This alarmed me; I did not know what portended. I bowed very low, and humbly craved permission to take my leave. I really feared punishment--perhaps of the _Cangue_, or pan-tsee. I afterwards knew, no more than the reproof of the High-Bonze was imminent; though, had the common people caught a _pagan Chinee_ who had dared to speak, in their notion, disrespectfully of their Idols, he would be fortunate to have no worse treatment than a _ducking in a horse-pond_ [phu-it-mu-dsi-wo]. What but slow progress is to be expected when a people--even the _Literati_--are so superstitious? for the errors there, make obstacles everywhere. It is but just now that nearly the whole population of the province of Ireland (one-third of the kingdom) have been relieved from maintaining the English Idolatry, though they detested it. The intolerance of the devotees prevents better men from reforming abuses, even in the Temples. If a Priest dare to moderate the excessive absurdities of the Superstition, he at once endangers his _Living_, and is likely to be degraded and driven forth to neglect and poverty. I, myself, knew a Wise Priest of rank, who very innocently published some comments upon the _Sacred Writings_, wherein he showed that the statements as they stood were simply impossible. Now, as I have said, the _Sacred Writings_ are worshipped; and to doubt that they are the words of Jah is horrible--formerly punished by death, now by degradation, _excommunication_, and loss of revenue. This poor man did not express any doubt; he merely pointed out an error, which might be there _somehow_, and which he thought, in his simplicity, should be removed or explained. But the _Canon_ [ban-gwo] of the Superstition allowed of no comment of that sort as to the Word of Jehovah! and cursed out of the Temples, with his Priest-robe torn off, and his money stript from him, the daring _blasphemer_ [zw-an] must go!