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 48 Ling-Nam.

that in Canton there are five hundred families who hold to the faith of Mahomet, and are introduced to a portly individual with a jovial countenance, who tells us he has performed a pilgrimage to Mecea.

The next point of interest is the Temple of the Five Genii, one of the most remarkable historical structures in the city. It derives its name from the legend of the founding of the city, in which it is related that five genii, riding upon five rams, with clusters of the five cereals in their hands, appeared to the inhabitants of the place, and presenting to them the grain, with the wish that they might prosper and inultiply, suddenly disappeared. The rams were changed into stone on the spot, and, so the story runs, are preserved to this day, five rough pieces of rock being exhibited as the identical stones into which the rams were transformed. From this remarkable oceurrence Canton is popularly called the “City of Rams,” and also the “City of the Genii.” This temple, with its numerous courts, is a concrete epitome of Chinese worship, all the principal deities, to the number of a score or more, being represented. The great object of interest, however, is the tabooed bell which hangs silently in its massive tower. No hand dare strike it, and when, at the dictates of fate, its tones are heard, disaster is sure to follow. This superstition is confirmed by several remarkable occurrences. Qn one occasion the beam on which it was suspended gave way, and the bell fell with a crash; forthwith plague and famine desolated the city. Again, when repairing the tower, a workman accidentally struck it with his hammer, and a pestilence broke out that swept off young children in great numbers.