Ancestral worship (of which I shall say more hereafter) is a part of the religion of the Chinese which prompts even the poorest people to care for and keep in good condition the graves of their household. Only the better or more wealthy classes, however, put up tombstones to mark the spot; and none but the mandarins, or those well to do in the world, build the elaborate tombs of the Greek-letter form. On our arrival at Hong Kong the Chinese population were in the midst of their New Year festivities, during which all classes cease their occupations, and for some days indulge in mirth and enjoyment. One day during this festival we witnessed a very extraordinary game of shuttlecock played before some Chinese houses on the Queen’s Road, by young men, who, with marvellous skill, used their feet for battledores. Dr. Williams, in his “Middle Kingdom,” says that “the evidences of the approach of this chief festival appear some weeks previous; when a general cleaning of houses, boats, and garments takes place, and all accounts are settled and debts paid. On its arrival, the whole population throw off the old year with a shout, and clothe themselves in the new with their change of garments.” At this festive season, also, the boat-people decorate their little floating houses with bright-colored papers, on many of which are printed prayers addressed to their deities. These papers, which were arranged so as to flutter in the wind, together with the bright-colored lanterns and paper-flowers, which are also frequently used in the decorations, give the boats a very gay appearance. It was said that a thousand of these ornamented boats were lying at Sanpan Bay when we visited it. They were closely moored in tiers, side by side, reaching far out into the waters, while papers of brilliant hues were floating from their oars, helms, and also from the tops of their little mat-covered cabins. FOOTNOTES: [7] A general term for the enclosed grounds about the houses of foreigners. [8] Foreigners, not speaking the Chinese language, in their intercourse with the natives make use of a _patois_, called Canton, or pigeon (business) English. [9] “Fightee,” and “chop-chop,” both mean quick, directly, immediately. [10] A single _cash_, which is equal to one farthing, is the smallest fractional part of the Chinese currency. [11] So called because it is the principal mooring place, and is, in fact, a floating village of little boats, called “sanpans,” in which the Chinese fishermen and boat-people live. It is one of the numerous bights with which the coast of Hong Kong is indented. CHAPTER VI. A small English steamer, called the _Feema_, or _Flying Horse_, was plying between Hong Kong and Macao, and wishing to visit some friends living at the latter place, instead of directly going to our own home at Whampoa, we took passage on the 2d of February and proceeded thither.