This paved way brought us to the first portico; here we beheld, on huge granite pedestals, a colossal figure on each side, placed there to guard the entrance to the Temple of Buddha; the one on the right in entering is the warrior Chin, ke, and on the left is Ching, Lung.[41] After passing these terrific, colossal guards, we entered another somewhat similar court to the first, also planted with trees, and a granite foot-path, which led to one of the temples. At this time the priesthood were assembled, worshipping, chanting, striking gongs, arranged in rows, and frequently performing the _ko-tow_, in adoration of their gilded, senseless deity, of which a number of small and colossal figures, of the god Buddha, decorated a very handsome temple. The priesthood performed their devotions by themselves, for there was not a Chinese present at the worship; indeed the Chinese seem to have but little regard for religion; they visit the temples early in the morning to make their offerings before the idols, and perform the usual religious ceremonies at sunset, but apparently more as a custom, than from any sincere religious devotion. I have seen the parents visit the temples at an early hour in the morning, bringing their family to adore the idols with them, each carrying tapers and offerings. The ceremony of prostration, &c. was gone through in so mechanical a manner, as to leave but little or no doubt in the mind of the spectator, that it was observed rather as a custom descended to them from their forefathers, than as arising from any sense of religious feeling towards a superior and benevolent Deity. During a visit I made in company with Mr. Fearon to that picturesque and beautiful temple,[42] which is a subject of so much admiration, from its romantic situation, to all persons visiting Macao;[43] a parent came with a lad six or seven years old, and a tottering infant, with offerings, which being arranged in one of the small temples before the idol, the father performed the ceremony of prostration; the lad followed the example of his parent seemingly as a matter of course; the young, unexpanded mind of the infant did not understand the meaning of it, but stared at us, and then at its parent; the silence that prevailed corresponded with the solemnity that reigned in this sacred, romantic spot. I could not avoid reflecting at the time, that this infant would be brought to go mechanically through the pagan worship, to gaze on the tinsel and gaudiness of the temple and the gilded figure, before its mind had dawned; it would awake in fetters, and follow implicitly the custom of its forefathers, satisfied with their blind superstition and pagan ignorance.