For some days past the town has been resounding with the clangour of Chinese gongs, and the streets crowded with processions of this noisy race, in honor of a goddess, or the statue of one, that has been recently imported from the Celestial Kingdom – but we must say the procession which took place on Monday last was really something worth looking at. It “dragged its length of nearly the third of a mile, to the usual accompaniment of these detectable gongs of theirs and with gaudy banners of every colour, form, and dimension “flouting the pale blue sky” – But what particularly engaged the attention of spectators, and was the chief feature of the procession, was the little girls from 5 to 8 years age, carried aloft in groups on gayly ornamented platforms, and dressed in every varied of Tartar and Chinese costume. The little creatures were supported in their place by iron rods, or some such contrivance, which were concealed under their clothes, and their infant charms were shown off to the greatest advantage by the rich and peculiar dresses in which they were arrayed, every care being taken to shield them from the effects of the sun’s rays, which shone out in full brightness during the whole time the procession lasted. The divinity herself was conveyed in a very elegant canopied chair, or palanqueen (palanquin), of yellow silk and crape, and was surrounded with a body guard of celestials, wearing tunics of the same colour. We have not been able to ascertain the various attributes of the goddess, but it seems she is highly venerated–and a very elegant temple, according to Chinese taste, has been built in the town for her reception. She is called by the Chinese Tien-Seang-Sing-Bok, which we believe may be translated “Holy Mother of the Gods” – being the deity who is commonly termed the Queen of Heaven. She is supposed to be the especial protectress of those who navigate the deep – at least, it is to her shrine that the Chinese sailors pay the most fervent adoration, there being an altar dedicated to her in every junk that goes to sea. The procession, we are informed, is regarded as a formal announcement to the Chinese of her advent in this settlement – and the exhibition, with the feasting attendant thereon, is stated to amount to more than six thousand dollars. The temple that has been built for her, will not it seems be fit for her proper reception and installation for a month, and another procession will take place when she is to be deposited in that sanctuary.

在过去几天，坡中锣鼓声响不停，华人都涌到街上观看喧哗热闹的迎神赛会。他们热烈迎接最近从天朝运来的女神。但是，星期一的迎神赛会真的值得一看。这一回的迎神行列，长达三分之一英里，可说锣鼓喧天，彩旗蔽日。而最引人注目还是那些彩妆女童，都是五到八岁的小姑娘，穿着满汉衣服，她们几个人一队坐在用铁枝支持撑，装饰华丽的台阁，让人们抬着游行。台阁的铁枝都被她们的衣服掩盖了。她们的衣着奇特华丽，打扮得很漂亮，让她们更充分流露那种童稚的可爱。在整个游行的过程中，她们都有无数锦伞为她们遮蔽炙热的太阳。天上圣母的神像是安放在一顶极为标致，用杏黄绸纱装饰的神轿上，由一队穿着杏黄短上衣的天兵护卫着。我们虽然还没确定此女神的各种特性，但是人们对此女神非常敬仰，而且在坡中建立了一座很华丽和符合中国人品味的庙宇来供奉她。她被尊称为天上圣母（或妈祖婆），是航海者的保护神。她为华裔海员奉为海上女神，每艘出海的帆船都安置天后的神案。这一回的迎神赛会，被视为是向所有华人正式宣布天上圣母已驾临新加坡。全部迎神费用共达六千余元之巨。为她建造的庙宇似乎在一个月内还未能完成迎神和安神的作业，当她被安置在神坛开光时，将举行另一次游神赛会。

（译文引自宋旺相著，叶书德译，《新加坡华人百年史》（新加坡：中华总商会，1993），页42-43。本辑编辑略有修正。）