The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 7, July, 1881 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 7, July, 1881Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 35, No. 7, July, 1881
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
The people of China are great superstitious; they believe every
things whatever chance to hear or think. Let me tell you how some
of the people doing when any of the family getting sick: They have
a doctor, but they think some kind of spirit troubling them, it may
chance their ancient father or friends or enemies who died before.
They think they must offer something for them to eat that they
may go away, or some times they go into the temple to pray to the
idols. They hope the idols may tell what are the reason with the
sick that they find out how they may do and get well. How the idols
can tell them? Let me make known to you: A piece of wood has been
smoothen in the shape of a banana and cut in equal size the longest
way. This they throw down before the idols that they may give a
certain condition according which they request before; may be they
say: If this is the spirit of an enemy let this pieces of wood fall
both the same way, or some other way, they may choose, till they
find out what is the matter and offer sacrifice that the spirit may
leave off troubling and let the sick get well. The thief can pray
the idols that he may get help to steal! The gambler can ask that
he may win the money; the robber that he may be able to get what
he wishing for. If any kind of business going to be taken up the
idols must first be asked about it. Every one is sure to say, “Now,
idols, if you help me good, I going to bring you something nice to
eat when I get success.”
When I was coming over to Cal., suddenly a storm came up, the wind
violent sweeping over the great ocean; the water dashing high upon
the boat. The sailors all at work to make the ship more safe. The
passengers all trembling with fear and desperate to arrive in San
Francisco. Is there any chance to be rescued from the storm? Yes,
soon there was heard one of our number calling: “Whosoever man
in this ship have any money let us have some of it, that we may
sacrifice to the goddess of the sea that she may deliver us out of
the storm and let us arrive safe to the land of Cal.” I had a small
sum of money. I gave half of it; others gave also. The man cast it
into the water and asked the goddess that she let no harm come to
us, and we promise more sacrifice if we get here.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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