Besides their seasons of festivity, it appeared that their devotion at their temples, or joss-houses, claimed some of their time; and we had an opportunity of visiting the interior of one of these. The opposite plate, from a drawing made by Mr. Agate, will give a good idea of its exterior; but to give it full effect, it wants the accompaniment of the moving throng, and the peculiar feelings that one experiences when surrounded with the motley groups of the East. The temple is built near the water, of granite, brought from China, and is a conspicuous object in the landscape. The columns in front are curiously sculptured. The interior combines both the ludicrous and hideous. Its interior may be said to consist of a central building, in which the principal idols are: this is surrounded by a neatly-paved passage, which is uncovered; in the centre are seats appropriated to the worshippers. The inner temple was called by our cicerone, who was apparently on guard, the great temple. It is occupied by three colossal carved wooden idols, representations of the human form, about ten feet high, and in a sitting posture. One of these, that had a long black beard and mustaches, was richly clothed, and painted red, with much tinsel and gilding round the head. This idol was named “Rajerman”. In front of him was a female figure, of smaller size, richly dressed, who received from our cicerone the name of “Beebee”. The two other figures were equal in size to the first, and as contemptible in carving. Indeed there is not a ship-carver in our country, who would not execute a better piece of statuary. In front of the figures was an altar-table, on which was a small one, and on the latter there were coloured wax candles and joss stick burning. Some of these were made of tightly-rolled gilt paper, that had been lighted by the worshippers who had been there before us; some flowers were also seen on the altar-tables. At the side of each of these altars were placed figures of frightful and hideous-looking monsters, with black faces, misshapen bodies and legs, and mouths from ear to ear, filled with enormous teeth. One hand was armed with a battle-axe, and the other pointed to the table. These our cicerone called “Fellow Seegurmain”. There were several of the same kind of figures, though of much smaller size, hideous enough to put one out of all conceit even with what was well carved; for the Chinese excel in depicting dragons and reptiles, which are occasionally, if not well grouped, amusingly so, with both men and animals. I was surprised to observe how little respect was paid to the places, which was everywhere accessible; and with the laughing and talking of those present, and the noise of workmen, it had the air of anything but a sacred enclosure. The part that was uncovered was ornamented with flowers in pots, consisting of camellias, tuberoses, &c. There were also several old stumps, of the purpose of which I could get no explanation, nor learn why they should be considered so sacred as to be admitted into the temple. Notwithstanding these incongruities, the whole had a striking and singular effect, and I may add, not an unpleasant one.

　　除了节日，他们（华人）也常到庙宇或寺庙上香祈福; 我们有机会到其中一间庙宇参观。对页的（天福宫）画作是（随团画家）阿格特先生画的，让人对它的外观有一个很好的认识。但是，要让画形象化，它需要有川流不息的人群，以及当一个人置身于东方的形形色色的人群包围时所体验到的那种奇特的感受。这座寺庙建在海边，由来自中国的花岗岩建成，是景观中一个引人注目的座标。庙前的柱子雕刻得很奇特。 内部景像奇异又令人望而生畏。内部结构由一中央建筑组成，主神坛安置在这里，围绕着它的是无遮盖的整齐铺砌的通道；中央是香客的座位。一位显然是看守员带领我们参观，他称内殿为大殿。里面有三个巨大人形的木雕神像，大约有十英尺高，呈坐姿。其中一个留着长长的黑胡子，衣着华丽，涂成红色，头上戴着许多金箔。这个神像被称为“拉遮曼”（Rajerman）（编译者注：或为印语Raja口音误记，指帝君，即关帝）。在祂前面的是一位身材较小、衣着华丽的女神，我们的向导给她起了个名字叫 “比比”（Beebee）（编译者注：为印语对母亲或夫人的尊称，应指圣母天妃）。另外两个神像和第一个一样大小，雕刻也一样拙劣。的确，在我们国家，任何一个雕船工都能雕刻出比这更好的雕像。在这些神像前面是一个神台，上面是一个小桌子，桌子上有彩色的蜡烛和燃烧着的香，还有紧紧卷着的镀金冥纸，那些冥纸是比我们先来的香客烧的; 在神台上也可以看到一些花。在每一个神台的侧面都安置着怪兽似的吓人的雕像– 有着黑脸，畸形的身体和腿以及从耳朵到耳朵的嘴巴，里面长着巨大的牙齿。一只手拿着战斧，另一只手指着桌子。我们的向导称它们为“斯谷民弟兄”（Fellow Seegurmain）（编译者注： 或为口语误记，应指传说为兄弟的千里眼和顺风耳）。还有几尊同样的雕像，虽然尺寸要小得多，但即使雕刻得很好，也不足道。华人擅长描绘龙和爬行动物，偶尔因没有很好的组合人、兽，而妙趣横生。我惊讶地发现，这任何人都可到来的公众场所几乎没有受到一点尊重。在场的人们谈笑风生，工人们在喧闹，其氛围丝毫没有神圣庙堂该有的庄严。无盖的部分有盆花装饰，包括山茶花、晚香玉等。还有几根旧树桩，至于它们的用途，我无法解释，也不知道它们为什么被认为是如此神圣，以至于可以被放进神庙里。尽管存在这些不协调的地方，但整体还是具有惊人的效果，我想补充一点，参观还是颇愉快的。