable for a residence. You do not speak now of removing to another lodging, but you request us to remove the gods of the temple and place them outside of it. But the abbot of this monastery has told me, in relation to removing these gods, that on his previous humble application you permitted them to remain as heretofore. Now this temple is the place of prayer for the whole country, and cou- sequently of the utmost importance. In case you should remain long in it, there would be much inconvenience. I beg you to wait till an- other day, when I will choose a place, and let you know, that you can move. I send this short note, respectfully hoping you are happy; this is all I have to say. Hiáng Yung-páu, treasurer of Chungshún fú. May 8th, 1846. An important communication."

I accordingly deemed it best to drop the matter, and confine my- self to the adoption of means by which the idolatry, of which I could not bear to remain a witness, would be effectually stopped. First, I declared that the exhalations of fresh flowers at night were noxious, and most so in a bed-room; and the idols had of course to do without them. But the bonze, though he had of his own accord, found him- self a lodging out of the house, still regularly visited the gods, till an event happened, which, by its immediate consequences, appeared to have lessened his attachment for his temple. One night, something moved so fiercely up and down the paper partition that separated the gods from the rest of the bed-room, and which was close to the head of our bed, that we were greatly alarmed, not doubting it to be a ser- pent, of which we were told some lodged themselves in the lofts of houses. As soon as the day broke, we had the partition opened, and all our todzies armed with sticks, made a strict examination, but in

vain.

On the bonze being called and informed of the event, he wished for a tablet to be brought from the temple, to write a charm on, which would be sure to frighten away the serpent. But I maintained I would never become a party to any such thing, and as I came there to teach the nation that all their idols and charms are follies, I could by no means permit them to suppose I had any trust in similar nonsense, The bouze still insisted, and a large red table having golden letters, was taken out for hiin, on the back of which the cabalistic scrap was

There is a small shrine in front of our residence.