of public and private buildings, but the use of these was an addition
about 800 years later, _i.e._ about 1200 years ago. Paper dragons,
hundreds of yards long, are moved along the streets at a slow pace,
supported on the heads of men whose legs only are visible, giving
the impression of huge serpents winding through the thoroughfares.

Of the other chief festivals, about eight in number (not counting the
festivals of the four seasons with their equinoxes and solstices), four
are specially concerned with the propitiation of the spirits--namely,
the Earlier Spirit Festival (fifteenth day of second moon), the
Festival of the Tombs (about the third day of the third moon), when
graves are put in order and special offerings made to the dead, the
Middle Spirit Festival (fifteenth day of seventh moon), and the Later
Spirit Festival (fifteenth day of tenth moon). The Dragon-boat Festival
(fifth day of fifth moon) is said to have originated as a commemoration
of the death of the poet Ch'ü Yüan, who drowned himself in disgust
at the official intrigue and corruption of which he was the victim,
but the object is the procuring of sufficient rain to ensure a good
harvest. It is celebrated by racing with long narrow boats shaped to
represent dragons and propelled by scores of rowers, pasting of charms
on the doors of dwellings, and eating a special kind of rice-cake,
with a liquor as a beverage.

The fifteenth day of the eighth moon is the Mid-autumn Festival, known
by foreigners as All Souls' Day. On this occasion the women worship the
moon, offering cakes, fruit, etc. The gates of Purgatory are opened,
and the hungry ghosts troop forth to enjoy themselves for a month on
the good things provided for them by the pious. The ninth day of the
ninth moon is the Chung Yang Festival, when every one who possibly
can ascends to a high place--a hill or temple-tower. This inaugurates