ABSTRACT
The eating of vegetable food principally, or occasionally, is considered meritorious, and avowed in order to attain certain definite objects from the gods in general, or from the particular god or goddess in whose honour or before whose image the vow is made. There are vows relating to the lives of animals; and these may be divided into two classes: one relates to not taking the life of a specified animal; the other relates to the supporting of the animal in view as long as it may live. Both kinds of vow are believed by the Chinese to be meritorious, and to be sure, other things being equal, to bring upon those who make and keep them the favour of heaven or the blessing of the gods. The slaughter of buffaloes for food is unlawful, according to the assertions of the people, and the abstaining from the eating of beef is regarded as very meritorious.
