O ~—L ^T ~~ o ?Ui JOURNAL OF THE NORTH- CHINA BRANCH OF THE BOYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY VOLUME XLIX— 1918 CONTENTS. PAGE PROCEEDINGS ix RIVER PROBLEMS IN CHINA. By Herbert Chatley, D. Sc. ... 1 SOME NOTES ON LAND-BIRDS. By H. E. Laver 13 ANIMISTIC ELEMENTS IN MOSLEM PRAYER. By Samuel M. Zwemer, F.R.G.S 38 THE EIGHT IMMORTALS OF THE TAOIST RELIGION. By Peter C. Ling 53 A CHAPTER ON FOLKLORE: I.—The Kite Festival in Foochow, China. By Lewis Hodous, D.D 76 II.— On a Method of Divination Practised at Foochow. By H. L. Harding 82 HI—Notes on the Tu T'ien Hui (fP ^ #) held at Chinkiang on the 31st May, 1917. By H. A. Ottewill 86 IV.—The Domestic Altar. By James Hutson 93 KU K'AI-CHIH'S SCROLL IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. By J. C. Ferguson, Ph.D 101 THE THEISTIC IMPORT OF THE SUNG PHILOSOPHY. By J. P. Bruce, M.A 111 A CASE OF RITUALISM. By Evan Morgan 128 CHINESE PUZZLEDOM. By Charles Kliene, F.R.G.S. ... 144 REVIEWS OF RECENT BOOKS 160 NOTES AND QUERIES 200 ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY 208 LIST OF MEMBERS 211 A I: Application for Membership, stating the Name (in full) r Nationality, Profession and Address of Applicants, should be forwarded to "The SecretaE^JJorth-China Branch of the Eoyal Asiatic Society, (Shanghai^ The name should be proposed and seconded by members of the Society, but where circumstances prevent the observance of this Bule, the Council is prepared to consider applications with such references as may be given. Remittances of Subscription for Membership ($5 per annum, which entitles the Member to a complete annual set of the Journal for the year in which payment is made) should be addressed to "The Treasurer, North-China Branch of the Eoyal Asiatic Society, Shanghai." A Member may acquire "Life Membership" by payment of a composition fee of $50. Editors and authors wishing to have their works reviewed in the Journal of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society are requested to send two copies to the Editor of the Journal, one copy being presented to the reviewer, the other remaining in the Society's Library. It has been decided by the Council that the Society's publications shall not for the future be issued to any Member whose Subscription is one year in arrear. It is requested that Subscriptions be sent to the Treasurer at the beginning of each year. Eorms for pay- ments may be obtained from the Secretary, by which mem- bers having a Bank account in Shanghai, can authorize a Bank to make the necessary payment at the appointed time every year. This is a great convenience to members, and to the Honorary Officers of the Society. Eor information in connexion with the publishing depart- ment, Messrs. Kelly and Walsh, Limited, Shanghai, should be addressed. JOURNAL OP THE NORTH-CHINA BRANCH OF THE EOYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1918 VOL. XLIX. Shanghai : Kelly & Walsh, Limited. OFFICERS FOE 1918-1919. President Sir E. D. H. Fraser, k.c.m.g. Vice-Presidents A. Stanley, m.d. Eev. Timothy Eichard, d.litt, Curator of Museum A. Stanley, m.d. Librarian Mrs. F. Ayscough. Hon treasurer Mr. E. E. Hynd. Editor of Journal Eev. Evan Morgan. Councillors h.e. V. Grosse. Mr. H. A. Wilden. J. C. Ferguson, ph.d. Mr. G. Lanning. Mr. C. B. Maybon. Eev. F. L. Hawks Pott, d.d. Secretary Mr. Isaac Mason. —— —A VOL. XLIX—1918 Edited by Evan Morgan CONTENTS Page Proceedings ix River Problems in China. By Herbert Chatley, d.sc 1 Some Notes on Land-birds. By H. E. Laver 13 Animistic Elements in Moslem Prayer. By Samuel M. Zwemer F.R.G.S 38 The Eight Immortals of the Taoist Religion. By Peter C. Ling 53 A Chapter on Folklore : I. —The Kite Festival in Foochow. By Lewis Hodous, d.d. .. 76 II. —On a Method of Divination Practised at Foochow. By H. L. Harding 82 III.—Notes on the Tu T'ien Hui f& ^ & . By H. A. Ottewill 86 VI. —The Domestic Altar. By James Hutson 93 Ku K'ai-Chih's Scroll in the British Museum. By J. C. Ferguson PH.D. 101 The Theistic Import of the Sung Philosophy. By J. P. Bruce, m.a. 111 A Case of Ritualism. By Evan Morgan 128 Chinese Puzzledom. By Charles Kliene, f.r.g.s 144 Review of Recent Books : The I-li or Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial—The Beginnings of Porcelain in China—Asbestos and Salamander—The Reindeer and its Domestication—Supplemental Notes on Walrus and Narwhal Ivory—A Preliminary List of the Plants of Kiangsu Province—Harvard Medical School of China Reports, 1911-1916 —Further Notes on the Birds of the Province of Fukien in South East China—A Key to the Birds of the Lower Yangtze Valley—Kiao Ou Ki Lio—Recherches sur les Superstitions en Chine—The Development of China—The History of the Early Relations between the United States and China—Outlines of Chinese History—Li Hung Chang—En Butinant : Scenes et Croquis de Mongolie—Hand-book of New Terms and News- paper Chinese—Who's Who of the Chinese in New York— &L Sportsman's Miscellany— ft| ($j ^ ^ j|$ —Chinese Names of Plants—Beans and Bean Products—Household Industries in Soochow—Some Industries of Soochow—The Educational Direc- tory and Year Book of China—Forests and Chihli Floods Yearbook of the Netherlands East Indies, 1916—The Encyclo- paedia Sinica—Gems of Chinese Verse—The Fight for the Republic in China 160 Notes and Queries 200 Additions to the Library 208 List of Members 211 PBOCEEDINGS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held on Friday, June 13th, 1918, at the Society's hall, when Sir Everard Fraser, H.M. Consul-General, presided over a small attendance supported by Dr. A. Stanley and the Eev. I. Mason, Hon. Secretary. The Chairman commented upon the smallness of the meeting and remarked that in its way it was a compliment as showing that the members were satisfied with the manner in which the affairs of the Society were being managed. The finances of the Society were in a satisfactory condition and he was pleased to note that in spite of the terrible circum- stances afflicting the world the Society had done quite well. The Honorary Librarian's Report. Mrs. C. D. MaGrath read the librarian's report which was as follows: —In the absence of the honorary librarian, I have the honour to present the annual report as hon. assistant librarian of the North China Branch of the Eoyal Asiatic Society. The work of the library has continued un- interrupted, with nothing eventful to mark the year. Students of Asiatic subjects have taken advantage of the library to pursue their work, finding the quiet room an excellent place in which to study. Owing to the unusual conditions prevailing, the output of books on Far Eastern subjects has been small, therefore few new books have been acquired, either by purchase or donation. However, we have had an important work on art Memoirxs concernant VAsie X PROCEEDINGS Oriental e, in two volumes, procured and presented to us through the courtesy of Prof. Maybon. We have purchased for reference the New Atlas and Commercial Gazetteer of China, compiled by the Far Eastern Geographical establish- ment. This work has been put upon the table and found useful by visitors, who frequently consult it. The Shanghai members are availing themselves of the library, drawing more books this year than in any same length of time. We continue to send books to non-resident members and it is gratifying to receive letters expressing appreciation of the privilege. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Mason, has had all the back numbers of the Journal, which for many years have found refuge in Messrs. Kelly and Walsh's godown, removed to our own premises wrhere they are covered by insurance. We have greatly missed our honorary librarian, Mrs. F. Ayscough, who passed the winter in America. The library staff remains the same. The Chairman voiced the thanks of the Society to Mrs. MaGrath for her services during the past year and expressed regret that she would no longer be able to act as their assistant librarian as she was leaving for America. The Honorary Editor's Report. The Rev. Evan Morgan, the editor of the Journal, said the publication would not be so voluminous as in previous years. He detailed some of the features it wT ould contain, making special mention of Captain Laver's paper. Read with imagination it. was a fascinating article. Un- fortunately the Captain had omitted his addresses to the cats for their barbaric behaviour to the birds that visited the ship. The Honorary Treasurer's Report. The Hon. Treasurer's report showed that the income for the year had been $6,040 and the balance at the end of the year was $1,723, which Mr. Mason, who read it, pointed out would be reduced by bills yet to be met. PROCEEDINGS XL 0003lOOCOrHO^DiHOOO CO C— CO LO ^lCI>O"^C0f0I>HlCHI> K3t> o rf l> 00 O ui H o\6 N lO K) CO 05 K5 rd o rOLor- cooorooiOr-Hrooaro ^j-K) ^J- K) 00 (MHtMCM T-i *t o m • o CO : o o o* rd . o CM : oa LO & ft :::•:::::::: S :: • : . : <d . "« P • feH ;CO tq H ^ -^ : : • . 05 ft :::::::::::•©:: ih H >3 . t>s : Oh .......... ::i_5 . rf : : • • • : . — . : g . • S • . 45 : fr^b c6 . • • ...... S : C 2 • ^ :•••; d o> : .