GIFT OF 
 HORACE W. CARFENT1ER 
 

 i 
 
/ 
 
' > ' . '-J 
 
 ENTOMBED ALIVE 
 
 UTHEK SONGS, BALLADS, &c. 
 
 (FROM THE CHINESE.) 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE CARTER STENT, M.R.A.S., 
 
 OP THE CHINESE IMPERIAL MARITIME CUSTOMS SERVICE. 
 
 AUTHOR OF "CHINESE AND ENGLISH VOCABULARY," 
 
 " CHINESE AND ENGLISH POCKET DICTIONARY," " THE JADE CHAPLET," 
 
 ETC. 
 
 LONDON: 
 WILLIAM H. ALLEN AND CO., 
 
 13 WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL, S.W. 
 
 1878. 
 
 (All rights reserved.) 
 
LONDON : 
 PRINTED BT W. H. ALLEN AND CO., 13 WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. 
 
TO 
 
 ROBERT HART, Esq., 
 
 INSPECTOR GENERAL OF H. I. C. M. CUSTOMS, 
 
 WHO IS EVER READY TO ASSIST BY HIS COUNTENANCE 
 
 AND SUPPORT ANY WORK 
 
 TENDING TO INCREASE AN INTEREST IN, 
 
 AND KNOWLEDGE OP, CHINA AND THE CHINESE, 
 
 THIS VOLUME 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS 
 OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 546271 
 
PREFACE 
 
 This little volume is published chiefly with 
 the object of bringing before the English 
 public some of the quaint ideas, &c. to be 
 found in Chinese ballads and songs. 
 
 The collection of the different pieces com- 
 posing the book, and rendering them into 
 English, has been a labour of love, and many 
 agreeable hours have been passed by me in 
 so pleasant and novel a pursuit. 
 
 I freely admit that, in many cases, the 
 versification might have been improved upon. 
 Such as the book is, however, I offer it, feel- 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 ing assured, whatever its faults may be, the 
 perusal will afford some amusement, and also 
 disclose many curious customs of a country 
 comparatively unknown to the general English 
 reader. 
 
 G. C. S. 
 
 4th December 1878. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Entombed Alive 
 
 The Flight of Hsien-feng to Jehol 
 
 The Stone Lions of Lu-kou Bridge 
 
 The Skeleton Trees ; or, The Suicides' Haunt 
 
 Legend of the Ching Dynasty 
 
 The Palace of Gold 
 
 The Square Iron Bar of Lu-kou 
 
 Eace for a Throne 
 
 The Aspen ; or, The Laughing Tree 
 
 The Emperor's Tree 
 
 Yu-chi's Death 
 
 The Moving Fir . 
 
 Suicide of Pa Wang's Horse . 
 
 One-eyed Lu-pan ; or, Cocking the Eye 
 
 Meng Cheng's Journey to the Great Wall 
 
 The Illness, Death, and Funeral Obsequies of Mr, 
 Locust ; with a slight account of the battle at 
 his grave . . . . . 
 
 PAGE 
 1 
 
 6 
 22 
 26 
 29 
 33 
 35 
 38 
 42 
 
 51 
 54 
 
 58 
 63 
 
 101 
 
Vlll CONTEXTS. 
 
 The Insects' Prophecy ; or, The Death of King Pa 
 
 The Rat and the Cat in Hades 
 
 The Wry-necked Tree 
 
 Dame Kuo's visit to Hsi-ting Fair 
 
 Inverted Facts ..... 
 
 The Beater's Song ; or, Ting-lang's Search for his 
 
 Father ..... 
 The Captive Maiden .... 
 
 Don't Marry a Widow 
 
 The Water Test ..... 
 Murder will out .... 
 
 The Earthen Tea-pot .... 
 The Borrowed Bride .... 
 
 PAGK 
 111 
 
 115 
 136 
 142 
 149 
 
 160 
 185 
 189 
 197 
 201 
 208 
 221 
 
ENTOMBED ALIVE. 
 
 Oh, what a fearful dream ! Thank God I woke ! 
 
 I thought I was within a noisome tomb immured, 
 Where all was dark ; no sound the silence broke — 
 
 Ah, who can tell the terrors I endured ! 
 
 Too horror-struck to even form a prayer, 
 
 I could but writhe upon the ground and scream ; 
 
 Curse my hard fate, give way to wild despair, 
 And, wake at length — to find it all a dream. 
 
 I'll call my maid and bid her strike a light, 
 For even now I feel oppressed with fear ; 
 
 How cold I am — I'll sleep no more to night ; 
 I shall feel better when the girl is here. 
 
Z ENTOMBED ALIVE. 
 
 She does not come ! Wherefore this awful gloom ? 
 
 Why does my heart thus beat with unknown dread ? 
 How came I hither ? This is not my room, 
 
 It seems but little larger than my bed. 
 
 This is not my couch — 'tis clammy ground ! 
 
 Above my head a roof of stone I feel — 
 Stone, too, on either side — stone all around ! 
 
 It is a tomb ! Great God ! my dream is real I 
 
 Help ! Save me ! Let me not die like this — 
 A living death ! Will no one heed my cries ? 
 
 I stagger up, and reach an orihce, 
 
 To which I glue my hot and blood-shot eyes. 
 
 I never knew how beautiful it was till now, 
 To watch the rising sun his radiance throw 
 
 O'er hill and dale, on every bush and bough — 
 Tinging all nature with a golden glow. 
 
 Help ! Hither ! Save me ! Come and set me free ! 
 
 My piercing screams attract the passers by ; — 
 Oh ! are you men ? Can you look on and see 
 
 A girl — a woman — shut up thus to die ? 
 
 'Tis not the dread of death my heart appalls ; 
 
 It is this lingering, living death I fear, — 
 Shut up alive, to die within these walls, 
 
 Where every moment lengthens to a year. 
 
ENTOMBED ALIVE. 3 
 
 Break down these walls ! What if my crime was great, 
 
 Say, could it merit such a death as this ! 
 Kill me at once — if death must be my fate — 
 
 The hand that strikes the welcome blow, I'll kiss ! 
 
 Help, I implore you ! 'Tis a woman calls ! 
 
 I'm young and fair ! Oh, save me from this death ! 
 Oh, snatch me from this tomb, break down these walls — 
 
 And I will bless you with my latest breath ! 
 
 Help ! Give me but my liberty — my life ! 
 
 Save me from death — from this my living grave ! 
 Whoever saves me, I will be his wife — 
 
 His mistress — leman — minion — menial — slave ! 
 
 Poor though he be, his poverty I'll share ; 
 
 The whole devotion of a life I'll give ! 
 I'll toil for him — his troubles I will bear — 
 
 I'll beg for him — so he but bids me live ! 
 
 Help ! I am stifling ! Oh ! for the fresh pure air ! — 
 
 To feel it on my hot and fevered cheeks ! 
 Help ! Save me ! or my very hands shall tear 
 
 These cursed walls ! I'll rend them with my shrieks ! 
 
 Water ! One drop, to quench my maddening thirst ! 
 
 My tongue is swollen — my throat is parched and dry ! 
 Can this be death ? — Father, you've done your worst, 
 
 But oh ! 'twas hard to doom me thus to die ! 
 
 1 * 
 
4 ENTOMBED ALIVE. 
 
 The circumstances on which the foregoing verses are 
 founded took place at Pekin about twenty-five years ago. 
 The facts were these : — Chun-tu-lao-yeh, ^ ^g ^g jg, a 
 well-known censor, who lived near the Tung-ssu-pai-lou, 
 f ||f ;g, had a daughter, aged twenty-one, who fell in 
 love with one of the servants, a carter, and eventually 
 eloped with him. They were captured by the patrol, when 
 some distance from Peking, and brought back prisoners. 
 The father caused the man to be banished, and had his 
 daughter built in a tomb in the family cemetery, where she 
 was left to die. 
 
 The cemetery where she was entombed alive is distant 
 from Peking about twenty 1% in a southerly direction from 
 the Tung-chih-men }|[ jj§[ pj. The tomb was built of 
 brick and plastered over with mud, with a small square hole 
 in front of it, so that she was visible to those who wished 
 to see her. The cemetery was open, having no walls round 
 it, but having a man to look after it. Numbers of persons 
 visited the tomb out of curiosity, and saw the girl through 
 the hole, but no one attempted to rescue her, although 
 entreated to do so by her in the most heart-rending 
 language. 
 
 My informant both saw and heard the girl himself, and 
 he describes her entreaties and cries of despair as awful 
 in the extreme. She died on the fourth day of her incar- 
 ceration, some say from jjoison, administered in water, 
 which she drank ravenously, as her continual screaming 
 must have parched her throat. Many of the lookers on 
 entreated the man in charge to save her, but he dared not 
 do it, for fear of the consequences to himself. 
 
 That such horrible barbarity is by no means extinct 
 among the Chinese will be obvious to all who have read or 
 will read the description in the North-China Daily News 
 of the 20th May 1874, of a son having been buried alive 
 for the murder of his father. 
 
 The author of the following verses supposes the victim 
 to awake during the darkness of the night, in her living 
 tomb, from a fearful dream that she has been buried 
 
ENTOMBED ALIVE. 5 
 
 alive. At first her sense of relief is intense at finding that 
 she has only been dreaming. But by-and-bye she realises 
 that she is indeed entombed, and, as day dawns, she is able 
 to see through the hole the people passing by. These she 
 attracts by her shrieks, and tries to influence by her 
 pathetic appeals ; but in vain ! Delirium and death darkly 
 close the scene. 
 
THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG * 
 TO JEHOL.t 
 
 When the English and French first went up to Peking- 
 This was in the tenth year of the reign of Hsienfeng — 
 The news flew like wildfire, the tocsin was rung ; { 
 What a hubbub the whole of the city was in ! 
 
 * The above poem is remarkable, as a specimen of 
 native political satire reminding one in its coarser parts 
 of some passages in Peter Pindar (Dr. Wolcott). It was, 
 obviously, written by one of the officials who accompanied 
 the Emperor Hsien-feng in his flight from the Allies' 
 attack on Pekmg in 1860. On its publication it was at 
 once put on the Index Expurgatorius at Peking, and its 
 publication and sale can now be effected only in a 
 clandestine manner. 
 
 f A summer residence of the Emperors of China, named 
 after a stream which flows near, called by foreigners Jehol, 
 the characters being #£ JpJ Je-ho, " Warm Stream." 
 
 % The Emperor was staying in the Summer Palace when 
 the Allied Forces were on their way to Peking. As they 
 
THE PLIGHT OP HSIEN-FENG. 7 
 
 Pell-mell, off the Ministers instantly ran 
 
 To the palace, to ascertain what could be done ; 
 
 They all, with one voice, begged their sovereign to run — 
 
 Or rather retire — for a time to Mu-lan. # 
 
 'Twas in the eighth moon, 
 
 On the eighth day, at noon, — 
 Or it ought to have been, — but they started too soon.f 
 
 The Imperial cart J 
 
 Was ready to start, 
 And off went Hsien-feng with a pit-a-pat heart § 
 
 advanced, the news was rapidly conveyed to Peking by 
 couriers, relays of horses and men being placed at short 
 stages on the road. From Peking to the " Summer 
 Palace " dismounted mpn were posted within hail of each 
 other the entire distance, so that the news of the advance 
 of the troops was passed from one to the other, viva voce, 
 in an incredibly short space of time. 
 
 * Another name for Jehol. 
 
 f The order was given to start at noon, but, so great 
 was the eagerness to be off, that they started at break of 
 day. 
 
 % Cart, is the term used here, and at several other 
 places. The Emperor used a sedan-chair. 
 
 § Chia-ching, the grandfather of Hsien-feng, died at 
 Jehol ; this was considered a very unfortunate circum- 
 stance, as dying away from home. On that account Tao- 
 kuang, his son, never once during his reign went there, 
 and Hsien-feng dreaded going there, but was compelled by 
 circumstances to do so. The wealthy inhabitants had 
 already left Peking, flying in all directions. 
 
8 THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 
 
 His followers and escort, 
 
 And people of that sort, 
 Were really in quite a deplorable state ; 
 
 A more wretched plight 
 
 Never broke on the sight, — 
 For at sixes and sevens were the guards of the gate. 
 
 Isn't it strange ? 
 
 A miraculous change 
 Has come over these swells ; — can they be the same men 
 
 Who would swagger and fuss, 
 
 Look down so on us ? 
 What a wonderful difference betwixt now and then ! 
 
 Their pride's had a fall, 
 
 And they look rather small ; 
 The face of each worthy's a picture of woe ; 
 
 Not one is prepared, 
 
 They well may look scared, 
 For, ready or not, they've the order to go. 
 
 It comes pretty hard 
 
 On the Emperor's guard 
 No matter at all in what light you may put it ; 
 
 Those who hav'n't a nag, 
 
 Must their weary legs drag 
 All the way to Jehol — for they've all got to foot it. 
 
 The guards from the Banners now look no great shakes, 
 For so sudden a flight a great difference makes ; 
 
THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 
 
 And the same men who formerly turned out so spruce, 
 Look as if all their smartness had gone to the deuce. 
 
 No two were alike — some came out in gauze — 
 Eight or wrong they apparently cared not two straws 
 Here, one fellow sported his tassels and tags, 
 His " next man," perhaps, being almost in rags. 
 
 One a summer hat wore, one, a hat made of felt — 
 Though the heat was sufficient to make a man melt : 
 There were trousers and leggings of various hues, — 
 Some sported their boots, some their sandals or shoes ; 
 
 Some wore their long coats and some wore their short, 
 Of this shape and fashion, of that kind and sort ; 
 This wore a swell robe, that a short hunter's skirt — 
 But every one wore — a good thick coat of dirt. 
 
 Of the spears which displayed the well known leopard' 
 
 tail, 
 Half were carelessly carried or dropped to the trail ;• 
 We had no heart to keep up appearances now, 
 And we went on pell-mell — as we liked — any how. 
 
 * These guards ought always, when on duty with the 
 Emperor to have their spears at the " carry ; " they were 
 evidently " riding at ease." 
 
10 THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 
 
 On we marched, the hot sun peeled the skin off the 
 
 nose; 
 The blisters came out on our soles, heels, and toes ; 
 Those who tramped it were soon so entirely fagged 
 
 out, 
 That the calves of their legs and their shins changed 
 
 about. 
 
 Tired, hungry and thirsty, still on we all marched — 
 My throat, I remember, was burning and parched — 
 But for water or victuals we'd no time to stay, 
 He hurried us up so — we dared not delay. 
 
 The Emperor halted at length to take tea ; 
 "While he drank it, we rested awhile ; — as for me, 
 I managed by chance to get hold of a cup, 
 And I felt like a wretch who a prize has picked up. 
 
 We'd not rested long, when we suddenly heard 
 The order to start : — at that ominous word, 
 Once more on all sides rose a hubbub and din ; 
 What a hurry and scurry the nobs were all in ! 
 
 The horsemen were not to such great hardships put, 
 But it was rough for those who'd to travel on foot ; — 
 Are those fellows guards, or attendants, or what ? — 
 Why some of them hav'n't a bow even got ! 
 
 The swords of some men to their saddles are tied — 
 Not where they ought to be — girt to the side : 
 
THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 11 
 
 There is not such a thing as a cushion or pad* — 
 And of horses or men no " relief " to be had.f 
 
 The bearers, poor men, how they sweat, puffed and 
 
 blowed, 
 As they trudged with the chair on the hot dusty road ; 
 Still he was annoyed that they travelled so slow — 
 They must be more quick, if they drop as they go. 
 
 Tired and weary, our boots full of holes, 
 Some of them, too, being minus the soles ; 
 Made only for show, they would fall off one's feet, 
 If, 'stead of a journey, one crossed but a street. 
 
 In crossing a river our thoughts soon would run 
 On what, in a former existence we'd done ; 
 If we had a good action done once in a way, 
 "We felt like a bearer who gets extra pay. 
 
 And wasn't it hard, too, to climb up a bank, 
 With the mud a foot deep, into which we all sank ! 
 
 * Probably quilted pads laid from the chair to the 
 rooms the Emperor was to occupy. 
 
 t There ought to have been relays of horses and men at 
 every stage ; this in the hurry had not been attended to, 
 or, perhaps, sufficient men and horses could not be mus- 
 tered for the purpose. It is well known, too, that the 
 Emperor had to eat boiled eggs and the coarsest of food, 
 no preparations having been made to supply him with his 
 usual fare. 
 
12 THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 
 
 The slush on our feet never seemed to get dry, 
 For when' this stream was crossed, there^ was that one 
 close by. 
 
 Still on we all went, and Shih-tsao soon appeared, 
 And we, tired and faint, the pavilion neared ;* 
 This, of all our long march was the pleasantest sight, 
 For here was our first halting-place for the night. 
 
 The sun the hills pressed,f 
 
 As we lay down to rest, 
 Not in soft beds, that was too great a treat ; 
 
 But wherever we found 
 
 A nice bit of ground — 
 For we made a convenient bed of the street. 
 
 We were hungry as wolves, not a cash had we got 
 
 To have purchased the " bottoms " that stick to a pot ; 
 
 Wouldn't a supper of some sort be nice ? 
 
 I could have supped off the dregs of boiled rice. 
 
 As it was — those who got it — proceeded to cram 
 Their stomachs with maize — I got a raw yam, 
 Which I munched, as down on the bare ground I sat, 
 And was thankful to think I had got even that. 
 
 * These are built at every stage from Peking to Jehol, 
 for the accommodation of the Emperor, 
 f i.e., the sun was setting. 
 
THE FLIGHT OP HSIEN-FENG. 13 
 
 How we sighed, as of home, wives and children we 
 
 thought — 
 For by this time we all had a lesson been taught ; 
 The comforts of home now we thoroughly knew, — 
 And, were we safe back, could appreciate too. 
 
 There goes the first watch ; the moon overhead 
 Shines on all as we lie on our damp earthen bed ; 
 Who would have thought crimes committed by us, 
 Long forgotten, at last would come up with us thus ! 
 
 So, this j then, is office and honours and rank — 
 Well, I must say, we've only ourselves got to thank ; 
 But of one thing I'm sure, had I earlier known 
 What I'd have to endure, I'd have let rank alone. 
 
 The second watch sounds ; the moon's sinking fast ; 
 I'm pierced to the bone by the cold autumn blast ; 
 Ah ! would I'd a blanket around me to fold ! 
 But I've only a gauze coat to keep out the cold. 
 
 The third watch has sounded ; the moon now is set ; 
 The sky 's full of clouds — betokening wet ; 
 Not a sound breaks the stillness ; I hear not a tread ; — 
 Were I at home now, I'd lie snug in bed. 
 
 Not that I'm home-sick ; I don't funk or fret — 
 Thank goodness ! I'm not quite so bad as that yet ; 
 But I must own things seem to look pretty black, — 
 For the query is, when shall we ever get back ? 
 
14 THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 
 
 The fourth watch has sounded ; now what shall we do ? 
 It comes on to rain and we're all soon wet through ; 
 If I'd only my waterproofs, then I'd not mind, 
 But alas ! in my hurry I left them behind. 
 
 The fifth watch now sounds — other sounds, too, we hear, 
 For the dogs and the cocks bark and crow " dawn is 
 
 near ; " 
 I'm worse now than ever ; my eyes fill with tears, 
 Which I've scarcely wiped dry 'ere the daylight appears. 
 
 We tidied our clothes — that was very soon done — 
 To the front of the " travelling pavilion " we run, 
 Get ready the chair, and without more ado, 
 We start off again, just as if we all flew. 
 
 On the third morn at daylight we entered the hills ; 
 Oh ! didn't we puff and get red in the gills ! 
 Talk of roads — those we'd had were in sooth bad enough, 
 But — description fails here — in short, they were rough. 
 
 Bange above range of mountains meet the eye, 
 Whose lofty summits spear the azure sky ; 
 Hills in confusion rise on every side, 
 Their distant tips with autumn's purple dyed. 
 
 This is another heaven ; the view from here 
 
 Is grandly beautiful. A rustic bridge 
 
 Spans a small mountain stream, whose waters leap 
 
THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 15 
 
 From rock to rock, till playfully they bound 
 Over a mimic precipice, — draping its face 
 With a transparent veil of liquid gems 
 Fringed with a bordering of sun- gilt spray. 
 Like words of love from half -reluctant lips, 
 It murmuring falls, and dies away in sighs 
 And gentle whispers as it nears the bridge 
 And glides beneath it on its sinuous way, 
 Its glistening face now glancing in the sun, 
 Now hid from view. 
 
 Our gaze was soon fixed on a glorious sight, 
 
 Which filled every bosom with pride and delight ; 
 
 We forgot all the straits we'd till now struggled through. 
 
 As, stately and grand, the Great Wall loomed in view. 
 
 We thought how, in old times, its founder Shih-huang* 
 Bestowed on brave Meng-cheng — whose name lives in 
 
 song — 
 A girdle of jade in the great olden hall, 
 For daring to follow her lord to the Wall. 
 
 But for beautiful scenes, or thoughts such as these, 
 We cared not ; they could'nt our weary limbs ease ; 
 Old white-bearded rustics we passed made us feel,f 
 The contempt they themselves took no pains to conceal. 
 
 * The " First Emperor." 
 
 f The old men on the road pointed at them with ridi- 
 cule, calling them cowards and runaways — it is presumed 
 not very loudly. 
 
16 THE FLIGHT OF HSIEN-FENG. 
 
 We jogged along rapidly early and late, 
 The hardships we suffered 'tis needless to state, 
 Suffice it to say we soon other hills passed, 
 Where the roads were more rugged and steep than the 
 last. 
 
 Sometimes 'twas so steep we could hardly get on, 
 Ropes were tied to the chair and it had to be drawn ; 
 What with pushing and pulling we sweat, puffed and 
 
 blowed, 
 Till we'd got it well over a bad bit of road. 
 
 We whipped on our nags and continued our flight, 
 And arrived at Lan Ping on the 15th at night ; 
 The round autumn moon shining brightly o'erhead, 
 Her silvery rays o'er ten thousand li shed.* 
 
 Each home has its offering of fruit, cakes and wine — 
 Had I been at home I'd have sure offered mine ; 
 For there — in enjoyment my friends I should meet, 
 Here — I should like to get something to eat. 
 
 I've no one to talk to, so I raise up my eyes 
 
 To the bright moon, and heave some tremendous long 
 
 sighs ; 
 And I say to myself, " here's a plight to be in 
 Right or wrong, don't I wish myself back in Pekin ! " 
 
 * The writer of this song, in spite of hardships, evidently 
 had an eye to scenery, etc. 
 
THE FLIGHT OF HSING-FENG. 17 
 
 Since I left home I've all sorts of hardships endured — 
 I couldn't be worse off I feel quite assured — 
 For I haven't so much as a cash in my pouch, 
 And for eight nights I've had the bare ground for my 
 couch. 
 
 I would relish some wine, were it only a cup, 
 I really do think it would quite cheer me up, 
 And make me forget all my troubles ; — at least 
 It would help to get over the mid-autumn feast. 
 
 No such luck, so I threw myself down on the ground, 
 And was soon fast asleep — the next morning I found, 
 On awaking, the bright sun far up in the sky — 
 He'd commenced his day's journey, so also must I. 
 
 We got ready the chair and off we all ran, 
 Till 'ere long we neared the well-known river Lan, 
 The white waves were roaring and boiling like steam, 
 The ferry boat, too, was adrift down the stream. 
 
 We a floating bridge crossed to the opposite shore, 
 Which we all reached in safety — then trudged on once 
 
 more, 
 O'er a long winding road, — many mountains we passed, 
 Till we saw to our joy Jehol's pailow at last.* 
 
 * Memorial arch. 
 
 2 
 
18 THE FLIGHT OF HSING-FENG. 
 
 Soon we got in the thick of the bustle and row- 
 Shops for medicine, tea, wine, tobacco, yang yao ;* 
 It beat all the places I'd ever been in, 
 And put me in mind of Pouch Street in Peking. f 
 
 (xawky, white-hatted rustics, as clumsy as bears,J 
 Went staring about — pedlars hawking their wares — 
 Old and young, rich and poor, men, women and boys, 
 Seemed to try who could make the most horrible noise. 
 
 Small paper umbrellas were hung at each door, 
 A proceeding I'd never heard tell of before ; 
 Why hang them up there I'm sure I can't say — 
 Our women would think 'twas the 35th day.§ 
 
 Through hubbub and noise we continued our march 
 And shortly we passed the Memorial Arch ; 
 
 * Opium. 
 
 t Outside the " Front Gate " of Peking are two semi- 
 circular streets or arcades, where miscellaneous articles 
 both for use and ornament are sold ; these might reason- 
 ably be termed " Fancy Bazaars." They are called re- 
 spec tivelv East and West Pouch Lane. 
 
 X Lit " Spoonies." 
 
 § On the 35th day after a death, paper money is hung 
 at the doorways previous to being burnt. I cannot ascer- 
 tain why umbrellas were hung up ; the custom must be 
 peculiar to the place, as must be some others I have met 
 with. 
 
THE FLIGHT OF HSING-FENG. 19 
 
 The palace was there ; we drew near by degrees- — 
 How even and nice looked its chevaux-de-frise !* 
 
 It really looked handsome, majestic and grand, 
 
 In the midst, just before us, three lofty gates stand ; 
 
 I can see, written over the great central one, 
 
 Three large golden characters thus : Li cheng men.f 
 
 I hear that the grounds are quite forty li round, 
 In their precincts the green fir and cypress abound ; 
 That 'neath their dark shade roam myriads of deer — 
 For no hunter dare think of disturbing them here. 
 
 At the gate all the nobs are drawn up in two rows, 
 And the chair smoothly>nters 'midst many kotows ; 
 What takes place inside I'm not able to state, 
 But what the guards did I'll proceed to relate. 
 
 We were all very tired and hungry, and dry ; 
 
 Our clothing disordered, our hats all awry ; 
 
 Our faces with sweat and with dirt were besmeared — 
 
 I must say a clean-looking lot we appeared. 
 
 * | § ?{£ /fv Hsia-Jcan-mu, a word derived from the 
 Manchu. These are three or four feet in height, made of 
 wood, and placed on both sides of the entrances of 
 palaces, yamens, etc. 
 
 t It IE P^ might be translated " Beautiful principal 
 gate." 
 
 2 * 
 
20 THE FLIGHT OF HSING-FENG. 
 
 Off we went in small groups to look out for cribs, 
 Having beds rather softer than ground to the ribs ; 
 Some hunted up friends where they lodgings could get, 
 Some hunted up people with " Lodgings to let." 
 
 The dames knew their business and made a good squeeze, 
 But they managed to make us feel quite at our ease ; 
 They didn't use powder, cosmetics — what not — 
 But each on her neck a large goitre had got.* 
 
 We were told off to duties — not distressingly hard — 
 For we didn't mind now and then going on guard ; 
 What with one thing and t'other the time slipped away, 
 And 'ere long we got, what we wanted — our pay. 
 
 When the weather grew cold there were somewhere about 
 Three thousand fur coats — (dog and fox skin) served out — 
 Or they ought to have been ; — we were nicely sucked in — 
 They were sheep — made from myriads of pieces of skin. 
 
 Ere long, from Peking we received an express, 
 Stating they were all safe and well out of the mess ; 
 Entreating the monarch to come back post-haste, 
 And once more the pleasures of government taste. 
 
 A day was appointed on which to go back ; 
 
 It came, but all of us looked pretty black, 
 
 When told 'twas postponed, we'd got longer to stay, 
 
 The Emperor now having altered the day. 
 
 * I am told that nearly every second woman has that 
 unsightly swelling ; it is attributed to the water. 
 
THE FLIGHT OF HSING-FENG. 21 
 
 He didn't apparently feel half-inclined 
 To return — for lie never could make up his mind : 
 'Twas " yes " at one moment, the next it was " no ; " 
 One day it was " stop here," the next it was " go." 
 
 He concluded at last he had better stay here,* 
 Pass the winter in quiet and go back next year ; 
 His departure to Peking was too long delayed, — 
 He died, and his corse to Tung-ling was conveyed.f 
 
 * He was persuaded to stay by his Ministers, who pro- 
 bably dreaded he would be compelled to give audiences to 
 foreigners, and thus become enlightened as to the doings 
 of the mandarins. 
 
 f One of the family burial places of the reigning 
 family. The other is Hsi-ling. Curiously enough, in this 
 dynasty no Emperor is buried in the same place as his 
 father ; consequently, the Emperors are buried at Tung- 
 ling and Hsi-ling alternately — Thus Hsien-feng was buried 
 at Tung-ling ; Tao-kuang at Hsi-ling ; Chia-ching at Tung- 
 ling ; Ghien-lung at Hsi-ling ; Yung-cheng at Tung-ling ; 
 Kang-hsi at Hsi-ling ; Shun-chih at Tung-ling. The story 
 goes that the effigy only of Shun-chih was buried at Tung- 
 ling, though he privately retired to Wu-tai-shan, and 
 became a priest. Numbers of Tatars go there annually 
 to worship at the place on that account. 
 
22 
 
 THE STONE LIONS OF LU-KOU 
 BRIDGE.* 
 
 Should the traveller go 
 To the bridge of Lu-kou — 
 
 Distant from Peking about thirty li ; 
 When once he gets there 
 If he 's leisure to spare, 
 
 He'll no doubt a wond'rous phenomenon see. 
 
 * Lu-kou bridge, jf^ ^ «J|[, is distant from Peking 
 about 30 li. It lies in a westerly direction from the 
 Chang-i gate, pj ^ ;j£. A stone road, made by Liu-chin, 
 Jf{ g|], a eunuch of the Ming dynasty, leads to, and ter- 
 minates at the bridge, which is much older than the road, 
 having, it is supposed, been built during the T'ang 
 dynasty. 
 
 It is the general belief that no one has ever succeeded 
 in counting the stone lions on the parapets at the sides of 
 the bridge — though it seems a very easy undertaking. 
 
THE STONE LIONS OF LU-KOTJ BRIDGE. 28 
 
 For, — on either hand, 
 
 Some stone lions stand — 
 Or squat — or recline — on the parapets mounted ; 
 
 The number's not great, 
 
 Yet, strange to relate, 
 No mortal has ever those stone lions counted. 
 
 Of the many who've tried, 
 Some have sickened and died ; 
 
 Some have gone raving mad in the frantic endeavour — 
 Some count on day by day, 
 'Till they grow old and grey, — 
 
 But no one succeeds should he count on for ever. 
 
 Many persons have wondered, — 
 
 As there seems scarce a hundred — 
 That the task should be one of such very great labour ; 
 
 They may sneer and pooh-pooh it — 
 
 Let one try to do it — 
 He'll soon find himself just as bad as his neighbour. 
 
 One expert fellow hit on the plan of first pasting a piece of 
 red paper on each side of the stone lions and afterwards 
 counting them, but he is said to have died, leaving his 
 task unfinished. Every one in the neighbourhood of 
 Peking knows the legend, and many attempt to count 
 the lions, but all have given up the task as hopeless. 
 
24 THE STONE LIONS OF LU-KOU BEIDGE. 
 
 Down the first row 
 He will carefully go, 
 And fancy lie 's counted correctly, when, lo ! 
 
 He's about to cross to the opposite side, 
 When every lion seems multiplied ; 
 Where he had seen but one lion before, 
 Now he could easily count up a score. 
 
 Stone lions of every shape and size, 
 
 With tufted tails and tawny eyes ; 
 
 Which seem to blink in the rays of the sun, 
 
 As if they were real and relished the fun. 
 
 Some, complacently licking their jaws — 
 
 Others as busily sucking their paws — 
 
 Little ones climbing up big one's backs — 
 
 Peeping from crannies, nooks and cracks — 
 
 Perched on the top of a parent's nose — 
 
 Stealthily peeping from 'twixt his toes — 
 
 At the top or the bottom, here or there, 
 
 Lions seem cropping up everywhere — 
 
 Under a belly — perched on an ear — 
 
 In the queerest of places the lions appear — 
 
 'Neath the tuft of a tail — 'mong the hair of a 
 
 mane — 
 You may strive to count 'em, but counting's in 
 
 vain, 
 For you never can count the same number again. 
 No matter how often the victims count — 
 They may fancy they've got the exact amount — 
 They'll just run over once more and see, 
 When they find an alarming discrepancy ; 
 
THE STONE LIONS OF LU-KOTJ BEIDGE. 25 
 
 One lion less here — one too many there — 
 At length they give the task up in despair — 
 Unless, as, alas ! is too often the case, 
 They must go on counting and not quit the place, 
 'Till the counter eventually gets deranged, 
 Or dies, and at last to a lion is changed ; 
 Adding one more 
 To that terrible score, 
 And making the counting more hard than before. 
 
 Whatever you do, or wherever you go, 
 Beware of the lions of stone at Lu-kou ! 
 Don't try to count them — as sure as you do, 
 You'll die, become mad, or a stone lion too. 
 
26 
 
 THE SKELETON TREES * 
 OE THE SUICIDES' HAUNT. 
 
 Do you see those old fir trees, dead, bloodless and dry — 
 Like so many skeletons, bony and gaunt — 
 
 With their long fleshless arms stretching up in the sky ?- 
 'Neath those skeleton trees is the " Suicides' Haunt." 
 
 The wayfarer foredoomed to pass there at night, 
 Hurries by with a shudder nor once turns his head ; 
 
 Nor feels himself safe till they're lost to his sight — 
 Those skeleton trees are such objects of dread. 
 
 * These trees are situated on the east side of the Im- 
 perial Ancestral Hall, Ji jg£ ^p, near the British Legation, 
 Peking. It is a common remark, if any one is seen 
 walking beneath them, that he is " selecting a branch." 
 
THE SKELETON TEEES. 27 
 
 When they died no one knows, but old people say 
 
 They were blasted because of the fruits that they bore ; 
 
 But though they've been dead now this many a day 
 The branches still bear their grim fruit as before. 
 
 Some men like to walk 'neath those old trees and brood — 
 They are easily known by the scowl on their face, 
 
 For they all seem unhappy and fretful in mood : — 
 They're the fruit of those trees and are ripening apace. 
 
 Night after night they will pace to and fro 
 
 'Neath the skeleton trees, with sad lowering brows — 
 And their thoughts become dark, till they feel they must 
 
 go 
 And meet with their fate 'mong those leafless old 
 boughs. 
 
 Sometimes every branch of those wierd looking trees 
 Fills the night air with outcries, so like human screams, 
 
 That the passer-by feels his blood curdle and freeze — 
 Those agonized shrieks haunt him long in his dreams. 
 
 'Tis said if a wayfarer passes by late, 
 
 Gentje voices around seem to breathe in his ear, 
 
 " Climb up in the tree " — till, impelled by some fate, 
 He feels that he must, and he slowly draws near. 
 
 He looks upward, and what a strange sight meets his eye, 
 On every old limb fairy forms he can see ; 
 
 Could he only join them — there seems no one nigh — 
 He will try, and climb up the skeleton tree. 
 
28 THE SKELETON TEEES. 
 
 Nearer, still nearer — he's ripening fast — 
 
 Now he hastily climbs, and the morning sun flings 
 
 His rays on the fruit which has ripened at last — 
 
 For a corse pale and swoll'n from a bony limb swings. 
 
 Whatever we do then, let this be our prayer — 
 May He guide our actions and thoughts so aright 
 
 That we shun those old trees and the grim fruit they 
 bear — 
 G-od keep us from wishing to walk there at night. 
 
29 
 
 LEGEND OF THE CHING DYNASTY. 
 
 Shun-chih,* while yet a petty Tatar chief, 
 
 Was down to everything — but few could match him, 
 A cross between a monarch and a thief — 
 
 The Chinese General Tengf was sent to catch him ; 
 Subdue his rabble horde — and, to be brief, 
 
 Quiet Shun-chih, in other words, despatch him. 
 
 With this praiseworthy motive off Teng went 
 
 To catch Shun-chih ; should he succeed in taking 
 
 This noted chief, 'twould be a great event, 
 
 In his own mind he rapid plans was making 
 
 How he could thrash him to his heart's content, 
 
 And, for the future, stop his head from aching. 
 
 * KB ?n Shim-cMh. The first Emperor of the Ch'ing 
 (present) dynasty. 
 
 t §[S 7H !ifC> General Teng was sent into Manchuria to 
 subjugate Shun-chih, who was a great source of annoyance 
 to the last Emperor of the Ming dynasty. 
 
30 LEGEXD OF THE CHENG DYNASTY. 
 
 Teng and Shun-chih in turn their skill displayed ; 
 
 Teng fancied he was smart — Shun-chih was smarter- 
 To catch the catcher he at length essayed ; 
 
 Firmly resolved on making him a martyr, 
 An artful trap for his opponent laid, 
 
 And caught him, but the Chinese proved a Tatar. 
 
 Shun-chih felt quite delighted when he found 
 
 His plan succeed ; the man he so much dreaded, 
 
 Was brought into his presence tightly bound — 
 
 In fact, the thongs were in his flesh embedded — 
 
 Seeing the general, Shun-chih grimly frowned, 
 And ordered him at once to be beheaded. 
 
 No sooner said than done ; a dexterous chop 
 
 Aimed by a man at feats like this deemed clever, 
 
 Swept off his head ; they saw the head fall flop, 
 And looked to see the body fall, but never 
 
 Were men so taken in; it wouldn't drop — 
 
 The headless trunk stood bolt upright as ever. 
 
 Here was a pretty mess ; do what they would, 
 
 They couldn't make it fall. This was appalling — 
 
 To give them credit they did all they could, 
 
 But it defied their pulling and their hauling ; 
 
 They pushed and pulled their best, but there it stood ; 
 The headless body didn't think of falling. 
 
LEGEND OF THE CHING DYNASTY. 
 
 At his wits' end, Shun-chih tried tears and prayers, 
 And various diplomatic arts to shake him ; 
 
 If he'd but lie down he should be his Lars — 
 
 His household god — his Ancestor he'd make him — 
 
 He'd worship him — he and his lawful heirs 
 
 For ever — if he didn't, might the devil take him. 
 
 A moment scarcely had the words been spoke, 
 
 When flashed the lightning and the thunder rumbled ; 
 
 A moment more, the magic spell was broke, 
 
 Down to the ground the headless body tumbled ; 
 
 'Twas too late now his promise to revoke — 
 
 He buried him, and left, crest-fallen, humbled. 
 
 He'd caught his Tatar with a vengeance now, 
 
 His very ancestors he had repudiated ; 
 Henceforth he yearly must with reverence bow 
 
 At the ancestral tablet* of a man he hated — 
 He'd no alternative but keep his vow, 
 
 No matter how absurdly it originated. 
 
 * The tablet is placed in the Imperial Hall, Jl ^ ^p, 
 Huang-t'ang-tzu, and to this day the Emperor sacrifices 
 before it on new year's eve; this seems to give much satis- 
 faction to the Chinese portion of the population of Peking, 
 though [it may be questioned whether the Tatar portion 
 are as much gratified. Whether the above legend is true 
 or not is left to the opinion of the reader ; it is, however, 
 generally believed in Peking. 
 
 This legend the Chinese treat, in a comic style as best 
 expressive of their glee at seeing their conquerors out- 
 witted. 
 
32 LEGEND OF THE CHING DYNASTY. 
 
 He kept his vow — it does seem rather queer — 
 
 It touches up their pride and helps to lower it — 
 
 From then till now, the last night of each year, 
 
 The Emperor must sacrifice and kneel before it ; 
 
 Much as our Tatar conquerors may sneer, 
 
 It still remains a fact, they can't ignore it. 
 
33 
 
 THE PALACE OF GOLD. 
 
 Dear Aunt, were sweet Ah-chiao my bride, I would bear 
 her 
 
 From this court and its pomp to some far away scene ; 
 There, secluded, shut out from the world, I'd prepare her 
 
 A home worthy of her, and make her its queen. 
 
 Embosomed in hills, their blue summits uprearing, 
 The edge of the horizon, forming a dome 
 
 Of the blue sky above us, the mountains appearing 
 The natural many-hued walls of our home. 
 
 Like the sunshiny tears which trickle unbidden 
 
 From the bright eyes of youth ; down the face of the 
 hills, 
 
 Now catching the sun, now 'midst foliage hidden, 
 In their sinuous course trickle numberless rills. 
 
 3 
 
34 THE PALACE OF GOLD. 
 
 These streams from all sides are eternally flowing, 
 
 Till they mingle their tears in a lakelet's pure breast, 
 
 On whose margin trees and sweet flowers are growing, — 
 There, nestled in verdure, they placidly rest. 
 
 'Midst birds, flowers and trees, in the bright sunny weather 
 She should never know sorrow, and never grow old 
 
 In the midst of the lake we'd live happy together, 
 For there I should build her a palace of gold.* 
 
 * Wu-ti ^ ^ of the Han dynasty, when quite a child, 
 was asked by his aunt, princess Chang Jg whether he 
 would like to marry. He replied, " Yes." On being shown 
 Ah-chiao, Chang's daughter, and asked whether he would 
 like to marry her, he replied, "HI had Ah-chiao for my 
 wife I would build her a palace of gold." 
 
35 
 
 THE SQUARE IRON BAR OF LU-KOU. 
 
 How came that great iron bar at Lu-kou ? 
 
 Who placed it there — 
 In the bed of the river ? Does any one know 
 
 The reason it's square ? 
 
 'Twas the spear of a blood-thirsty pirate, 'tis said — 
 
 By name Wang-yen-chang ;? 
 If he could whirl that iron bar round his head, 
 
 He must have been strong. 
 
 * Wang-yen-chang j 3E i^ S^ was a notorious pirate in 
 the T'ang dynasty ; he used to levy a sort of " black mail " 
 on all passing vessels, and was much dreaded on account 
 of his enormous strength. The name of the person who 
 killed him is not given in the legend, but there is no 
 doubt the death of the giant was hailed with great joy by 
 everyone. 
 
 The square iron bar remains in the bed of the stream to 
 this moment — as far as I am aware — and is believed to be 
 immovable by mortal hands. I question, however, if it 
 would stay there long if any real efforts were made to pull 
 it out. The Bridge of Lu-kou is the scene of two curious 
 legends, the " Stone Lions," and the above. 
 
 3 * 
 
36 THE SQUAEE IKON BAR OF LU-KOU. 
 
 He used that square bar both as weapon and oar — 
 
 In rowing or fight. 
 In mid-stream he'd thrust it — his barge to it moor, 
 
 When resting at night. 
 
 One night at the bridge of Lu-kou he had moored, 
 
 And quietly slept; 
 When his foe, with a knife 'twixt his teeth, swam on 
 board, 
 
 And stealthily crept 
 
 To the place where the giant was taking his rest — 
 
 Perhaps in a dream — 
 Drove his long knife right up to the hilt in his breast, 
 
 And plunged in the stream. 
 
 The giant sprang up, with an unearthly yell — 
 
 In pursuit of his foe ; 
 And, blinded by rage, on the top of him fell — 
 
 Both sank down below. 
 
 Who can tell the wild struggle they had 'neath the wave — 
 
 How each of them sought 
 The throat of the other — what death-blows they gave — 
 
 How fiercely they fought ? 
 
 Clasped in death they were found the next morn near the 
 spear 
 
 In the stream's pebbly bed ; 
 Like wild-fire the joyful news spread far and near 
 
 That the pirate was dead. 
 
THE SQUAEE IRON BAR OF LU-KOU. 37 
 
 The square bar remains in the stream to this hour — 
 
 And there it must stay — 
 Where the giant had stuck it, for no earthly power 
 
 Can take it away. 
 
38 
 
 RACE FOR A THRONE.* 
 
 Thou on thy mule and I on my steed, 
 
 Will try our animals' mettle and speed, 
 
 In a race for the throne, and our course shall be 
 
 Round " Nine li Hill " and back to this tree. 
 
 He the imperial throne shall fill 
 
 Who first makes the circuit of Nine li Hill, 
 
 * Liu Pang |?|) ^J and Pa Wang jg ]£, after many en- 
 counters, in which victory alternately favoured each of 
 them, agreed to settle their dispute for the throne, by a 
 trial of speed of the animals they respectively rode. The 
 course was to be round " Nine li Hill," ^ £ |Jj called by 
 that name from the fact of its being nine li, or three miles, 
 round. The winner of the race was to be considered the 
 lawful monarch, and the loser to consider himself as his 
 subject, and tributary to him. When nearing the starting 
 place Pa Wang's mule was taken in travail, and compelled 
 by nature to stop and foal, thus preventing Pa Wang from 
 winning the race. 
 
EAOE FOE A THEONE. 39 
 
 Chief against chief, mule against steed ; 
 Say, is't a bargain ? " " Agreed ! agreed ! " 
 
 Between Liu Pang and the braVe Pa Wang, 
 The struggle had been both fierce and long ; 
 Each with ambition's flame was fired ; 
 Each to the " Dragon throne " aspired ; 
 Each had alternately lost and won, 
 In the race for power they had hitherto run : 
 Now, the struggle for power and place 
 Their beasts would decide in the nine li race. 
 
 i 
 Croupe to croupe were the two beasts placed, 
 Eastward and westward the riders faced ; 
 One ! Two ! Three ! and away they bound, 
 The hoofs of the animals spurn the ground, 
 In opposite courses each swiftly flies, 
 Each rider intent on the glorious prize. 
 In truth 'twas a trial of speed and skill 
 That race for the throne round Nine li Hill. 
 
 Gallopping on with clatter and din, 
 
 Eager the glorious prize to win, 
 
 On they go at the top of their speed, 
 
 Pa Wang on the mule, Liu Pang on the steed. 
 
 Who shall the fortunate rider be 
 
 That first gets back to the starting tree ? 
 
 Each one mentally swears he will 
 
 Be first in the race round Nine li Hill. 
 
40 RACE FOB A THRONE. 
 
 " Faster, still faster, my trusty steed, 
 
 A kingdom rests on thy strength and speed." 
 
 " On, my brave mule, 'tis thou alone 
 
 Canst win for thy master the ( Dragon throne.' ** 
 
 The mule or the steed, which shall it be 
 
 That first gets back to the starting tree ? 
 
 Which one will his master's hopes fulfil 
 
 And win the race round the Nine li Hill ? 
 
 Eastward and westward, back to back 
 Each man had sped on his lonely track ; 
 Now, as each rounded the hill in the race, 
 'Twas westward and eastward — face to face. 
 On they come at the top of their speed, 
 Pa Wang on his mule, Liu Pang on his steed ; 
 They meet — one half of the race is run ; 
 They pass — by whom will the race be won ? 
 
 Rounding the hill at the top of their speed, 
 Westward and eastward come mule and steed, 
 Impelled by their riders they seem to fly ; — 
 Yonder's the tree, they are both drawing nigh : 
 Fly, my brave steed, and be first at the tree ! 
 On, trusty mule, all my hopes are in thee ! 
 Who shall be first at the starting place — 
 Will the mule or the steed win the Nine li race ? 
 
 One effort more, and, my steed, thou hast won 
 For thy master the throne of " all under the sun ! " 
 
EACE FOE A THEONE. 41 
 
 Alas ! the poor mule, within sight of the goal, 
 Staggered — suddenly fell, and — gave birth to a 
 
 foal! 
 " Brave steed ! thou art first at the tree ! " cried 
 
 Liu Pang, — 
 " Curst mule ! * thou hast lost me the throne ! " 
 
 cried Pa Wang; 
 "Accurs'd be thy race ! they shall never more breed,f 
 But henceforth he foaled from the donkey and 
 
 steed!" 
 
 * Some books speak of the animal that Pa Wang rode 
 as a t'e, ffi, and describe it as cloven-footed, and of sur- 
 passing swiftness. Others simply mention it as a mule. 
 Many dictionaries define t'e as a bull, bullock, or ox. " I 
 came as quickly as possible," " I went with the utmost 
 rapidity," etc., is often expressed bv the words " I rode the 
 chasing wind t'S " ^ J§ ft g jg Jg #. 
 
 + 3C sfc ?§ T S9- " Never be allowed to foal." 
 
42 
 
 THE ASPEN, OR, THE LAUGHING 
 TREE. 
 
 Ha ! ha ! how I laugh when I see such a tree 
 As the Elm to ambition aspire ; 
 
 He ! — a poor worthless thing, — 
 He to be dubbed a king ! * 
 What's there about Mm to admire ? 
 Just look at us both — 
 
 Compare him with me ; — 
 As for beauty and growth, 
 A mere tyro can see 
 That I'm greener and stouter and higher ; 
 And I know I'm more handsome and stately than he. 
 
 * It is said that the Emperor Ch'ien-lung, ]|£ |^, greatly 
 admired the elm tree, ^ jjj$ (an inferior kind of tree to 
 the jjl^ or elm proper), and conferred on it the title of 
 " king of the trees." It is a curious fact that, though the 
 Chinese consider the tree comparatively worthless, and 
 
THE ASPEN, OE, THE LAUGHING TREE. 43 
 
 Poor old Mulberry there, how he chafes, fumes and frets, 
 And trembles in every limb, 
 Till he reaches that stage, 
 When he bursts with sheer rage,* 
 That Elm is made king over him. 
 The mulberry tree 
 
 But a poor pattern sets ; 
 He should imitate me — 
 
 He who laughs soon forgets. 
 I laugh at Chien-lung's absurd whim ;f 
 Ha ! ha ! that's the way to check useless regrets. 
 
 Willow weeps, Chestnut wails, sweet huai% softly moans, 
 And bitterly dark Cypress sighs ; 
 Let the breezes but stir 
 The branches of Fir, 
 And the sturdy old tree howls and cries. 
 Bluff Oak breathes despair 
 
 make no hesitation in grubbing it up to be used as lire- 
 wood, yet, at the same time, no house is considered lucky, 
 if a portion, often no bigger than a pencil, is not fixed in 
 the roof at the building of it, generally in the form of a 
 peg. This is recognizing its rank as king. 
 
 * The mulberry tree is supposed to exhale a great deal 
 of vapour, and to burst with rage (^JjfcJJi^)? a * seeing a 
 worthless tree exalted over it, while the mulberry is 
 considered so valuable, as affording subsistence to the 
 silkworm. 
 
 f Alluding to his conferring the rank of king on the 
 elm. 
 
 % A sort of ash, very beautiful both in foliage and 
 blossoms, and useful in a variety of ways. 
 
44 THE ASPEN, OR, THE LAUGHING TBEK. 
 
 In lugubrious tones ; 
 Cherry, Apple and Pear 
 
 Commingle their groans ; 
 Shy Peach blushes up to the eyes. 
 Plum and Apricot's tears would melt their own stones. 
 
 Each tree of the forest, fruit, flower — great or small, 
 Is convinced that none other than he 
 Should be King of the Trees : 
 Let them think what they please, 
 But it has no effect upon me ; 
 I pursue my own way, 
 
 Let whatever befall ; 
 I'm contented and gay, 
 
 So I laugh and grow tall, 
 For of envy I'm perfectly free ; 
 Thus I'm really the king, and can laugh at them all. 
 
 Ha ! ha ! how I laugh as I gaze down below, 
 And watch the strange freaks of the sun 
 Gilt-edging the shade 
 My green leaves have made, 
 As hither and thither they run. 
 Just a cursory glance, 
 
 Through my branches bestow ; 
 How my leaves wave and dance, 
 And sway to and fro ; — 
 They are clapping together in fun 
 At the fanciful sun-bordered shadows they throw. 
 
THE ASPEN, OR, THE LAUGHING TREE. 45 
 
 I laugh at the clouds, at the blue summer sky 
 I laugh at the birds in their flight ; 
 At the sun overhead, 
 Whose bright beams are shed 
 On my head from morning till night. 
 I laugh at those trees 
 
 Which howl, whine and cry, 
 For spring's gentlest breeze, 
 
 Which makes them all sigh — 
 Makes my leaves vibrate with delight — 
 That's my laughter ! What tree then so joyous as I ?* 
 
 * The Aspen is supposed by the Chinese to laugh 
 heartily (|J| ^J B£ B£ ij|,) at the conceit of the elm, the 
 anger of the mulberry, and the lamentations of the other 
 trees, at the idea of the elm being considered their king. 
 At the same time he evidently thinks himself infinitely 
 superior, by his size and height, to the whole of them, and 
 can afford to laugh at them all. In this song, the Chinese 
 poet shows the aspen in a different light from what fo- 
 reigners generally view it. One of our poets (Gay) in 
 speaking of it says : — 
 
 " Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze." 
 
 A favourite English ballad is named after its first line, 
 which runs thus : — 
 
 " Come where the aspens quiver." 
 
 We have also the common expressions, " trembled like an 
 aspen," " shook like an aspen leaf," etc. 
 
46 
 
 THE EMPEROR'S TREE.* 
 
 Not far from Peking is an old White-nut Tree ; — 
 Surrounded by firs — that one tree stands alone ; 
 'Tis exactly the age of the Ch'ing dynasty, 
 For 'twas planted when Shun-chih ascended the throne. 
 
 Though hoary with years, its green-foliaged head 
 
 It sturdily thrusts up far into the sky, 
 
 As if in defiance of age, — for, 'tis said, 
 
 While the dynasty lives the old tree cannot die. 
 
 * *r& ik ® ^kis * ree * s ^ ^ ne cour tyard of a temple 
 named Tan che ssu j|| j£ ^ situated in the Western Hills 
 about a hundred li from Peking. The above legend is 
 firmly believed by all northeners ; many Chinese making 
 pilgrimages to, or visiting the temple, going through the 
 hou-tou in front of it, in recognition of the awful power it 
 is supposed to possess. The tree is about six feet in 
 diameter ; at the root of it are several shoots (the song 
 
the empeeoe's teee. 47 
 
 Old age, storms, and time have attacked it in vain, 
 Yet year after year it bears foliage and fruit. 
 The death of a king, or a new monarch's reign, 
 Is foretold by a sapling that springs from its root. 
 
 Should that sapling droop, 'tis a monarch's death- knell ; — 
 It it die, 'tis a sure sign the Emperor's dead ; — 
 When a new monarch rules, on the spot where it fell, 
 Another green sapling springs up in its stead. 
 
 Each Emperor carefully watches the growth 
 Of the sapling which represents him, for he knows 
 That what affects one must be felt by them both ; 
 That he cannot die while the sapling still grows. 
 
 The old tree is known as " The Emperor's Tree," 
 And the sapling which now stout and thriving appears 
 At its foot, is Tung-chih* Heaven grant we may see 
 The tree and its shoot nourish myriads of years ! 
 
 gives but one), each of which represents one of the 
 monarchs of the Ch'ing dynasty, commencing with Shun- 
 chih, the first. Hsien-feng' s sapling was always a weakly 
 one, which was one more proof of the tree's power, as that 
 monarch was not celebrated either for mental or physical 
 strength. The present emperor's sapling looks thriving, 
 as the song says : how it may progress remains to be seen. 
 At the end of the Chinese version of this legend, aflirmatory 
 of its truth, are the characters gr ^ |]| "=. 
 * Dead, since the above verses were written. 
 
48 
 
 YU-CHI'S DEATH.* 
 
 " It cannot be ; say that yon spoke in jest. 
 
 Desert me — thus ? Why turn your eyes away ? 
 Oh ! rather plunge your sword into my breast 
 
 Than leave me here, to 'Han's fierce troops a prey ! 
 
 " Have I not shared your dangers hitherto ? 
 In darkest hour did I e'er quit your side ? 
 Death in a hundred forms I've dared for you ! — 
 Ere I heard this, oh ! would that I had died ! 
 
 * Yil-cM (jJl $[£) was Pa-wang's (gj 3l) favourite con- 
 cubine, and had followed his fortunes faithfully for years. 
 Pa-wang, on the desertion of his troops, told her he should 
 be compelled to leave her, as it would be impossible for 
 her to accompany him in cutting his way through the 
 troops that surrounded him. That she need be under no 
 apprehension, as her life would, no doubt, be spared when 
 they saw how beautiful she was. She, however, preferred 
 death by her own hand, in the presence of the man she 
 loved, to his desertion, and the certainty of falling into the 
 hands of his enemies. 
 
YU-CHl's DEATH. 49 
 
 " How oft in happier times you've sworn to me, 
 Nor time, nor death itself should sever us ! 
 Is this your boasted love ? Is this to be 
 The bitter end ? Must it be really thus ? 
 
 " Have I not fought for you, — and near you bled ? 
 And, oh ! how oft, while you securely slept — 
 My breast the pillow for your wearied head — 
 The long night through I've faithful vigil kept. 
 
 " Have I not staunched your wounds with tenderest care, 
 And wiped the sweat-drops from your clammy brow ? 
 Buoyed you with hope when you have felt despair ? — 
 And could you, if you loved me, leave me now ? 
 
 " Let me go with you ; woman though I be, 
 
 I'll side by side with you fight through this horde ; 
 I fear not death nor danger — they shall see 
 How I, inspired by love, can wield a sword. 
 
 " What if I fall, 'twill be ' before your horse ; ' 
 My dying eyes can watch you in the fight ; 
 My soul, abandoning my senseless corse, 
 
 Shall hover near and guard you in your flight. 
 
 " Eecall your words, I earnestly entreat : — 
 What, unrelenting still ! Thus then will I 
 Give up my life — here — at your very feet ! 
 'Twas my place living — at your feet I'll die ! " 
 
 4 
 
50 YTT-CHl's DEATH. 
 
 Snatching Pa's glittering sword as thus she spoke, 
 She plunged it in her breast ; then looking round, 
 
 She faintly smiled — a cry the stillness broke, 
 And Yil-chi, prone, fell dying to the ground. 
 
 " Said I not true ? See, yonder conies the foe ! 
 But yet you shall not leave me ere my breath 
 Has left this frame . . . Now — now, I bid you go ! " 
 She cried aloud, then closed her eyes in death. # 
 
 * Pa Wang wept bitterly at her death, but there was no 
 time for unavailing grief. Mounting his horse, he suc- 
 ceeded in breaking through the ranks of his foes, and fled 
 in the direction of the Black River. 
 
51 
 
 THE MOVING FIR.* 
 
 Just bow to that tree, be it never so slightly, 
 And then a remarkable thing will occur ; ' 
 
 It at once will return it by bowing politely'; 
 'Tis called for that reason the old Moving Fir. 
 
 It bends its head gently to all those who linger 
 Beneath its dark shade, and its sympathy 's such, 
 
 If you place on its trunk but the tip of your finger, ' 
 The whole of the tree will vibrate to your touch.' 
 
 * f£ M fe-J This tree is in the court- vard of the Chieh 
 
 "K ( ^ A^> Situated in ^ e Western Hills 
 (W. Ill), about one hundred li distant from Peking. Manv 
 foreigners have seen the tree, and can testify to the fact of 
 tLTr T g ^^ PUS ^ d With the hand i «**«■ ^yfom 
 bow m g W etc° Pim0n ° Ut ltS P ° liteneSS in the m ^ ™ 
 
 4 * 
 
52 THE MOVING FIR. 
 
 Now push it — it moves — one can scarcely conceive it — 
 The whole tree bends down and recedes as you push ; 
 
 It flies back to its place, when you let your hand leave it, 
 As though it were merely a sapling or bush. 
 
 Tis said, — tho' by some the strange tale is derided — 
 That it swings o'er the depths of a cavernous well ; 
 
 Trunk and roots by a thin crust of earth are divided ; 
 That the tree is suspended 'twixt heaven and hell. 
 
 That its roots, like its branches, are thrust into ether ; 
 
 That while the world lasts the old tree cannot fall ; 
 Earth, hell, heaven, man — 'tis dependent on neither, 
 
 But, strangely enough, 'tis dependent on all. 
 
 What gives the old tree its strange power of volition ? 
 
 Some sprites have their home mid' its roots — old folk 
 say; 
 When they're still, it remains in an upright position, 
 
 But it bends when they tug at its roots in their play. 
 
 It now has defied storms and tempests for ages ; 
 
 When others are blown down, the old moving tree 
 Bends its head to the storm ; when the wind wildly rages 
 
 It rocks to and fro like a vessel at sea. 
 
THE MOVING FIR. 53 
 
 The tree is no fiction ; — 'tis the truth I've related, 
 And all who have seen it with me will concur, 
 
 That since Pan-lcu's* time, when the world was created, 
 The most wonderful tree is the old " Moving Fir." 
 
 |jgt -£j the Chinese Adam. 
 
54 
 
 SUICIDE OF PA WANG'S HORSE.* 
 
 " Alas ! my brave black steed, 
 I grieve to part with thee ; 
 
 With strength and speed, 
 
 In time of need, 
 
 Thou'st borne thy lord, 
 
 Through fire and sword, 
 Full many a thousand li. 
 
 " Thou'rt blacker than the night ; 
 
 Matchless in symmetry ; 
 Whether in pursuit or flight, 
 Dashing in the thick of fight, 
 Thine eye ne'er lost its fire, 
 Thy limbs could never tire, 
 
 Distance was nought to thee. 
 
 * Pa Wang presented the horse to Ting-chang, gf. j>, 
 the person who had charge of the boat, his only means of 
 escape — as well to mark his appreciation of the man's 
 
suicide of pa wang's hoese. 55 
 
 " My bravery to thee I owed ; 
 
 My bosom knew not fear ; 
 While I thy back bestrode, 
 Fearless to the charge I rode ; 
 Oh ! steed, thy welcome neigh, 
 Eager for the coming fray, 
 
 Never more I'll hear ! 
 
 Oh, steed ! My faithful black ! 
 
 I grieve to part with thee. 
 Ne'er more shall I cross thy back — 
 Ne'er more pat thy arching neck. 
 Thou wert true to me through all ;— 
 Take him — if but to recall 
 
 Some memory of me." 
 
 Meanwhile the gallant horse stood up and drooped his 
 
 haughty head, 
 As if he heard and understood all that his master said ; 
 
 kindness as to prevent his horse from falling into the 
 hands of his enemies. The horse like Yii-cM, Jg #[£, Pa 
 Wang's favourite concubine — loved his master so well that 
 he preferred death to separation. 
 
56 suicide of pa wang's horse. 
 
 He nestled closer to his lord — and, oh! if eyes could 
 
 plead, 
 How eloquently spoke the eyes of Pa Wang's noble steed. 
 
 They seemed to say reproachfully, " Why should we 
 ? 
 
 " In life or death — whate'er befalls — I'd share my master's 
 
 fate." 
 Pa Wang wept on the horse's neck. " Poor steed," cried 
 
 he, " thou'st shown 
 More love than all — thy noble heart's more human than 
 
 my own. 
 
 " Take him away ! I cannot bear that sad reproachful 
 
 look." 
 Two soldiers, oue on either side, the horse's bridle took, 
 And sought to lead him to the boat — in vain they kindness 
 
 tried — 
 The horse indignantly refused to quit his master's side. 
 
 He fought and struggled fiercely, — and, not without 
 
 remorse, 
 The men exerted all their strength to drag the panting 
 
 horse ; 
 At last, o'erpowered by numbers, the horse, with drooping 
 
 head, 
 Was slowly by his captors towards the river led. 
 
SUICIDE OF PA WANG'S HORSE. 57 
 
 They reached the stream ; the gallant horse gave a terrific 
 bound ; 
 
 Broke from the guards who held him, and turning swiftly- 
 round, — 
 
 Looked fondly at his master — then, with one cry of pain, 
 
 He plunged into the river, and never rose again. 
 
58 
 
 ONE-EYED LTT-PAN, OR, COCKING 
 THE EYE. 
 
 Have you ever observed a bricklayer at work — 
 
 How knowing he'll look should a stranger stand nigh : 
 How he'll step on one side, give his shoulder a jerk, 
 Knit his brows, purse his lips, and then — cock his eye r 
 How knowing he looks, too, while cocking his eye ! 
 'Tis a curious fact, 
 But you'll find it correct, 
 All have the same habit of cocking the eye. 
 
 First he'll lay a few bricks, then, 'twixt finger and thumb 
 
 He holds up a line — now, he's going to try 
 If his work is done straight — or, as workmen say, plumb — 
 This is done in a moment by cocking the eye. 
 It isn't the plumb-rule, its cocking the eye. 
 He may try as he will ; 
 Exert all his skill, 
 But it cannot be done without cocking the eye. 
 
ONE-EYED LU-PAN, OR, COCKING THE EYE. 59 
 
 In mixing up mortar, in handling a tool, 
 
 He performs the same feat, but he won't explain why. 
 All bis work should be tested by line and by rule, 
 But he chiefly depends upon cocking his eye. 
 It can't be correct without cocking the eye ; 
 E'en in chipping a brick, 
 He performs the same trick ; 
 He can't chip a brick without cocking the eye. 
 
 Have you e'er seen a carpenter setting his plane, 
 
 Which a knot in the wood has forced somewhat awry 
 How he taps till he gets the blade level again ? 
 But the tapping 's no use if he cocks not his eye. 
 It must be completed by cocking the eye ; 
 He may tap for a week, 
 But — the truth I now speak — 
 'Twould never come right without cocking the eye. 
 
 Have you ever observed with what patience and care 
 
 Stone-masons their mallets and chisels will ply ? 
 They oft try their work by the level and square, 
 But they oftener test it by cocking the eye. 
 They can tell when it 's square just by cocking the eye. 
 They the level may use, 
 Or the square, if they choose, 
 But neither 's of use without cocking the eye. 
 
60 ONE-EYED LU-PAN, OR, COCKING THE EYE. 
 
 Can you explain this ? If you cannot I will : — 
 In old times — or else all old chronicles lie — 
 There lived a poor artizan famed for his skill, 
 
 Named Lu-pan ; and this bricklayer had but one eye. 
 All know that old Lu-pan had only one eye ; 
 He had long lost the sight 
 Of an eye — 'twas the right — 
 He thus unavoidably cocked the right eye. 
 
 When old Lu-pan died, he was soon deified 
 
 As the " Artizan' s God," and that explains why 
 All workmen from that day to this take a pride 
 In copying Lu-pan's peculiar eye. 
 They don't copy his work, they but copy his eye ; 
 Every one who would thrive 
 Must earnestly strive 
 To imitate Lu-pan in cocking the eye. 
 
 Should a person inquire, " So and So — What 's his 
 name, 
 Is he a good workman ? " If good — you reply — 
 Not that he 's skilful — you merely exclaim, 
 " He 's a regular Lu-pan at cocking his eye ! 
 He can beat even Lu-pan at cocking the eye ! 
 He does all he can 
 To equal Lu-pan, 
 And attain to perfection in cocking his eye ! " 
 
ONE-EYED LTJ-PAN, OR, COCKING THE EYE. 61 
 
 In every respect what I've said is correct ; 
 
 Should any one doubt — he can easily try ; 
 The truth is soon proved, — but we must not expect 
 To tell good from bad, for they all cock the eye. 
 If not skilful in work, they can all cock the eye ; 
 Every one of them — all 
 Good or bad — great or small — 
 Are skilful in one thing, in — cocking the eye.* 
 
 * Many temples are dedicated to Lu-pan jft J$£, who is 
 generally represented in a sitting posture, having only one 
 eye, and holding a square in his right hand. " Saint 
 Lu-pan's Day" occurs on the 13th of the 6th Moon; 
 on that day mechanics of all sorts proceed to his temple 
 and offer propitiatory sacrifices to their patron deity. 
 
 Just within the P'ing tse men, Zp g|J p^j, one of the gates 
 of Peking, is a Lama temple called the White Pagoda 
 Temple, [=j Jg -^ Jgjj ; this was built in the reign of 
 Tung-lo of the Ming dynasty. On its spire is an umbrella- 
 shaped top, made of copper. In the first year of Chien- 
 lung's reign the inhabitants of Peking were astonished one 
 morning by discovering that this top had been ornamented 
 by a red silk fringe, and that from it also were suspended 
 a square, a bricklayer's trowel, and a plasterer's smoothing 
 trowel. It was soon spread abroad that Lu-pan had 
 descended from heaven during the night and performed 
 the work, but had forgotten to take away his tools with 
 him. It was subsequently discovered that the priests had 
 obtained the services of a thief to do the work, and had 
 circulated the tale of Lu-pa7i having done it, to draw con- 
 tributions to the temple. Chien-lung punished the Chief 
 Lama by depriving him of his rank (red button). 
 
62 ONE-EYED LU-PAN, OR, COCKING THE EYE. 
 
 The tools are still to be seen suspended to the top, and, 
 in spite of the trick having been found out and punished, 
 such is the love of Chinese for the marvellous, that the 
 Pekingese believe to this day that they were left there by 
 Lw-pan, after repairing the temple. 
 
63 
 
 MENG CHENG'S JOUKNEY TO THE 
 GREAT WALL. 
 
 In tracing back time's ever flowing stream, 
 I will not sing of heroes, war or glory ; 
 A simpler subject far shall form my theme, 
 A woman's love — Meng Cheng's pathetic story. 
 
 At once a wife, a widow, yet a maid, 
 
 No jade could be more pure, no snow be whiter; 
 
 The lustre of her name will never fade ; 
 
 Ages have passed, it shines out clearer, brighter. 
 
 Couched in rude language though the tale may be, 
 To braver, nobler deeds you cannot listen ; 
 Her journey to the Wall, ten thousand li, 
 Will cause the breast to swell, the eye to glisten. 
 
64 meng cheng's joueney. 
 
 My efforts will not altogether fail, 
 Should my rough verses but succeed in wringing 
 A tear or two from those who hear this tale, 
 Perhaps a sigh for those of whom I'm singing. 
 
 In Kuating city ages long ago,* 
 There lived, as local chronicles still show, 
 A man named Meng-lung-te, who, with his wife, 
 Passed many years an uneventful life, 
 Tranquil and happy, for no other care 
 Disturbed their peace, save that they had no heir ; 
 Had they a child on whom their love to pour, 
 Then were they blessed, they craved for nothing 
 more. 
 
 At length their fondest hopes were gratified, 
 
 The dame, with rising glow of conscious pride, 
 
 Announced herself, thanks to kind destiny, 
 
 The way all married ladies wish to be ; 
 
 Ere long a little stranger blessed their sight, 
 
 Though but a girl, they hailed it with delight. 
 
 This child, e'en as the tendrils of the vine 
 
 Help to support the props round which they twine. 
 
 Would to their green old age new vigour bring, 
 
 And, by her love, support as well as cling. 
 
 * Upwards of two thousand. years ago. 
 
meng cheng's journey. 65 
 
 With joy, then, o'er this little pledge they hung, 
 And at the " full moon " named the child Meng 
 
 Nor was it ever changed, the name they gave, 
 She bore in life, and carried to her grave. 
 
 Years passed, the little Meng Cheng grew apace, 
 All hearts delighting by her childish grace, 
 Clever beyond her years, she passed her hours 
 In study, needlework, embroidering flowers. 
 In all accomplishments the girl excelled, 
 Charming her parents, who with pride beheld 
 Her industry, her kind and winning ways. 
 The neighbours too spoke loudly in her praise ; 
 So beautiful, so skilful, yet so young, 
 Who was the equal of the fair Meng Cheng ! 
 The time rolled on, the girl was now sixteen. 
 In all her life her thoughts had ever been 
 How by her fond devotion day by day, 
 She could her parents' kindness best repay. 
 Like to a rosebud 'neath a genial sun, 
 Her budding charms unfolded one by one, 
 
 # The first namo a child receives is called its "Milk 
 name," and is equivalent to our "Christian name." 
 Children can be named on any day after their birth, from 
 the 3rd to the 30th or " full moon" or " complete month." 
 The 3rd and 30th days after the birth of a child are the 
 favourite days for the ceremony of giving it its " Milk 
 name." 
 
66 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 Each day developing some lovelier grace, 
 Bounding her form, and dimpling her fair face, 
 The young girl blossomed into maidenhood, 
 Fair to the eyes, yet not more fair than good. 
 
 Her birthday dawned : the happy parents blessed 
 Their blushing daughter, whom they thus ad- 
 dressed : — 
 " You're now sixteen, as each revolving year 
 Rolls on, still ' sweet sixteen '. may you appear ; 
 May your young life be one continual spring, 
 And every added year new pleasures bring. 
 But yet my child — 'tis written so by fate — 
 The time will come when we must separate ; 
 We both are old, and time steals slowly on, 
 Our care then is for you when we are gone. 
 You will be rich, all that we have is yours ; 
 But 'tis not wealth that always best insures 
 Content and happiness. We must provide 
 A fitting husband for so fair a bride ; 
 Invite a son-in-law to assume our name,* 
 This, for your sake, must be our highest aim ; 
 
 * A person having no male children, and not wishing 
 his family name to become extinct, can, if he choose, invite 
 a person to marry his daughter, which he does through 
 the medium of the go-between. On marriage, the bride- 
 groom becomes a member of his father-in-law's family ; 
 the first son assumes his mother's maiden name, and 
 inherits the family property, his descendants doing the 
 same in perpetuity ; the remainder of the bridegroom's 
 children retain his name. 
 
67 
 
 Graft our child's husband on the parent tree, 
 
 Your children then we yet may live to see. 
 
 What say you, child ? " The blushing girl replied, 
 
 " Why should you wish to drive me from your side ? 
 
 The thought of marriage only gives me pain, 
 
 Ah ! rather let me ever thus remain, 
 
 To wait on both, and by increasing care, 
 
 Still, as of old, your fond affection share : 
 
 I'm but a child, then let me, I implore, 
 
 Stay as I am, what can I wish for more ? " 
 
 I'll not sing of Kua-ting or of Meng Cheng now : 
 — That portion of my task's already done — 
 But of a couple living in Soochow, 
 On whom, in old age, heaven bestowed a son. 
 
 When three days old the child received his name, 
 'Twas Wan-Tisi-liang — 'tis in old records shown. 
 From then till death it still remained the same, 
 Never was he by any other known. 
 
 The child was beautiful beyond compare, 
 More like a fairy being who had played 
 With baby angels in the upper air, 
 And then unconsciously had earthward strayed. 
 
 5 * 
 
68 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 His parents watched with love his rapid growth, 
 Each day developing some mental grace, 
 Which more endeared him to the hearts of both. 
 Than e'en the beauty of his fair young face. 
 
 When eight years old, he could repeat by rote 
 All the " Four Books," and the " Five Classics " too ; 
 The sayings of the Sages he could quote : 
 Besides, he much of Ancient History knew. 
 
 When he had studied and had mastered those, 
 He next tried Essays. These he wrote so well, 
 In composition, poetry or prose, 
 But few could equal, none could him excel. 
 
 I'll leave the boy thus, and the scene will transport 
 To the capital city, the emperor's court ; — 
 The frontiers long had been ravished by hordes 
 Of fierce mounted Tatars with spears and with 
 
 swords. 
 The Emperor, thinking their inroads to check, 
 And fearing, perhaps, their wild troops to attack, 
 Called in to his aid many workmen well skilled, 
 And gave them directions a great wall to build ; 
 The wall was to be the whole country in length, 
 With towers and gateways of suitable strength. 
 This wall would his subjects in safety enclose, 
 And be an effectual check to his foes. 
 
meng cheng's journey. 69 
 
 The work advanced slowly, at ruinous cost, 
 For myriads of lives in its building were lost ;* 
 The dying and dead were enclosed in the wall, 
 No matter their rank, 'twas a vast tomb for all. 
 
 One night, on retiring, the Emperor dreamt, 
 In Soochow was a lad who from vice was exempt — 
 Who, whatever he did, or wherever he went, 
 Would a myriad of common-place men represent.f 
 The Emperor woke, and, elated and pleased, 
 Sent to Soochow instanter to have the lad seized. 
 Soochow' s six gates were immediately guarded, 
 And every available spot was placarded. J 
 In every alley and lane of the city, 
 People assembled with looks full of pity ; 
 Many a murmur and shake of the head 
 Were heard and seen as the placard was read. 
 
 It ran thus : — " If anyone dare to conceal 
 The lad Wan-hsi-liang, he shall certainly feel 
 The law's direst terrors for treason so great ; 
 He shall suffer beheading, a murderer's fate ; 
 
 * It is unknown how many actually died in the building 
 of the " Great Wall," but they must have amounted to 
 many thousands ; the Wall being the general tomb of all 
 who died there. 
 
 f The lad's surname was Wan J|J " myriad." 
 J The advantage of bill- sticking was evidently known at 
 this early date. 
 
70 MENG CHEXG's JOUEXEY. 
 
 The family shall also, of him who so dared, 
 
 Be cut off root and branch, not a soul shall be 
 
 spared. 
 But, if, on the other hand, anyone know 
 Where Wan is concealed, and shall instantly go 
 And give such information as may at length lead 
 To his capture, he'll do a most praiseworthy deed. 
 And further, a handsome reward shall be paid 
 To the person or persons by whom it is laid ; 
 And those through whose prowess the capture is 
 
 made, 
 If official, shall each be promoted one grade." 
 
 When the father read this he was nearly distrait, 
 
 Tore his hair in despair, and cursed his sad fate ; 
 
 " Why should he seek to rob me of my son ? 
 
 Other fathers have many, while I have but one ! 
 
 If my son is taken to build the Great Wall, 
 
 He will never return. Losing him, I lose all. 
 
 On whom, save my son, can I hope to depend 
 
 For comfort and help as I draw near my end ? 
 
 In old age or sickness who but him can soothe 
 
 My last dying moments, the road to death smooth ? " 
 
 Bewailing his fate thus with sad tears and moans, 
 
 He at once hastened home, and in heart-breaking 
 
 tones, 
 Imparted the news to his agonized wife, 
 And tremblingly bade his son fly for his life. 
 The wondering lad both his parents obeyed, 
 First bathing, and then in clean robes was arrayed ; — 
 
meng cheng's journey. 71 
 
 Sacrificed, with his parents, to Heaven and Earth, 
 To the Gods, and to those who had given him 
 
 birth ; — 
 To their ancestors' tablet, their forefathers' tomb, 
 Praying their manes to avert such a doom 
 As the one that hung over themselves and their 
 
 son — 
 To guard him and them. The sacrifice done, 
 The poor weeping youth bade his parents not grieve, 
 Cried he, " 'Tis but for a short time I leave, 
 A few days or weeks and this crisis once o'er, 
 We'll all be united again as of yore." 
 Here the poor lad broke down, fondly looking at each 
 Through his tears, while deep sobs interrupted his 
 
 " If I'm apprehended and die at the Wall, 
 
 On you both, in old age, this sorrow will fall. 
 
 Is't for this you both reared me ? Oh ! why was I 
 
 born? 
 Oh ! why must I leave you ? Why from you be 
 
 torn?" 
 With dreadful forebodings they'd never meet more, 
 Mid' sobbing and tears, the lad rushed from the 
 
 door. 
 
 On he ran, with untiring feet, 
 
 On, through alley, and land and street ; 
 
 Meeting many a face he knew, 
 
 But heedless of all he onward flew ; 
 
 Turning neither to left nor right, 
 
 Till the gate of the city appeared in sight. 
 
72 MENG CHENG S JOURNEY. 
 
 People to many a village belonging, 
 
 Coming and going to and fro, 
 
 In and out of the city were thronging. 
 
 Some seemed struck with his look of woe. 
 
 On through the gate of the city he sped, 
 
 And out through the open country fled, 
 
 For he knew that a price was set on his head. 
 
 Everyone on the road he met, 
 
 Eagerly asked, " Have they caught him yet ? 
 
 Living or dead, he's sure to be found, 
 
 He cannot escape if he's above ground ; 
 
 It wouldn't be pleasant to be in his shoes." 
 
 For everyone 'ere this had heard the news. 
 
 Over the dusty road he speeded, 
 
 Footsore and weary still he ran ; 
 
 Towns and hamlets he passed unheeded, 
 
 He dreaded to go near the haunts of man. 
 
 Over the dusty road he sped, 
 
 With wearied limbs and feet that bled, 
 
 For he knew that a price was set on his head. 
 
 Over the hot and dusty road, 
 
 On, the weary fugitive strode ; 
 
 Till, tired and faint, he suddenly spied 
 
 A garden wall close by the roadside ; 
 
 Farther on, a temptingly open gate. 
 
 Seeing no one near, he made for it straight. 
 
 The garden looked so cool and shaded 
 
 " Ah ! what a refuge 'twould be for me ! 
 
 I'll venture ! " — at once he its precincts invaded, 
 
 And threw himself down at the foot of a tree. 
 
meng oheng's journey. 73 
 
 Here, he in safety might pass the night, 
 Base at the dawn and continue his flight, 
 With a body refreshed and a heart more light. 
 
 I'll leave the lad upon the greensward flnng, 
 Weary and footsore, sad and sorrow-laden ; 
 And tune my muse once more to fair Meng Cheng, 
 And sing of what befel the gentle maiden. 
 
 'Twas eventide, the sun was sinking fast, 
 And, as he sank down in his western bed, 
 His dying radiance o'er the landscape cast, 
 Tinging the foliage with a golden red. 
 
 Some remnants of his brightness still remained, 
 A filmy veil of glorious light and shade ; 
 As if, though out of sight, he still refrained 
 From taking all the glory he had made. 
 
 The fair Meng Cheng, her daily task being done, 
 Tripped from the house and towards an arbour ran ; 
 To watch from thence the slowly setting sun, 
 Her taper fingers toying with a fan. 
 
 The bower stood on a gentle eminence, 
 
 Some twenty feet above the garden raised ; 
 
 She gained the summit, turning round from thence, 
 
 On sinking sun, and hill, and dale she gazed. 
 
74 mexg chexg's jouexey. 
 
 The scene enclosed within the garden wall — 
 The house, the bower, the lake so still and pure, 
 The flowers, the trees — the palms o'ertopping all — 
 Looked like a Paradise in miniature. 
 
 Green foliage on every side appeared, 
 Bright flowers bloomed in many a gay parterre ; 
 The tufted palm its lofty head upreared, 
 High above cypress and the azure fir. 
 
 The playful beams, e'en though their lord had gone, 
 Still danced and flickered midst the topmost boughs ; 
 Toying with every leaf they glanced upon, 
 Kissing at last the tall palm's stately brows. 
 
 On air and sky their impress next they showed ; 
 Sunward their course they dancingly pursued, 
 Purpling and goldening the air, which glowed, 
 Becoming, through their influence, rosy-hued. 
 
 Embosomed in the midst of this fair scene, 
 Lay, mirror-like, a lakelet calm and clear, 
 Reflecting back its bordering of green, 
 The fleecy clouds, the glowing atmosphere. 
 
 High overhead, far in the vault of blue, 
 Rode the pale moon amidst the ambient air ; 
 Her modest glances in the lakelet threw, 
 Seeing her own fair face reflected there. 
 
meng cheng's joukney. 75 
 
 Charmed by the beauty of the scenery — 
 
 The placid stillness of the lakelet's breast, — 
 
 She gazed upon it long and dreamily, 
 
 At length she thought she'd seek the bower and rest. 
 
 Each step she mounted, backward looks she cast 
 From thence, another point of view to take ; 
 When suddenly a gust of wind swept past, 
 Caught up her fan, and hurled it in the lake. 
 
 Loudly she called her maid, but no one came. 
 
 Finding at length she could not make her hear, 
 
 She thought, "Why need I feel false pride or 
 
 shame ? 
 I'll fetch the fan myself ; there's no one near." 
 
 No sooner had the girl the thought expressed, 
 Than down the steps again she lightly ran ; 
 Looked coyly round, then hastily undressed, 
 Bent on obtaining back the truant fan. 
 
 She paused awhile, then, slowly turning round, 
 Her face and form became suffused with red ; 
 Her eyes in modesty, had sought the ground, 
 But rested on the lake's clear face instead. 
 
 And there she saw — as if ' 'twere sculpt ' of stone — 
 An unclothed form, a living statuette ; 
 A fair young face, — she recognised her own, 
 And blushed a crimson when her own eyes met. 
 
76 meng cheng's joueney. 
 
 She gazed admiringly, yet bashfully, 
 
 As if she felt an innate sense of shame ; 
 
 She knew she blushed, for she could plainly see 
 
 The rosy blood rush mantling through her frame. 
 
 As thus she stood, she chanced to raise her eyes, 
 'Ere stepping in the lake to get the fan ; 
 But who can paint her horror and surprise, 
 When her eyes met the dark eyes of a man ? 
 
 Yes, there, beneath the lofty palm-tree's shade, 
 There stood a lad, good-looking, tall and slim, 
 Intently gazing on the beauteous maid. 
 Her gaze in turn became transfixed on him. 
 
 The girl, with mingled modesty and fear, 
 Arrayed herself in haste as best she could ; 
 She dared not look, she felt him drawing near. 
 'Ere she was clothed, the young man by her stood. 
 
 A man to see her thus, she was dismayed, 
 And could have sunk into the ground with fright ; 
 Abashed, confused, perplexed, she yet displayed 
 Some anger too, as well indeed she might. 
 
 Yet, strange to say, there mingled with all this, 
 A pleasant feeling, hitherto unknown ; 
 Making her bosom swell and glow with bliss ; 
 Her bright eyes 'neath its influence brighter shone. 
 
meng cheng's joueney. 77 
 
 " I bless the chance," the smiling youth began, 
 "■ That led me here — a fugitive — to take 
 Shelter awhile ; but, oh ! I bless the fan, 
 Blown by the gust of wind into the lake ! 
 
 " Ah ! but for that, my eyes had ne'er been blest 
 With such a vision as I've just surveyed ; 
 The sunset scene, the lakelet's placid breast, 
 And its presiding queen, a very naiad." 
 
 " Who are you ? Whence came you ? What is your 
 
 name?" 
 Cried the girl, as she reddened with anger and 
 
 shame ; 
 " Who are your parents ? Where do you dwell ? 
 "How came you hither? — the truth at once tell." 
 
 Without hesitation, the lad told her all ; 
 How he was wanted to help build the Wall ; 
 The grief of his parents for whose sake he fled, 
 The placards announcing a price for his head. 
 
 How, wearied and footsore, impelled by kind fate, 
 He saw the flower-garden, and entered the gate, 
 Intending to rest 'neath the trees for a night, 
 And early next morning continue his flight. 
 
 He continued, " While resting my limbs in the shade, 
 I heard a sweet voice calling out for her maid ; 
 I looked whence it came and my glad eyes were blest 
 With a vision of beauty, and — you know the rest. 
 
78 meno cheng's journey. 
 
 " You have heard my sad tale, I a fugitive stand ; 
 My liberty, life, all, are now in your hand ; 
 May I crave your permission one night here to stay ? 
 And to-morrow, at dawn, I'll proceed on my way." 
 
 The girl had alternately flushed and turned pale, 
 
 As the young lad related his pitiful tale ; 
 
 Then exclaimed, "You must never again quit this 
 
 spot, 
 But share, with my parents and me, our poor lot. 
 
 " Who sees my fair form, as you did but just now, 
 Must make me his wife ; for I solemnly vow, 
 All the troubles and griefs he may yet have to bear, 
 As a true, loving wife I will faithfully share. 
 
 On my unclothed form your eyes just now gazed ; " 
 She here dropped her eyes, which before had been 
 
 raised ; 
 " And I love you far dearer, far better than life ; 
 You must be my husband, I must be your wife." 
 
 On the banks of the lake then they sat side by side, 
 In fancy already a bridegroom and bride ; 
 They lingered awhile in the deepening shade, 
 And many a vow to each other they made. 
 
meng oheng's joubney. 79 
 
 Filled with visions of brightness they both prattled 
 
 on, 
 Till growing night forced them at last to be gone ; 
 They arose from the ground and ingeniously planned 
 To enter the house, as they stood, hand in hand. 
 
 Thus hand in hand and full of confidence, 
 
 Engendered by their youth and innocence ; 
 
 They gained the house, and now with love grown 
 
 bold, 
 The artless girl the whole adventure told. 
 
 His own heart warming to the handsome youth, 
 
 The father listened, seeing nought but truth 
 
 In their ingenuous faces, smiling said, 
 
 "So you are Wan-hsi-liang, and you have fled 
 
 " From those you hold most dear, from home and 
 
 friends ? 
 Stay with us here ; we'll try to make amends 
 For all the wrong the Emperor has done ; 
 Be my child's husband ; be to me a son. 
 
 " Take her, she's all that I love here on earth ; 
 Like me, you'll soon appreciate her worth. 
 I'm rich, on you my riches I bestow ; 
 My greatest recompense will be to know 
 Two loving hearts will prop my failing age 
 Be near me, when I close life's pilgrimage." 
 
80 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 "What," cried the lad, "would you your riches 
 
 give, 
 Your daughter too, to me, a fugitive ? 
 Your ouly child on my acceptance press 
 Cause her to share my suffering and distress ? 
 Much as I love her, I could never dare 
 To blight the happiness of one so fair, 
 By linking my unhappy fate to hers, 
 Bethink you well, if such a thing occurs, 
 Would not the news on all sides quickly spread, 
 And soon bring dire misfortune on your head ? " 
 
 The old man cried, " Your safety I'll ensure 
 Stay in the inner rooms, there rest secure 
 Till this unfortunate affair 's blown o'er, 
 And you can safely show yourself once more." 
 Convinced at last, he'd nought to apprehend, 
 Loving the girl, and fearing to offend, 
 The youth no farther opposition showed, 
 But thankfully confessing all he owed 
 For the unbounded kindness they had shown 
 To him, a wanderer, homeless and unknown, 
 Agreed to everything ; — what next befel, 
 Time, and the following rhymes will clearly tell. 
 
 This very night shall the wedding be kept, 
 Of Wan-hsi-liang with the fair Meng Cheng ; 
 Let the great hall be properly swept, 
 Garnished, festooned, and the flower-lamps hung. 
 
meng cheng's journey. 81 
 
 Hurry and bustle both old and young — 
 Let the tapers be of the brightest red ; 
 Emblems of joy for the fair Meng Cheng, 
 And the youthful lover to-night she'll wed. 
 
 Alas, how often in worldly things, 
 
 Just when our prospects appear most bright, 
 
 An apparent trifle misfortune brings, 
 
 And our sunny morning is turned to night. 
 
 As nothing is hidden under the sun, 
 
 The news spread quickly far and wide ; 
 
 The ceremony was scarcely done, 
 
 When clamouring voices were heard outside. 
 
 " Open the door ! We'll burst it in ! 
 Where is the youth who hither fled ? " 
 Hoarse cries are heard 'mid the uproar and din, 
 " We'll have the bridegroom, living or dead." 
 
 The noise is increasing more and more ; 
 " Hark to the angry voices without ! 
 Hear, how our enemies batter the door, 
 Raising, at every blow, a wild shout." 
 
 " Hide, oh! hide, for your young wife's sake ! 
 Hark, the rude voices are drawing near ! 
 Here, in this store-room, shelter take — 
 They'll never think of finding you here." 
 
 6 
 
82 meng cheng's joubney. 
 
 The feeble door, alas, cannot stay 
 The efforts of those for blood athirst ; 
 'Neath continued blows it at length gives way, 
 Everyone striving to enter first. 
 
 Search was made for him here and there, 
 Search was made for him high and low — 
 Kitchen and closet everywhere 
 Wherever a human form could go. 
 
 In every room of the house they sought ; 
 At length in the store-room he was found ; 
 Into the hall the youth was brought, 
 His legs and arms being tightly bound. 
 
 Into his shoulder a spike was thrust,* 
 Causing the lad to writhe with pain ; 
 Like a joint of meat the poor lad was trussed ;f 
 His neck was bound with a heavy chain. 
 
 In this pitiful plight he stood in the hall ; 
 The old man cried, while the rest looked on, 
 " What shall I do when you go to the Wall ? ■ 
 Who will console me when you are gone ? " 
 
 * A piece of iron or chain is thrust into the flesh, 
 passing under the collar-bone, and coming out on the 
 other side, where it is secured together. Prisoners are 
 often secured in that manner now. 
 
 f Lit. " like a sausage." 
 
meng cheng's joueney. 83 
 
 Cried the youth, " When I to the Wall am borne, 
 I shall die, and my bride will again be free ; 
 She is young — let her not for my sad fate mourn, 
 She must strive to forget such a wretch as me. 
 
 " I carry misfortune wherever I go ; 
 Better by far that I should die ; 
 On some other lover her hand bestow, 
 And may he be happier far than I." 
 
 " Listen to me," was the girl's reply, 
 " You are my husband, I am your wife ; 
 Death cannot sever that sacred tie, — 
 A true woman weds but once in her life. 
 
 " The good horse is chary of turning his head 
 To graze off the ground he has just passed o'er ; 
 A faithful wife when her lord is dead, 
 Is true to him still ; she weds no more." 
 
 At length the time came to separate, 
 The bride from her husband's side was torn ; 
 He, to be dragged to a wretched fate, 
 She, his absence or death to mourn. 
 
 Even the bystanders felt for the pair, 
 And openly murmured their sympathy 
 For the new married couple so young and fair 
 Thus torn asunder through tyranny. 
 
 6 * 
 
84 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 The road to the Wall was long and drear, 
 Day by day the lad weaker grew ; 
 The end of his journey and life drew near, 
 When at length the Great Wall appeared in view. 
 
 Three days after the youth arrived, 
 
 He died, and the Great Wall became his tomb : 
 
 Flung in by those who yet survived, 
 
 Daily expecting a similar doom. 
 
 Months passed, the maiden daily grew more pale, 
 Her parents did the best they could to cheer her ; 
 Their well-meant kindness was of no avail, 
 Dear were they to her, yet her lord was dearer. 
 
 She must go to him — was she not his bride ? 
 And was it not her duty to be near him ? 
 In life or death her place was by his side : 
 If sick or dying, who but she could cheer him ? 
 
 Her parents tried this strong desire to check ; 
 Alternately they threatened and persuaded ; 
 How could she travel that long dreary track ? 
 What could she do, a girl, alone, unaided ? 
 
 Firmly resolved on going to the Wall, 
 She left her parents almost broken-hearted ; 
 She was his wife — to find him she'd brave all : 
 So on her long, long journey she departed. 
 
meng cheng's journey. 85 
 
 Her dress was plain — no ornaments she wore, 
 Save a gold ring to show that she was married ; 
 She'd have to beg her way from door to door — 
 For not a single cash the young girl carried. 
 
 On through alley and lane and street, 
 
 She tottered along on her tiny feet ; 
 
 Meeting many a well-known face 
 
 As she was leaving her native place : 
 
 Hearing many a kind regret 
 
 That she was going, from those she met ; 
 
 Hastily through Soochow she proceeded, 
 
 Turning neither to left nor right, 
 
 Noise and bustle the girl ne'er heeded, 
 
 Till the gate of the city appeared in sight 
 
 Many a wondering look was cast 
 
 On the lonely girl as she hurried past, 
 
 Till she cleared the streets of the city at last. 
 
 Through the gate of the city she pressed, 
 
 Pausing neither for food nor rest ; 
 
 Over the dreary road she sped, 
 
 Heedless of what the wayfarer said, 
 
 Village and town the girl passed through, 
 
 Till at dusk she reached the pass of Hsu-shu. 
 
 Seeing the girl the guards demanded, 
 
 " Why are you out so late, my lass ? 
 
 You can't have travelled here empty-handed, 
 
 So you'll treat us and then we'll let you pass. 
 
86 meng cheng's joubney. 
 
 You'd no business out on the road so late ; 
 If you have no money you'll have to wait, 
 For we cannot allow you to pass the gate." 
 
 She turned to the guards with a bitter smile 
 
 " I have travelled to-day," said she, " many a mile ; 
 
 Alas ! had I money, I'd cheerfully give — " 
 
 Here, seeing no other alternative — 
 
 She tore off her skirt, which she gave to the man, 
 
 " Take it, and pawn it for drink, if you can." 
 
 The person in charge of the barrier hearing 
 
 Some voices apparently wrangling, came out, 
 
 To allay all the hubbub ; — on his appearing, 
 
 He demanded to know what the noise was about. 
 
 Bidding the maiden at once relate 
 
 Why she was out on the road so late, 
 
 And her motive for wanting to pass the gate. 
 
 The trembling girl told the officer all, 
 How Wan-hsi-liang had been dragged to the Wall — 
 That she'd scarcely a moment become a bride, 
 When her husband was ruthlessly torn from her 
 
 side; 
 Home, parents, and friends, she had given up all 
 To follow her husband alone to the Wall 
 The officer said, when the tale was related, 
 The truth of your story time only will show ; 
 He then bade the girl, who impatiently waited, 
 
meng cheng's journey. 87 
 
 First sing " Names of Flowers,"* and then she should 
 
 go. 
 A moment's pause, and the night air rung 
 With the mellow voice of the fair Meng Cheng, 
 The guards clustered round her, as thus the girl 
 
 sung : — 
 
 Song 
 
 1. 
 
 " 'Tis the first moon — 'tis Spring : the red lamps are 
 
 lighted : 
 To hail the New Year, guests now a meet in the hall ; 
 Other husbands and wives in their homes are united, 
 My husband is taken to build the Great Wall. 
 
 The second moon's come, and the swallow's are pairing ; 
 How they twitter and chirp, as if proud and elate ; 
 'Neath the eaves their old nests they are busy repairing, 
 They all have their homes, and each has its mate. 
 
 * There is evidently a mistake here in the name of the 
 song. It ought to have been — by the tenor of her song — 
 " The Twelve Months." " Names of Flowers" is not the 
 name of a song, but of a favourite tune. 
 
88 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 3. 
 
 Tis the 3rd of the 3rd, the peach trees are blending, 
 
 Their rose-tinted hues with the willows' so green ; 
 
 Old and young to the tombs, to burn paper, are 
 
 wending, 
 But none at the tombs of my people are seen. 
 
 4. 
 
 'Tis the fourth moon — 'tis genial and mild sunny 
 
 weather : 
 This is the time when the silkworms are bred ; 
 Maids and matrons the mulberry leaves go to gather : 
 They can't pluck them faster than my tears are shed. 
 
 5. 
 
 'Tis the fifth moon — rice-planting — wife, widow and 
 
 maiden, 
 Every one, old and young, busy appears ; 
 The hot air with dampness and mildew is laden. — 
 My face is mildewed and moistened with tears. 
 
 6. 
 
 'Tis now the sixth moon — the heat is increasing, 
 The gold-speckled pailing's* too listless to sing ; 
 The hum of mosquitoes at night is unceasing, 
 My blood they may drink, so he feels not their sting. 
 
 * A species of thrush. 
 
meng cheng's journey. 89 
 
 7. 
 
 'Tis the seventh moon — autumn's cool breezes are 
 
 blowing ; 
 At each open window and doorway are seen 
 The matrons aud maidens all busily sewing 
 Their bright coloured garments of red, blue, and green. 
 
 8. 
 
 'Tis the eighth moon — the wild geese are overhead 
 
 winging 
 Their way to the west ; in old time it is said, 
 One, a token of love to a husband was bringing, — 
 But the bird at the feet of the husband fell dead. 
 
 9. 
 
 'Tis the ninth moon — husbands and wives are united ; 
 On the ninth day each pledges the other in wine ; 
 To view the chrysanthemums guests are invited ; — 
 Shall I ever drink out of one cup with mine ? 
 
 10. 
 
 'Tis the tenth moon — the farmers their rich crops 
 
 in- gather ; 
 The rustics are busy in every field ; 
 They sing as they work in the bright golden weather, 
 And rejoice o'er their task in the bounteous yield. 
 
90 mbng cheng's journey. 
 
 11. 
 
 'Tis the eleventh moon — the snow-flakes around me are 
 
 falling ; 
 The snow and the cold do not my heart appal ; 
 At night, in my dreams, I hear his voice calling, 
 He bids me, his wife, seek for him at the Wall. 
 
 12. 
 
 'Tis the twelfth moon — each household is busy pre- 
 paring 
 To keep the New Year, — pigs and sheep are now slain ; 
 While I, to the far distant Wall am repairing, 
 Broken-hearted and sad till I see him again." 
 
 While the girl sung, 
 
 There was many an eye 
 
 That had long been dry 
 
 Moistened by tears, 
 
 Which, perhaps for long years, 
 
 Had never from one of those eyes been wrung. 
 
 Yes, those guards, unfeeling and rough, 
 
 For once in their lives made good use of a cuff ; 
 
 Who knows but that two or three tears such as 
 
 theirs 
 Were just as efiicient as long-winded prayers. 
 
MENG CHENG'S JOUENEY. 91 
 
 Her right to pass through they owned she had 
 
 earned ; 
 And even her petticoat they returned. 
 The officer then bade them open the gate, 
 And let her pass even though it was late. 
 Bidding the barrier guards adieu, 
 In the darkness she shortly was lost to view. 
 
 On her journey the young girl sped, 
 With tottering limbs and feet that bled ; 
 Still she travelled on, day by day, 
 Having no money, she begged her way. 
 The poor girl's' story like wildfire flew, 
 Every village she journeyed through, 
 People came thronging forth to meet her, 
 Women and children, old and young ; 
 Many a kindly word would greet her — 
 All would have willingly helped Meng Cheng — 
 She appeared in truth like the fair Kuan yin,* 
 The vilest man would have scorned the sin 
 Of insulting so faithful a heroine. 
 
 Travelling many a weary mile, — 
 Sometimes pausing to rest awhile, — 
 Crossing many a river wide, — 
 Climbing many a mountain side, 
 
 * The Goddess of Mercy. 
 
92 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 Only to feel as she gazed below, 
 What a long long distance she'd yet to go. 
 Will this weary journeying never be ended ! 
 She shades her eyes from the rays of the sun ; 
 She can see where earth and sky appear blended, 
 And, purpled by space, seem to melt in one. 
 
 Still the girl continued her way, 
 
 Drawing nearer every day, 
 
 She '11 see him yet — Heaven grant that she may ! 
 
 With beating heart and aching head, 
 Footsore and weary on she sped, 
 Crossing a river, breasting a hill, 
 Day after day found her travelling still ; 
 Turning neither to left nor right, 
 Till at last the " Great Wall " came into sight. 
 With tottering steps and limbs that trembled, 
 On she went till she reached the Wall ; 
 A glance at the faces of those assembled, 
 Better than words, told the poor girl all. 
 In every pitying face she read, 
 Plainer than if the words had been said, 
 She had reached the Wall but to find him dead. 
 
 Thrice she screamed and over the Wall 
 
 The black clouds hung like a ghostly pall ; 
 
 As if they were sent but to point the way 
 
 To the place where the corse of her husband lay. 
 
 Thrice on her husband's name she called, 
 
 The awe- struck labourers stood appalled, 
 
meng cheng's journey. 93 
 
 i 
 
 As they gazed they saw with fear and wonder, 
 A tower that stood on the top of the Wall, 
 With a roar like thunder, rend asunder, 
 Sway for a moment, then topple and fall ; 
 Disclosing, when dust and smoke had done, 
 The clothing worn by her husband Wan 
 Containing his ghastly skeleton ! 
 
 The girl knelt down at the skeleton's side, 
 And, taking its hand, she the " Hood test "* applied, 
 This at once would determine and palpably show 
 If 'twere really the corse of her husband or no. 
 Then she pierced her own hand and let the blood 
 
 drop 
 On that of the skeleton, where, should it stop, 
 And congeal, or at once be absorbed in the bone, 
 That the corse was her husband's would plainly be 
 
 shown, 
 If the blood from the hand of the skeleton ran, 
 Then the corse was not his but of some other man ; 
 The true or false only the " blood test " could tell, 
 'Twould be his if congealed, not his, if it fell. 
 The workmen thronged round her, awe filled every 
 
 breast, 
 At seeing the maiden apply the blood test ; 
 
 * The " blood test " is applied, in cases similar to the 
 above, even at the present time. 
 
94 meng chexg's joueney. 
 
 A dead silence reigns on them all as they stand, 
 And watch her blood drop on the skeleton's hand, 
 That the bones are her husband's the test soon 
 
 reveals, 
 For as fast as the blood drops, so fast it congeals. 
 Then she pulled off her skirt which she over it 
 
 spread, 
 And mournfully sat herself down by the dead ; 
 And rocking herself to and fro by its side, 
 She bewailed his sad fate as she bitterly cried ; — 
 " Oh, my husband ! and was it for this that we wed ? 
 Have I travelled this distance to find you here dead ? 
 Ah ! why were you dragged here to build the Great 
 
 Wall ? 
 May he who destroyed you in like manner fall ! 
 Accursed be the monarch* by whom it was done ! 
 May the tyrant's unburied bones bleach in the sun ! " 
 
 A magistrate chancing to pass at this time, 
 Heard the Emperor cursed ; — 'twas so awful a crime 
 That he instantly went and made out a report 
 Of the case, which he took with his own hand to 
 court. 
 
 * Southerners execrate the name of this Emperor, but 
 Northerners speak more favourably of him. 
 
MENG CHENG S JOURNEY. 95 
 
 The Emperor's " dragon eye " glanced o'er the page, 
 Till he'd read its contents, then he trembled with 
 
 rage; 
 " What ! one of my subjects to dare to asperse 
 Her sovereign's own acts, and her sovereign curse ! 
 Bring the culprit before me, this case I will try, 
 And decide, when I've heard it, what death she shall 
 
 die. 
 On her and her kindred my vengeance I'll launch, — 
 I'll exterminate all : — cut them up, root and branch ! " 
 
 In a short time the girl to the palace was led, 
 
 And the crime she was charged with before her was 
 
 read. 
 Meng Cheng then knelt down in the great hall of 
 
 gold, 
 And the whole of her tale to the Emperor told. 
 As she told her sad story the " dragon eye " shone 
 With a lustre surpassing the gems on his throne ; 
 He had ne'er before seen such a beautiful face — 
 So sylph-like a form — such symmetrical grace. 
 Then addressing the courtiers, who stood at each 
 
 side, 
 " Her beauty would ruin a city," he cried ; 
 " In truth she is lovely and wondrously fair ! 
 And, if she is willing, I solemnly swear, 
 That she, by whom I but just now was accursed, 
 Shall, of all my imperial brides, rank the first ! " 
 
96 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 In a moment a plan in her mind she revolved : — 
 
 For the tyrant she never would wed she resolved, — 
 
 Concealing her feelings, she hastily cried, 
 
 " Since your majesty wishes to make me your bride, 
 
 First grant me three things ; their fulfilment ensures 
 
 My heart's dearest wish — after that, I am yours." 
 
 The Emperor felt very pleased and elate, 
 
 And bade the young girl at once fearlessly state 
 
 These three things ; she had only to say what they 
 
 were 
 'T would gratify Mm, could he gratify her. 
 
 The maiden, emboldened, arose from her knees, 
 And exclaimed, " The three things that I wish for 
 
 are these ; — 
 First build me a bridge over which I may ride, 
 From hence to the Wall, ten li long, ten li wide ; 
 Next build for my husband a tomb ten li square ; 
 And lastly your highness must sacrifice there, 
 In mourning robes clad; — thus my mind will be 
 
 eased 
 And, buried with honour, his manes appeased, 
 If your majesty grant these three things you will 
 
 earn 
 My life-long devotion and love in return. 
 
 The Emperor smiled, and his breast glowed with 
 
 pride ; 
 " Your wishes," cried he, " shall be soon gratified 
 
meng cheng's journey. 97 
 
 Such trifles as these, they are nothing at all ; 
 What is building a tomb, or a bridge, to the Wall ? " 
 The imperial mandate soon spread far and wide, 
 And workmen assembled from every side ; 
 They worked with such diligence, history says, 
 That the bridge and the tomb were complete in three 
 days. 
 
 This diligence made the imperial heart glad, 
 And he instantly ordered the court to be clad 
 In white mourning robes ; and he next orders gave 
 To march in procession to Wan-hsi-liang* s grave ; 
 He, placing himself, with Meng Cheng, at its head, 
 In a chariot of gold forth the long cortege led, 
 When they came to the tomb, the Emperor bade 
 Them all kneel, while himself the due sacrifice made. 
 All obeyed his commands ; next the Emperor flung 
 Himself on his knees by the side of Meng Cheng. 
 
 While prostrated thus, the Emperor thought, 
 
 " 'Tis her beautiful face all this magic has wrought ; 
 
 She is fair, but till now it has never been said, 
 
 In history either I never have read, 
 
 Of a monarch's e'er paying so heavy a price 
 
 As I have for Meng Cheng in this sacrifice, 
 
 I, an Emperor, worship the ghost of a slave, 
 
 And pour an oblation of wine on his grave ! " 
 
 All present in silence the spirit adored ; 
 
 The monarch then rose and an offering poured 
 
 7 
 
98 meng chbng's JouBNEr. 
 
 On the grave — three full cups of imperial wine ; 
 This done, "Now," thought he, "the fair Meng Cheng 
 
 is mine. 
 " Her grace, on my reign will increased lustre shed." 
 On reaching the bridge, when returning, he said, 
 " Fair maiden, my promise at length is fulfilled, 
 I now await yours ; and to-night I have willed, 
 In the palace our nuptials shall be solemnized 
 With due pomp and show. I've already apprised 
 My ladies and eunuchs, and bade them prepare 
 Apartments befitting my queen of the fair." 
 
 " What !" cried the girl, "think you that I 
 
 Could ever with a tyrant wed ? 
 Think you that rank and power could buy 
 
 My love from him who now lies dead ? 
 By your harsh orders torn from me, 
 Slain by your cursed tyranny. 
 
 " No ! I but fooled you to obtain 
 
 A worthy burial for him ! 
 You thought by that my love to gain, 
 
 And gratify your latest whim. 
 Stuffed with conceit you dared presume 
 To think of conquest at his tomb ! 
 
 " Tour rank and wealth I utterly despise ! 
 Your presence fills my heart with fear and dread ! 
 Your face and form are hateful to my eyes ! 
 I loathe the very ground on which you tread ! 
 
■a 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 ■? 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
meng cheng's journey. 99 
 
 The air I breathe near yon is odious ! 
 
 I leave you now to join my husband — thus ! " 
 
 As she spoke, the brave girl from the chariot stept, 
 With a loud cry of triumph the parapet cleared, 
 Plunging into the river as onward it swept, 
 And her corse 'neath an arch of the bridge dis- 
 appeared.* 
 
 'Twas so sudden, it seemed like a horrible dream ; 
 Both monarch and courtiers stood looking aghast, 
 G-azing helplessly in to the broad flowing stream, 
 As its deep turgid waters rushed mournfully past. 
 
 Thus the faithful Meng Cheng, maiden, widow, and 
 
 wife, 
 To prove her devotion e'en death did not dread ; 
 For the sake of her first love she gave up her life ; 
 She was true to him living, she joined him when 
 
 dead. 
 
 * Many have it that the girl collected the bones of her 
 husband together, and, with them in her arms, plunged 
 into the river. She was canonized as the " Eiver Goddess," 
 and a temple is dedicated to her at a place called Kou-hsi 
 P jflif. The tower which fell, revealing the bones of her 
 husband, has repeatedly been rebuilt, but has invariably 
 fallen again. The story goes that it never can be built 
 without toppling down again as soon as it is finished. 
 
 7 * 
 
100 meng cheng's journey. 
 
 The song of Meng Cheng and her journey is finished ; 
 Since she sought her husband long ages have passed, 
 Yet the halo around her shines on undiminished, 
 And will shine so long as this empire shall last. 
 
 And so long as our raee love to hear tales of glory, 
 And the bosom throbs high when a brave deed is 
 
 sung, 
 So long will the breast swell at hearing her story, 
 And the tear fall in pity for faithful Meng Cheng. 
 
101 
 
 THE ILLNESS, DEATH, AND FUNERAL 
 OBSEQUIES OF MR. LOCUST, 
 
 WITH A SLIGHT ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE AT HIS 
 GRAVE. 
 
 Mr. Locust reclined on the branch of a tree, 
 
 As bad as a locust could possibly be : 
 
 (All knew he had been for a long time asthmatic ; 
 
 The cold autumn winds too had made him rheumatic ; — 
 
 Now locusts know well, for experience has taught 'em, 
 
 If not well wrapped up they take cold in the autumn.) 
 
 He'd a cold on his chest, 
 
 And at night couldn't rest ; 
 
 What with coughing and sneezing, 
 
 Hawking, spitting and wheezing, — 
 He got feverish too ; this went on until 
 He became, as they term it, alarmingly iU. 
 
102 • MR. LOCUST. 
 
 He would cough till near choked; his breathing was 
 
 thick, 
 And his groans would have softened the hide of a tick.* 
 
 In this sad dilemma he called for his wife, 
 
 Who sprang to his side, frightened out of her life. 
 
 Cried he, " Send at once for the doctor, my dear, 
 
 'Tis certain as fate if he isn't soon here 
 
 I shall make you a widow ; — there, don't go and cry, 
 
 For I haven't quite made up my mind yet to die. 
 
 Don't be so absurd as to give way to grief, 
 
 It's too soon yet ; but come here, and straighten this leaf, 
 
 For I don't feel quite easy ; now prop up my head ; 
 
 And please bear in mind that I'm not yet quite dead. 
 
 Now go — come back — stay ! 
 
 My dear wife, come, I say, 
 
 Tell me, what's your idea 
 
 Of Cicada, — has he a, 
 
 In his pharmacopoeia 
 A cure for my asthma — a-a-panacea — 
 A something to rid me of this dreadful pain 
 And manage to make me a locust again ? " 
 
 Tne wife cried, " My dear, 
 
 Let us hope for the best ; 
 
 When the doctor comes here, 
 
 He'll prescribe for your chest, 
 And very soon put you all right, never fear ; " — 
 But she thought in her own mind, " His end 's drawing 
 near." 
 
 * Lit. Dog-bean (Jgj Jj[). 
 
ME. LOCUST. 103 
 
 Mrs. L., in the soft chirp a sick bed requires, 
 Called her son, whose long legs seemed hung upon wires ; 
 Bade him hop off instanter to fetch the physician, 
 And not play by the way, or be long on his mission. 
 " Skip to Dr. Cicada, 
 And beg him to aid a 
 Sick person, your father, and say I'm afraid a 
 Crisis approaches, and I've thought it but proper 
 To send for him here to meet Dr. Grasshopper,* 
 Talk over the case and try what can be done 
 For your father, for two heads are better than one." 
 Young Locust sprang off, and tho' not yet " in wings," 
 He hopped, skipped, and jumped with tremendous long 
 
 springs, 
 And soon reached the doctor's ; who, hearing the news, 
 Packed up such few drugs he might chance want to use ; 
 Then gravely hopped off, with Young Locust as guide, 
 And soon found himself at the patient's leaf- side, 
 When he drew from his pocket two shagreen receptacles — 
 One containing his physic, the other his spectacles. 
 
 His specs he adjusted, 
 And said that he trusted 
 His patient was not quite so bad as was stated ; 
 But his lower jaw dropped ; 
 He suddenly stopped ; 
 
 * Dr. Grasshopper, probably by an oversight of the 
 author's, is not shown or mentioned as consulting with 
 Dr. Cicada on the case afterwards. 
 
104 MB. LOCUST. 
 
 And his long face, ere long, longer grew — elongated : 
 
 For he saw in a moment, 
 
 Neither physic nor foment 
 Could ever take that cold from poor Locust's chest ; 
 
 Prescribe what he would, 
 
 It could do him no good, 
 But these cogitations he kept hi his breast. 
 
 (If colds are neglected, 
 
 It can't be expected 
 They can always be cured, but, there ; patients know best.) 
 
 He began, " Ha ! Yes ! Hum ! My dear sir, I beg 
 You'll show me your tongue. Now stretch out your hind 
 leg." 
 
 The patient obeyed, 
 
 And the doctor then laid 
 His hand — or rather his feeler — he put 
 
 On Locust's right wrist, 
 
 Not the wrist of the fist, 
 But his feeler he put on the wrist of his foot. 
 
 " Hum ! 'Tis merely a cold. I will write a prescription 
 I've found very soothing in every description 
 Of cold or catarrh — I invariably give it. 
 
 'Tis syrup of squills, 
 
 With two opium pills, 
 If you take it you'll soon be ■ as right as a trivet.' " 
 He said this to cheer him, and although 'twas untrue, 
 'Tis a thing that all doctors, in his place, would do. 
 
ME. LOCUST. 105 
 
 He then mixed up a dose, and in taking his leave, 
 Called the matron aside and bade her not grieve ; 
 
 " She musn't be scared, 
 
 But be fully prepared ; 
 For, alas ! of her poor husband's life he despaired. 
 How long he would last he'd not venture to say ; 
 It might be a week ; he might pop off to-day. 
 He was called in too late ; he had done what he could ; 
 As for physic or doctors they could now do no good, 
 For when it once came to the push — die he would." 
 He concluded, " His life, ma'am, is not worth a fig ; 
 I'll stake my existence he'll soon ' hop the twig.' " 
 
 The widow prospective her tears quickly dried, 
 And hastened once more to her husband's leaf-side ; 
 She administered the dose, though she didn't expect 
 It would be of much use, yet she watched the effect. 
 
 After taking the physic the patient was seized 
 
 With a strong fit of coughing; he then three times 
 
 sneezed ; 
 Soon he felt Death's cold hand on the tip of his nose : ' 
 Stretched his legs slowly out, gasped, and turned up his 
 
 toes. 
 
 The news of his death soon far and near spread ; 
 Friends came — some to show their respect for the dead ; 
 Others, merely to see what there was to be made 
 In what may be called their " legitimate trade." 
 
106 ME. LOCUST. 
 
 Mr. Grig, the undertaker, 
 
 Was Locust's coffin-maker ; 
 He soon made a natty box, into which they placed the 
 dead; 
 
 The draper, Mr. White Moth, 
 
 Supplied the mourning cloth : 
 Mr. Spider set to work and built the funeral shed.* 
 
 Of course, those who bore Locust's family name, 
 
 When they heard of his death, one and all quickly came ; 
 
 These probably numbered a hundred or more ; 
 
 At their head was his favourite nephew Kuo-huo V.f 
 
 Dragon Fly was requested to act as M.C. ; 
 
 Mr. Snail'J was deputed to pour out the tea ; 
 
 Greasy Locust, § as usual, was chef-de-cuisine, 
 
 And served out the soup in an acorn tureen. 
 
 (In the foregoing couplet the translator took 
 
 A slight liberty — chef-de-cuisine should be " cook : " 
 
 Instead of " served out" the word should be " served wp;" 
 
 For " acorn tureen" read " a large acorn cwp;" 
 
 " Cook " is not so euphonious as " chef-de-cuisine" 
 
 Nor is " large acorn cup " as "an acorn tureen." 
 
 * At Chinese funerals a mat- shed is built over the 
 courtyard in which the coffin is placed ; it is unlucky if 
 the sun or moon shine on the coffin. 
 
 t Jg H 5i- ^ species of locust. 
 
 + TjfC ^r> " water buffalo," is the common name for 
 snail. 
 
 § n m m m- 
 
ME. LOCUST. 107 
 
 See what euphony does ; just to put two lines straight, 
 The translator, alas ! is compelled to write eight.) 
 
 Mr. Skipjack* and Mr. Grasshopper were waiters, 
 To attend to the wants of the guests and spectators ; 
 These were, Mr. Louse, Messieurs Fowl and Wood- 
 Louse ;f 
 (Mr. Snag, and the latter, each brought his own house.) 
 Miss Lady -bird J came, with Ant, Earwig and Bug ; 
 Caterpillar, with Grub, Maggot, Weevil and Slug. 
 Mr. Mantis was there, so was young Little Mite ; 
 Mr. Worm crawled in late, with him came Mr. Blight. 
 Messieurs Fly, (House, Gad, Fire, Bluebottle and Horse,) 
 Made themselves busy on each side the corse. 
 Mr. Tick, though an invalid, managed to come ; 
 All knew Mr. Gnat's whereabouts by his hum. 
 Messieurs Cockroach and Beetle appeared clad in mail ; 
 Mr. Scorpion came, with his sting in his tail. 
 The Centipede § family came in full force ; 
 Poor Buzzing Musquito, he cried himself hoarse. 
 
 •K ft ft "Oil-seller," and J& £ ft ft "Hall- 
 
 runner," or, " waiter," are the terms most commonly used 
 for " skip-jack." 
 
 t||4 " Damp-damp-insect." 
 
 + St H " I'ove-to-whirl." 
 
 § Among the centipedes mentioned is one called g| ^ 
 "Cash-strings." This sort is very plentiful in most 
 houses, and is perfectly harmless. 
 
108 ME. LOCUST. 
 
 White, yellow and painted, there mustered a score 
 
 Of the Butterflies — with them they brought 'Hei lao 
 
 po'r,* 
 Whose son, Master Moth, though reputed a scamp, 
 For this once neglected his old flame Miss Lamp. 
 Fighting Cricket — he chaunted the prayers for the nonce, 
 And a full choir of Crickets chirped every response. 
 Cantharidesf came with Cockchafer and Flea ; 
 The music was led by our friend Humble Bee. 
 Assisted by Honey Bee, Wasp and Old Drone — 
 As the latter was bass he played the trombone. 
 Young Grig played the flute and the talented Hornet 
 Brought out some melodious strains on the cornet ; 
 The cymbals were beaten by Master Gold Bell ;% 
 Gnat played on the trumpet remarkably well. 
 Death- Watch beat the drum with an incessant knock ; 
 Most excellent time too was kept by the Clock. § 
 
 The procession was formed, and of course, at its head 
 Went Young Locust, || who carried the "board" of the 
 dead. 
 
 * H %£ |§ 51 " Dame Black," a large black kind of 
 moth. 
 
 t m € ° r ss is- 
 
 t afe fit S a s P ec i es °f cricket, much admired by 
 Chinese for the pleasant bell-like sound it makes with its 
 wings. 
 
 § English local name for " beetle." 
 
 || It is the duty of a son to go in front of his deceased 
 parent's funeral procession, carrying his fg JpJ, " Spirit 
 tablet," or " board " as is here translated. 
 
ME. LOCUST. 109 
 
 There were four hoarse Cicadas to keep the road clear, 
 
 And sixty-four Locusts to carry the bier ; 
 
 Eighty Scorpions, two and two, went on before, 
 
 And the funeral paraphernalia bore ; 
 
 The Fireflies and Glowworms a brilliant light showed — 
 
 For 'twas dark ere the cortege set out on their road. 
 
 The widow, in white, followed next to the bier ; 
 
 Swarms of friends and relations then brought up the 
 
 rear. 
 When they started the M.C. some brief orders gave, 
 And, conducted by Lizard, they soon reached the grave, — 
 For Mole-Cricket and Beetle had already made 
 A nice roomy grave with their pickaxe and spade. 
 
 As they stood round the grave, the deep silence was broke 
 By an unearthly sound — the Bull-Frog's hoarse croak ; 
 (His hoarseness was probably brought on by damp) — 
 This sound made a good many mourners decamp. 
 Alas ! they well knew what that dread sound implied, 
 'Twas the cry of their foe ; soon, their mouths open wide, 
 Came squadrons of Frogs, with Bull Frog at their head, 
 Their martial array struck the mourners with dread. 
 Some, who had wings, were soon seen in full flight, 
 But all who had stings were determined to fight. 
 
 On bounded the Frogs, they were met by the Bees, 
 But nothing could stay them, they gobbled up these : 
 
110 MR. LOCUST. 
 
 Re-forming again, they rushed on at full speed, 
 Charging madly the troops led by Old Centipede ; * 
 The carnage was dreadful, cut, parry, and thrust. 
 And many a brave Centipede bit the dust. 
 They next put the Hornets and Wasps to the rout ; 
 Dead bodies on all sides were scattered about. 
 
 The Scorpions bravely defended the corse, 
 
 And three times repulsed the ferocious Frog Horse ; 
 
 Each Scorpion making good use of his tail — 
 
 Their courage, alas ! was of little avail ; 
 
 Every charge of the Frogs in their ranks left great gaps; 
 
 One by one they went down some rapacious Frog's chaps. 
 
 Overpowered at length, they all turned tail and fled, 
 
 And left on the ground many wounded and dead ; 
 
 These the Frogs ate at leisure, and soon swallowed all, 
 
 Including the bier, corpse, coffin and pall ; 
 
 Then retired to their pool, which they quickly regained, 
 
 And once more o'er the battle-field deep silence reigned. 
 
 Not a vestige, when dawn first appeared in the east, 
 
 Remained of the Funeral, Battle, or Feast. 
 
 * ^ S fe- P r °bably the " royal centipede " is here 
 meant. 
 
Ill 
 
 THE INSECTS' PROPHECY, 
 
 OR 
 
 THE DEATH OF KING PA.* 
 
 Closely pressed by his foes in the darkness of night, 
 Faint and weary King Pa still continued his flight ; 
 His troops had been scattered and slain in the strife, 
 He, alone, and a fugitive, fled for his life. 
 
 He reached the Black River and paused there to rest, 
 Looking hopelessly out on its dark turgid breast ; 
 When, chancing to cast round his eyes, he espied 
 A boat safely moored to a bush near his side. 
 
 * Han Hsin, ^ fg the general by whom the troops of 
 King Pa, Jf 3l, were defeated, is said previously to have 
 written the prophecy — with honey — probably anticipating 
 such result as the above from the well-known superstition 
 of his opponent. The insects were naturally attracted to 
 the stone by the honey, and unconsciously formed with 
 
112 THE INSECTS' PROPHECY. 
 
 He leaped in the boat and, propelled by an oar, 
 The frail bark was soon far away from the shore ; 
 Here at least he was safe, for his foes would not dream 
 He was, — thanks to the boat, — far away down the 
 stream. 
 
 He felt safe when once out on the river's broad face, 
 He could drift off unseen, leaving no sign or trace ; 
 Being weary and sleepy he lay down and slept, 
 While noiselessly on with the tide the boat swept. 
 
 As if led there by fate — dawn scarcely had broke, 
 When the boat neared an island, King Pa too awoke ; — 
 Gazed round for a moment, then seizing an oar, 
 He rapidly guided the boat to the shore. 
 
 He leaped on the bank, no mortal was near, — 
 But what made King Pa's ruddy face blanch with fear ; 
 On a large rock before him these words caught his 
 eye;— 
 " At the mouth of the Black Eiver King Pa will die! " 
 
 their bodies the living words of the prophecy J J ( |jJ 
 j!|, Pa-wang wu-cliiang-sang (by rights the character Jc'ou 
 P "mouth " should follow after chiang), as seen by King 
 Pa, which playing on his superstitious fears induced him 
 to commit suicide. Some say he did so by cutting his 
 throat. 
 
 It is said that King Pa was so strong that he could 
 blow the tiles off the roof of a house ( jf/ P^ J| J£ =g£) . 
 
THE INSECTS' PROPHECY. 113 
 
 This sight filled the heart of the monarch with fear : 
 " 'Tis strange ! so, 'tis prophesied I shall die here ! 
 What hand could have written this strange prophecy 
 1 At the mouth of the Black River King Pa will die ! '" 
 
 " What mystery's this ?" He drew near to view ; 
 But the words stood out bolder the nearer he drew : 
 " What demon such strange looking words could con- 
 trive ? 
 " They move too — by Heaven ! all the words are alive!" 
 
 Yes, like a thick crust, on the rock's face there swarmed 
 Myriads and myriads of insects, which formed 
 With their bodies the words of this wierd prophecy — 
 " At the mouth of the Black Eiver King Pa will die !" 
 
 " What ! do even the meanest of insects unite 
 
 My sentence of death with their bodies to write ? 
 
 I must be accursed then, when they prophesy 
 
 1 At the mouth of the Black River King Pa will die ? ' " 
 
 The air seemed alive with the horrible words — 
 
 They were borne on the breeze, they were sung by the 
 
 birds — 
 The stream gently moaned them — the trees seemed to 
 
 sigh— 
 " At the mouth of the Black River King Pa will die ! " 
 
 8 
 
114 THE INSECTS' PBOPHECY. 
 
 There they were, on all sides — on the hill — on the 
 
 plain — 
 Impressed on his heart — burnt into his brain ; — 
 On each bush and stone — on the earth — in the sky — 
 " At the mouth of the Black Eiver King Pa will die !" 
 
 " 'Tis writ I shall die here — they've prophesied so — 
 But no menial weapon shall strike my death blow." 
 He drew forth his sword, plunged it into his side — 
 At the mouth of the Black Eiver thus King Pa died.* 
 
 * History gives quite a different version of the death of 
 Pa Wang : " Closely pursued by the troops of Han-hsin he 
 reached the banks of the Black Eiver, where a boat was in 
 waiting to convey him over to the opposite side where he 
 would be safe among his own people. The boat-keeper, 
 named Ting-chang, ^ J|, entreated him to cross over and 
 escape ; but Pa Wang resolutely refused to do so, averring 
 that he could not face the elders of his native place after 
 his defeat. Turning to the few followers who were with 
 him, he told them a thousand pieces of gold were offered 
 for his head by Han-hsin, and bade them take it to him 
 and receive the reward. He then drew his sword, and in 
 their presence cut his own throat." 
 
 Pa Wang was thirty-one years of age when he died. He 
 was born in the fifteenth year of the reign of Ch'in Shih- 
 l huang, Jjf #§ J|, and died in the twelfth month of the fifth 
 year of Liu-pang |>|] j^J of the Han dynasty. 
 
115 
 
 THE RAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 Thrice the drum beats, and thrice the golden bell, 
 Through " Spirit Land," booms forth its awful knell ; 
 Thrice cracks the whip,* — its sharp resounding thong 
 Strikes terror in the breasts of that vast throng. 
 Hushed is the court, no sound the stillness breaks ; 
 Each " spirit judge " his seat in silence takes ; 
 
 * When the Emperor goes to sacrifice, an oflicial, carry- 
 ing a whip, stands on each side of the palace gate. It is 
 the duty of these officials to " crack " their whips. This 
 description of whip is called P'i-mang, jfc i$$ (leather 
 snake). Its handle is about eighteen inches, and the 
 lash upwards of six feet in length. When the whip is 
 " cracked " it sounds like the report of a pistol, and can 
 only be used for the noise it makes, adding — the Chinese 
 
 8 * 
 
116 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 A constant stream of spirits come and go, 
 Some looking joyous, some o'erwhelmed with woe. 
 On a high throne, where every eye can see, 
 The King of Hades* sits in majesty ; 
 Around him throng his ministers of state ; 
 Kneeling, before him, trembling spirits wait 
 To hear the words which tell them of their fate. 
 
 Then spoke Yen "Wang : — " Since the Almighty Power 
 
 Struck heaven and earth from Chaos, till this hour, 
 
 He destined Me His behests to fulfil ; — 
 
 My acts are but the workings of His Will. 
 
 Having His power to help, His skill to guide, 
 
 All earthly crimes I equably decide. 
 
 No mortal man can e'er ' Dark Heaven ' deceive, 
 
 His puny skill the subtlest arts may weave. 
 
 Poor human skill or wisdom, what are they ? 
 
 Man's darkest plots to Him are bright as day. 
 
 To serve Him He conferred that power on me, 
 
 And I also man's inmost heart can see ; 
 
 say — to the impressiveness or majesty of the occasion. 
 When Manchu Bannermen commit themselves, they are 
 flogged on the buttocks or legs with whips ; twenty- seven 
 lashes only can be given at one sentence, though another 
 twenty- seven can be administered immediately after, or, 
 indeed, any amount of twenty-sevens, each twenty-seven 
 being separately ordered. 
 * Yen Wang. 
 
THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 117 
 
 Ere yet a crime is thought, that thought I read, 
 And know the consequences of the deed. 
 The wish that must precede the fatal blow, 
 I, ere 'tis expressed in thought, already know. 
 Sooner or later all on earth must be 
 Brought hither to receive their doom from me ; 
 Both good and bad before me must be tried — 
 According to their merits I'll decide." 
 
 While Yen Wang was speaking 
 
 A scratching and squeaking 
 Was heard at the door ; and he cried, " Who is that ? " 
 
 A voice sharp and clear, 
 
 Piercing every ear, 
 Shrilly squeaked, " Let me in, I'm the ghost of a rat ! 
 
 Grant me admission ; 
 
 I bring a petition ; 
 I've suffered injustice, and hither have come. 
 
 Let me in, I implore, 
 
 Or I'll scratch down the door, 
 And nibble a hole through the head of the drum ! " 
 
 " Admit the rat," exclaimed the King ; " the meanest 
 
 thing that crawls 
 Shall have its share of justice meted out within these 
 
 halls." 
 The Eat now entered shyly and advanced towards Yen 
 
 Wang, 
 Throwing suspicious glances right and left upon the 
 
 throng. 
 
118 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 Then kneeling at his feet, it squeaked, " Your gracious 
 
 Majesty, 
 Deign but to read this paper, and you will plainly see 
 That I've been foully " — " Yes, I know," the monarch 
 
 quickly said ; 
 Then opening the paper, its contents he loudly read. 
 
 " Complainant deponeth, 
 
 And publicly owneth, 
 He's the ghost of what once was a peaceable rat : 
 
 He further declare th, 
 
 And solemnly sweareth, 
 That his body was slain by a murderous cat." 
 
 " He is seven years of age, and during that time, 
 He avers he has never committed a crime ; 
 But has lived in his hole at the foot of a wall, 
 Never poking his nose out till after night fall, 
 Then only to nibble a few grains of rice, 
 Pick a bone, or anything else he saw nice ; 
 (As for stealing, en passant, he'd scorn such a vice). 
 He admits that he pilfered, but never once stole, — 
 This fact may be proved by inspecting his hole. 
 
 " What complainant has suffered exceedeth belief, 
 Through wrongfully being put down as a thief; 
 When he 's been chased as one, to his hole he has fled, 
 And many a time has gone hungry to bed. 
 He has often, e'en though he felt hunger's keen pangs, 
 Stopped at home, for fear of the cat's keener fangs. 
 
THE, EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 119 
 
 When he did quit his hole, it was always at night, 
 And by stealth — even then too, he trembled with 
 fright. 
 
 " Near to complainant's hole there lived a cat, 
 Of savage mien ; well-clothed, well-fed, and fat ; 
 When pleased, she'd purr and curl her long moustache, 
 When in a rage, her tail she'd fiercely lash. 
 
 " Her eyes were like two bells — like knives her claws ; 
 Long sharp white teeth protruded from her jaws ; 
 She frightened him, for when she mewed or swore, 
 To him it sounded like the tiger's roar. 
 
 " One night complainant went out for a stroll, 
 But scarcely had he left his peaceful hole, 
 When suddenly the cat with furious bound, 
 Sprang on, and hurled complainant to the ground. 
 
 " He vainly strove, — at length he grew so weak, 
 
 He could do nothing else but faintly squeak ; 
 
 While she, the cat, each moment fiercer grew, 
 
 And bit complainant's back-bone through and through. 
 
 " Then dashed him up and down in savage play, 
 And clawed and mouthed him, till at last he lay 
 A lifeless heap, bleeding at every pore ; 
 Exhausted nature could endure no more. 
 
120 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 "Head, legs, and ribs, nay, every bone she crunched ; 
 From nose to tail as savagely she munched 
 His palpitating flesh ; — bone, hair and hide 
 Found a mausoleum in her inside. 
 
 " Complainant had no animosity 
 Against the cat, and therefore fails to see 
 Why she, to gratify a murderous whim, 
 Should, unprovoked, make sausage-meat of him. 
 
 " The law says, ' life for life.' Does not a rat 
 
 Enjoy life just as keenly as a cat ?* 
 
 'Tis not for base revenge complainant seeks ; 
 
 'Tis but for justice that he loudly squeaks, 
 
 And humbly begs your Majesty will send 
 
 A warrant off at once to apprehend 
 
 The Cat, and bring her hither to be tried, 
 
 And bear what punishment you may decide. 
 
 Complainant squeaks for justice on the Cat 
 
 For murdering 
 
 Your Unoffending, 
 
 Eat." 
 
 * The idea conveyed in this sentence is not unlike 
 Shy lock's, " Hath not a Jew eyes," etc. 
 
THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 121 
 
 When Yen Wang had read 
 
 The petition, he said, 
 " Come hither, Horse Face — you too, Bullock's Head ;* 
 You'll both of you go to the house of the Cat, 
 Bring her here on a warrant for murdering Eat." 
 
 Bullock's Head and Horse Face 
 
 At once left the place, 
 And went on their way at a deuce of a pace ; 
 
 For a whirlwind they strode, 
 
 Which both sjpriteiullj rode, 
 Till at length they alighted at Pussy's abode. 
 
 The unconscious Cat 
 
 By the kitchen fire sat ; 
 Her hind legs and breast she was cosily warming ; 
 
 She purred with enjoyment 
 
 At her pleasant employment, 
 For she was then busy her toilet performing. 
 
 Her enjoyment was brief, 
 It was soon turned to grief ; 
 
 JH| B an< ^ ^\r I?K> attendants at the court of Yen 
 Wang ; apparently, from their duties, runners or lictors. 
 
 
122 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 Bullock's Head and Horse Face now entered and bound 
 her, 
 
 Put a chain round her neck, 
 
 And at once hurried back 
 With the Cat in her deshabille* just as they found her. 
 
 Once in the hall, the scene that met her view 
 
 Made Pussy cock her back and spit and mew ; 
 
 Her downy fur erewhile so smooth and bright, 
 
 Now, in her fear, stood rigidly upright. 
 
 Of rats and mice she had encountered hosts, 
 
 She feared not them, but, ah ! she feared their ghosts ; 
 
 And here were ghosts of every size and shade, 
 
 Enough to make the stoutest feel afraid. 
 
 Rats, mice, pigs, sheep, cows, horses, cats and dogs, 
 
 Birds, beasts, and fish, snakes, lizards, toads, and frogs, 
 
 While every species of the human race 
 
 Were represented largely in this place. 
 
 On one side of the hall the wicked spirits stood, 
 The other side was occupied by the spirits of the good ; 
 The Cat looked on in wonder at such a constant flow 
 Of spirits passing in and out and hurrying to and fro. 
 
 Yet everything was noiseless, no banging to of doors : 
 No whispering ; no shuffling sounds upon those sound- 
 less floors ; 
 
 * As will be seen in the sequel, 'twas the spirit of the 
 Cat only that was taken, not the body, which the text leads 
 one to infer. 
 
THE EAT AND THE OAT IN HADES. 123 
 
 Though not a word was spoken, the scenes which 
 
 transpired could 
 Not only be distinctly seen, but fully understood. 
 
 Those who crossed the " golden bridge" straightway to 
 
 heaven went ; 
 Those with "horns and feathers" to hell forthwith 
 
 were sent ; 
 Those who on earth in wantonness had taken human 
 
 lives 
 For everlasting had to climb up mountains made of 
 
 knives. 
 
 Incendiaries wallowed in a lake of burning fire ; 
 Hacked and hewn to pieces were the slanderer and liar; 
 The wasteful and improvident, who made improper use 
 Of wealth, were now with " Iron Dogs " and " Copper 
 Snakes " turned loose. 
 
 Boiled in wine were those who were partial to the cup ; 
 Cheats were, by two devils, in a mortar pounded up ; 
 Swindlers had their hearts torn out ; but the hateful 
 
 brute 
 Who cursed his parents, had to tear his tongue out by 
 
 the root. 
 
 The Cat looked on in silent wonder, 
 
 And frightened mien 
 
 Upon this scene ; 
 When suddenly a noise like thunder 
 
124 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 Through the hall reverberated ; 
 
 Her hair with fright 
 
 Stood bolt upright ; 
 Her stiffened tail with fear vibrated ; 
 Her smellers bristled up with horror : 
 " What were they now preparing for her ? " 
 
 There was more yet in store, 
 
 For an opening door, 
 Whose hinges apparently hadn't been greased, 
 
 Made a harsh grating sound — 
 
 And the Cat too jump'd round — 
 She was more and more with astonishment seized. 
 
 Soon the whole room 
 
 Was enveloped in gloom, 
 For black clouds entered and rapidly spread 
 
 Like a ghostly pall 
 
 At the top of the hall ; — 
 These were spirits of clouds which had long been dead. 
 
 Then there arose a withering blast : 
 The Cat shrivelled up with cold and fear, 
 As the ghost of a gust of wind swept past 
 And chilled with his presence the atmosphere. 
 
THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 125 
 
 Puss was cold from her nose 
 
 To the tips of her toes, 
 And her teeth they chattered like dominoes, 
 
 Or the rattling of dice, — 
 
 She appeared to breathe ice, 
 And the blood in her veins seemed to icicles froze. 
 
 Bullock's Head and Horse Face now guarded the door, 
 Hasty Foot # too assisted, with two devils more. 
 One of the spirits now opened the case, 
 Which the Cat listened to with a serious face. 
 
 When complainant's attorney his statement had read, 
 
 The Cat pulled out hers, and respectfully said, 
 
 As she modestly handed it up to Yen Wang, 
 
 " Eead it, Sire, you will see who's right or who's 
 
 wrong." 
 Yen Wang took the paper without more ado, 
 And read, without pausing, the whole statement 
 
 through. 
 
 'Twas worded thus : " Defendant is a cat — 
 (Perhaps 'tis not necessary to mention that, 
 As all in this, or any other place, 
 Must be familiar with her form and face.) 
 
 g Jjjjj, another of Yen Wang's lictors or attendants. 
 
126 THE RAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 " Defendant's duty is to do her best 
 To rid the world of vermin which infest 
 The homes of rich and poor — excepting those 
 Who have us there to drive away their foes. 
 
 " As for her private life, defendant swears 
 'Twas virtuous : — she daily said her prayers.* 
 She stayed at home, shunning the wicked wiles 
 Of lewd male cats who'd tempt her on the tiles. 
 
 " Defendant need not say rats are a curse ; 
 They pilfer all they can, and what is worse, 
 They've no regard for all the housewife's toil — 
 What they can't eat or take away, they spoil. 
 
 u They nibble edicts, for they laugh at law ; 
 Books of all kinds in wantonness they gnaw ; 
 Their notions of religion are so lax 
 E'en at the altar's foot they leave their tracks. 
 
 " In kitchens great disturbance they create, 
 Hopping from pan to cup, from dish to plate ; 
 'Midst pots and kettles they kick up a clatter — 
 The food that's in them recklessly they scatter. 
 
 * When a cat purrs, it is generally spoken of as " saying 
 its prayers" ;g: ^ (Reciting the O-mi-to-fo). 
 
THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 127 
 
 " Now in a box or cupboard they bite holes ; 
 Now in the ground they're burrowing like moles ; 
 Now in a drawer ; now beneath the bed ; 
 Anon they gallop madly overhead. 
 
 " Now from a basket they abstract the meat ; 
 Now in a plate of rice they wipe their feet ; 
 Now dip a filthy nose in some choice dish, 
 Or in a bowl of soup a long tail swish.* 
 
 " Matrons and cooks might grind their teeth with rage ; 
 
 Exterminating war might swear to wage ; 
 
 Buy poison — spread it carefully on meat — 
 
 The rats would come and sniff — they wouldn't eat. 
 
 " 'Traps' and ' Brick-crushers 'f near their holes were 
 
 put; 
 As for the rats they wouldn't budge a foot — 
 They were too artful — plainly saw the ruse — 
 The dantiest bait was not a bit of use. 
 
 " They might perhaps stretch out a head and neck ; 
 And just peep round — but quickly drew it back ; 
 The rats were far too knowing to be caught 
 By any trap that ever yet was bought. 
 
 * Vulg. for switch. 
 
 t A brick arranged at the entrance of a rat-hole in such 
 a manner that the slightest touch will cause it to fall on 
 the rat and crush it. 
 
128 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 " Defendant's mistress long had borne their pranks ; 
 At length, determining to thin their ranks 
 By hook or crook, she, as a last resource, 
 Sent for defendant, and she went, of course. 
 
 " She was well fed — nought was too good to give 
 
 her; — 
 Nice chicken bones, meat, fish, and bullock's liver, 
 And other tit-bits, given on the sly, 
 Which here defendant need not specify. 
 
 " Defendant's mistress — one and all, in fact, 
 Treated her kindly, and their every act 
 Showed for her welfare such solicitude, 
 As must ensure her lasting gratitude. 
 
 " The younger ladies made so much of her, 
 Her life was one continual state of purr ; 
 Their gentle hands have oft defendant fed, 
 Their laps have often been defendant's bed. 
 
 " Defendant fought and skirmished night and day ; 
 The rats she could not catch she scared away ; 
 All left the house, save one — this little beast — 
 Who kept her hunting him a month at least. 
 
 " One night she caught him, and without remorse, 
 Defendant made of him a lifeless corse ; 
 This, in her hate, she munched up to a pulp, 
 And, though 'twas nauseous, swallowed at a gulp. 
 
THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 129 
 
 " Complainant's cup of crime was not yet filled — 
 No sooner had the wretched thief been killed, 
 Than his accursed, unhallowed ghost must needs 
 Come hither and complain of her misdeeds. 
 
 " This if not promptly and severely checked, 
 Will make cats timid, and their tasks neglect. 
 Defendant, Sire, looks up with confidence : 
 She did her duty — that is her sole defence." 
 
 When Yen Wang had read the defendant's reply, 
 He foamed at the mouth, fire flashed from his eye ; 
 He cried, " You infernal old thief of a rat, 
 How dare you come hither reporting the Cat ? 
 
 " 'Tis lucky yours isn't a capital crime 
 
 Or I'd skin you ! — I'll let you off lightly this time ; 
 
 You shall therefore be banished — but that's not the 
 
 worst — 
 Drag him forth, and give him a sound whipping first ! " 
 
 On hearing his sentence, the Eat slily sneaked 
 
 To the foot of the throne, where he plaintively 
 
 squeaked, 
 " Is this just ? Is a rat's life then counted as nought ? 
 Dark Heaven ! to what a dilemma I'm brought ! 
 
130 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 " I've been foully slain by defendant, in sport, 
 And then, when I bring up my case to this court. 
 To obtain satisfaction, — the Cat gets off free, 
 And again does the punishment fall upon me. 
 
 " Oh, Sire ! " (here the Rat kept on bumping his head) 
 " Had I, like the Cat there, with dainties been fed, 
 I'd not have been caught, Sire, I pledge you my word, 
 By the sharpest old mouser that ever yet purred. 
 
 " Think you, Sire, I'd have ventured amongst cats and 
 
 traps, 
 For the sake of their nasty old leavings and scraps ? 
 I assure you I'd never have stirred from my hole, 
 For only when tempted by hunger, I stole. 
 
 " Nature made me a thief ; — I hadn't a voice 
 In making myself ; — I had therefore no choice 
 But to pilfer, whene'er I by hunger was driven, — 
 (Some are much better off, for their food is given.) 
 
 " Whatever has breath must have something to eat ; 
 Life must be supported with grain, fish, or meat." — 
 " Stop a bit," interrupted the Cat in her turn, 
 " Since you must eat, like others, your food you should 
 
 earn ; 
 (It seems that's a ' wrinkle ' you yet have to learn.)" 
 
THE EAT AND THE OAT IN HADES. 131 
 
 " Oh ! " argued the Rat ; " then, according to you, 
 Birds, beasts, and reptiles, earn their living too ? — 
 Were it not that they gained it by rapine and theft, 
 There would shortly be devilish few of them left." 
 
 " Pooh, pooh ! " mewed the Cat, " How obtuse you must 
 
 be! 
 Wherever there's you there must always be me ; 
 Men hunt beasts and reptiles, by that you perceive, 
 Men, like cats, are sent hither to catch those who 
 
 thieve." 
 
 Squeaked the Eat, " One would fancy, to hear you thus 
 
 mew, 
 That the world was created expressly for you ! 
 (I confess that I hold quite a different view.) 
 Because there's a sun in the sky, why not swear 
 That the moon and the stars had no right to be there?" 
 
 Ten Wang struck the table and bade them both cease, 
 
 Nor stop there and argue disturbing his peace ; 
 
 " Do you know where you are ? Do you think I'll 
 
 allow 
 At the foot of my throne such an unseemly row ? 
 
 " Birds, beasts, and fishes, all things that have life, 
 To keep it, must wage a perpetual strife ; 
 All strive to get food in the best way they can, 
 But they mustn't, by any means, prey upon man. 
 
 9 * 
 
132 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 "As it is amongst you, so 'tis also with men ; 
 They prey on each other with sword, tongue, or pen,- 
 The strong on the weak, the great on the small 
 The rich on the poor, and the king upon all. 
 
 " Flog the Eat ! Let him into the river* be hurled ! 
 Take the ghost of the Cat quickly back to the world. 
 From henceforth let rats and descendants of rats, 
 Be food for all cats and descendants of cats." 
 
 The Resuscitation op the Cat. 
 
 Meanwhile Pussy's body, while this scene occurred, 
 Lay prone on the stove and never once stirred ; 
 Her form was supine, her legs were outstretched — 
 She lay as she fell when her spirit was fetched. 
 
 Dame Wang came in soon after and saw her faithful 
 
 mouser 
 To all appearance dead — she started back aghast ; 
 She felt her heart, 'twas warm ; she tried in vain to 
 
 rouse her ; 
 Disheartened with her efforts, she gave it up at last. 
 
 * Actually, the " Forbidden Eiver " g* Jpf, wherever 
 that may be. 
 
THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 133 
 
 She gave vent to her sorrow in bitter lamentations ; 
 
 She wrung her hands in anguish at seeing stark and 
 stiff 
 
 The poor Cat's corse, unheeding her endearing appella- 
 tions ; — 
 
 She'd give the world to hear her purr or give the 
 faintest sniff. 
 
 " You were, when last I saw you, as playful as a kitten, 
 So full of life and health scarcely half-an-hour ago ; 
 Now you're lying here, by death's hand rudely smitten; 
 I never thought to find you thus, poor puss ! Ai ya ! 
 Ai yo! 
 
 " I was always in a tremble, for fear some dog should 
 
 worry 
 Or otherwise maltreat you, when you went into the 
 
 lane ; 
 If I missed you for a minute, not a house but I was in 
 
 it,— 
 I never gave up searching till I had you safe again." 
 
 Would nothing save her ? Dame Wang heaved a sigh ; 
 
 To save her poor cat's life she'd grudge no labour ; 
 She'd call her spirit back, at least she'd try — 
 
 So off she went to some kind-hearted neighbour 
 
 To borrow " paper cash ; " — for this ingredient 
 
 In case of life or death is deemed expedient. 
 
 # # # # # 
 
134 THE EAT AND THE CAT IN HADES. 
 
 The dame now proceeded to sacrifice : — 
 In a bowl of clean water she flung some rice ; 
 She burnt in a dust-pan the paper cash ; 
 Three joss-sticks also were burnt to an ash. 
 
 The branch of a peach tree she placed at the side 
 Of the corpse of the Cat ; then thrice she cried, 
 " Five Gods ! Five Gods ! my prayers don't spurn, 
 But soon my poor cat's spirit return." 
 
 " Oh ! spare my cat ! Her life restore ! 
 And priests my gratitude shall pour 
 Before your shrines in constant prayer. 
 Five Gods ! Five Gods ! my poor cat spare ! " 
 
 Her prayer being ended, she closed- to the door ; 
 The water and rice she poured out on the floor ; 
 The bowl she placed over the corpse of the Cat, — 
 This she struck with her thimble three times, rat, tat, 
 tat. 
 
 As her thimble each time hit the bowl a sharp whack, 
 The dame at that moment called out "Puss, come 
 
 back!" 
 Her lips had scarce uttered the last plaintive word, 
 When the old lady's prayers were not only heard, 
 But answered as well ; — this is how it occurred : — 
 
THE EAT AND THE OAT IN HADES. 135 
 
 Just at this time Bullock's Head and Horse Face 
 Were bringing the Cat's spirit back to the place ; 
 This they put in the corpse, and, unseen by the dame, 
 Departed at once in the same way they came. 
 
 The spirit no sooner had entered the Cat, 
 
 Than she stretched out her legs, sneezed, sniffed, 
 
 winked, and spat ; 
 And ended by quietly sitting upright, 
 To, it 's needless to say, the old lady's delight, 
 
 Who faced the north-west, and as she did so, 
 
 With closed hands recited her O-mi-to-fo ! 
 
 Then thanked heaven and earth, and the five gods as 
 
 well, 
 For sending her cat's spirit safe back from hell. 
 
136 
 
 THE WRY-NECKED TREE. 
 
 At the foot of Prospect Hill stands an old distorted tree ; 
 'Neath its shade have often walked the Mings in all 
 their pride, 
 It saw the first and last of that mighty dynasty, 
 For 'twas planted by Yung-h, and on it Ch'ung-cken 
 died. 
 
 Though leafless and distorted now, it was not always so ; 
 Its foliage was luxuriant, its trunk was tall and 
 straight ; 
 Now, 'tis called the Wry-necked Tree, for two hundred 
 years ago 
 The old tree bent its haughty head beneath a monarch's 
 weight. 
 
THE WRY-NECKED TREE. 137 
 
 Two hundred years ago 
 What an awful stir 
 
 There must have been 
 'Neath the Wry-necked Fir, 
 When at dawn was seen 
 The corse of Ch'ung-chen 
 In the bright morning sun, 
 As it swayed on a branch to and fro. 
 
 Yes, it is he ! 
 
 The corse that swings 
 On the Wry-necked Tree 
 
 Is the last of the Mings. 
 
 His race, alas ! is run ; 
 No more will he 
 
 Sway with his single Will, 
 Or govern the destiny, 
 Of " all beneath the sun." 
 
 At the foot of Prospect Hill, 
 The last of a dynasty, 
 A king— the " Solitary One "— 
 Hangs on the Wry-necked Tree. 
 
 It must have been 
 
 A strange sight 
 To have seen 
 
 At morning light 
 The corse of a king 
 From the old tree swing. 
 
138 THE WRY-NECKED TREE. 
 
 Every one near 
 
 Shuddered with awe, 
 And paled with fear 
 
 At the sight they saw ; 
 The white ghastly face 
 Of the last of his race 
 Seemed to look down, 
 
 From the old tree's bough, 
 On the group with a frown 
 
 And a lowering brow. 
 Lower it gently — the corse that swings 
 On the Wry-necked Tree is the last of the Mings. 
 
 Who knows what was said 
 
 At the last parting scene 
 
 Of Ch'ung-cten and his queen,* 
 
 Ere barefoot he fled 
 
 In the dead of the night, 
 
 Nor stayed in his flight 
 
 Till he reached the old tree 
 On which he now swings ? 
 
 Fulfilling his destiny ; 
 Last of the Mings. 
 
 Untold in History 's 
 His parting with her ; 
 
 Shrouded in mystery 's 
 His death on the fir. 
 
 * Tradition says that the Empress committed suicide, 
 and the princess, her daughter, was slain by the Emperor 
 to prevent her falling into the hands of the rebels. 
 
THE WEY-NECKED TEEE. 139 
 
 The last hours of Gh'ung-cMn 
 Are known only to One. 
 
 When lowered to the ground, 
 
 In his breast 
 A paper was found, 
 
 Thus addressed : 
 " To Li-tzu-ch'eng, 
 
 When I am found dead, 
 On the fir tree hung, 
 Let this paper be read. 
 These our last wishes are written by Us" 
 The paper was opened ; the writing ran thus : 
 
 " Imperial brother, IA-tzu-ch'eng, I most devoutly 
 
 pray 
 That if there must be slaughter, you'll all my 
 
 courtiers slay ; 
 But, oh! my loyal subjects, my black-haired 
 
 people spare, 
 On no account slay them — grant this my earnest 
 
 prayer."* 
 
 # The actual words of the paper as given in the song 
 are: — 
 
 9 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 w 
 
 n 
 
 * 
 
 ± 
 
 ± 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 m 
 
 a 
 
 51 
 
 ± 
 
 % 
 
 * 
 
 z 
 
 & 
 
 § 
 
 n 
 
 « 
 
 JS 
 
 ± 
 
140 THE WEY-NECKED TEEE. 
 
 What shall be done 
 
 With the tree 
 Which hung C~tiung-chen ? 
 
 Which dared 
 Bear such imperial fruit ? 
 
 Shall it be spared, 
 Or grubbed up by the root, 
 
 And die with the dynasty ? 
 
 The tree that has gained 
 
 Such unholy renown 
 Shall not be cut down ; 
 
 Let the culprit be chained.* 
 It thus shall remain 
 
 Till the end of time, 
 Bound with a chain 
 
 For its awful crime. 
 
 The rebel Li-tzu-ch l eng lived in the palace eighteen days. 
 He had sufficient respect for the deceased Emperor to place 
 him in his coffin and sacrifice to him. 
 
 * Shun-chih, the first Emperor of the Ch'ing dynasty, 
 ordered the tree to be chained. He also granted permis- 
 sion to inter the body of the Emperor in the family 
 tomb. 
 
THE WBY-NECKED TREE. 141 
 
 When the old fir tree 
 
 Shall be freed from its thrall, 
 The Ch'ing dynasty- 
 Will totter and fall * 
 May such a catastrophe never occur 
 As removing the chain from the Wry-necked Fir. 
 
 # It is believed that should the tree be ever unchained, 
 great calamity would befal the reigning dynasty. To this 
 day the tree remains chained, but it has almost fallen to 
 the ground. 
 
142 
 
 DAME KUO'S VISIT TO HSI-TING 
 FAIR. 
 
 Dame Kuo was a matron, close verging on fifty, 
 
 Reputed to be, too, remarkably thrifty ; 
 
 She had money galore, but knew how to enjoy it — 
 
 Her thriftiness being how best to employ it 
 
 So as to get all the good she could out of it — 
 
 And she fully succeeded — there can't be a doubt of it. 
 
 The buxom Dame Kuo 
 
 Made her mind up to go 
 To the fair which is held once a year at Hsi-ting ; — * 
 
 A place of resort 
 
 For religion or sport — 
 A temple, in fact, fifteen li from Peking. 
 
 -i* W Bf- This is a temple, in which a fair is held 
 every year from the 1st to the 15th of the fourth moon. 
 
DAME KTTO's VISIT. 143 
 
 Dame Kuo mounted her cart, 
 
 Gave the signal to start, 
 After seeing her hand-maidens carefully put 
 
 Into carts standing near, 
 
 Which now followed in rear ; — 
 She'd a guard too, comprising both mounted and 
 foot. 
 
 These numbered a score : — 
 
 Some behind, some before ; 
 While some to the shafts of the carts lent their aid,* 
 
 Lest the ladies inside 
 
 Should feel terrified. 
 Thus they formed, altogether, a grand cavalcade. 
 
 What giggling and tittering took place within those 
 
 carts ! 
 What sheep' s-eyes thrown at passer's by — more deadly far 
 
 than darts ; — 
 Inflicting wounds incurable on many throbbing hearts. 
 What a constant munching too there was of apples, cakes, 
 
 and tarts ! 
 
 * It is common to see servants running by the side of 
 a cart with one hand on a shaft — probably assisting them- 
 selves by this process, rather than to be at hand lest the 
 occupant of the cart should call them. 
 
144 DAME KTJO's VISIT, 
 
 Dame Kuo had got a " sipping flask,"* but as she rode 
 
 alone, 
 How many sips she did take is not accurately known ; 
 But that she had required a sip her beaming features 
 
 showed ; 
 For when she reached the fair with benevolence they 
 
 glowed. 
 En passant , too, inside her cart, a hamperf had been 
 
 stowed 
 Lest she should want substantial creature-comforts on 
 
 the road. 
 
 When they came to the temple a servitor ran 
 To inform the old Abbot — and he, worthy man, 
 Bade tea be served up in the flick of a fan — 
 
 With the best that his larder could boast. 
 He invited the matron to enter and rest ; 
 And proud at receiving so welcome a guest — 
 (For she was a " patron " — and one of his best) 
 
 He at once commenced duty as host. 
 
 * PE It SI- This is made of pewter, and has a 
 " sipper " screwed on, similar in use and shape to those on 
 babies' sucking bottles. These " sipping flasks " can be 
 slung over the shoulders on a journey. 
 
 t |j| B|* §,. Made of wicker work, and not much 
 unlike a very large " sandwich case." These can also be 
 slung over the shoulder. 
 
DAME KTJO'S VISIT. 145 
 
 Having finished her tea, the buxom Dame Kuo 
 
 Made a sign to her maids she was ready to go. 
 
 Then she rose from the table, declared she had 
 
 done ; — 
 She would stroll round the fair now, and look at the 
 
 fun. 
 
 Depositing a douceur in the Abbot's willing hand, 
 She said, in words the old priest couldn't fail to 
 
 understand : — 
 " When the fair is finished, you must come and hunt 
 
 us up; 
 You'll always find a welcome, and a bed, a plate, and 
 
 cup." 
 
 Dame Kuo made her way through the thick of the 
 
 fair, 
 And old as she was, not a young lady there 
 Enjoyed herself more, or felt greater delight, 
 Than she did at every queer sound or strange sight. 
 
 Buying and selling, 
 Screaming and yelling ; 
 " By "your leave ! Stand aside ! Can't you see where 
 you 're going ? " 
 
 Roaring and shouting, 
 Ranting and spouting, 
 Cymbal banging, flute squeaking, and long-trumpet 
 blowing. 
 
 10 
 
146 DAME KTJO's VISIT. 
 
 Gonging and drumming, 
 
 Fiddling and strumming, 
 Interspersed with a good deal of squalling and bawling. 
 
 Hawking and talking ; 
 
 The girl slack-rope walking — 
 " How nicely she does it ! " — Ai, ya ! she is falling ! " 
 
 Cursing and swearing, 
 
 Peeping and staring ; — 
 " This, ma'am, is the stall, if you want a nice fairing. 
 
 Here are all sorts of toys, 
 
 For good little boys, — 
 Eed-string, flowers, and knicknacks, for young ladies' 
 wearing. 
 
 " Here are mouth-pieces made 
 
 From the purest of jade, 
 And pipes that will make bad tobacco smoke pleasant. 
 
 Thimbles, scissors, and knives, 
 
 For industrious wives ; — 
 Make a choice from my wares — there's no time like the 
 present." 
 
 Losing and winning, 
 
 Laughing and grinning, 
 Humming-top spinning ; — on dry land boats rowing ; 
 
 Horses a-neighing, 
 
 Donkeys a-braying, 
 Begging priests praying ; — stilt- walking, stone-throwing. 
 
DAME KUO's VISIT. 147 
 
 Whirligging* and swinging, 
 
 Story-telling, bell-ringing. 
 A drummer is singing, at the same time is plying 
 
 Three sticks ; two he beats with, 
 
 And performs sundry feats with ; 
 While the third one in mid-air is constantly flying. 
 
 Snuffing and smoking, 
 
 Jesting and joking, 
 Or saying smart things, which set people laughing. 
 
 Bear- dancing ; folks rushing, 
 
 And each other crushing, 
 To hear merry-andrews their audience chaffing. 
 
 What a hubbub and din ; 
 
 " Just going to begin ! " 
 What changing of money ! what taking and giving ! 
 
 At the door people paying ; 
 
 Within, actors playing : 
 And puppets which look just as if they were living. 
 
 Clod-hoppers swarming 
 
 To see rats performing, 
 Or peep-shows, with gay scenes which constantly vary. 
 
 " For three cash may be seen 
 
 A girl — aged sixteen, 
 With the legs of a horse and the face of a fairy ! " 
 
 # A whirligig — similar to those used in English fairs, 
 is called ^ $| ^ " Umbrella Wheel." 
 
 10 * 
 
148 DAME KFO'S VISIT. 
 
 Female tumblers — athletes, 
 Performing strange feats ; 
 Quack doctors, rogues, thieves, and beggars, are nu- 
 merous ; 
 
 Some, pity exciting ; 
 Some, squabbling and fighting : — 
 Here are scenes of all sorts, grave, gay, sad, or 
 humorous. 
 
 Dame Kuo having seen all the sights of the fair, 
 And drank as much tea as her stomach could bear ; — 
 Besides buying fairings for each of her maids, 
 Such as hair-pins and ear-rings, tags, tassels, and 
 
 braids, 
 Climbed into her cart and returned to Peking, 
 Well pleased with her trip to the fair at Hsi-ting. 
 
 =»*>«= 
 
149 
 
 INVERTED TACTS. 
 
 1st Month. 
 
 In the first month we keep up the Dragon-Boat Feast ;* 
 The sun, at this time, always sets in the east ; 
 Temples are never built facing the south ;f 
 (How glibly a crammer slips out of one's mouth !) 
 
 A stout man is one with no flesh on his bones ; 
 Singing is sighing commingled with groans. 
 Fasting and praying, or doing good deeds, 
 If indulged in, to all sorts of wickedness leads. 
 
 * This festival really occurs on the fifth day of the fifth 
 month. 
 
 f Exactly the reverse. 
 
150 INVERTED FACTS. 
 
 You ca n not make oil out of hempseeds or beans ; 
 The beggar 's a person who lives on his means; 
 A rich man is one who works hard for his bread,- 
 At daybreak we usually go off to bed. 
 
 Tinder 's a difficult thing to ignite : 
 Dogs love to bask in the sunshine at night : 
 Charcoal 's a fruit which makes capital pies ; 
 Truth is language consisting entirely of lies. 
 
 2nd Month. 
 
 In the second month all vegetation decays ; 
 What people term censure, is nothing but praise. 
 At midnight the sun is high up in the sky, 
 And the swallows to northern climes rapidly fly. 
 
 Rivers and streams always flow to the west :* 
 Bad things are good, but the worst is the best. 
 Brimstone 's a dainty — it 's best when it 's boiled ; 
 Hinges, to work well, should never be oiled. 
 
 A soldier's chief duty is drawing his pay; 
 In battle, 'tis chiefly in running away ; 
 His diet consists of pure calabash soup ; — 
 One man is a regiment, two form a troop. 
 
 Chinese believe that all rivers must flow eastward. 
 
INVERTED FACTS. 151 
 
 All ladies should bow, and men fold their arms ; 
 A beldame 's a maiden of unsurpassed charms. 
 Those only have doctors, who are anxious to die ; 
 Those only tell truth, who infernally lie. 
 
 3rd Month. 
 
 In the third month the warmth makes the green snow- 
 flakes freeze ; 
 And cotton is gathered from mulberry trees. 
 Those who are fasting eat sugar with meat ; 
 A gourmand is one who 's too lazy to eat. 
 
 When one has invited a friend home to dine, 
 'Tis an insult to ask him to take bread or wine. 
 When a person gets tipsy it 's always on tea ; 
 The favourite perch of a mule, is a tree. 
 
 On the top of a chair two stout bearers ride, 
 And carry the horse, who sits down inside. 
 In beating a gong, you a feather employ ; 
 A man is a woman, a girl is a boy. 
 
 When one is merry, the eyes stream with tears 
 When one is sad, the face smiling appears. 
 Anger is shown by a round beaming face ; 
 A waddling or lop-sided movement is grace. 
 
152 INVERTED EACTS. 
 
 4th Month. 
 
 In the fourth month the autumn wind bitterly blows ; 
 When the cock lays an egg, the hen loudly crows. 
 The sun and the moon always rise in the west ; 
 Love-sickness is caused by a pain in the chest. 
 
 The fish is a bird ; when it's angry it sings ; 
 It builds in a tree, and its legs are all wings. 
 The horse is a quadruped having eight legs ; 
 It burrows a hole — some one else lays its eggs. 
 
 The tiger 's an insect, it lives in the sea, 
 Its chief occupation is gathering tea. 
 A scholar 's a person unable to read ; 
 A dunce is a man very clever indeed. 
 
 The hair on a bald head is long, coarse, and thick ; 
 An athlete is a cripple who walks with a stick. 
 A dummy is one who can fluently speak ; 
 A straight-forward person 's considered a sneak. 
 
 5th Month. 
 
 In the fifth month the weather is growing more cool ; 
 The fool is a wise man, the wise man a fool. 
 A duck's egg is shaped like a gourd-calabash, — * 
 It takes twice to lay it, and costs fifty cash. 
 
 Something like <$ . 
 
INVERTED PACTS. 153 
 
 Ten piculs are not near so heavy as one ; 
 A misanthrope 's one who appreciates fun. 
 At eighty, a small child commences to walk, — 
 In a few hundred years he '11 be able to talk. 
 
 A tippler is one who abominates drink ; 
 
 'Tis charming to hear a dog yelp " pen-and-ink." 
 
 Fish, in a stream, love to stroll on its banks ; 
 
 On receipt of a flogging, one murmurs one's thanks. 
 
 A coward is one who 's a stranger to fear ; 
 The tiger slinks off, at the roar of the deer. 
 At the sight of a mouse, the poor cat runs away ; 
 A candle is commonly lit at mid-day. 
 
 6th Month. 
 
 In the sixth month the fields are all covered with ice,- 
 Now is the season for transplanting rice. 
 At this time, too, spiders fall victims to flies, 
 Who hang up their webs on to hooks in the skies. 
 
 In writing, the most proper thing one can use 
 Is a catty of lard, and a pair of straw shoes. 
 Clever people are plentiful — not so are fools ; 
 Illiterate men are inspectors of schools. 
 
154 INVESTED TACTS. 
 
 A mat-shed is better by far than a house ; 
 An elephant 's nearly as big as a louse. 
 The lichee is long, and as sharp as an awl ; 
 Sugar-cane, all well know, is as bitter as gall. 
 
 'Tis said honey 's sour, and vinegar 's sweet ; 
 Going opposite ways, is described as " to meet. 
 Killing a man 's not considered a crime, — 
 So long as you kill him but once at a time. 
 
 7th Month. 
 
 In the seventh month the weather is bracing and clear, 
 Old and young wear gauze clothing to hail the new year. 
 How delighted folks are on receiving abuse ! 
 Money or food is of no earthly use. 
 
 Heaven always protects 'an undutiful son, 
 But 'twill punish severely a dutiful one. 
 'Tis a pleasure to see a girl smoking a pipe ; 
 The chief of the 'Han-lin 's a seller of tripe. 
 
 Those who make money, in general, lose ; 
 Taking all as they come, is to pick and to choose. 
 All kinds of pastry are called " butcher's meat ;" 
 The soles of the hands are the calves of the feet. 
 
INVERTED FACTS. 155 
 
 To die of old age is called " premature death," 
 This is caused by a rush of superfluous breath. 
 The cypress and fir are the trees that fear cold, — 
 They are hardy, and therefore don't live to be old. 
 
 8th Month. 
 
 The eighth month is spring, it comes once in three years ; 
 How bright, and how beautiful, nature appears ! 
 The willows how red ! The peach-blossoms how green ! 
 Those pigs in the gutter, too, are they not clean ? 
 
 Consumption is only a sign one is strong, 
 Those who have it severely are sure to live long. 
 Blind persons are those who pretend they can't see ; 
 Quite lately, an old man was slain by a flea. 
 
 If a woman is dark, we exclaim, " Oh, how fair ! " 
 To modestly cast down the eyes is " to stare." 
 When a person is nude, he is " tastefully dressed.' 
 A dying injunction 's considered a " jest." 
 
 A child should be flogged, if he does what is right 
 Good deeds are oftenest done out of spite. 
 Black is white — so is red ; the sunshine is shade ; 
 A hoe is a rake, but a broom is a spade. 
 
156 INVERTED FACTS. 
 
 9th Month. 
 
 In the ninth month the apricot blossoms look blue, 
 And vie with the pear in its bright sable hue ; 
 The slender elm clings to the stout pumpkin tree ; 
 Grapes grow on the boughs of the green yellow pea. 
 
 The frogs warble forth their melodious notes, 
 In a gush of sweet music — as if they 'd sore throats. 
 The cats bark in concert ; and a dunghill close by 
 Wafts its fragrance far up in the dark crimson sky. 
 
 Figs are dug out of mines and to good uses put, 
 Boors sell them for firewood, at so much a foot. 
 One is always athirst after taking a drink ; 
 The odour of flowers is called a vile stink. 
 
 Last night 'twas so hot that it actually snowed ; 
 A gutter is merely a broad level road. 
 'Tis pleasant to see all the vessels sail by, 
 When the bed of a mountain is swoll'n till it 's dry. 
 
 10th Month. 
 
 In the tenth month the weather is getting quite warm 
 The centipedes now are beginning to swarm ; 
 The snakes and the scorpions fly through the air, 
 In pursuit of such birds as they find grazing there. 
 
INVERTED FACTS. 157 
 
 The sparrow transfixes the hawk with his beak ; 
 Deafness, is being unable to speak. 
 The butcher was killed by a blood-thirsty lamb, 
 For daring to look while he suckled his dam. 
 
 When rain falls in torrents, the ground is quite dry ; 
 A girl that 's too forward is said to be " shy." 
 The blue clouds are often concealed by the sun ; 
 A job, when complete, is considered undone. 
 
 Elation at what we have done, is " regret ;" 
 When one shivers with cold, that is called a " muck- 
 sweat " ; 
 A cast in the eye is a capital crime, — 
 'Tis death by the law to cast both at one time. 
 
 11th Month. 
 
 In the eleventh month the weather is dreadfully hot, 
 And people put on all the clothing they 've got. 
 If you wish to make tea, that is easily done, 
 Boil your water at night in the shade of the sun. 
 
 A long row of willows is called an oak tree ; 
 The elbow 's a joint at the bend of the knee. 
 When a raven is singing he purses his lips ; 
 A bright sunny day is a total eclipse. 
 
158 INVERTED FACTS. 
 
 In cold winter weather the heat is intense ; 
 Reality 's only a name for pretence. 
 If a man dies of hunger they say that he 's gorged ; 
 Chain armour is woven, silk clothing is forged. 
 
 Men walk on their hands — these they put into shoes ; 
 
 To travel by land, is called, " taking a cruise." 
 
 A cat is a dog, and young kittens are pups ; 
 
 Plates are teapots and kettles, but chopsticks are cups. 
 
 12th Month. 
 
 In the twelfth month 'tis hot, for Midsummer is come ; 
 The peach trees break down with the apple and plum ; 
 The calabash trees are all loaded with fruits, 
 Which the rustics, with ladders, dig up from their roots. 
 
 Men who shun women are styled " wicked rakes." 
 There is nothing a gambler dislikes more than stakes ; 
 Don't say, "you speak true — " that 's an improper term, 
 And a person will turn if trod on by a worm. 
 
 When a coffin is dead, he is placed in a corse ; 
 
 A camel 's a cow, but a bear is a horse. 
 
 If you speak of the present, you say, " by-and-bye ;" 
 
 When you know one speaks truth, then be sure 'tis a lie. 
 
INVESTED FACTS. 159 
 
 The last month is finished, so, too, is my song ; 
 
 If you look, you '11 perceive it is just twelve months long. 
 
 It contains many facts, which some folks may deem 
 
 To be falsehoods, — but all things are not what they seem. 
 
160 
 
 THE BEATER'S SOJNG, 
 
 OR 
 
 TING-LANG'S SEAECH FOE HIS FATHER. 
 
 Hail New Year ! 
 
 Welcome New Tear ! 
 How bright the lamps in the streets appear ! 
 
 Ting-lang had been 
 
 Through the streets and seen 
 The crowds and lights to hail the New Year ! 
 
 Peaceful Year ! Year of peace ! 
 May our blessings and wealth increase ! 
 
 The boy went home when the three drums beat * 
 And flung himself at his mother's feet ; 
 
 * Midnight. 
 
THE BEATER'S SONG. 161 
 
 Where, hiding his face in her lap, he kept 
 Fast hold of her hand as he loudly wept. 
 
 Peaceful Tear ! Year of peace ! 
 When will the tears of the poor boy cease ! 
 
 " Tell me, darling — tell me why 
 You thus bitterly sob and cry. 
 Into my bosom pour your grief ; 
 Who but a mother can give relief ? " 
 Peaceful Year ! Year of peace ! 
 Soon shall the tears of my darling cease ! 
 
 " Mother, whenever I'm in the street, 
 
 I'm jeered by every boy I meet ; 
 
 They say I've no father — have got no name ; 
 
 That I'm only a child of sin and shame. 
 
 Can it be true, mother, what they say ; — 
 
 That I am a bastard — a waif — a stray — 
 
 A floating weed — a toadstool sprung 
 
 From the vilest of places — a heap of dung ? 
 
 That you, mother, you, I so much revere, 
 
 Were — ? let me breathe the vile word in your ear, — 
 
 But I knew, mother darling, that was untrue, 
 
 For the angels are not more pure than you ! " 
 
 The mother had listened with drooping head, 
 To all that her weeping son had said ; 
 When he 'd finished, her head she proudly raised 
 And lovingly into her boy's eyes gazed. 
 
 11 
 
162 the beatee's song. 
 
 " Ne'er heed, my child, what the street-boys say, 
 For you are no more base born than they. 
 It harms you not if they look with scorn, 
 For you, my son, were in wedlock born. 
 
 Then she told to her child all her history, 
 Which till now had to him been a mystery. 
 Of her childhood's days ; of the time she wed ; 
 Of the happy life as a bride she led, 
 Till his father, one fatal day, was sent, 
 For another's crime, into banishment. 
 She told him where he 'd been sent, and how 
 He had changed his name from Tu to Kao. 
 
 He now had been gone twelve weary years ; 
 And the mother described her hopes and fears, 
 In the long, long years she 'd had to wait, 
 Without one line to tell his fate ; — 
 Of the many and bitter tears she 'd shed — 
 Of her lonesome life, and her constant dread 
 Lest his father died 'ere his name was freed 
 From the stain of committing a fearful deed. 
 
 " Mother, I'm but a boy ; 
 But can I here remain, 
 And lead a life of joy, 
 While you live one of pain ? 
 
the beater's song. 163 
 
 Ah, let me go in quest 
 
 Of him you hold so dear ! 
 
 Nor will I ever rest, 
 
 But wander far and near, 
 Till I have found him, cleared his name, 
 And brought him hither free from blame. 
 
 " Yes, mother, I must go, 
 
 For while I linger here, 
 
 A witness of your woe, 
 
 Each moment seems a year. 
 
 If strength and years I lack, 
 
 My love will bear me through ; 
 
 And soon I'll bring him back 
 
 To home, to love, and you. 
 In such a cause I must succeed ; 
 Your blessing now is all I need." 
 
 The mother was loth 
 From her brave boy to part; 
 " What, if I lose both ! " 
 Thus whispered her heart. 
 Yet her grief she concealed 
 In her innermost breast ; 
 She could not but yield 
 To his urgent request. 
 
 " Go, my son ; seek your father, but quickly return ; 
 Bring him safe, and my undying gratitude earn. 
 
 11 * 
 
164 the beater's song. 
 
 But your zeal, my brave darling, has made you 
 
 forget 
 That you don't know your father — you've not seen 
 
 him yet." 
 
 Thus saying, three proofs from her bosom she drew, 
 Exclaiming, " I transfer these tokens to you ; 
 Of each of these three parting keep-sakes you see, 
 He kept one half and gave one to me. 
 
 " See, this is my half (the other he took) 
 Of the mirror we broke at our parting, and look, 
 Here's half of the comb at my wedding I wore, 
 And this is my part of the 'kerchief we tore. 
 
 " How many long years in my bosom they've lain, 
 When will they with his halves be united again ! 
 Whoever these three parting tokens can pair, 
 Is your father, my husband — we both his name bear." 
 
 The half of the mirror, the 'kerchief, and comb 
 
 The boy safely placed in his breast ; 
 For at dawn the next morn he 'd quit his loved home, 
 
 And his courage be put to the test. 
 
 Why dwell on the sad parting scene which took 
 place ; 
 
 'Twas made up of hopes, doubts, and fears ; 
 He would ever remember her pale anxious face, 
 
 She would pray for his safety with tears. 
 
165 
 
 Mid sobbing and tears and heart-rending sighs, 
 They at length bade each other adieu ; 
 
 She watched her boy's progress with tear-blinded 
 eyes, 
 Till his lithe form was hid from her view. 
 
 Day after day, 
 
 On his weary way, 
 The brave lad journeyed without delay ; 
 
 Resting at night, 
 
 But at morning light 
 Hurrying on with all his might ; 
 And as he went on his way he pressed 
 The parting tokens he had in his breast. 
 
 Lower and lower 
 The lad's small store 
 Sank, till he hadn't a farthing more ; 
 With his cash all spent, 
 Still he onward went, 
 Begging his way from door to door. 
 The roadside at night for his lonely bed, 
 And a stone to pillow his weary head. 
 
 For days and weeks on trudged Ting-lang ; 
 To his joy, at last, he neared Hsiang-yang ; 
 'Twas here that his father had been sent 
 Twelve years before into banishment. 
 
166 the beater's song. 
 
 With brimming eyes on the distant town 
 The young lad gazed — then kneeling down, 
 He prayed that his father still might live — 
 And that he might his father freedom give. 
 
 Tired and faint, the lad that night 
 Slept on the ground in the broad moonlight, 
 And in his sleep he dreamt he heard 
 His parent's history word for word, 
 Arranged in verse to a simple air — 
 The echo, it seemed, of his evening prayer. 
 The tale was breathed in his thirsty ear 
 In a voice so musical, soft, and clear, 
 That at once the words and the melody 
 Sank deep in the dreamer's memory ; 
 The words, and the music — every note — 
 The boy, in his dream, had learnt by rote. 
 Then a choir of voices, blythe as birds, 
 Warbled in concert the following words : — 
 
 " Ting-lang I Ting-lang ! 
 When you reach Hsiang-yang, 
 G-o to the place where the builders throng. 
 Where the builders throng, 
 Sing the ' Beater's Song,' 
 And you'll find your father, my brave Ting-lang" 
 
 The melodious voices died away, 
 Still Ting-lang on the roadside lay 
 
the beater's song. 167 
 
 Murmuring over and over again, 
 
 In his sleep, the words of the last refrain : — 
 
 " Sing the 'Beater's Song,' 
 
 When you reach Hsiang-yang, 
 And you'll find your father, my brave Ting-lang." 
 
 The lad slept on till daylight broke, 
 
 When, refreshed with rest and sleep, he woke, 
 
 Got up, and with hope his young face glowed, 
 
 As he once more trudged o'er the dusty road, 
 
 The song and tune engraved on his mind, 
 
 And certain his father with these to find. 
 
 Soon he entered the city gate, 
 
 Eesolving near it awhile to wait : 
 
 But who can imagine his heartfelt joy 
 
 When a man accosted him thus : — " My boy ! 
 
 If you want employment, come home with me ; 
 
 And you've only to name what your wages will be, 
 
 If you can lead in the Beater's Song." 
 
 (My dream will come true now, thought Ting-lang.) 
 
 The overjoyed lad 
 
 Was only too glad 
 At the prospect of finding his father he had ; 
 
 And at once replied, 
 
 He would like to be tried, 
 And he trusted the man would be satisfied. 
 
168 the beater's song. 
 
 They reached the spot, and raised above the throng, 
 The lad was placed, to sing the Beater's song ; 
 He felt his tokens, breathed an earnest prayer, 
 Paused for a moment, then the simple air 
 He trilled forth in a clear and plaintive strain , 
 The workmen's voices chaunting the refrain. 
 
 The Beater's Song. 
 
 " I'm a poor little boy, all the way from Peking; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! Ho ! Ho ! Ho ! Hai !* 
 In search of my father I've come here to sing ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 I bade mother good-bye on the first of the year ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 And, on foot, I have travelled from Peking to here. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " When I left home the ground was all covered with 
 snow ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 That sometimes I hardly knew whither to go ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Spring came with its flowers and warmth-giving sun ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 "Tis now the sixth moon, and my journey is done. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 * The mallet, or rammer, falls at the word Hai ! which 
 is a sound not dissimilar to that made by a pavior in 
 England. 
 
the beater's song. 169 
 
 " What hunger and thirst I endured in that time ! 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 What rivers to cross ! what high mountains to climb ! 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 'Gainst hardships untold I had not strength to cope ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Were it not that my bosom was buoyed up with hope ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " Though a beggar, I come of a good family ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 My father had taken his second degree ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 And hoped, like his ancestors, honour to earn ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho! etc. 
 Which he could transmit to his children in turn. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " My father's bright dreams were soon rudely dispelled ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 For a villain the face of my mother beheld ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 And struck by her charms, to obtain her resolved ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 E'en though it his own death or ruin involved. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
170 THE BEATER'S SONG. 
 
 " To further his schemes, the base traitor Yen ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Found constant employ for my poor father's pen ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 And cloaking his purpose, contrived to pretend ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 To be to my father his most faithful friend. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " My father one night went to Ten's house to sup ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 When well warmed with wine, the wretch drugged his 
 cup; 
 
 Beaters, Ho! etc. 
 And while he was senseless, Yen murdered a slave ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 And then charged my father with the blow that he gave ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 "He was dragged off to prison, the torture applied ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 But the crime for a long time my father denied ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Till worn out with anguish at last he confessed ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Yen's crime, was by torture, thus wrung from his breast. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
THE BEATER'S SONG. 171 
 
 " Yen now sought my mother and offered his aid ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 But she firmly refused all the offers he made ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Then he dared speak of love, but she laughed him to 
 scorn ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 For she loved the sire of her child yet unborn. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " He then ventured her bright almond eyes to admire ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 This aroused all my poor mother's virtuous ire ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 ' You admire my bright eyes ! You shall do so no more ! ' 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 She exclaimed, as an eye from its socket she tore. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " My father was banished from Peking for life ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Sad was the parting 'twixt husband and wife ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 By the unfeeling guards they asunder were torn ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 In the midst of my mother's distress I was born. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
172 the beatee's song. 
 
 " My father has now been away twelve long years ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 My mother has mourned him in sorrow and tears ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Lapse of time, which so often produces relief ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 But gave an additional sting to her grief. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " I grew up, and boy though I was, I could see ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 That the task to console her devolved upon me ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 So I left home and her on the first of the year ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 And in search of my father have begged my way here. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
 " I'll sing for my father wherever I go ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 And I know I shall find him — my heart tells me so ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 He must hear my voice, for I never will rest ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 Till he pairs the tokens I have in my breast. 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 
the beater's song. 173 
 
 " I shall soon hear his voice, and see his dear face ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 For he's here in this city, perhaps in this place ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 His real name is Tu, bnt the name he bears now ; 
 
 Beaters, Ho ! etc. 
 He assumed to conceal his disgrace, — it is Kao ! " 
 
 Scarce had he sung that name, when, lo ! 
 
 Without a warning sound ; 
 A servant struck the boy a blow, 
 
 Which felled him to the ground. 
 
 The poor boy stunned and bruised, 
 
 An effort made to rise ; 
 His fair young face with blood suffused, 
 
 Tears streaming from his eyes. 
 
 Too weak to stand alone ; 
 
 Blinded with blood and tears, 
 He sank down with a groan, 
 
 But now a voice he hears — 
 
 Exclaiming in accents reproachful, yet mild, 
 " How dare you, base villain ! thus strike the poor child ! 
 You, a man too ! alas ! have you no sense of shame ? 
 Does your manhood consist in nought else but the name ? 
 
 " Wipe the blood from his face ; bring him hither to me ; 
 He's not a mere stroller — I plainly can see ; " 
 The servant replied not, but hung down his head, 
 And the boy to the matron he speedily led. 
 
174 the beater's song. 
 
 It chanced that the matron while busy within, 
 Had heard the sweet voice of young Ting-lang begin, 
 And had run to the window, where, hid by a screen, 
 She had looked down below on the bustling scene. 
 
 She was struck by the boy's extreme youth and his grace, 
 His soft plaintive voice, and his beautiful face ; 
 She had followed his tale through the whole of the song, 
 And her woman's heart pitied poor little Ting-lang. 
 
 But when the boy mentioned his father's false name, 
 Her eyes flashed with anger, her face flushed with shame ; 
 'Twas her husband's name, there was shame in the 
 
 thought ! 
 She, too, was the wife of the father he sought. 
 
 But, ah ! when she saw the boy felled to the ground, 
 With not one to aid him amongst those around ; 
 Her good feelings speedily smothered the bad, 
 She would now do her utmost to comfort the lad. 
 
 The dame spoke kindly to little Ting-lang, 
 Who modestly stood there with bended head ; 
 
 " Sing me the words of the Beater's Song ; — 
 I'd like to hear them once more," she said. 
 
 " Sing them again for me, line for line, 
 
 I would see if your tale tallies with mine." 
 
the beater's song. 175 
 
 As the boy commenced singing his story once more, 
 His father, unknown to him, entered the door, 
 Sat down, little thinking the boy he heard sing, 
 Was his son by the wife he had left in Peking. 
 
 The story went on — each line Ting-lang sang 
 Conveyed to the father's proud heart a fresh pang; 
 'Twas his own tale he heard, and the boy was his son ; 
 But how could he rectify what had been done ? 
 
 The dame read his guilt in his tale-telling face ; 
 She was angry and grieved at his being so base ; 
 She was angry to think she had been thus deceived ; 
 When she thought of his first wife and child she felt 
 grieved. 
 
 Her eyes flashed with scorn, shame mantled her brow, 
 When the boy sung his father's — her husband's name, 
 
 Kao ; 
 And pointing her hand to her husband, exclaimed, 
 " There, child, is your father, the Kao you just named." 
 
 " 'Tis false," said the father ; " vour wits must have 
 
 Till I married this lady I never was wed ; 
 Your whole tale's a tissue of lies, I declare ! 
 I've no wife or children at Peking, I swear ! 
 
176 the beater's soxg. 
 
 " If I am your father, what day did I leave ? 
 
 How old am I now ? — Don't attempt to deceive. 
 
 When and where were you born ? and what tokens have 
 
 you 
 To prove what you just now asserted, is true ? " 
 
 To these queries young Ting-lung with candour replied : 
 
 And the father, expressing himself satisfied, 
 
 The sanguine boy, to set all doubts at rest, 
 
 The three parting tokens now took from his breast. 
 
 When his father saw these, he exclaimed with a groan, 
 " Yes, they are her proofs ; " he then drew forth his own ; 
 Comb, mirror, and 'kerchief — the whole of the three, 
 Were found, when compared, to exactly agree. 
 
 Thus the boy found a father, the father a son, 
 But the father remorsefully thought of that one 
 He had left at Peking, all these years in suspense ; 
 And this one! what plea could he urge in defence? 
 
 " Alas ! " cried the father, " my crime has been great, 
 And no words of mine can my guilt palliate ; 
 But remember, my son, I was banished for life, 
 What hope had I then of rejoining my wife ! 
 
the beatek's song. 177 
 
 " At that time I thought I in exile should die, 
 That she for my fate would not fruitlessly sigh ; 
 I thought not a moment she'd constant remain, 
 But wed with another, a home to obtain. 
 
 " She indeed has drauk deeply of grief's bitter cup ; 
 What trouble, unaided, in bringing you up ! 
 Should I see her, her kindness I'll amply repay ; 
 My son, she shall never want more, from this day." 
 
 Ting-lang the starting tear suppressed, 
 
 And to his father said, 
 " How coldly are your words expressed, — 
 
 Are all your feelings dead ? 
 
 " Why use such words as ' if ' or ' should ? ' 
 
 You're wealthy now and free ; 
 Had you the heart and will, you could 
 
 Go back to her with me. 
 
 " On whom, save you, should she depend ? 
 
 Ah ! did you know but how 
 She's struggled on, without one friend, 
 
 Since you left home till now ! 
 
 " My mother has but rags to wear, 
 
 You're clothed in silks and furs ; 
 You dine upon the choicest fare, 
 
 The coarsest food is hers. 
 
 12 
 
178 the beater's song. 
 
 " My mother occupies a shed, 
 
 You live in luxury ; 
 A straw mat is her only bed, 
 
 You sleep luxuriously." 
 
 The matron was shocked at her husband's duplicity, 
 Carried on for eleven years with an unruffled brow ; 
 
 She had spent all this time in domestic felicity, 
 And never suspected his guilt until now. 
 
 All her feelings and sympathies now were enlisted 
 On behalf of her rival, her husband's first wife ; 
 
 She would be as a sister, and nobly insisted 
 
 She should stay with them here for the rest of her life. 
 
 While speaking, the wife saw her husband grow pale ; — 
 Human help at this time was of little avail ; 
 He gasped as if wishing to speak — with a groan, 
 He staggered, and then to the earth he fell prone. 
 
 Ting-lang and the wife saw him fall, with dismay ; 
 It looked like a judgment — be that as it may ; 
 They endeavoured the unconscious man to revive, 
 Impatiently waiting till help should arrive. 
 
 The leech came at length, and with serious face, 
 Pronounced it paralysis ; said that the case 
 Could never be cured — 'twas beyond human power : 
 The patient, though living, was dead from that hour. 
 
the beater's song. 179 
 
 The blow was severe to his wife and his son ; 
 His second wife thought the best thing to be done 
 Was to send for his first wife to come to Hsiang-yang, 
 To live there together with her and Ting-lang. 
 
 She therefore despatched a man off to Peking, 
 With a letter, some funds, and directions to bring 
 The wife there at once ; but the servant returned 
 With the news that both money and offer were spurned. 
 
 In a letter, however, the first wife had sent, 
 After thanking the second, she said her intent 
 Was to wait till her husband recovered his health 
 And returned to Peking ; — she was careless of wealth. 
 
 Time passed till the lad reached the age of sixteen, 
 When he took his degree ; his ambition had been 
 To excel in his studies : his first being gained, 
 He studied, and at seventeen his second obtained. 
 
 His father, meanwhile, all these years had been ill — 
 His sickness, as yet, had defied human skill, 
 Till a poor priest, whose life had been spotless and pure, 
 Tried Ms, and effected a permanent cure. 
 
 Both father and son to Peking now returned, 
 
 The boy proud of showing the honours he'd earned, — 
 
 Proud of his father's accession to wealth, 
 
 But prouder of seeing him once more in health. 
 
 12 * 
 
180 THE BEATEE'S SONG. 
 
 At length, son, husband, and wife once more met ;* 
 But, alas ! all their trials were not over yet ; 
 The meeting was glad, but their union was brief, — 
 'Twas changed in a moment to wailing and grief. 
 
 While recounting the sufferings each had gone through, 
 
 Some ruffians rushed in, and without more ado, 
 
 Seized the husband 'gainst whom the old charge had been 
 
 laid ; 
 He was bound, and again to prison conveyed. 
 
 The mother and son wept in silence awhile ; 
 At last the brave lad raised his head with a smile, 
 Exclaiming, " Dear Mother, trust all now to me, 
 And I'll strive night and day till I set father free." 
 
 Ting-lang worked, for he had a great purpose in view — 
 The 'Han lin degree ; and he very well knew 
 He must win to save him, a much higher aim 
 Than merely the honour of gaining a name. 
 
 He was first on the list, and what words can express. 
 His delight when he heard of his brilliant success ! 
 Three hundred and sixty succeeded that day, 
 But he, out of all, the chief prize bore away. 
 
 # From the time of Ting-lang and his father quitting 
 Hsiang-yang, the second wife drops out of the narrative 
 altogether ; her kindness evidently receiving no gratitude. 
 
THE BEATER'S SONG. 181 
 
 At Court, when the winners — the crime de la creme* — 
 Were examined again, his was still the first name. 
 The flowers and red crossf were bestowed on Ting-lang, 
 While before him men beat thirteen strokes on the gong.J 
 
 Soon after, young Ting-lang was summoned to court ; 
 He went, placing first in his breast a report, 
 In which he his father's old foe had impeached, 
 And justice against the arch-traitor beseeched. 
 
 When at court, Ting-lang knelt at the foot of the throne ; 
 Chia-ching bade him rise, in a mild, kindly tone, 
 And applauded his essays, on which the young man 
 Conceived that the time was now ripe for his plan. 
 
 * These number only eighteen, those first on the roll of 
 successful competitors for the Chin-shih degree. The 
 successful one out of this eighteen obtains the degree of 
 Chuang-yiian, which constitutes him a member of the 
 'Hanlin. The victor is consequently considered the greatest 
 scholar in the empire for that year. 
 
 f The flowers are called golden flowers, ^ ^ but are 
 merely tinsel, and are not bestowed on the successful can- 
 didate — he buys them himself, and sticks them into his 
 official hat. The red cross is a long strip of silk arranged 
 in such a manner as to come over both shoulders of the 
 wearer, and cross both on the breast and the back. 
 
 X At the present day the gong is carried in front of the 
 victor (but not beaten), as are also four square red flags 
 and a red umbrella. The victor parades the streets with 
 all these paraphernalia. 
 
182 the beater's song. 
 
 He held up his report, which the Emperor took ; 
 Ere he'd read many words there was wrath in his look. 
 " Base dog ! " he exclaimed, " 'tis a villainous plot ! 
 How dare you impeach the best servant I've got ! " 
 
 Then he flung the offending report to the ground ; 
 But a gust caught the paper, and whirling it round, 
 Placed it down on a table which stood by his side, — 
 All wondering what this proceeding implied. 
 
 The Emperor's wrath was more great than before, 
 He dashed down the paper again on the floor ; 
 But again by a gust was it caught up and whirled 
 Round and round, and again on the table was hurled. 
 
 " This is too much ! " the monarch exclaimed, with 
 
 frown, 
 And a third time the paper he fiercely dashed down ; 
 But again by the wind, as before, 'twas conveyed 
 Through the air, and again on the table was laid. 
 
 The courtiers trembled ; the Emperor said, 
 
 " Dark Heaven has decreed the report should be read ! 
 
 I therefore obey ; " — he then took the report, 
 
 Which he read in a loud voice before the whole Court. 
 
the beater's song. 183 
 
 His eyes were now opened; he now saw that Yen 
 Was a traitor to him, and the vilest of men : 
 Perpetrated by him (these were certified facts) 
 Were over a hundred tyrannical acts. 
 
 Yen was seized and degraded — of his clothing was 
 
 stripped, 
 By the chief executioner publicly whipped ; 
 His estates, confiscated, to Ting-lang were given, 
 While he from the Court as a beggar was driven. 
 
 The name of his father was now free from stain ; 
 He was quickly released and returned home again, 
 Where, once more united, son, husband, and wife, 
 Having passed all these trials, lived happy for life. 
 
 Yen wandered the streets with bare bleeding feet, — 
 He was scoffed and reviled, he was hooted and beat ; 
 He suffered from hunger, but none dared bestow 
 A handful of rice on their now humbled foe. 
 
 Four days had passed thus : he was growing so weak, 
 Through hunger and thirst, he could now scarcely speak 
 His eyes became bloodshot, his lips parched and dry, 
 Strange sounds filled his ears, and he knew he must die. 
 
184 the beater's song. 
 
 Yet he still staggered on, and now feeble signs made 
 
 For help, but no hand was stretched out to his aid ; 
 
 And this man, who a short time before swelled with 
 
 pride, 
 Exhausted, sank down on a dunghill and died.* 
 
 * Many parts of this song have been curtailed, or 
 omitted, as being unintelligible to the foreign reader 
 without very copious notes. 
 
185 
 
 THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN.* 
 
 'Tis very like my home. Yes, I can see — 
 As like as art can make them — facing me, 
 The balustrade, the gate, the massive wall, 
 The great pavilion, too, o'ertopping all. 
 
 * The Emperor Chien-lung, $£ ||, had a Kashgar maiden 
 sent to him, whom he loved very much, and who became 
 his favourite concubine. Lest she should too deeply mourn 
 her distant home, he had a tower built in the palace, called 
 Wang chia lou, §g jfc^j* (Behold home tower). Imme- 
 diately facing it, and separated from it only by the palace 
 wall and a road, he caused to be built the facsimile of her 
 Kashgar home, in which he allowed the retainers who 
 accompanied her to dwell, so that the girl could constantly 
 have the prospect of her distant home before her, and 
 even converse with her countrywomen when she felt dis- 
 posed. One can scarcely imagine a more delicate and 
 touching way of showing the love he felt for the Kashgar 
 
186 THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN. 
 
 Within those courtyards I can now and then 
 Catch glimpses of some old familiar face — 
 A wife or daughter of those Kashgar men, 
 Wearing the costume of my native place. 
 
 girl than Chien-lung exhibited, though it is probable, as 
 the song would imply, that it had an effect quite the re- 
 verse of what he intended ; serving only to make her 
 gorgeous imprisonment all the more intolerable by per- 
 petually reminding her of that home she was never 
 destined to behold again. 
 
 Wang-chia-lou is in the same portion of the palace in 
 which is situated the building where the Audience took 
 place, and may be seen by anyone passing up the Chang 
 An Street, J| ^ $j, as may also the 'Hui tzu ying fang, 
 @?SM (Mahomedan's Quarters), opposite. Many of 
 the descendants of the followers who accompanied the 
 girl still live in or near the building, and, after this lapse 
 of time, are undistinguishable from the Pekinese. Some 
 of the women, however, still adhere to the peculiar Kash- 
 gar coiffure, which consists, among girls, of their hair being 
 first plaited in a number of small queues, sometimes a 
 dozen or more, and plaiting these again into one large 
 queue, beads or pearls being tastefully disposed among 
 it; and also wearing a round cap striped with various 
 bright colours. Married women wear two queues, one on 
 either side, also the striped cap. 
 
 Each male of the girl's escort was allowed three taels a 
 month by Chien-lung; this amount they and their de- 
 scendants continued to receive till Tao-huang cut it down 
 to one tael per month, which each male descendant re- 
 ceives at the present time. Being Mahomedans, when one 
 of them dies he must be buried within twelve hours of 
 his decease ; the corpse is washed clean, wiped dry, 
 swathed in cotton cloth and placed in a coffin, and borne 
 
THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN. 187 
 
 'Tis very like my home. But, oh ! I miss 
 
 That other home the more I look on this ; 
 
 I miss loved forms that made my home so dear, 
 
 Those who made home a real home appear. 
 
 I do not see my kindred, and I feel 
 
 The loss of them, the cruel blank they leave ; 
 
 I gaze, and try to picture this as real : 
 
 Alas ! the more I gaze the more I grieve. 
 
 'Tis very like my home. From yonder tower, 
 Breaking the stillness of the twilight hour, 
 In the soft accents of my native tongue, 
 I hear the ballads of my country sung. 
 But that is all, there the resemblance ends, 
 This only makes me grieve and crave for more ; 
 I long for other voices, those of friends : 
 'Twould then be like the home I had before. 
 
 in it to the grave. The grave consists of a hole dug in 
 the ground to the depth of six or seven feet, with a sort 
 of recess scooped out in the side of the pit, of the same 
 length as the corpse, and high enough for a person to 
 kneel within (it being supposed that on the third day 
 after interment the corpse rises to kneel and pray). The 
 corpse without the coffin is then placed within the recess, 
 prayers are read, the grave covered in, and a hillock raised 
 over it similar in shape to those of England and other 
 Western countries. 
 
188 THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN. 
 
 'Tis very like my home. But yet its walls, 
 Too oft and much my other home recalls ; 
 Filling my breast with many a vain regret, 
 With recollections I would fain forget : 
 'Twas built in kindness, yet 'tis mockery ; 
 It makes me pine, when he would have me gay ; 
 Why do I look ? Oh ! that my home should be 
 So very near, and yet so far away ! 
 
189 
 
 DON'T MARRY A WIDOW. 
 
 T'other day, as I found I'd a few hours to spare, 
 I went for a stroll, just to breathe the fresh air ; 
 But I hadn't walked far, when in front I perceived 
 An old man approaching who seemed deeply grieved. 
 
 He was wringing his hands, and as nearer he drew, 
 I could see he was crying — and bitterly too. 
 An old man shedding tears is a sad sight to see — 
 At least, it has always appeared so to me. 
 
 I said to him, " Tell me the cause of your grief ! 
 
 The mere telling often produces relief. 
 
 Are you poor ? If you be, that I'll soon rectify. 
 
 Are you childless ? — Pray tell me the reason you cry." 
 
190 don't marry a widow. 
 
 The old fellow no sooner heard what I said, 
 Then he gave over crying, and shaking his head, 
 Exclaimed : — " If you'll deign, Sir, to listen a space, 
 Til relate in a few words my pitiful case. 
 
 " A short time ago, 
 
 You must know, 
 I had money, and houses, and land ; 
 
 Wife, daughter, and son — 
 
 Alas ! now I've none ! 
 
 I'm filled with despair, 
 
 For of all I'm stripped bare, 
 As bare as the palm of your hand. 
 
 " Yes, Sir, a short time since, I had every wish in life ; 
 A cosy home, a boy and girl, a good and loving wife ; 
 I'd gardens, fields, and orchards, where grew the peach 
 
 and date — 
 In short, Sir, I may safely say I had a fine estate. 
 
 " I'd three mules and a donkey — for two carriages I 
 
 kept; 
 The mules were stout — as for the ass, a finer never 
 
 stept. 
 My yard was amply stocked with pigs, and ducks and 
 
 fowls and geese — 
 The gobblers, they would always fetch at least five tiao 
 
 a piece. 
 
don't marry a widow. 191 
 
 Ah ! I was happy then, Sir, but " — here the old man 
 
 cried — 
 " In the midst of all my happiness, alas ! my poor wife 
 
 died! 
 
 " How wretched I felt on receiving this blow, 
 I'll leave it to you to conceive ; 
 
 I neglected all else to give way to my woe, 
 And for weeks I did nothing but grieve. 
 
 " One day when my sorrow began to abate, 
 A go-between came with the news 
 
 Of a widow who'd make me a capital mate — 
 Just the sort she was sure I should choose. 
 
 " The widow was youthful and handsome as well, 
 She was rich too, the go-between said, 
 
 And willing — but why on this painful theme dwell ? 
 A week after that we were wed. 
 
 n As she entered, she looked like an angel from 
 
 heaven ; — 
 So young, too ! — the go-between said twenty-seven ; 
 But she was mistaken, for I'd have sworn then, 
 Out of spite the old lady had added on ten. 
 
192 don't marry a widow. 
 
 " Such cherry lips ! Such pearly teeth ! Such cheeks ! 
 
 Such hair ! Such eyes ! 
 And I, myself was master of so beautiful a prize ! 
 She had a good big dowry, too, so everybody thought; — 
 This is the inventory of the things my second brought : 
 
 " A watch-dog to bark, 
 
 And prowl round in the dark, 
 
 To keep thieves away ; 
 
 A donkey to bray — 
 
 With elongated jaw 
 
 To e-e-e-haw ! 
 
 " Ten flat-flat-billed ducks, 
 Drains and gutters to cleanse ; 
 Ten hens — all were ' clucks/ 
 That is, ' laying hens.' 
 
 " Twenty catties of thread, ten ditto of yarn, 
 To sew up a rent, or a hole neatly darn. 
 A washerman's stone of the purest white jade ; 
 A couple of beaters, of date-tree wood made. 
 She also brought with her ten lumps of sycee, 
 And nine strings of cash, of the reign of Kang-hsi* 
 
 * These cash are very much prized on account of the 
 purity of the metal. 
 
don't marry a widow. 193 
 
 " In two immense bundles her clothing was placed, 
 With two foreign sashes to tie round the waist ; 
 Two long fur robes — these would fetch a good price ; 
 Three large iron pans — each would cook seven men's 
 
 rice; 
 A scouring-brush, stiff er and better than cloth ; 
 A cullender, also, to strain off the broth. 
 
 " Two tables, four stools, four chairs, and a chest ; 
 
 Four pieces of calico — these were undressed ; 
 
 A click-clacking loom, broidered screens for the door, 
 
 And of shot- satin coverlets nearly a score ; 
 
 A fine troupe of players — in fact, the elite 
 
 Of the stage — with their wardrobe, &c. complete. 
 
 " 'Twas my special duty to look after these, 
 While she stayed at home just as grand as you please ; 
 I took care of the money this troupe earned at fairs, 
 My wife she did nothing but give herself airs. 
 
 " My first wife, on her death-bed, committed to my care 
 A boy and girl — our children — and also made me swear 
 That I would guard them from all harm; I took a 
 
 solemn oath 
 To do so — but my second wife, alas ! detested both. 
 
 13 
 
194 don't marry a widow. 
 
 " Returning home one day, I found the children had 
 
 been beat, 
 She was raging like a fiend, they cowering at her feet ; 
 I remonstrated with her — the children ran and hid ; 
 She screamed, ' I'll see who's mistress here ! ' And what 
 d'ye think she did ? 
 
 " With a bludgeon she took the watch-dog's life, 
 The donkey she stabbed with a kitchen-knife ; 
 She dashed out the brains of the flat-billed ducks, 
 And wrung the necks of the ten poor clucks. 
 
 " She burnt the ten catties of cotton yam, 
 
 And the thread she had brought to sew and darn ; 
 
 The washerman's stone of pure white jade 
 
 She smashed, and a number of small ones made. 
 
 " By means of a chopper with skill applied, 
 The beaters were split up and multiplied ; 
 And as for the ten lumps of white sycee, 
 And the strings of cash of the reign of Kanghsi, 
 She flung 'em, one after another, at me ! 
 
 " The bundles in which all her clothing was placed, 
 She burnt, with the sashes to tie round the waist. 
 Her two fur robes she tore up in a trice ; 
 Smashed the three pans that each would cook 
 seven men's rice. 
 
don't maery a widow. 195 
 
 " The brush and the cullender next my wife seized, 
 And burnt. Still her anger was far from appeased, — 
 She chopped up the tables, the stools, and the 
 
 chairs, 
 And the chest, too, soon needed some trifling 
 
 repairs. 
 
 " She tore into rags the undressed calico, 
 
 And shivered the click-clacking loom with one 
 
 blow ; 
 The coverlets burnt in a heap on the floor, 
 And tore into tatters the screens for the door. 
 Neck and crop out of doors the players she turned, 
 And the whole of their wardrobe, &c. burned. 
 
 " Having vented her rage in this horrible style, 
 She smiled on her work a demoniac smile ; 
 And while I stood there contemplating the wreck, 
 She ran off, and hung herself up by the neck. 
 
 " I wrote to her friends of her felo-de-se. 
 They came, and of course, laid the blame upon me ; 
 Then rushed off at once to the magistrate's court, 
 And made of the case a most awful report. 
 
 " I bribed right and left — the magistrate first ; — 
 He was bad, I admit, but he wasn't the worst ; 
 His lictors and runners, and writers — what not — 
 Soon managed to fleece me of all that I'd got. 
 
 13 * 
 
196 don't marry a widow. 
 
 "Fields, gardens, and orchards — in short, my 
 
 estate — 
 All went — my two carriages shared the same fate ; 
 My three mules, my donkey, pigs, fowls, ducks and 
 
 geese, 
 I sold, in the hope their proceeds would buy peace. 
 
 " 'Twas settled at last, but I found, to my cost, 
 
 In gaining the case, I'd my property lost ; 
 
 Worse still, my poor children both sickened and 
 
 died. — 
 I think, sir, you'll own that I've been sorely tried. 
 
 " The cause of my grief and distress you now know; 
 Sir, have I not reason to give way to woe ? " 
 I told him he had — " what else could I say ?" 
 So I gave him a trifle and went on my way." 
 
 Moral. 
 
 A word of advice — it's short, but it's true — 
 I hope no one here will forget it : — 
 " Don't marry a widow ; as sure as you do, 
 Take my word, you will always regret it." 
 
 ■ ) aa Oc <■ 
 
197 
 
 THE WATER TEST.* 
 
 Quicker — more quick, 
 
 Faster still twirls the stick 
 'G-ainst the sides of the kangf with an ominous click. 
 
 Don't pause, 'tis much best 
 
 Not to let the stick rest, 
 For the faster 'tis twirled the truer the test. 
 Round and round two strange objects whirl— 
 The head of a youth and the head of a girl ! 
 
 * This circumstance occurred some few years ago at a 
 village named ^ || jfjg (Ch'ing lung chiao), distant from 
 Peking about twenty li in a westerly direction from the 
 Hsi chih gate, W lit F^- The husband is still living. 
 
 t A large earthenware water vessel. 
 
198 THE WATER TEST. 
 
 Now they whirl round the side, 
 
 Now they separate wide, 
 Now both of them into the centre are drawn ; 
 
 Now they meet face to face 
 
 And seem to embrace ; 
 A moment's pause, and again they whirl on. 
 On they go in their horrible whirl — 
 The head of the youth and the head of the girl ! 
 
 How came that pair 
 
 Of ghastly heads there ? 
 What was the reason their blood had been shed ? 
 
 A wronged husband's knife 
 
 Had taken the life 
 
 Of an unfaithful wife, 
 Her paramour too, and had cut off each head. 
 On they go in their horrible whirl — 
 The head of the youth and the head of the girl ! 
 
 How the water hisses and seethes, 
 Tinged as it is with the purple gore 
 Of the faithless wife and her paramour, 
 
 As round the sides of the hang it wreathes ; 
 
 Forming a whirlpool round which spin 
 
 The ghastly heads till they're both sucked in. 
 
 In their eyes what an awful glare, 
 
 As their faces meet in that mimic abyss, 
 And seem to unite in a horrible kiss — 
 
 How at each other they scowl and stare ! 
 
THE WATER TEST. 199 
 
 What a mingled look of hate and woe, 
 
 Of fright and guilt, those glazed eyes show ! 
 
 Now they madly whirl round the side ; 
 On they speed in their fantastic race, 
 Sometimes showing an upturned face 
 
 Livid and truised and scarified ! 
 
 What an awful expression the features wore 
 
 Of the faithless wife and her paramour ! 
 
 The girl is fair, 
 
 With long black hair, 
 And scarcely out of her teens appears ; 
 
 The lad one can see 
 
 Is not older than she, 
 He cannot have numbered yet twenty years. 
 Round the sides of the hang they whirl — 
 The head of the lad and the head of the girl ! 
 
 The test soon will show 
 If they're guilty or no — 
 
 And the fact of their guilt is discovered in this 
 They turn face to face 
 And prove their disgrace, 
 
 If the lips of the two heads unite in a kiss. 
 
 Round the sides of the hang they whirl — 
 
 The head of the lad and the head of the girl ! 
 
200 THE WATEE TEST. 
 
 Stay your hand for a time, 
 
 Let us see if the crime 
 They are charged with — adultery — really is true ; 
 
 Close the lid of the hang, 
 
 The water ere long 
 Will be still — we then shall see what the heads do. 
 Round the sides of the hang they whirl — 
 The head of the lad and the head of the girl ! • 
 
 The water gradually slackens until 
 
 In the course of time it is perfectly still. 
 
 Raise up the lid, let us now look within : — 
 
 'Tis as plain as if both had been caught in their sin ! 
 
 The wife and her lover are face to face — 
 
 In death they acknowledge their guilt and disgrace. 
 
 Throw them forth — they are carrion filthy and vile ! 
 
 Let their curst heads no longer the water defile ! 
 
 They're convicted of guilt, the test has been tried, 
 
 And the husband who slew them is now justified. 
 
201 
 
 MURDER WILL OUT, 
 
 Not a long time ago there occurred in Peking 
 What most will pronounce a remarkable thing ! 
 I'll relate it : for really it proves beyond doubt 
 The truth of the saying, that " murder will out." 
 
 After waiting all day without getting a fare, 
 
 A carter was going off home in despair, 
 
 When an old fellow hailed him, and bidding him wait, 
 
 Climbed into his cart near the Victory Grate. 
 
 " Please, Sir," asked the carter, " which way shall I 
 
 drive ? " 
 "To the south," cried the old man; "now, then, look 
 
 alive ! " 
 He did look alive, and 'twas pleasant to see 
 How cheerful the poor carter now seemed to be. 
 
202 MURDEE WILL OUT. 
 
 The old mule indulged in a long swinging trot, 
 But she suddenly stopped in a dark, lonely spot. 
 This the carter imputed to mischief or spite, 
 But the mule knew . much better — 'twas out of sheer 
 fright. 
 
 " This is strange," said the man ; " what the deuce is 
 
 amiss ? 
 The old mule has never before been like this."l 
 Coaxing, swearing, and flogging, he each in turn tried ; 
 But the mule stood, as if all her legs had been tied. 
 
 " You had better get out," cried the carter, much chafed. 
 
 His fare remained still, and no answer vouchsafed. 
 
 " Get out ! Are ye deaf ? " — here he turned round his 
 
 head, 
 And perceived that the old man had fallen back — dead. 
 
 This, then, was the reason the mule wouldn't go: 
 Her instinct had told her a corpse was de trop. 
 For the very same reason for which the mule stopped, 
 The carter would gladly have run till he dropped. 
 
 In a cold perspiration and trembling with fear, 
 The carter remembered a watch-house was near. 
 He shouted aloud, till he made himself hoarse, 
 But the watch were asleep — as a matter of course. 
 
MURDER WILL OUT. 203 
 
 The carter, himself, to the watch-house now ran, 
 
 And brought back two watchmen to guard the dead man, 
 
 While he hastened off and reported the case, 
 
 And conducted the magistrate back to the place. 
 
 The corpse was now placed by the side of the road ; 
 And the mule, thus relieved from her horrible load, 
 Got over her fright and dashed off in a trot, 
 Growing bolder the farther she got from the spot. 
 
 The magistrate said, when he heard the man's tale, 
 He would go at the first break of dawn, without fail ; 
 He was too busy now — besides, 'twas too late ; 
 And as for the watchmen and corpse — they must wait. 
 
 The two men, meanwhile, sat there watching the dead, 
 
 And the time dragged its way slowly on ; 
 It grew darker and darker ; the clouds overhead 
 Portended a storm ; — they were both filled with dread- 
 What a long time the carter seemed gone ! 
 
 The cold air of night struck a chill to their bones ; 
 
 They trembled with cold and with fear ; 
 The wind wailed a dirge, too, in sad plaintive tones, 
 And, in fancy, they heard quite a chorus of groans 
 
 From a graveyard, alas ! much too near. 
 
20-i MURDER WILL OUT. 
 
 'Twas midnight ; the body lay quiet and still ; — 
 On the whole, that was " so far so good ; " 
 His presence, alone made the two men feel chill, — 
 They shivered — they would have a fire, come what will ; 
 So they went off to gather some wood. 
 
 They returned, made a fire with the wood they had found, 
 
 And sat in its warm, ruddy glare ; 
 When one of the watchmen by chance looking round, 
 Gave a cry of dismay, and sprang up from the ground — 
 
 The corpse of the man wasn't there ! 
 
 Yes, while they were busy in gathering sticks, 
 The corpse had been up to some outlandish tricks. 
 It had gone ; and the watchmen were now in a fix ! 
 
 When the magistrate heard of the case, 
 Though they told him the truth, he'd declare 'twas a lie. 
 " I've got it ! " quoth one ; " suppose you and I 
 Steal a fresh- coffined corpse from the graveyard close by, 
 
 And substitute that in his place ! " 
 
 Off they started at once, " for they'd no time to waste, — 
 
 Broke open a new-looking coffin in haste, 
 
 And took out the corpse, which they carefully placed 
 
 On the ground where the other had been. 
 This done, they sat down without saying a word, 
 Surprised and astonished at what had occurred ; 
 There they sat by the fire then, and never once stirred. 
 
 Till the magistrate came on the scene. 
 
MURDER WILL OUT, 205 
 
 But, oh ! who can picture the scene which took place, 
 When the magistrate bade them uncover the face — 
 At seeing a maiden scarce eighteen years old ! 
 The sight made the blood of the stoutest run cold. 
 
 For round her white neck was a dark streak of blue — 
 A sign she'd been strangled ; her arms were bruised too, 
 As if she had struggled but been overpowered 
 By one who was murderer, ruffian, and coward. 
 
 This horrible sight, it is needless to say, 
 Filled the two watchmen with dread and dismay, 
 And, thinking for once the bare truth would be best, 
 Each, without hesitation, soon made a clean breast. 
 
 His Worship, believing their tale to be true, 
 Conceived he had now got one end of a clue ; 
 This he traced with such consummate skill, that at last 
 He knew, and had got, the girl's murderer fast. 
 
 It seems, the girl's father — his wife being dead — 
 
 Had recently taken it into his head 
 
 To purchase another, his old age to cheer — 
 
 Little dreaming his purchase would cost him so dear. 
 
 The person by whom his new wife had been sold 
 Was her husband — although the old man had been told 
 They were brother and sister, and, as such was the case, 
 No harm could ensue should he visit the place. 
 
206 MUEDER WILL OUT. 
 
 He came at all hours, when the merchant was out ; 
 Yet the old man was free from suspicion or doubt. 
 But not so the girl, she detected their plan, 
 And watched them, unheeding the risk that she ran. 
 
 Her father soon after left home for a week, 
 And the two now determined their vengeance to wreak 
 On her who had seen through their villainous schemes : 
 They strangled the girl, spite of struggles and screams. 
 
 All signs of the murderous deed were effaced, 
 And the corpse of the girl in a coffin was placed ; 
 This was put in the graveyard, and now the vile pair 
 Feeling safe from suspicion, went home free from care. 
 
 On the father's return he was told by his wife 
 
 That his daughter had died of a fever then rife. 
 
 This the wife told with tears, and the father, though 
 
 grieved, 
 The base woman's plausible story believed. 
 
 The murderers met with the fate they deserved ; 
 
 They had strangled the girl — they themselves were thus 
 
 served. 
 Thus strangely was brought a vile murder to light, 
 Through the trance of a man and a stubborn mule's 
 
 fright. 
 
MURDEK WILL OUT. 207 
 
 This story is done ; it remains but to tell, 
 That the old fellow soon turned up, hearty and well ; 
 He was subject to fits, and while in one of those, 
 The old mule had jibbed — hence the blunder arose. 
 
 While the watchmen were absent collecting the wood, 
 The old man had roused, and at once understood 
 That the carter had left him there, thinking him dead. 
 He knew better, and getting up, trudged home to bed. 
 
 The finger of Heaven we distinctly can trace 
 From beginning to end of this singular case ; 
 Each actor and act, one can see, too, quite plain, 
 Were but separate links in His wonderful chain. 
 
208 
 
 THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 
 
 When the Sung sovereigns, eight hundred years ago, 
 Ruled over China, — at the famed Ting chou 
 There lived a worthy merchant, named Li-'hao, 
 Together with a magistrate, named Pao. 
 
 Both men were popular and much admired ; 
 One for his wealth — by industry acquired — 
 The other for his wisdom, skill, and tact, 
 And even justice of his every act. 
 
 One day the merchant a short journey made 
 Into the country, on affairs of trade. 
 Returning homewards with a purse well-lined, 
 And being in a happy frame of mind, 
 He blandly thought that he could do no less 
 Than take a glass to wet his late success. 
 
THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 209 
 
 He did so. Had he but been content 
 With that one glass, and on his journey went, 
 Then all were well, he had got home all right, 
 And slept securely in his bed that night ; 
 But that one glass sharpened his appetite. 
 
 He drank it up ; but soon he craved for more, 
 Nor left, till he'd imbibed some half-a-score ; 
 He then proceeded on his homeward way — 
 Going but slowly too, for sooth to say, 
 At every inn he felt compelled to stop 
 And quench his thirst — with " just another drop ;" 
 Until at last, when nearly at Ting chou, 
 The drink on Li 'lido's frame began to show ; 
 He staggered on a bit, when down he fell ; — 
 What happened him the next few lines will tell. 
 
 A potter, named Chou, 
 
 Had occasion to go 
 To his kiln, to attend to and make up his fires ; 
 
 As he passed, the mere sight 
 
 Of Li 'hao's drunken plight 
 Stirred up in his breast avaricious desires. 
 
 For he saw, peeping out from the drunken man's waist, 
 
 A purse. Still Li 'hao never stirred. 
 " There 's no one in sight." Chou snatched it in haste, 
 
 And the purse to his own waist transferred. 
 
 14 
 
210 THE EAETHEN TEA-POT. 
 
 But then came the thought, " The moment he wakes 
 
 (Here he trembled in every limb) 
 " He'll miss it. Suppose strict inquiry he makes, 
 
 And the crime should be traced home to him ? " 
 
 The thought of discovery filled him with dread — 
 The theft was with great danger fraught. 
 
 " Shall I kill him ? No tales can be told by the dead.' 
 (Even now, he had killed him in thought.) 
 
 The theft had been done, murder came in its train ; 
 
 He determined the poor wretch should die. 
 " But how ? " In a moment it flashed through his 
 brain, — 
 
 " I'll burn him, my kiln is close by." 
 
 The senseless Li { hao to the kiln he conveyed, 
 And the ill-fated man in the furnace next laid ; 
 Then igniting the fuel, the door he closed-to, 
 And shut out the still living man from his view. 
 
 " God ! what a fearful cry ! My very heart 
 Stayed its pulsations for a time, and then 
 Appeared as if 'twere knocking 'gainst my breast 
 To quit so vile a place. 
 
THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 211 
 
 " Faugh ! What a smell of roasting flesh ! 
 
 The summer air seems laden with its 
 
 Sickening scent. The passing breeze, 
 
 To my distempered fancy, breathes 
 
 Only murder. 
 
 The very birds, on every tree and bough, 
 
 Seem but to twitter ' murder? and ' Li c hao.' " 
 
 The fire blazed up fiercely, it crackled and seethed ; 
 Through the flues of the kiln a faint atmosphere 
 
 wreathed, 
 Which slowly rose up in the evening sky, 
 And appeared like a film to the murderer's eye. 
 
 Soon nothing remained save a few calcined bones ; 
 These he pounded to ashes between two large stones ; 
 Then the ashes he mixed with some clay, which he got, 
 And made of the mixture an earthen tea-pot. 
 
 When the earthen pot into the furnace was placed, 
 He felt certain the murder could never be traced ; 
 " Who would dream that the corpse of the ill-fated man 
 Would ever be used as a pot or a pan ? " 
 
 The pot was soon baked ; he'd the money secure ; 
 No one could suspect him, of that he felt sure : 
 So he hurried off homewards, nor once did he stop, 
 Till he'd placed the tea-pot on a shelf in his shop. 
 
 14 * 
 
212 
 
 THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 
 
 " Straw shoes ! Straw shoes ! " 
 
 For poor folks to use, 
 Who cotton or silk cannot buy. 
 
 Those who like their shoes neat, 
 
 And set well to the feet, 
 Come here, and old Chang's straw shoes try ! 
 
 " Here you are, neat and strong ! 
 
 There 's no telling how long 
 They'll last, if they're treated with care. 
 
 You had better make haste, 
 
 And not precious time waste — 
 Buy my straw shoes, at one tiao a pair ! ' 
 
 While hawking his shoes, Chang drew near the door 
 Of his old friend the potter's small crockery store ; 
 'Twas so long ago since he'd passed by the shop, 
 That he stared with surprise, then he came to a stop. 
 No wonder, indeed, that he stood still to view it — 
 The place was so changed that old Chang hardly knew it. 
 
 " Ho ! ho ! " murmured he, " Chou looks pretty thriving, 
 No doubt he's a capital business driving. 
 Let me see, the last pair of shoes that he had 
 He has not paid for yet — this is really too bad ! 
 As I'm passing the shop, here, I may as well get it ; 
 If he hasn't the money — why, then, I'll outset it." 
 
THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 213 
 
 Chang entered the shop and demanded his debt ; 
 
 The potter replied, " I can't pay you just yet." 
 
 Then said Chang, " I'll outset it. Let's see what you've 
 
 got. 
 I'll cry quits if you give me that earthen tea-pot." 
 " Agreed ! " cried the potter ; " by all means pray take 
 
 it." 
 (He'd often and often been tempted to break it, 
 But something restrained him — it wasn't the price — 
 But it would be so like hilling one person twice.) 
 
 This pot to Chang's comfort would largely conduce — 
 And that fact alone made him choose it ; 
 So he took it off home, filled it ready for use, 
 And that night had occasion to use it. 
 
 Out of bed he soon got, 
 
 And laid hold of the pot — 
 Little knew he the storm that was brewing — 
 
 When a voice from within, 
 
 Roared out, " Don't begin ! 
 " That's my nose ! What the deuce are you doing? " 
 
 Chang sat down in a fright j 
 
 Looked round left and right — 
 Im fact, every place but. the right one ; 
 
 Quoth the pot, " I am here. 
 
 Take me up ; do not fear ; 
 There 's nothing in me to affright one." 
 
214 THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 
 
 Seeing Chang hesitate, 
 
 The pot grew irate, 
 And bawled, "Do at once as I bid yon ! 
 
 Don't stand like a dune 2 ; 
 
 Take me up, Sir, at once ! — 
 So you thought to make use of me, did you ? 
 
 " Now, I'll make use of you, 
 
 And to some purpose too. 
 Stand me down on the bed. Now, sit near me." 
 
 Chang tremblingly did 
 
 Whate'er he was bid. 
 " That'll do," cried the pot. " Now, then, hear me. 
 
 " You think I'm a pot ; 
 
 I assure you I'm not — 
 Or rather, I ought not to be one. 
 
 Did you e'er see a man 
 
 Like a pot or a pan ? 
 Look intently at me, and you'll see one. 
 
 " This may seem strange to you, 
 But though strange, it is true, 
 
 I was made what you see by a potter ; 
 You have often heard tell 
 Of the place they call hell — 
 
 That is hot — but his furnace was hotter." 
 
THE EAETHEN TEA-POT. 215 
 
 Here the earthen pot told the whole facts of the case — 
 How he took the first glass, and to what it soon led, 
 
 His horrible death — everything that took place 
 From the time of his journey till put on that bed. 
 
 Chang gazed at the pot, and distinctly could trace 
 On its surface the lines of the murdered man's face ; 
 
 But the most astonishing thing of the lot, 
 He could not only see the nose, mouth, and eyes 
 Of the ill-fated man, but could now recognize, 
 Jumbled up in a strange indescribable way — 
 Condensed, as it were — how, Chang couldn't say — 
 
 The whole of Li c hao in the earthen tea-pot. 
 
 On hearing the tale, 
 
 Chang grew ghastly pale ; 
 But he grew paler still when the tea-pot requested 
 
 He would go straight to court, 
 
 And the murder report. 
 (Against this proceeding Chang stoutly protested. 
 
 They might think it a hoax, 
 
 And they don't admire jokes — 
 And a magistrate's court was a place he detested.) 
 
 It took a long time for the pot to persuade him ; 
 It threatened at first, then it promised to aid him. 
 On this understanding, Chang gave his consent, 
 And next day, with the pot, to the magistrate went. 
 
216 THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 
 
 First placing the pot at the door of the court, 
 Chang entered, and kneeling, soon made his report : 
 That on such and such day, in such and such place — 
 (Here he fully related the whole of the case). 
 
 When he'd finished the story, His Worship averred, 
 'Twas the queerest adventure he ever had heard ; 
 And bade the clerk write it all down, word for word. 
 " Go," said he to old Chang, " bring the witness this 
 
 way, 
 And I '11 hear what the earthen tea-pot has to say." 
 Chang went off and fetched the tea-pot from the door, 
 And his witness he carefully placed on the floor. 
 
 Quoth the magistrate, " Answer me truly, Tea-pot ; 
 Is it true what old Chang has just told me, or not? 
 Are you really and truly the murdered Li l hao ? 
 Speak up ! If you are, you shall have justice now." 
 
 Not a word spoke the pot ; this seemed very queer. 
 His Worship was wroth ; Chang trembled with fear, 
 And cried, as he stirred the pot up with his foot, 
 " For goodness' sake, answer the question that 's put ! " 
 
 " What 's up with the pot ? Why the deuce don't it 
 
 speak ? 
 Does it think I'll keep on at this scene for a week ? 
 Once for atl, will you speak ? " No reply could be got 
 By His Worship or Chang from the earthen tea-pot. 
 
THE EAETHEN TEA-POT. 217 
 
 The pot was alternately threatened and coaxed, — 
 
 The bystanders thought that His Worship was hoaxed ; 
 
 And so did he too : one conld easily see, 
 
 By the scowl on his face, what the upshot would be. 
 
 He roared out to Chang, " You may think this is sport ! 
 You'll alter your mind, though, before you leave court. 
 Drag him out, with his pot ! But before the wretch 
 
 goes, 
 Throw him down, and administer forty sound blows." 
 
 " Harder still ! " cried His Worship. " I'll soon let 
 
 him see, 
 If he'll venture to play his vile tricks upon me ! " 
 The lictors thus urged, did not spare poor old Chang, 
 But laid on their blows what is termed "hot and 
 
 strong." 
 
 By the time they were finished he felt pretty sore, 
 Worse still when they "footed " him out at the door ; 
 He taxed the tea-pot with perfidiousness, 
 For wilfully leading him into this mess. 
 
 Quoth the pot, " You have only yourself got to blame. 
 Do you think, though a pot, I'm devoid of all shame ? 
 Had I clothes on — though only a jacket or cloak — 
 When it came to the push I'd have certainly spoke. 
 
218 THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 
 
 " Wrap me up in your coat and again take me in. 
 Come, do as I bid you — don't stand there and grin ! 
 This time you will find you've no cause for alarm ; 
 Now enter, at once, with me under your arm." 
 
 Chang obeyed, though he didn't half relish the job — 
 He'd a notion His Worship might take off his nob, 
 Which proceeding did not coincide with his views ; 
 But ordered to enter, he dared not refuse. 
 
 Chang entered the court, and the same as before, 
 The earthen tea-pot he placed down on the floor. 
 When he saw this, His Worship .exclaimed, " I'll be 
 
 shot, 
 If here isn't the fellow come back with the pot ! 
 
 " Not content with the flogging he 's already had, 
 He's come back for some more ; — this is really too bad ! 
 Once he 's fooled me, but let him again try that trick, 
 And I swear he'll get something far worse than the 
 stick ! " 
 
 " Your Worship," cried Chang, " the last time we came, 
 The tea-pot was silent, from motives of shame. 
 That's past : if Tour Worship will question it now, 
 You'll soon be convinced it's the murdered Li 'hao." 
 
THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 219 
 
 Pao questioned the pot, which now told its tale, 
 The recital of which made the hearers grow pale. 
 When the story was ended the magistrate swore 
 He would bring the crime home to the murderer's door. 
 
 The potter was seized, but the crime he denied. 
 Pao beckoned his men, and they torture applied ; 
 But finding no torture would make him confess, 
 His Worship resolved to resort to finesse. 
 
 Ckou was placed in a cell, his wife was then brought ; 
 Pao soon on the woman's simplicity wrought ; — 
 She must speak the whole truth, and^above all take heed, 
 For her husband already had owned to the deed. 
 
 The woman, conceiving this tale to be true, 
 
 Without hesitation told all that she knew, 
 
 And that she had the purse — " That'll do ! " exclaimed 
 
 Pao, 
 " Tour husband will probably own to it now." 
 
 On hearing these words, the poor woman perceived 
 That she'd been by the magistrate grossly deceived ; 
 She had fall'n in the trap which His Worship had laid, 
 And, unconscious of harm, had her husband betrayed. 
 
220 THE EARTHEN TEA-POT. 
 
 The potter was brought to the yamen once more, 
 
 And his guilt he as firmly denied as before. 
 
 " So you will," cried His Worship, " your guilt still 
 
 deny? 
 Your wife has confessed, so you've no need to lie." 
 
 The potter, on finding his wife had confessed, 
 
 In turn, to the magistrate, made a clean breast : 
 
 He had robbed and burnt Li l luw while drunk and 
 
 asleep — 
 He owned it — and as he had sown he must reap. 
 
 His Worship, the moment the potter had ceased, 
 Condemned him to death, — his wife he released ; 
 Then he gave twenty taels to old Chang, on the spot, 
 And solemnly buried the earthen tea-pot. 
 
221 
 
 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 In the reign of Tao-huang, 
 Near the town of Niuchuang, 
 
 Lived a farmer by name Li-tzu-chiu ; 
 
 He'd no care on his hands, 
 For he'd houses and lands, 
 
 And was what might be termed " well-to-do." 
 He besides had a wife, 
 A cosy old dame, 
 
 And a daughter — the little Tai-hsiao. 
 But the daughter, alas ! 
 Brought the old folks to shame. 
 
 If you'll listen I'll try to tell how. 
 Ai ya ! Ai yo ! 
 What can parents expect 
 Who their children neglect ? 
 
 Ten chances to one they don't turn out correct. 
 Tai-hsiao was betrothed 
 To Hu-lin, whom she loathed ; 
 
 But she greatly young Te-hsi admired, 
 
222 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 A good-looking lad, 
 
 Yet — 'twas really too bad — 
 
 A mere house-boy her father had hired. 
 The two met every day 
 In a clandestine way ; 
 
 This continued for nearly a year, 
 
 'Till at length, to be brief, 
 To the girl's shame and grief, 
 
 Strange symptoms began to appear. 
 Ai ya ! Ai yo ! 
 
 Here was a state for Tai-hsiao to be in ! 
 
 Enciente with Te-hsi, yet betrothed to Hu-lin. 
 
 Little Tai-hsiao, in this dreadful strait, 
 Ai-ya'd and ai-yo'd at a pitiful rate, 
 In vain bewailing her wretched fate, 
 Repenting too, but a trifle too late. 
 She could eat no food, 
 But would sit and brood, 
 Or steal away to some solitude. 
 
 Her mother, who had her full share of sagacity, 
 And was, moreover, blessed with a keen perspicacity, 
 One day saw, what was plain to the meanest capacity, 
 
 The state of poor little Tai-hsiao. 
 Much enraged at her daughter's low state of morality, 
 Which soon must be known, too, throughout the locality, 
 She screamed, " Tell me, girl, without further formality, 
 
 How you came in the plight you are now ! " 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 223 
 
 Her invectives she uttered with great volubility, 
 For she was expert in all kinds of scurrility ; 
 Dilated at length on the girl's culpability, 
 
 Betraying her rage on her face. 
 The dame wagged her tongue with alarming rapidity. 
 She devoured all the frightful details with avidity, 
 Her features assuming a stolid rigidity, 
 
 As she entered at once on the case. 
 
 " Tell me, Tai-hsiao — I insist upon knowing ; 
 
 I'm determined to fathom this mystery out — 
 To what is your pale face and moping ways owing ? 
 
 Tell the truth, girl, at once — don't stand there and 
 pout." 
 
 Tai-hsiao drooped her head — she felt the blood dyeing 
 Her neck, cheeks, and brow, a most brilliant red. 
 
 In this strange dilemma she burst out a-crying, 
 
 And 'midst blushes and sobbing she tremblingly said : 
 
 " I don't think I take enough exercise, mother — 
 Rich food perhaps makes me dyspeptic as well ; 
 
 My dulness arises from one cause or 'tother, 
 
 It may be from both, but indeed I can't tell." 
 
 " 'Tisn't thus," cried the dame. " Do you think I can't 
 
 see ? 
 So don't try to palm off that tale upon me ; 
 You hardened young jade, you may well pipe your eye— 
 Where do you hope to go when you come to die ? 
 
224 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 " You shameless young hussy ! Oh, what shall I do ? 
 You've ruined yourself and your family too. 
 Drat the girl ! " and here the old dame, in a huff, 
 Cried, " Take that — that — and that ! " — the that being a 
 cuff. 
 
 " Tell me (cuff) who is the (cuff) author of all this dis- 
 grace? 
 
 Let me know (cuff), and I'll leave my nail-marks on his 
 face." 
 
 In this fix poor Tai-hsiao at once made a clean breast, 
 
 And her intrigue with Te-hsi to her mother confessed. 
 
 The dame's face grew crimson with anger and shame, 
 And she lustily screamed out on hearing the name: 
 " What ! Te-hsi ! My daughter intrigue with that beast ! 
 A house-boy ! She might have looked higher, at least." 
 
 In the height of the squabble the father returned, 
 
 Exclaiming, " Hallo ! what's the cause of this row 
 
 'Twixt mother and child ? " From the old dame he learned 
 The intrigue of Te-hsi with little Tai-hsiao. 
 
 On hearing the tale, he stamped, raged, and swore. 
 
 " He would skin the young whelp ; " but concluding 
 it best 
 To first catch Te-hsi, — so he made for the door, 
 
 And searched high and low ; but the lad was non est. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 225 
 
 His designs on Te-hsi being baulked, 
 
 He again took to storming and raving ; 
 Back again to the parlour he stalked, 
 
 Looking anything else but engaging. 
 Then, much to poor Tai-hsiao's dismay, 
 
 He indulged for a time in invective, — 
 Inquired what the neighbours would say 
 
 When they heard she was found so defective 
 Of that virtue without which mere beauty is dross, 
 Entailing increasing regret at its loss. 
 
 Said he, " You base girl ! you deserve to be licked." 
 
 And without any more hesitation 
 He clutched at her hair, and was going to inflict 
 
 A sound, but deserved castigation — 
 
 When a noise from without " smote his ear," 
 
 Staying the falling blow ; 
 He listened, and quaking with fear, 
 
 At once let her go. 
 He went to the door to ascertain why 
 
 Or what was the cause 
 Of the noise, when a sight " struck his eye " 
 
 Which caused him to pause. 
 
 There, entering the door, was Hu's negociator ; 
 
 L- zu-chiu stood looking on — a thunderstruck spectator. 
 
 15 
 
226 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 Four friends were with the go-between, behind them men 
 
 were bearing 
 Betrothal presents ; — on the scene a motley crowd were 
 
 staring. 
 
 Eight cases containing 
 Clothing of every sort — 
 Head- gear, jewellery — in short, 
 All things appertaining 
 To the outfit of a bride. 
 In the banquetting line, 
 Were two jars of wine, 
 And two roasted pigs, side by side ; 
 Six score of large cakes ; besides these, in fact, 
 A large hamper with all sorts of dainties was packed. 
 
 Li-tzu-chiu felt vexed and irate, 
 But mustered up courage and went to the gate ; 
 Bowing and scraping, each guest he invited 
 To partake of his cheer, as if highly delighted. 
 
 To each guest a cup 
 
 Of tea was served up, 
 'Twixt talking and smoking to leisurely sup. 
 
 Hu's father then bowed, 
 
 And solemnly vowed 
 That he felt at this moment remarkably proud. 
 
 " My son Hu," said he, 
 
 " Will most happy be 
 In his union with Tai-hsiao, the daughter of Li." 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 227 
 
 Oh ! little lie knew 
 The intended of Hu 
 Had already lost face, to his son proved untrue. 
 This was yet to be learnt. 
 
 Meanwhile, to proceed, 
 The paper was burnt, 
 
 The bearers well fee'd, 
 And Li was soon freed 
 
 From the presence of Hu. 
 He inwardly grieved 
 
 He'd the presents received ; 
 But what could he do ? 
 
 Of course we all know that he should have rejected 
 The presents, and spoken the truth like a man. 
 
 He did the reverse — he the presents accepted ; 
 
 We should all do the same, contradict me who can. 
 
 'Tis easy to say that we should or we shouldn't, 
 This proceeding run down, or that thing abuse ; 
 
 We shouldn't have acted thus — oh, no ! we couldn't, — 
 But I 'd like to see some of us placed in his shoes. 
 
 The time passed rapidly away, 
 And nearer drew the wedding day. 
 
 Old Li-tzu-chiu, 
 
 In a regular stew, 
 His worry increasing the nearer it drew. 
 
 Poor Tai-hsiao kept 
 
 To her own room, and wept, 
 And but seldom over its threshold stept. 
 
 15 * 
 
228 THE BOEKOWED BRIDE. 
 
 Nearer and nearer the wedding day drew ; 
 
 Paler and paler the poor damsel grew. 
 
 What can be done in so dreadful a case ? 
 
 How can we hide such a shocking disgrace ? 
 
 Suppose when she's wed — on the actual day — 
 
 Tai-hsiao is confined — what can we say ? 
 
 The bare mention alone made Li droop his head ; 
 
 But the dame thought a bit, then she suddenly said : — 
 
 " I have it, my dear ! 
 
 I can see my way clear ! 
 
 I 've just hit on a scheme, 
 
 Which, though strange it may seem, 
 
 Will carry us through, 
 
 If well managed by you. 
 
 Now, don't say a word 
 
 Till my plan you have heard. 
 
 "Our bailiff, Sun-ssu, has a daughter, Luan-ying, 
 She 's exactly seventeen and will be just the thing ; 
 We must borrow this damsel to take Tai-hsiao' s place 
 At the wedding, and thus we shall hide our disgrace." 
 
 " Psha ! " blurted out Li, " why, whoever heard 
 Of borrowing a girl ? The thing's too absurd ! " 
 " Not quite so absurd as you fancy," said she ; 
 " It can safely be managed — but leave that to me. 
 
 " To look at the two, one might solemnly swear 
 
 They were twins — that one dame had given birth to the 
 
 pair; 
 They are both of one age, and as like as two peas, 
 And one can pass off for the other, with ease. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 229 
 
 " We must borrow this girl, 'tis our only resource ; 
 Dress her up as the bride — 'twill be awkward, of course ; 
 She must take our girl's place there, at least for a time. 
 She 's poor, so of course it 's no very great crime. 
 
 " On the ninth the sham bride can come back to our place* 
 As if 'twere her home — thus we hide our disgrace ; 
 Tai-hsiao, who ere then will have been brought to bed, 
 And no doubt recovered, can go back instead." 
 
 Li, who had listened hitherto to his wife with rapt atten- 
 tion, 
 
 Here broke in with "Allow me, dear, just casually to 
 mention, 
 
 * At daybreak on the ninth day after marriage, one 
 or more of the relatives — generally the parents — of the 
 bride go to the house of the bridegroom and escort the 
 girl back to her maiden home ; this is called 'hui-men, re- 
 turning to the door. It is optional with the bridegroom 
 whether he accompanies them or not, but he must visit 
 them during the day ; he then kotows to the bride's 
 parents, and makes their personal acquaintance for the 
 first time. In the evening the bride returns to her hus- 
 band's house ; after this they can visit one another's 
 homes without ceremony, and as it suits their convenience. 
 
 It is not to be supposed for a moment that they could 
 possibly exchange the girls without the knowledge of the 
 husband ; they know, or fancy, he will be compelled to hold 
 his peace for fear of the disgrace he will bring on his own 
 family if he does not conceal it. 
 
230 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 The conscience of Sun-ssu perhaps is particularly tender, — 
 We may want to borrow, but the thing is, will he lend 
 her?" 
 
 " You are raising up obstacles where there are none ; 
 
 Good hard cash," said the wife, " will soon buy him. 
 By hook or by crook, it has got to be done, 
 
 So you had better at once go and try him." 
 
 " But, my dear Mrs. Li," 
 Pleaded he, 
 " Don't you see ? 
 Sun-ssu may refuse 
 To lend her to me, 
 And not choose 
 That his girl in this way should be wedded. 
 " 'Tis only for nine days, or so, 
 
 But you know 
 Such a question as this 
 He might well take amiss, 
 For he is rather, what I call hot-headed. 
 Should he fly in a rage and kick up a row, 
 There 's an end of the wedding of Hu with Tai-hsiao.' 
 
 " That 's easily managed," replied the old dame, 
 " He 's fond of a cup, like some more I can name ; 
 You just ask him in, and well ply him with wine, — 
 You can manage that, surely, it 's quite in your line. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 231 
 
 " Chat pleasantly with him of this thing or that, — 
 The state of the weather, the country, the crops ; 
 
 Throw out a few hints, for he 's poor as a rat, — 
 You can do what you like when he's once in his drops. 
 
 " When you see he 's well primed, broach the subject at 
 once — 
 
 For the loan of his daughter you'll give fifty taels. 
 If he doesn't agree, you may call me a dunce ; 
 
 I '11 stake my existence that money prevails." 
 
 'Twas quite plain that Li had no will of his own, 
 But like a good husband he used her's instead. 
 
 He had better have left such a wild scheme alone ; 
 As it was, like a bear by the nose he was led. 
 
 He was easily persuaded ; 
 
 With heart and soul the plan he aided ; 
 
 Sun-ssu immediately invited, 
 
 Who entered, feeling much delighted 
 
 At his cordial reception ; 
 
 And, as he frankly told his wife, 
 " This was, indeed, without exception, 
 
 The proudest moment of his life." 
 
 Li commenced, " My friend, be seated." 
 Sun had never been so treated ; 
 He bowed, and in a chair dropped shyly. 
 Li, the meantime watching slyly, 
 
232 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 Mulled some wine, and helped Sun freely, 
 
 Who received it, nothing loth. 
 At first he sipped it quite genteelly ; 
 
 Grown bold, he drank enough for both. 
 
 Li spoke of this, and that, and t'other, 
 Called him " friend " and " worthy brother," 
 Just the sort of friend he needed — 
 None felt the want so much as he did. 
 Then, with tact and skill unerring, 
 
 He spoke of secrets — wished advice — 
 Laid quite a sprat to catch a herring — 
 
 The bait was gobbled in a trice. 
 
 Sun, whose voice was getting thicker 
 Through deep devotion to the liquor, 
 Here with moistened eye besought him, 
 If indeed a friend he thought him, 
 To tell him plainly all about it, 
 
 On his fidelity depend. 
 Cried he, " Though poor, you needn't doubt it, 
 
 I '11 prove myself a trusty friend." 
 
 With quivering voice and tones dramatic, 
 Li told the tale in language graphic, 
 From the very first beginning — 
 How the dreadful fruit of sinning 
 Each day ripened — 'twas appalling! 
 
 At any time they might expect 
 Tai-hsiao to have a brat whose squalling 
 
 Would trumpet forth the damning fact ! 
 
THE BOEEOWED BEIDE. 233 
 
 On hearing this catastrophe, Sun fairly roared with 
 
 laughter ; 
 " Ho ! ho ! Ha ! ha ! I say," said he, " what the dickens 
 
 are you after ? 
 I really can't perceive your drift, I can't upon the life of 
 
 me ! 
 Unless your notion is to make a dowdy old midwife of me ! 
 
 " Tai-hsiao that way ! upon my word, that is indeed sur- 
 prising ;" 
 
 And here he gave a grunt, and tried to look quite sym- 
 pathising. 
 
 " Were it any other thing than that, a word of yours would 
 turn me, 
 
 But such a case as this, I think, can't possibly concern me." 
 
 " That don't concern you," answered Li, " but hold your 
 
 tongue a minute ; 
 I 've something else that does, though, or else the deuce is 
 
 in it. 
 To-morrow is her wedding-day — by then she'll be a 
 
 mother — 
 You see I 'm in a hobble, either one way or the other. 
 
 " There is but one way out of it, that is, if I could borrow 
 Your daughter for a week or two, commencing from to- 
 morrow ; 
 
234 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 She could personate my daughter then — it wouldn't be 
 
 suspected — 
 And on the ninth, when she came home, the change could 
 
 be effected."* 
 
 Sun sprang to his feet, 
 
 Kicking over his seat, 
 With a face that betrayed opposition ; 
 
 Said he, " You old cur ! 
 
 What am I to infer 
 From such a — a — a base proposition ? 
 
 " Borrow my daughter, will ye ! 
 You old wretch, I '11 kill ye ! " 
 Here he began roaring out, 
 Chairs and tables kicked about ; 
 Stamping, swearing, breaking, crashing, 
 Liquor spilling, crockery smashing ! 
 
 " Let mine go ! — that 's cool ! 
 
 Do I look like a fool? 
 Do you think for a moment I 'd let her ? 
 
 If your own 's come to shame, 
 
 You've yourself got to blame, 
 You ought to have brought her up better ! " 
 
 See note p. 229. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 235 
 
 At this unearthly hubbub Li was perfectly aghast ; 
 
 He clapped his hand on Sun-ssu's mouth, and got him still 
 
 at last. 
 " For goodness' sake, do have some sense, don't let the 
 
 neighbours know ; 
 I don't want the girl for nothing, you shall have a quid 
 
 pro quo!" 
 
 Seeing Sun about to speak, he cried out " Not a word ! 
 Don't hazard an opinion until the whole you've heard. 
 I'll give you fifty taels at once; besides, five mu of land 
 I'll let you have for ten years, and not a cash demand. 
 
 " Think over all the pros and cons — don't be precipitate ; 
 The fifty taels — the bit of land — give each its proper 
 
 weight. 
 Think over what you're getting now, and finally decide 
 If you'll lend your daughter for a time to personate the 
 bride. 
 
 " Still, if you're not agreeable, and my inducement fails, 
 Some one else, perhaps, may want the land and fifty taels : 
 Just say the word — do you accept? "What, hesitating 
 
 still! 
 Be quick, or I must toddle off to some one else that will." 
 
236 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 Sun bent his head and cogitated, 
 
 And mentally ejaculated, 
 " The ground and money I may just as well accept as not; 
 
 I shall be a land proprietor — 
 
 As for the girl, I'll quiet her — 
 Bailiff work, etcetera, then for me may go to pot." 
 
 Said he, looking up and grinning, 
 
 " What you said at the beginning, 
 Didn't seem to me, I must confess, to be exactly right ; 
 
 But after what you've stated, 
 
 I must be addle-pated 
 If I didn't view the matter in a very different light. 
 
 " The gifts you needn't mention — 
 
 But since 'tis your intention 
 To give the cash and land to me, of course I can't refuse. 
 
 As for the girl, I'll lend her ; 
 
 Only tell me when to send her. 
 In tlie way you've put it now, 'tis quite ' another pair of 
 shoes.' 
 
 " 'Tis the simplest thing to do it, 
 There 's but one objection to it, 
 Should my girl's intended father know, there'd be a 
 precious row ; 
 
 You may take my word upon it, 
 He would clap his veto on it, 
 And that — if possible — would make the hobble worse than 
 now." 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 237 
 
 " Don't be the least alarmed," said Li, 
 
 The secret rests with you and me ; 
 The neighbours needn't know — 'tis no business of theirs — 
 
 And as for any prying, 
 
 Qr underhanded spying, 
 I'd like to catch 'em trying to find out our affairs." 
 
 They discussed the matter over from every point of view, 
 At length they finally arranged on what they ought to do ; 
 Sun should bring the girl at night, explaining all to 
 
 her ; 
 Li should pay the money down — the lease as well transfer. 
 
 Luan-ying should dress in bridal clothes, and take his 
 daughter's place ; 
 
 Of course they couldn't find it out, for they wouldn't see 
 her face. 
 
 On the ninth, when she came home, they could be again 
 exchanged. 
 
 Each went his way — the scheme had been agreeably ar- 
 ranged.* 
 
 Sun went home quite elated, 
 
 To his wife expatiated 
 On his luck, as lease and money he on the table laid ; 
 
 Explained all to the daughter, 
 
 Exclaiming that he thought her 
 A lucky girl, for by this scheme her fortune would be 
 made. 
 
 * See note p. 229. 
 
238 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 What she thought they never heeded — 
 'Twas the money they both needed ; 
 
 She might in vain have pleaded, so she thought she'd 
 better not. 
 
 Then off at once they sent her, 
 Saw her reach the house and enter, 
 
 She determining internally to spoil their little plot. 
 
 The wedding morn broke clear and bright, — 
 
 Luan-ying from her couch arose ; 
 The girl had passed a sleepless night, 
 
 Brooding in silence o'er her woes. 
 And now she saw, on looking round, 
 
 The wedding portion all laid out ; 
 Arranged on tables — on the ground — 
 
 On all sides — everywhere about. 
 
 Boxes, presses, 
 
 Filled with dresses, 
 Some of every sort and kind, 
 Quilted, wadded, furred, and lined ; 
 Figured, flowered, plain and laced, 
 To suit the fashion or the taste ; 
 Sashes, garters, stockings, shoes, 
 And countless things that ladies use, 
 Pins and needles, head- gear jewels, 
 A lady's proper working tools. 
 Toilet-service, looking-glass, 
 Wash-hand basin made of brass, 
 Pewter, which like bright silver shone, — 
 She almost wished they were her own. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 239 
 
 The girl was then in Tai-hsiao's clothes attired, 
 
 (In truth the bridal vestments well became her). 
 Soothed by the wily dame, caressed, admired, 
 She for a time forgot she was but hired, 
 
 And thought she was the 'bride — and who can 
 blame her ? 
 She was so young, so modest, and so pretty, 
 To lend her thus for money seemed a pity. 
 
 Yet there she stood, a living sacrifice, 
 
 Of guilt unconscious — she was but obeying 
 
 Her parents' orders, yet at what a price ! 
 
 Her purity to screen another's vice. 
 
 She was an innocent they were betraying. 
 
 In vain might she bewail her sad position, 
 
 She had no power to alter her condition. 
 
 'Tis six o'clock. See yonder a long procession comes ; 
 And now they reach the house, amid the crash of gongs 
 
 and drums.* 
 Tai-hsiao remains within the room, she dare not show her 
 
 face, 
 And envies in her heart the girl who pro tern takes her 
 
 place. 
 
 * When the bridal chair arrives it is escorted by 
 musicians beating gongs and drums, blowing trumpets, 
 etc. On the return of the procession, when the bride is in 
 the chair, the music is softer, small gongs, clarionets, 
 flutes, fifes, etc., being used. 
 
240 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 Luan-ying, now veiled, is carried, through the hubbub and 
 the din, # 
 
 To the bridal chair in waiting, and safely placed within ; 
 
 To soft and plaintive music the train returns once more, 
 
 Bringing the fictitious bride, till they reach the bride- 
 groom's door. 
 
 The chair is lowered carefully, the girl assisted out 
 By two officious matrons ; the people round about 
 Throng nearer, just to get a view ; the bridal carpet 's 
 
 spread,f 
 The girl, supported by the two, within the house is led. 
 
 * The bride, closely veiled, is carried to the chair, 
 and placed in it by her father, brother, uncle, or, in case of 
 her having neither, by her nearest male relative. On her 
 arriving at the bridegroom's, she walks from the chair to 
 the house. 
 
 f When the chair containing the bride arrives at the 
 bridegroom's house, a carpet is spread from the chair to 
 the hall, if the parties are rich ; if they are poor, two short 
 pieces are used, the bride in her progress alternately step- 
 ping on either, the hind one she has just quitted being 
 hastily raised and again spread in front of her, this being 
 repeated till she reaches the house. Previous to the bride 
 quitting the chair, the bridegroom stands outside his door 
 with a bow and arrow in his hand ; he stretches the bow 
 to its fullest extent three times, with the arrow pointing 
 to the chair ; sometimes the bridegroom lets fly at it, this 
 is done to frighten away her " bad spirits." After this 
 she is assisted out by two matrons, and supported into the 
 courtyard, where both bride and bridegroom worship 
 heaven and earth. The bride is then led towards the door 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 241 
 
 Heaven and earth were worshipped, every necessary rite 
 Was gone through most punctiliously . The poor girl 
 
 quaked with fright ; 
 She formed a thousand plans, as the time wore slowly on, 
 What should she do when night came, and all the guests 
 
 were gone ? 
 
 of the house ; on the door-sill is placed an apple, on the top 
 of which is also placed a saddle ; this is emblematical of 
 domestic happiness, the two characters, p'ing-an, "apple and 
 saddle," having the same sound as p'ing an, "peace, tran- 
 quillity," etc. Within the entrance of the door is placed 
 a pan containing live charcoal, implying a hope that the 
 husband may be prosperous. The bride steps first over 
 the saddle, then over the pan of charcoal ; she is then led 
 to the hang ; at the foot of this is a bag containing various 
 cerials, principally millet, step by step may she ascend, or 
 may she be good and prosperous. The bride sits on the 
 Icang, and the bridegroom standing at its foot takes off 
 her veil with a steelyard or weighing stick ; he then ascends 
 the Jcang and sits facing the bride. Each of them are now 
 handed a bowl of small dumplings, containing minced 
 meat of some kind, of which both of them must partake — 
 these are nearly raw. The bridegroom's mother then asks 
 them, "Is what you are eating cooked or uncooked ? " They 
 will naturally answer " uncooked " ; the character used 
 having also the meaning " to bear, to produce," etc., the 
 answer implies a hope that she may bear children. The 
 bridegroom's mother then hands them two goblets tied 
 together with red string, both drink in silence, and the 
 ceremony is complete. 
 
 The matrons attending the bride must have husbands 
 and children, and the more children they have, the better 
 it is considered. No widows on any account are allowed to 
 be in attendance. 
 
 16 
 
242 THE BOKEOWED BRIDE. 
 
 Slowly sank the setting sun, 
 
 Behind the mountains disappearing ; 
 
 The bright stars shone forth one by one — 
 Heaven's myriad eyes were downward peering. 
 
 At length none but themselves remained, 
 The wedding guests had all departed ; 
 
 The fact was scarcely ascertained 
 
 When up the bridegroom's mother started, 
 
 Exclaiming, as a lamp she lighted, 
 
 " Thank goodness ? they've all gone away ! 
 
 For which, my dear, I am delighted — 
 But ain't this been a busy day ? 
 
 " Lor ! how pale the dear child's face is ! 
 
 Poor thing ! she 's tired. Come along, 
 My dear ; for you the proper place is 
 
 The bed — so I'll spread the kang." 
 
 The girl was to an inner chamber led, 
 
 Assisted by her mother in undressing ; 
 Detaching, too, the trinkets from her head, 
 The dame, when she had made the bridal bed, 
 Called in her son, and left them with a blessing. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 243 
 
 There stood the bridegroom, there the borrowed 
 bride ; 
 
 Both feeling somewhat disconcerted. 
 He timidly steals to her side, 
 Embraces her with love and conscious pride ; 
 
 She trembling stands, with face and eyes averted. 
 
 What shall she do ? Oh ! for some hiding-place ! 
 
 Would that the ground would open and receive her ! 
 Where can she run and hide her burning face ? 
 Is there no method to avert disgrace ? 
 
 How make him, but for a moment, leave her ? 
 
 How can she tell him they're not really wed — 
 That avarice to this cruel state has brought her ? 
 
 A bright idea pops into her head — 
 
 She turned, and to the bridegroom trembling said, 
 " I am so thirsty, please bring me some water." 
 
 There was no water in the room, she knew. 
 
 He seized a cup and hastened to obey her, 
 Off to the kitchen in a moment flew. 
 She closed the door, the bolt securely drew, 
 
 And sank down, almost fainting, in a chair. 
 
 He got the water and was hastening back, 
 
 Groping his way, to keep himself from falling, 
 Through the dark passage, with extended neck, 
 When 'gainst the door he ran, — this sudden check 
 Not only brought him up, but sent him sprawling. 
 
 16 * 
 
244 THE BOKKOWED BEIDE. 
 
 Up, in a rage, the bridegroom jumped, 
 Fm almost afraid the young man swore, 
 
 As the closed door he heartily thumped, 
 
 Exclaiming, " Why have you bolted the door ? 
 
 " You asked for a drink, the water I brought. 
 
 Had I any idea what you were about, 
 You'd have fetched it yourself ; but who would have 
 thought 
 
 It was done for the purpose of shutting me out ? " 
 
 Cried the girl, " All you tell me, 
 
 Won't coax or compel me 
 To open the door — I'm not such a fool ; 
 
 Since you went to dip it, 
 
 You also may sip it, 
 You want some cold water your vain love to cool." 
 
 Hu, on this, began bawling, 
 
 His parents both calling, 
 To whom he explained this most singular case, 
 
 How his wife wanted water, 
 
 Which he'd no sooner brought her 
 Than she heartlessly bolted the door in his face. 
 
 The old couple naturally opened their eyes, 
 
 And stared at the lad in blank surprise ; 
 
 They called to the girl, " My dear, what 's amiss ? 
 
 Why have you treated our boy like this ': 
 
 Waking us up with this dreadful row — 
 
 We thought much better of you, Tai-hmao ! " 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 245 
 
 The girl broke in with, " It 's no such thing ! 
 
 I'm not Tai-hsiao ! I'm little Luan-ying, 
 
 The daughter of Sun-ssu, the overseer." 
 
 Then cried the couple, " What brings you here ? " 
 
 The girl, with much sobbing, her story told, 
 
 How by her father she had been sold, 
 
 How she'd been sent off to take the place 
 
 Of little Tai-hsiao, who had " lost her face," 
 
 Everything from beginning to end, 
 
 Which startled them all, you may well depend. 
 
 When the poor girl could tell them no more 
 
 She sobbed, " Now you know why I bolted the door." 
 
 The old man's face with rage grew red, 
 
 " I'll serve the vagabonds out," he said ; 
 
 " Your father, my dear, is a miserly cur ! 
 
 And your mother — but there, we won't speak of her. 
 
 I don't know which is the worst of the two, 
 
 Your father, or that cunning rogue Li-tzu-chiu. 
 
 And as for that filthy, deceitful Tai-hsiao, 
 
 She may go to the deuce ! you're our daughter now. 
 
 Whoever you are, you're a good substitute, 
 
 And we don't care two straws so long as you suit. 
 
 There ! now that 's all settled, so open the door, 
 
 And we'll toddle off to our chamber once more." 
 
 Thought the poor little maiden, " Now, what shall I do ? 
 He 's not so bad-looking, he 's kind-hearted too — 
 When I wanted the water, how quickly he went ; 
 Perhaps 'twould be better if I should relent. 
 
246 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 I like the young fellow," thought she, in a glow, 
 And he likes me too, for his eyes told ine so." 
 
 From one thing to t'other the young maiden mused, 
 Of this thing and that, till she got quite confused. 
 " Shall I open the door ? Yes, I will ! No, I wont ! 
 Do I like him or not ? Yes, I do ! No, I don't ! 
 
 " Dare I open the door ? oh ! would that I could ! " 
 She concluded at last that she could and she would. 
 " I'll open the door, but my best plan will be 
 To ascertain first their opinion of me ; 
 I'm doing but right — I was not in the plot ; 
 They, too, I am sure, are convinced I was not. 
 
 " I'm willing to open the door," she exclaimed, 
 If I do as you wish me I cannot be blamed ; 
 But first you must, both of you, solemnly swear 
 I'm your son's lawful wife — that's nothing but fair. 
 I as solemnly swear, if I am not his wife, 
 Never to go out of this room with my life." 
 
 The old folks, laughingly, gave their consent. 
 
 " We'll keep you for good, although you're but lent ; 
 
 We'll have no other daughter than you, 
 
 And our son is perfectly satisfied too. 
 
 As for Tai-hsiao — the bold, brazen-face ! 
 
 We wouldn't allow her to enter the place." 
 
 To this, and much more, they all solemnly swore, 
 
 When Luan-ying, blushingly, opened the door. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE. 247 
 
 We'll not relate all the young couple said, 
 
 Suffice it to say, that they went to bed, 
 
 Very much pleased with each other, no doubt : 
 
 He liked her better fcr shutting him out ; 
 
 She, glowing with gratitude, love, and pride, 
 
 At being thought worthy to be his bride. 
 
 Who would have thought all their plotting would bring 
 
 Such pleasure as this to the little Luan-ying ! 
 
 The sun peeping into their chamber next morning, 
 Reproachfully flashing his beams in their eyes, 
 
 Awoke the young couple ; thus giving them warning, 
 As he had long risen, they too ought to rise. 
 
 At breakfast the old folks, with much kindness, met her,* 
 And welcomed her there as the bride of their son : 
 
 After talking it over, they thought 'twould be better 
 That none but themselves should know what had 
 been done. 
 
 They had been badly treated, it must be admitted ; 
 
 Tai-hsiao and her parents must be better taught ; 
 'Twould be fun for all parties to see them outwitted, 
 
 And the schemers in turn in their own trap be 
 caught. 
 
 * The morning after the wedding the bride is intro- 
 duced to the various members of the family, and, with her 
 husband, kowtows to those older in years than themselves ; 
 this is called shuang-li. The bride's relatives also visit 
 them, and spend the day there ; this is called liang-jih-chiu. 
 
248 THE BOKKOWED BEIDE. 
 
 Tai-Jisiao's mother came into the room shortly after, 
 And tenderly asked how her daughter had slept ; 
 
 Luan-ying, with much blushing, and half-suppressed 
 laughter, 
 Replied, " Yery well," but her counsel she kept. 
 
 She had brought the bride's breakfast, and had no 
 conception 
 
 Of what had transpired — so secure did she feel. 
 Each was blinding the other — her cordial reception 
 
 Was in its way perfect, so apparently real. 
 
 She had plainly succeeded in all she had plotted ; 
 
 The first night had passed, she was satisfied now. 
 So contented and glad, off the old lady trotted, 
 
 To relate her success to old Li and Tai-hsiao. 
 
 On the ninth morn the sun got up at five, 
 A thing he punctually observed each day ; 
 
 The same hour saw old Li-tzu-chiu arrive, — 
 He'd come, of course, to fetch the girl away. 
 
 But who can paint his consternation — 
 His look of blank surprise and woe — 
 
 His rueful face — his perturbation, 
 When told they would not let her go ! 
 
 However, there was no alternative, 
 
 He could not take the girl away by force ; 
 
 Of one great fact he now was positive — 
 He must tell Sun, he saw no other course. 
 
THE BORROWED BRIDE, 249 
 
 As he strode home he meditated, 
 
 On this strange predicament ; 
 First to his wife the news related, 
 
 Then straightway off to Sun-ssu went. 
 
 Sun-ssu, when he heard it, grew pale with affright ; 
 His pigtail grew stiff, 'till it stood bolt upright ; 
 
 Old Li-tzu-chiu' s tale, 
 
 Made him not only pale, 
 But turn every colour between black and white. 
 
 He was perfectly scared, 
 
 And with horror he stared, 
 When the climax was reached, as indeed well he might. 
 
 He clawed hold of Li, — 
 
 " You old villain ! " cried he, 
 
 " Give me my daughter ! I will have her back ! 
 You've stolen my daughter ! " 
 " No, I haven't ! I bought her ! " 
 
 Cried Li, rather vexed, and in turn looking black. 
 
 " You're a beautiful father, ain't ye ! 
 
 If I'd only a brush, I'd endeavour to paint ye ! 
 
 Don't talk to me about stealing your child, 
 
 Or the chances are, you'll be getting me riled ! " 
 
 Sun's dame at this crisis appeared on the scene, 
 With her arms all a-kimbo, with belicose mien ; 
 One pulled Li this way, the other one that, 
 One gave him a kick, the other a pat. 
 
 Sun seized a chopper, 
 
 And hit him a topper ; 
 
250 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 His wife a stone picked up, 
 And a great hub-bub kicked up, 
 While gently correcting old Li with the stone, 
 And marking his face in a style quite her own. 
 
 While the three were yelling and bawling, 
 Kicking and cuffing, pulling and hauling, 
 Up came Liu-chen, who had no sooner heard 
 The facts of the case, and what had occurred, 
 Than he instantly sided with old Li-tzu-chiu, 
 Which made the fight equal — two against two. 
 
 The neighbours appearing, 
 
 Began interfering, 
 Pulling Sun and his wife from Li and Liu-chen ; 
 
 They were no sooner parted 
 
 Than off Liu-chen started 
 To the town, dashing off like a shot from a gun ! 
 
 He rushed to the Tamen*, and hammered the drum, 
 Crying out, " I've been wronged, and for justice have 
 
 come ! " 
 The magistrate instantly opened the court ; 
 Liu, kneeling before him, thus made his report :— 
 
 * In ancient times every magistrate's yamen had a 
 drum attached to it, placed at the entrance of the justice 
 hall; a person suffering injustice from the hands of those 
 more powerful than himself, could beat this drum to call 
 attention to his grievance, and the magistrate was bound 
 to listen to his complaint. At present, although in many 
 places the drums remain, they are seldom used. 
 
THE BORROWED BETDE. 251 
 
 " Your worship, my name is Liu-chen" he began, 
 " I'm a peaceful, hard-working, labouring man ; 
 Well, your worship, my son is betrothed to Surfs girl : 
 Sun's a poor man, like me, but a miserly churl ! 
 For what does the heartless old vagabond do, 
 But lends the poor girl to be married to Hu ! " 
 Here he stated at length this remarkable case, 
 His worship meanwhile getting black in the face. 
 " Oh ! that's the way, is it, such misdeeds are done? 
 Bring them all up before me, I'll try every one ! " 
 Then he threw on the ground special warrants for each, 
 Declaring he'd better morality teach ! 
 
 The runners* to each of their houses were sent, 
 And like kites after carrion, off they all went. 
 In a short time the whole of the culprits were caught, 
 And into the magistrate's presence were brought. 
 Then, in front of his desk, they were placed in a row, 
 Where they knelt, and politely went through the 
 kowtow, f 
 
 Said the magistrate, when this queer case he had tried, 
 " All tremblingly hear ! This is how I decide: — 
 Li and Sun, you will each of you forty blows get, 
 It may teach you to look on the past with regret ! 
 For the fault of Tai-hsiao, Li himself is to blame, — 
 Had she been better taught, she'd have ne'er come to 
 shame. 
 
 # Policemen. 
 
 t Bumping the head on the ground. 
 
252 THE BORROWED BRIDE. 
 
 Sun-ssu, the vile miser ! craved so much for gold, 
 That for money his own daughter's virtue he sold. 
 Liu-cken, since the girl is now wedded to 'Hu, 
 The money Sun took shall be handed to you ; 
 'Twill add to the portion you give to your son, 
 And help to console him for what has been done. 
 Hu-lin and Luan-ying, you'll remain as you are; 
 You're wed, so I'll not your pure happiness mar. 
 Te-hsi, you're a scamp! and to intriguing prone ; 
 Let your future good conduct for past faults atone ; 
 On account of your youth I shall let you off light — 
 Did I punish you more 'twould be nothing but right — 
 Tai-hsiao, by your arts, was to wickedness led, 
 You'll rectify that by at once getting wed, 
 You're the most proper person to have Tai-hsiao's 
 
 hand; 
 Her portion shall be the five mu of land. 
 You'll get more than you bargained for" — here he 
 
 arose — 
 Five acres, a wife, and likewise — forty blows ! " 
 
 The case being ended, his worship retired, 
 While everyone present his justice admired ; 
 All praising the judge who could such tact display, 
 Discussing his merits, each went his own way. 
 
 London : 
 
 Printed by W. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, S.W. 
 
THE 
 
 JADE CHAPLET, 
 
 IN 
 
 TWENTY-FOUR BEADS. 
 
 A Collection of Songs, Ballads, &c, from the Chinese. 
 By G. C. Stent, Esq., M.E.A.S. 
 
 London : Trubner & Co., 57 and 59 Ludgate Hill. 1874. 
 
 Opinions of the Press. 
 
 " The student of popular poetry will find in this book 
 
 matter worthy of his attention, and, for our own part, we 
 
 k that this effort to place Chinese Songs and Ballads 
 
 within the reach of English readers is worthy of much 
 
 commendation." — The Academy. 
 
 " The ' Jade Chaplet ' will sustain his reputation, and 
 will prove, we think, a welcome volume, not only to the 
 student of ballad literature, but to the general reader, 
 from the easy verse into which the songs are thrown, and 
 from the drollery of some of the anecdotes." — The Over- 
 land Mail. 
 
 " Alongside the Oriental exuberance of imagery and 
 exaggeration of metaphor which one might have expected, 
 there is frequently true grandeur of thought ; while the 
 compositions of a lighter character are redolent of sly 
 humour." — The Scotsman. 
 
Opinions of the Press — cont. 
 
 " Q-. C. Stent hat nun auch hier das Eis gebrochen, 
 und in dem uns vorliegenden Buche Muster chinesischer 
 Lieder und Legenden zusammengestellt, die er selbst 
 aus dem Munde noch lebender Erzahler erhielt. Stent 
 ist als Schriftsteller zu bekannt, um noch einer besonderen 
 Vorstellung zu bedurfen." — Magazin fur die Literatur des 
 Auslandes. 
 
 u This is, indeed, the crowning merit of Mr. Stent's 
 performance, that he should have opened a mine of rich 
 and varied materials, illustrative of the popular senti- 
 ments, traditions, superstitions, aspirations, and fancies 
 of the Chinese ; and has presented the first-fruits of his 
 own labours in it, in a style so readable that it is well 
 fitted to excite in the West increasing attention to China 
 in general." — The Evening Courier. 
 
 " Apart from any question as to his success in paths 
 more purely philological, all who have read his various 
 translations of popular ballads admit that he has a happy 
 faculty of giving the spirit of the originals, while achieving 
 very fair success as a versifier." — The China Mail. 
 
 " The ' Jade Chaplet ' is a most valuable addition to our 
 
 stock of Oriental language We thank Mr. Stent 
 
 for a treat, and hope he will soon give us just such 
 another." — The Illustrated Review. 
 
 " How smoothly Mr. Stent's lines run, and how plea- 
 sant the ripple of his musical measures, as he wrests the 
 quaint imagery of the original, and clothes it in an 
 EDglish garb." — The China Review. 
 
SELECTION FROM W. H. ALLEN & Co.'s LIST. 
 
 A HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN, from the 
 
 Earliest Period to the Present Day ; containing a Sketch 
 of the Invasions of India from Afghanistan, and of 
 Afghanistan from India, and concluding with a Review 
 of Afghan Politics from 1841 to 1878. By Colonel 
 G. B. Malleson, C.S.I. 
 
 A SYNOPSIS OF INDIAN HISTORY, from 
 
 the Earliest Period till the Present Time ; with a re- 
 ference to the pages of the various works where more 
 detailed information will be found. By Arthur 1ST. 
 Wollaston, M.E.A.S., H.M.'s Indian (Home) Service. 
 Translator of the " Anwar-i Suhalii." Author of " An 
 Elementary Indian Reader." 
 
 A TEXT BOOK OF INDIAN HISTORY, 
 
 with Geographical Notes, Genealogical Tables, and 
 Examination Questions, &c, for the use of Schools, 
 Colleges, and Private Students. Third Edition. By 
 the Rev. Dr. G. TJ. Pope. 
 
W. H. ALLEN & Co.'s LIST— continued. 
 WARREN HASTINGS, a Biography. By 
 
 Captain L. J. Trotter. 
 
 TRAVELS IN KHORASSAN. With Maps 
 
 and Illustrations. By Colonel C. M. MacG-regor, 
 C.S.I., &c. 
 
 MILITARY LIFE AND HUNTING AD- 
 VENTURES IN INDIA : An Autobiography. By the 
 late Lieut.-Col. T. G-. Fraser, Eetired List Bombay 
 Army. 
 
 THE ARABIC TEXT OF ALBIRUNI, the 
 
 celebrated chronologist. Translated into English by 
 Dr. E. Sachau, of the Boyal University of Berlin. 
 
 THE BUSTAN OF SADI, a Literal Trans- 
 
 lation, with Explanatory Notes, Index, and Glossary. 
 By Captain H. Wilberforce Clarke, E.E. 
 
June, 1878. 
 
 BOOKS, &c„ 
 
 ISSUED BY 
 
 MESSRS, Wm. I ALLEN & Co., 
 
 ^tthiisijerg & Utterarg Agents to tip Sittita ©fife, 
 
 COMPKIS1NG 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS IN GENERAL 
 LITERATURE. DICTIONARIES, GRAMMARS, AND TEXT 
 BOOKS IN EASTERN LANGUAGES, MILITARY WORKS, 
 INCLUDING THOSE ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT. INDIAN 
 AND MILITARY LAW. MAPS OF INDIA, &c. 
 
 In January and July of each year is published in 8vo., price 10s. 6d., 
 
 THE INDIA LIST, CIVIL & MILITARY. 
 
 BY PERMISSION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE POR INDIA IN COUNCIL. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CIVIL.— Gradation Lists of Civil Service, Bengal, Madras and Bombay. 
 Civil Annuitants. Legislative Council, Ecclesiastical Establishments, 
 Educational, Public Works, Judicial, Marine, Medical, Land Revenue, 
 Political, Postal, Police, Customs and Salt, Forest, Registration and 
 Railway and Telegraph Departments, Law Courts, Surveys, &c, &c. 
 
 MILITARY.— Gradation List of the General and Field Officers (British 
 and Local) of the three Presidencies, Staff Corps, Adjutants-General's 
 and Quartermasters-General's Offices, Army Commissariat Depart- 
 ments, British Troops Serving in India (including Royal Artillery, Royal 
 Engineers, Cavalry, Infantry, and Medical Department), List of .Native 
 Regiments, Commander-in-Chief and Staff, Garrison Instruction Staff, 
 Indian Medical Department, Ordnance Departments, Punjab Frontier 
 Force, Military Departments of the three Presidencies, Veterinary 
 Departments, Tables showing the Distribution of the Army in India, 
 Lists of Retired Officers of the three Presidencies. 
 
 HOME. — Departments of the Office of the Secretary of State, Coopers 
 Hill College, List of Selected Candidates for the Civil and Forest Services, 
 Indian Troop Service. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS.— Orders of the Bath, Star of India, and St. Michael 
 and St. George. Order of Precedence in India. Regulations for Admis- 
 sion to Civil Service. Regulations for Admission of Chaplains. Civil 
 Leave Code and Supplements. Civil Service Pension Code — relating to 
 the Covenanted and Uncovenanted Services. Rules for the Indian 
 Medical Service. Furlough and Retirement Regulations of the Indian 
 Army. Family Pension Fund. Staff Corps Regulations. Salaries of 
 Staff Officers. Regulations for Promotion. English Furlough Pay. 
 
Wm. H. Allen & Co. 
 
 Works issued from the \ India Office, and Sold by 
 Wm. H. ALLEN & Co. 
 
 Tree and Serpent Worship ; 
 
 Or, Illustrations of Mythology and Art in India in the First 
 and Fourth Centuries after Christ, from the Sculptures of the 
 Buddhist Topes at Sanchi and Arnravati. Prepared at the 
 India Museum, under the authority of the Secretary of State 
 for India in Council. Second edition, Revised, Corrected, and 
 in great part Re-written. By James Fergusson, Esq , F.R.S., 
 F.R.A.S. Super-royal 4to. 100 plates and 31 engravings, 
 pp. 270. Price £'5 5s. 
 
 Illustrations of Ancient Buildings in Kashmir. 
 
 Prepared at the Indian Museum under the authority of the 
 Secretary of State for India in Council. From Photographs, 
 Plans, and Drawings taken by Order of the Government of 
 India. By Henry Hardy Cole, Lieut. R.E., Superintendent 
 Archaeological Survey of India, North-West Provinces. In 
 One vol. ; half-bound, Quarto. Fifty-eight plates. £3 10s. 
 The Illustrations in this work have been produced in Carbon Irom 
 the original negatives, and are therefore permanent. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia of India. 
 
 Prepared uuder the Authoritv of the Secretary of State for 
 
 India. By Edw t ard John Waring, M.D. Assisted by a 
 
 Committee appointed for the Purpose. Svo. 6s. 
 
 Archaelogical Survey of Western India. 
 
 Report of the First Season's Operations in the Belgam and 
 Kaladgi Districts. January to May, 1874. Prepared at the 
 India Museum and Published under the Authority of the 
 Secretary of State for India in Council. By James Burgess, 
 Author of the '* Rock Temples of Elephanta," &c, &c, and 
 Editor of " The Indian Antiquary." Half-bound. Quarto. 
 58 Plates and Woodcuts. £2 2s. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 
 
 Adam W. (late of Calcutta) Theories of History. 
 
 Svo. 15s. (See page 27). 
 Advice to Officers in India. 
 
 By John McCosh, M.D. Post Svo. 8s. 
 
 Allen's Series. 
 
 I. — World We Live In. (See page 30). 2s. 
 
 2. — Earth's History. (See page 6). 2s. 
 
 3. — Geography of India. (See page 8). 2s. 
 
 4. — 2000 Examination Questions in Physical Geography. 2s. 
 
 5. — Hall's Trigonometry. (See page 9). 2s. 
 
 6. — Wollaston's Elementary Indian Reader. Is. (See page 
 
 29.) 
 7 — Ansted's Elements of Physiography. Is. 4d. 
 
 Analytical History of India. 
 
 From the earliest times to the Abolition of the East India 
 Company in 1858. By Kobert Sewell, Madras Civil Service. 
 Post 8vo. 8s. 
 
 *** The object of this work is to supply the want which has 
 been felt by students for a condensed outline of Indian History 
 which would serve at once to recall the memory and guide the 
 eye, while at the same time it has been attempted to render it 
 interesting to the general reader by preserving a medium 
 between a bare analysis and a complete history. 
 
 Ancient and Mediaeval India. 
 
 2 vols. 8vo. 30s. (See page 16). 
 Anderson's (P.) English in Western India. 
 
 $vo. 14s. 
 
 Andrew's (W. P.) India and Her Neighbours, 
 
 With Two Maps. 8vo. 15s. 
 Ansted's (D. T.) Water: Its Physical Properties, Source, 
 
 Distribution over the Earth, and Uses for Engineering and 
 
 Sanitary Purposes. (In the Press.) 
 Ansted's (D. T.) Elements of Physiography. 
 
 Eor the use of Science Schools. Fcap. 8vo. Is. 4d. 
 Ansted's (D. T.) Physical Geography. 
 
 5th Edition. With Maps. Crown 8vo. 7s. (See page 22). 
 Ansted's (D. T.) World We Live In. 
 
 Fcap. 2s. 25th Thousand, with Illustrations. (See page 28). 
 Ansted's (D. T.) Earth's History. 
 
 Fcap. 2s. (See page (>). 
 
Wm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 Ansted's (D. T.) 
 
 Two Thousand Examination Questions in Physical Geography. 
 
 pp. 180. Price 2s. 
 Ansted's (D. T.) Ionian Islands. 
 
 8vo. 8s. (See page 14.) 
 Ansted's (D. T.) and R. G. Latham's Channel Islands. 
 
 8vo. 16s. (See page 14). 
 Archer's (Capt. J. H. Lanrence) Commentaries on the 
 
 Punjaub Campaign — 1848-49. Crown tfvo. 8s. (See page 6.) 
 
 Armies of the Powers of Europe, The. 
 
 Their Strength and Organisation, &c, with an Account of some 
 of the Famous Regiments, their Composition, &c. &c. ; also 
 an Account of the Navies of the several Powers. By Captain 
 H. B. Stuart. [In the press). 
 
 At Home in Paris. 
 
 By Blanchard Jerrold. 2 Vols. Post 8vo. 10a. 
 
 Atterbury Memoirs, &c. 
 
 The Memoir and Correspondence of Francis Atterbury, Bishop 
 of Rochester, with his distinguished contemporaries. Compiled 
 chiefly from the Atterbury and Stuart Papers. By Folkestone 
 Williams, Author of "Lives of the English Cardinals," &c, 
 2 vols. 8vo. 14s. 
 
 Anthors at Work. 
 
 By Charles Pebody. Post 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Bengal Artillery. 
 
 A Memoir of the Services of the Bengal Artillery from the 
 formation of the Corps. By the late Capt. E. Buckle, Assist - 
 Adjut. Gen. Ben. Art. Edit, bv Sir J. W. Kaye. Svo. Loud. 
 1852. 10s. 
 Bernays, (Dr. A. J.) Students' Chemistry. 
 Crown 8vo. 5s. 6d. (See page 26). 
 
 Burning's (R. M.) Travels in Persia, &c. 
 
 2 vols. 8\o. 16s. 
 
 Birth of the War God. 
 
 A Poem. By Kalidasa. Translated from the Sanscrit into 
 English Verse. By Ralph T. H. Griffith. 5s. 
 
 Blanchard's (S.) Yesterday and To-day in India. 
 
 Post 8vo. 6s. (See page 80). 
 
 Blenkinsopp's (Rev. E. L.) Doctrine of Development 
 
 In the Bible and in the Church. 2nd edit. 12mo. 6s. (See page 0). 
 
J 3, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 
 
 Boileau (Major- General J. T.) 
 
 A New and Complete Set of Traverse Tables, showing the 
 Differences of Latitude and the Departures to every Minute of 
 the Quadrant and to Five Places of Decimals. Together with 
 a Table of the lengths of each Degree of Latitude and corres- 
 ponding Degree of Longitude from the Equator to the Poles ; 
 with other Tables useful to the Surveyor and Engineer. 
 Fourth Edition, thoroughly revised and corrected by the 
 Author. Royal 8vo. 12s. London, 1876. 
 
 Botany of the Himalaya Mountains. 
 
 And other Branches of Natural History of the Himalaya Moun- 
 tains, and of the Flora of Cashmere. By J. Forbes Royle, 
 M.D., V.P.R.S. 2 vols, folio. London, 1839. £b 5s. 
 *** This Book is 7iow very scarce, 
 
 Bowring's Flowery Scroll. 
 
 A Chinese Novel. Translated and Illustrated with Notes by 
 Sir J. Bowring, late H.B.M. Plenipo. China. Post8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Bradshaw (John) LL.D. The Poetical Works of John Milton, 
 
 with Notes, explanatory and philological. 2 vols, post 8vo. 
 12s. tid. 
 
 Brandis' Forest Flora of North-West and Central India. 
 
 Text and plates. £2 lbs. (See page 7). 
 
 Briggs' (Gen. J.) India and Europe Compared. 
 
 Post 8vo. 7s. 
 
 Browne's (J. W.) Hardware; How to Buy it for Foreign 
 
 Markets. 8vo. 10s. 6d. (See page 9). 
 
 Canal and Culvert Tables. 
 
 By Lowis D'A. Jackson. (In the press). 
 
 Catholic Doctrine of the Atonement. 
 
 An Historical Inquiry into its Development in the Church, 
 with an Introduction on the Principle of Theological Develop- 
 ment. By H. Nutcombe Oxenham, M.A. 2nd Edit. 8vo. 1 Os.Od. 
 " It is one of the ablest and probably one of the most charmingly 
 written treatises on the subject which exists in our language." — Times. 
 
 Celebrated Naval and Military Trials. 
 
 By Peter Bukke, Serjeant-at-Law. Author of " Celebrated 
 Trials connected with the Aristocracy." Post 8vo. 10s. (3d. 
 
 Central Asia (Sketches of). 
 
 By A. Vambery. 8vo. 16s. (See page 28). 
 
AVm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 Cochrane, (John) Hindn Law. 
 20s. (See page 13) 
 
 Commentaries on the Punjub Campaign 1848-49, including 
 some additions to the History of the Second Sikh War, from 
 original sources. Bv Captain J. H. Lawrence- Archer, late 
 60th Rifles. Crown 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Cruise of H.M.S. " Galatea," 
 
 Captain H.R H. the Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., in 1 867 -1868. 
 By the Rev. John Milne r, B.A., Chaplain ; and Oswald \Y. 
 Brierly. Illustrated by a Photograph of H.R.H. the Duke 
 of Edinburgh ; and by Chromo-Lithographs and Graphotypes 
 from Sketches taken on the spot by 0. W. Brierly. 8vo. ICs. 
 
 Danvers (Fred. Chas.) On Coal. 
 
 With Reference to Screening, Transport, &c 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Doctrine of Development in the Bible and in the Church. 
 By Rev. E. L. Blenkinsopp, MA, Rector of Springthorp. 
 2nd edition. 12mo. 6s. 
 
 Doran (Dr. J.) Annals of the English Stage. 
 
 Post 8vo. 6s. (See p. 26.) 
 
 Drain of Silver to the East, 
 
 And the Currency of India. By W. Nassau Lees. Post 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Drury.— The Useful Plants of India, 
 
 With Notices of their chief value in Commerce, Medicine, 
 and the Arts. By Colonel Heber Drury. Second Edition, 
 with Additions and Corrections. Royal 8vo. 16s. 
 
 Earth's History, 
 
 Or, First Lessons in Geology. For the use of Schools and 
 Students. By D. T. Ansted. Third Thousand. Fcap. 8vo. 2s. 
 
 East India Calculator, 
 
 By T. Thornton. 8vo. London, 1823. 10s. 
 
 Edgar's (J. G.) Modern History. 
 12mo. 6s. 6d. 
 
 Edinburgh (The Duke of) Cruise of the ''Galatea." 
 With Illustrations. 8vo. 16s. 
 
 Edwards' (H. S.) Russians at Home. 
 
 With Illustrations. Post 8vo. 6s. (See page 25). 
 
 Edwards' (H. S.) History of the Opera. 
 
 2 Vols., 8vo. 10s. 6d. (See page 10), 
 
J 3, Waterloo Pla.ce, Pall Mai.l. 
 
 Elementary Mathematics. 
 
 A Course of Elementary Mathematics for the use of candidate- 
 
 for admission into either of the Military Colleges; of applis 
 
 cants for appointments in the Home or Indian Civil Services ; 
 
 and of mathematical students generally. By Professor J. R. 
 
 Young. In one closely-printed volume. 8vo., pp. 648. 12s. 
 
 " In the work before us he has digested a complete Elementary 
 
 Course, by aid of his long experience as a teacher and writer ; and he has 
 
 produced a very useful book. Mr. Young has not allowed his own taste 
 
 to rule the distribution, but has adjusted his parts with the skill of a 
 
 veteran." — Athenceum. 
 
 English Cardinals. 
 
 The Lives of the English Cardinals, from Nicholas Break- 
 speare (Pope Adrien IV.) to Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal Legate. 
 With Historical Notices of the Papal Court. By Folkestone 
 Wtlltams. In 2 vols. 14s. 
 
 English Homes in India. 
 
 By Mrs. Keatinge. Part I. — The Three Loves. Part II. — 
 The Wrong Turning. Two vols., Post 8vo. 16s. 
 
 Final French Straggles in India and on the Indian Seas. 
 
 Including an Account of the Capture of the Isles of France 
 and Bourbon, and Sketches of the most eminent Foreign 
 Adventurers in India up to the period of that Capture. With 
 an Appendix containing an Account of the Expedition from 
 India to Egypt in 1801. By Colonel G. B. Malleson, C.S.I. 
 Crown 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 First Age of Christianity and the Chnrch (The) 
 
 By John Ignatius Dollinger, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical 
 History in the University of Munich, &c, &c. Translated 
 from the German hv Henrv Nutcombe Oxenham, M.A., late 
 Scholar of Baliol College, "Oxford. Third Edition. 2 vols. 
 Crown 8vo. 18s. 
 
 Forhes (Dr. Dnncan) History of Chess. 
 
 8vo. 7s, 6d. (See page 10). 
 
 Forest Flora of North-Westsrn and Central India. 
 
 By Dr. Brandis, Inspector General of Forests to the Govern- 
 ment of India. Text and Plates. £2 18s. 
 
 Franz Schnbert. 
 
 A Musical Biography, from the German of Dr. Heinrich 
 Kreisle von Hellborn. By Edward Wilberforce, Esq., 
 Author of "Social Life in Munich." Post 8vo. 6s. 
 
Wm. H. Allen* and Co. 
 
 Gazetteers of India. 
 
 Thornton, 4 vols., 8vo. £2 1 6s. 
 8vo. 21s. 
 (N.W.P., Ac.) 2 vols., 8vo. 25s. 
 
 Gazetteer of Southern India. 
 
 With the Tenasserim Provinces and Singapore. Compiled 
 from original and authentic sources. Accompanied by an 
 Atlas, including plans of all the principal towns and canton- 
 ments. Royal 8vo. with 4to. Atlas. £'3 3s. 
 
 Gazetteer of the Punjaub, Afghanistan, &c. 
 
 Gazetteer of the Countries adjacent to India, on the north- 
 west, including Scinde, Affghanistan, Beloochistan. the Punjaub, 
 and the neighbouring States. By Edward Thornton, Esq. 
 2 vols. 8vo. i'l 5s. 
 
 Geography of India. 
 
 Comprising an account of British India, and the various states 
 enclosed and adjoining. Fcap. pp. 250. 2s. 
 
 Geological Papers on Western India. 
 
 Including Cutch, Scinde, and the south-east, coast of Arabia. 
 To which is added a Summary of the Geology of India gene- 
 rally. Edited for the Government by Henry J. Carter, 
 Assistant Surgeon, Bombay Army. Royal 8vo. with folio 
 Atlas of maps and plates; half-bound. £2 2s. 
 
 German Life and Manners 
 
 As seen in Saxony. With an account of Town Life — Village 
 Life — Fashionable Life — Married Life — School and University 
 Life, &c. Illustrated with Songs and Pictures of the Studeut 
 Customs at the University of Jena. By Henry aIayhew, 
 2 vols. 8vo., with numerous illustrations. 18s. 
 
 A Popular Edition of the above. With illustrations. Cr. 8vo. Ts. 
 " Full of original thought and observation, and may be studied with pro- 
 fit by both G-erman and English — especially by the German." Athenctum. 
 
 Glyn's (A. C.) Civilization in the 5th Century. 
 2 vols, post 8vo. £l Is. 
 
 Goldstucker (Dr.) The Miscellaneous Essays of. 
 With a Memoir (In the }iress). 
 
 Grady's (S. G.) Mohamedan Law of Inheritance & Contract. 
 8vo. 14s. (See page 18). 
 
 Grady's (S. G.) Institutes of Menu. 
 Svo. l^s. (See page IS). 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 
 
 Griffith's Ralph (T. H.) Birth of the War God. 
 
 8vo. 5s. (See page 4). 
 
 Hall's Trigonometry. 
 
 The Elements of Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. With an 
 Appendix, containing the solution of the Problems in Nautical 
 Astronomy. For the use of Schools. By the Rev. T. G. 
 Hall, M.A., Professor of Mathematics in King's College. 
 London 12mo. 2s. 
 
 Hamilton's Hedaya. 
 
 A new edition, with the obsolete passages omitted, and a copious 
 Index added by S. G. Grady. 8vo. £ll5s. 
 
 Handbook of Reference to the Maps of India. 
 
 Giving the Lat. and Long, of places of note. 18mo. 3s. M 
 
 * # * This will be found a valuable Companion to Messrs. Allen S( Co.* 
 
 Maps of India. 
 
 Handbooks for India. 
 
 Bradshaw's Through Routes, Overland Guide, and Hand- 
 book to India, Egypt, Turkey, Persia, China, &c., &e. New Edi- 
 tion, 1875-76. With Maps, &c. 5s. ; by post, 5s. 4d. 
 
 The " Times of India " Handbook of Hindustan ; being a 
 Short Account of the Ceography, History, Present Administra- 
 tion, Native States, Sports and Places of Interest in India. Com- 
 piled by G. B.. Abekeigh-Mackay. With Maps. 8vo. 10s. 
 
 Macleans Guide to Bombay; containing an Account of the 
 Geography and History of the Island, Population, Trade and 
 Industry, Government and Revenue, Descriptive Accounts of the 
 Town and Neighbourhood, Native Festivals, Official and Mer- 
 cantile Directories, &c, &c. With Map and Plans. 10s. 
 
 Hardware; How to Bay it for Foreign Markets. 
 
 By. J. Wilson Browne. (See page 5). 
 
 This is the most complete Guide to the Hardware Trade yet 
 brought out ; comprising all the principal Grose Lists in general 
 use, with Illustrations and Descriptions. 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Hedaya. 
 
 Translated from the Arabic by Walter Hamilton. A New 
 Edition, with Index by S. G. Grady. 8vo. £1. 15s. 
 Henry VIII. 
 
 An Historical Sketch as affecting the Reformation in England. 
 
 By Charles Hastjngs Collette. Post 8vo. 6s. 
 Hindu Law. 
 
 By Sir Thomas Strange. 2 vols. Royal 8vo., 1830. 24s. 
 
 (See page 13). 
 Historical Results 
 
 Deducible from Recent Discoveries in Afghanistan. By H. 
 
 T. Pbinsep. 8vo. Lend. 1844. 15s. 
 
10 Wm. H. Allen & Co. 
 
 Histories of India. 
 
 Mill, 9 vols., cr. Svo. £'2 10s. (See page 2-2). 
 
 Thornton, 6 vols., Svo. £2 8s. (See page 27). 
 
 Thornton, 1 vol., Svo. 12s. (See page '27). 
 
 Trotter, 2 vols., Svo. 32s. (See page 23). 
 
 Sevvell (Analytical) Crown Svo. 8s. (See page 3). 
 
 Owen, India on the Eve of the British Conquest. 8s. (See 
 
 page 22). 
 
 History of the Indian Mutiny, 1857-1858. 
 
 Commencing from the close of the Second Volume of Sir John 
 Kaye's History of the Sepoy War. Bv Colonel G. B. Mallk- 
 son, CS.I. Svo. With Map. £1. 
 
 History of Civilization in the Fifth Century. 
 
 Translated by permission from the French of A. Frederic 
 Ozanam, late Professor of Foreign Literature to the Faculty 
 of Letters at Paris. By Ashby C. Glyn, B.A., of the Inner 
 Temple, Barrister-at-Law. 2 vols., post Svo. £1 Is. 
 
 History of Chess, 
 
 From the time of the Early Invention of the Game in India, 
 till the period of its establishment in Western and Central 
 Europe. By Duncan Foebes, LL D. Svo. 7s. Cd. 
 
 History of China, 
 
 From the Earliest Records to a.d. 420. By Thomas Thoen: on. 
 Member of the Royal Asiatic Society. Svo., cloth. 8s. 
 
 History of the Opera, 
 
 From Monte verde to Donizetti. By H. Sutherland Edwards 
 Second edition. 2 vols., Post Svo. 10s. Gd. 
 
 History of the Punjaub, 
 
 And of the Rise, Progress, and Present Condition of the 
 Sikhs. By T. Thohnton. 2 Vols. Post Svo. 8s. 
 
 Horses of the Sahara, and the Manners of the Desert. 
 
 By E. Daumas, General of the Division Commanding at Bor- 
 deaux, Senator, &c , &c. With Commentaries by the Emir 
 Abd-el-Kadir (Authorized Edition). Svo. 6s. 
 
 " We have rarely read a work giving a more picturesque and, ai the 
 
 same time, practical account of the manners and customs of a people, than 
 
 this bcok on the Arabs mid their hordes." — Edinbvrgh Covrant. 
 
 Hough (Lieut-Col. W.) Precedents in Military Law. 
 
 8vo. cioth. 25s. 
 Hughes's (Rev. T. P.) Notes on Muhanunadanism. 
 
 Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Fcap. Svo. 6s. 
 Hydraulic Manual and Working Tables, Hydraulic and 
 
 Indian Meteorological Statistics. Published under the 
 patronage of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for 
 India. By Lowis D'A Jackson. 8vo. 2Ss. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 11 
 
 Illustrated Horse Doctor. 
 
 Being an Accurate and Detailed Account, accompanied by 
 more than 400 Pictorial Representations, characteristic of the 
 various Diseases to which the Equine Race are subjected ; 
 together with the latest Mode of Treatment, and all the re- 
 quisite Prescriptions written in Plain English. By Edward 
 Mayhew, M.R.C.V.S. 8vo. 18s. 6d. 
 
 Contents. — The Brain and Nervous System. — The Eyes. — 
 The Mouth.— The Nostrils.— The Throat.— The Chest and its 
 contents. — The Stomach, Liver, &c — The Abdomen. — The 
 Urinary Organs. — The Skin. — Specific Diseases. — Limbs. — 
 The Feet.— Injuries. — Operations 
 
 "The book contains nearly 600 pages of valuable matter, which 
 reflects great credit on its author, and, owing to its practical details, the 
 result of deep scientific research, deserves a place in the library of medical, 
 veterinary, and n on -professional readers." — Field. 
 
 " The book furnishes at once the bane and the antidote, as the 
 drawings show the horse not only suffering from every kind of disease, but; 
 in the different stages of it, while the alphabetical summary at the end gives 
 the cause, symptoms and treatment of each." — Illustrated London Rews. 
 
 Illustrated Horse Management. 
 
 Containing descriptive remarks upon Anatomy, Medicine, 
 Shoeing, Teeth, Food, Vices, Stables ; likewise a plain account 
 of the situation, nature, and value of the various points ; 
 together with comments on grooms, dealers, breeders, breakers, 
 and trainers ; Embellished with more than 400 engravings 
 from original designs made expressly for this work. By E. 
 Mayhew. A new Edition, revised and improved by J. I. 
 Lupton. M.R C.V.S. 8vo. 12s. 
 
 Contexts. — The body of the horse anatomically considered 
 Physic— The mode of administering it, and minor operations. 
 Shoeing. — Its origin, its uses, and its varieties. The Teeth. 
 — Their natural growth, and the abuses to which they are liable. 
 
 Food. — The rittest. time for feeding, and the kind of food 
 which the horse naturally consumes. The evils which are 
 occasioned by modern stables. The faults inseparable from 
 stables. The so-called M incapacitating vices," which are the 
 results of injury or of disease. Stables as they should be. 
 Grooms. — Their prejudices, their injuries, and their duties. 
 Points. — Their relative importance and where to look for their 
 development. Breeding. — Its inconsistencies and its disap- 
 pointments. Breaking and Training — Their errors and 
 their results. 
 
1-2 Wm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 India Directory (The). 
 
 For the Guidance of Commanders of Steamers and Sailing 
 Vessels. Founded upon the Work of the late Captain James 
 Horsburgh, F.R.S. 
 
 Part I. — The East Indies, and Interjacent Ports of Africa 
 and South America. Revised, Extended, and Illustrated with 
 Charts of Winds, Currents, Passages, Variation, and Tides. 
 By Commander Alfred Dundas Taylor, F.R.G.S., Superin- 
 tendent of Marine Surveys to the Government of India. £1 18s. 
 
 Part II. — The China Sea, with the Ports of Java. Australia 
 and Japan and the Indian Archipelago Harbours, as well as 
 those of New Zealand. Illustrated with Charts of the Winds, 
 Currents, Passages, &c. By the same. (In the Press). 
 
 India and Her Neighhonrs. 
 
 By \Y. P. Andrew. 8vo. With 2 Maps. 15s. 
 
 Indian Administration. 
 
 By H G. Keene. Post 8vo. 5s. 
 
 The India List, Civil and Military, 
 
 Containing Names of all Officers employed by the Indian 
 Government, including those of the Public Works, Educational, 
 Political, Postal, Police, Customs, Forests, Railway and Tele- 
 graphs Departments, with Rules for Admission to these 
 vices, Furlough Rules, Retiring Pensions, Staff Corps 
 Regulations and Salaries, &c, with an Index. Issued in Jan- 
 uary and July of each year, by permission of the Secretary of 
 State for India in Council. 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Indian Code of Civil Procedure. 
 
 In the Form of Questions and Answers. With Explanatory 
 and Illustrative Notes. By Anuelo J. Lewis. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Indian Criminal Law and Procedure, 
 
 Including the Procedure in the High Courts, as well as that in 
 the Courts not establi*hed by Royal Charter; with Forms of 
 Charges and Notes on Evidence, illustrated by a large number 
 of English Cases, and Cases decided in the High Courts of 
 India; and an Appendix of selected Acts passed by the 
 Legislative Council relating to Criminal matters. By M. H. 
 Starling, Esq , LL.B. & F. B. Constable, M.A. Third 
 edition. 6vo. £2 2s. 
 
 Indian Penal Code. 
 
 In the Form of Questions and Answers. With Explanatory 
 and Illustrative Notes. By Angelo J. Lewis. 7s. 6d. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 13 
 
 Indian and Military Law. 
 
 Mahomme Ian Law of Inheritance, &c. A Manual of the 
 Mahommedan Law of Inheritance and Contract ; comprising the 
 Doctrine of the Soonee and Sheca Schools, and based upon the text 
 of Sir H. W. Macnaghten's Principles and Precedents, together 
 with the Decisions of the Privy Council and High Courts of the 
 Presidencies in India. For the use of Schools and Students. By 
 Standish Grove Grady, Barrister-at-Law, Reader of Hindoo, 
 Mahommedan, and Indian Law to the Inns of Court. 8vo. 14s. 
 
 Hedaya. or Guide, a Commentary on the Mussulman Laws, 
 translated by order of the G-overnor- General and Council of Bengal. 
 By Charles Hamilton. Second Edition, with Preface and Index 
 by Standish Grove Grady. 8vo. £1 15s, 
 
 Institutes of Menu in English. The Institutes of Hindu 
 Law or the Ordinances of Menu, according to G-loss of Collucca. 
 Comprising the Indian System of Duties, Religious and Civil, 
 verbally translated from the Original, with a Preface by Sir William 
 Jones, and collated with the Sanscrit Text by Graves Chamney 
 Haughton, M.A., F.R.S., Professor of Hindu Literature in the 
 East India College. New edition, with Preface and Index by 
 Standish G-. Grady, Barrister-at-Law, and Reader of Hindu, 
 Mahommedan, and Indian Law to the Inns of Court. 8vo., cloth. 12s. 
 
 Indian Code of Criminal Procedure. Being Act X of 187'?, 
 Passed bv the Governor-G-eneral of India in Council on the 25th of 
 April, 1872. 8vo. 12s. 
 
 Indian Code of Civil Procedure. In the form of Questions 
 and Answers, with Explanatory and Illustrative Notes. By 
 Angelo J. Lewis, Barrister-at law. 12mo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Indian Penal Code. In the Form of Questions and Answers. 
 With Explanatory and Illustrative Notes. By Angelo J. Lewis, 
 Barrister-at-Law. Post 8vo. 7s. 6d. 
 
 Hindu Law. Principally with reference to such portions of it 
 as concern the Administration of Justice in the Courts in India. 
 By Sir Thcias Strange, late Chief Justice of Madras. 2 vols. 
 Royal 8vo., 1830. 24s. 
 
 Hindu Law. Defence of the Daya Bhaga. Notice of the 
 Case on Prosoono Coomar Taj ore's Will. Judgment of the Judicial 
 Committee of the Privy Conncil. Examination of such Judgment. 
 By John Cochrane, Barrister-at-Law. Royal 8vo. 20s. 
 
 Law and Customs of Hindu Castes, within the Dekhan Pro- 
 vinces subject to the Presidency of Bombay, chiefly affecting Civil 
 Suits. By Arthur Steele. Royal 8vo. £1 Is. 
 
 Chart of Hindu Inheritance. With an Explanatory Treatise, 
 By Almaric Rumsey. 8yo. 6s. 6d. 
 
14 Wm. H. Allen ft Co., 
 
 Manual of Military Law. For all ranks of the Army, Militia 
 and Yoluuteer Services, By Colonel J. K. Pipon, Assist. Adjutant 
 General at Head Quarters, & J. F. Collier, Esq , of the Inner 
 Temple, Barrister-at-Law. Third and .Revised Edition. Pocket 
 size. 5s. 
 
 Precedents in Military Law : including the Practice of Courts- 
 Martial ; the Mode of Conducting Trials ; the Duties of Officers at 
 Military Courts of Inquests, Courts of Inquiry, Courts of Requests, 
 £0.. &C. The following are a portion of the Contents :— 
 
 1. Military Law. 2. Martial Law. 3. Courts-Martial. 4. 
 Courts of Inquiry. 5. Courts of Inquest. 6. Courts of Request. 
 7. Forms of Courts-Martial. 8. Precedents of Military Law. 
 9. Trials of Arson to Rape (Alphabetically arranged.) 10. Rebellions. 
 11. Riots. 12. Miscellaneous. By Lieut.-Col. W. Hough, late 
 Deputy Judge- Advocate- General, Bengal Army, and Author of 
 several Works on Courts-Martial. One thick 8vo. vol. 25s. 
 
 The Practice of Courts Martial. By Hough & Long. Thick 8vo. 
 London, 1S25. 26s. 
 
 Indian Infanticide. 
 
 Its Origin, Progress, and Suppression. By John Cave-Brown, 
 M.A. 8vo. 
 
 Indian Wisdom, 
 
 Or Examples of the Religious, Philosophical and Ethical 
 Doctrines of the Hindus. With a brief History of the Chief 
 Departments of Sanscrit Literature, and some account of the 
 Past and Present Condition of India, Moral and Intellectual. 
 By Monier Williams. M.A., Boden Professor of Sanscrit in 
 in the University of Oxford. Third Edition. 8vo. 15s. 
 
 Ionian Islands in 1863. 
 
 By Professor D. T. Anstfd, M.A., F.B.S., &c. 8vo„ with 
 Maps and Cuts. 8s. 
 
 Jackson's (Lowis D'A.) Hydraulic Mannal and Working 1 
 Tables Hydranlic and Indian Meteorological Statistics. 
 8vo. 28s. (See page 10.) 
 
 Jackson (Lowis D'A.) Canal and Culvert Tables. 
 
 {In the ]■ 
 
 Japan, the Amoor and the Pacific. 
 
 With notices of other Places comprised in a Voyage of Circum- 
 navigation in the Imperial Russian Corvette Rynda, in 18J 3 — 
 
 1*G0. By Henry A. Tilley. Eight Illustrations. 8vo. JGs. 
 
 Jersey, Gnernsey, Alderney, Sark, &c. 
 
 The Channel Islands. Containing: Part I. — Physical Geo- 
 graphy. Part II. — Natural History. Part III. — Civil His 
 tory. Part IV. — Economics and Trade. By David Thomas 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 15 
 
 Ansted, M.A., F.R.S., and Robert Gordon Latham, M.A., 
 M.D., F.R.S. New and Cheaper Edition in one handsome 
 8vo. Volume, with 72 Illustrations on Wood by Vizetelly, 
 Loudon, Nicholls, and Hart ; with Map. 16s. 
 
 " This is a really valuable work. A book which will long remain the 
 standard authority on the subject. No one who has been to the Channel 
 Islands, or who purposes going there will be insensible of its value." — 
 
 Saturday Review. 
 "It is the produce of many hands and every hand a good one." 
 
 Jerrold's (Blanchard) at Home in Paris. 
 
 2 Vols. Post 8vo. 16s. 
 
 Kaye (Sir J. W.) The Sepoy War in India. (See page 25). 
 Vol. 1. 18s. 
 Vol.2, £[. 
 Vol. 3. £1. 
 
 Kaye (Sir J. W.) History of the War in Afghanistan. 
 
 New edition, o Vols. Grown 8vo. £1. 6s. 
 
 Kaye (Sir J. W.) H. St. G. Tncker's Life and Correspondence. 
 
 8vo. 10s. 
 
 Kaye's (Sir J. W.) Memorials of Indian Governments. 
 
 By H. St. George Tucker. Svo. 10s. 
 
 Keene's (H. G.) Mogul Empire. 
 Svo. 10s. 6d. (See page 22.) 
 
 Keene's (H. G.) Administration in India. 
 
 Post Svo. 9s. 
 
 Lady Morgan's Memoirs. 
 
 Autobiography, Diaries and Correspondence. 2 Vols. 8vo., 
 with Portraits. 18s. 
 
 Latham's (Dr. B-. G.) Nationalities of Europe. 
 
 2 Vols. 8vo, 12s. (See page 22). 
 
 Law and Customs of Hindu Castes, 
 
 By Arthur Steele. Royal 8vo. £1. Is. (See page 13.) 
 
 Lee's (Dr. W. N.) Drain of Silver to the East. 
 
 Post 8vo. 8s. 
 
10 Wm. H. Allen & Co. 
 
 Le win's Wild Races of the South Eastern Frontier of India. 
 
 Including an Account of the Loshai Country. Post bvo. 10s. (id 
 
 Lewis's (A. J.) Indian Penal Code. 
 
 Post 8vo. 7s. Od. (See page 12). 
 
 Lewis's Indian Code of Civil Procedure. 
 Post Bvo. 12s. 6d. (See page 12). 
 
 Leyden and Erskine's Baher. 
 
 Memoirs of Zehir-ed-Din Muhammed Baser, Emperor of 
 Hindustan, written by himself in the Jaghatai Turki, and 
 translated partly by the late John Leyden, Esq., M.D., and 
 partly by William Erskine, Esq., with Notes and a Geo- 
 graphical and Historical Introduction, together with a Map of 
 the Countries between the Oxus and Jaxartes, and a Memoir 
 regarding its construction. By Charles Waddikgton, of the 
 East India Company's Engineers. 4to. Lond. 182(3. £1 5s. 
 
 Liancourt's and Pincott's Primitive and Universal Laws of 
 
 the Formation and development of language ; a Rational and 
 Inductive System founded on the Natural Basis of Onomatops. 
 Svo. 12s. id. 
 
 Lockwood's (Ed.) Natural History, Sport and Travel. 
 Crown Svo. "With numero is Illustrations. 10s. bd. 
 
 McBean's (S.) England, Egypt, Palestine & India by Railway. 
 Popularly Explained. Crown 8vo., with a coloured Map. 4s. 
 
 Mahommedan Law of Inheritance and Contract. 
 
 By Standish Grove Grady, Barrister-at-Law. 8vo. 14s. 
 (See page J 3). 
 
 Malleson's (Col. G. B.) Final French Struggle's in India. 
 
 Crown Svo. 10s. 6d. (See page 7). 
 
 Malleson's (Col. G. B.) History of the Indian Mutiny, 
 1857-1858, commencing from the close of the Second 
 Volume of Sir John K aye's History of the Sepoy War. 
 Vol.1. 8vo. With Map. £1. 
 
 Manning (Mrs.) Ancient and Mediaeval India. 
 
 Being the History, Religion, Laws, Caste, Manners and 
 Customs, Language, Literature, Poetry, Philosophy, Astronomy, 
 Algebra, Medicine, Architecture, Manufactures, Commerce, 
 Ac., of the Hindus, taken from their writings. Amongst the 
 works consulted and gleaned from may be named the Rig Veda. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 17 
 
 Sama Veda, Vajur Veda, Sathapatha Brahmana, Baghavat 
 Gita, The Puranas, Code of Menu, Code of Yajna-valkya, 
 Mitakshara ; Daya Bagha, Mahabharata, Atriya, Charaka, 
 Susruta, Ramayana, Raghu Vansa, Bhattikavia, Sakuntala 
 Vikramorvasi, Malali and Madhava, Mudra Rakshasa, Retna- 
 vali, Kuraara Sambhava, Prabodah, Chandrodaya, Megha Duta, 
 Gita Govinda, Panchatantra, Hitopadesa, Katha Sarit, Sagara, 
 Ketala, Panchavinsati, Dasa Kumara Charita, &c. By Mrs. 
 Manning, with Illustrations. 2 vols., 8vo. 30s. 
 
 Manual of Military Law. 
 
 By Colonel J. K. Pipon, and J. F. Collier, Esq., of th© 
 Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law. 5s. 
 
 Mayhew's (Edward) Illustrated Horse Doctor. 
 
 8vo. 18s. 6d. (See page 11). 
 
 Mayhew's (Edward) Illustrated Horse Management. 
 
 New edit. By J. I. Lupton. 8vo. 12s. (See page 11). 
 
 Mayhew's (Henry) German Life and Manners. 
 
 2 vols., 8vo. 18s. 
 
 Also a cheaper edition, Post 8vo. 7s. (See page 8). 
 
 Max Muller's Rig-Veda-Sanhita. 
 
 The Sacred Hymns of the Brahmins ; together with the 
 Commentary of Sayanacharya. Published under the Patron- 
 age of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for India in 
 Council. 6 vols., 4to. £'2 10s. per volume. 
 
 Meadow's (T.) Notes on China. 
 
 8vo. 9s. 
 
 Memorable Events of Modern History. 
 
 By J. G. Edgar, Author of the Boyhood of Great Men, &c. 
 Post 8vo. With Illustrations. 6s.' 6d. 
 
 Military Works — chiefly issued by the Government. 
 
 Field Exercises and Evolutions of Infantry. Pocket edition, Is. 
 •Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Army. Corrected to 
 1874. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Interleaved, 5s. 6d. Pocket Edition, Is. 
 
 Rifle Exercise and Musketry Instruction. 1878 (in preparation) 
 
 Musketry Regulations, as used at Hythe. Is. 
 
 Dress Regulations for the Army. 1875. Is. M. 
 
18 Wm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 Infantry Sword Exercise. 1875. 6d. 
 Infantry Bugle Sounds. 6d. 
 
 Handbook of Battalion Drill. By Lieut. H. C. Slack. 2s ; 
 or with Company Drill, 2s. 6d. 
 
 Handbook of Brigade Drill. By Lieut. H. C. Slack. 3s. 
 
 Red Book for Sergeants. By William Bkight, Colour- 
 Sergeant, 37th Middlesex E.Y. Is. 
 
 Handbook of Company Drill ; also of Skirmishing, Battalion, 
 and Shelter Trench Drill. By Lieut. Cha2I.es Slack. Is. 
 
 Elementary and Battalion Drill. Condensed and Illustrated, 
 together with duties of Company Officers, Markers, &c., in Batta- 
 lion By Captain Malton. 2s. 6d. 
 
 Cavalry Regulations. For the Instruction, Formations, and 
 Movements of Cavalry. Eoyal 8vo. 4s. 6d. 
 
 Cavalry Sword, Carbine, Pistol and Lance Exercises, together 
 with Field Gam Drill. Pocket Edition. Is. 
 
 Trumpet and Bugle Sounds for Mounted Service and Artillery. 
 Is. 6d. 
 
 The Training of Cavalry Remount Horses. By the late 
 Capt. L. E. Nolan, of the 15th Hussars. 8vo. 10s. 
 
 Manual of Artillery Exercises, 1873. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 Manual of Field Artillery Exercises. 1877. 3s. 
 
 Standing Orders for Royal Artillery. 8vo, 3s. 
 
 Principles and Practice of Modern Artillery. By Lt. -Col. C. 
 H. Owen, E.A. 8vo. Illustrated. 15s. 
 
 Artillerist's Manual and British Soldiers' Compendium. By 
 Major F, A. Gbiffiths. 11th Edition. 5s. 
 
 Compendium of Artillery Exercises — Smooth Bore, Field, and 
 G-arrison Artillery for Reserve Forces. By Captain J. M. McKenzie. 
 3s. 6d. 
 
 Principles of Gunnery. By John T. Hyde, M.A., late Pro- 
 fessor of Fortification and Artillery, Royal Indian Military College, 
 Addiscombe. Second edition, revised and enlarged. With many 
 Plates and Cuts, and Photograph of Armstrong Gun. Royal 8vo. 
 14s. 
 
 Notes on Gunnery. By Captain Goodeve. Revised Edition. 
 
 Is. 
 Text Book of the Construction and Manufacture of Rifled 
 
 Ordnance in the British Service. By Stone Y & Jones. Second 
 
 Edition. Paper, 3s. 6d., Cloth, 4s. 6d. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 19 
 
 Handbooks of the 9, 16, and 64-Pounder R. M. L. 
 Converted Guns. 6d. each. 
 
 Handbook of the 9 and 10-inch R. M. L. Guns. 6d. each. 
 
 Handbook of 40-Pounder B. L. Gun. Qd. 
 
 Handbooks of 9-inch Rifle Muzzle Loading Guns of 12 tons, 
 and the 10-inch gun of 18 tons. 6d. each. 
 
 Treatise on Fortification and Artillery. By Major Hector 
 Stbaith. Revised and re-arranged by Thomas Cook, R.N., by 
 John T. Hyde, M.A. 7th Edition. Royal 8vo. Illustrated and 
 Four Hundred Plans, Cuts, &c. £2 2s. 
 
 Military Surveying and Field Sketching. The Various 
 Methods of Contouring, Levelling, Sketching without Instruments, 
 Scale of Shade, Examples in Military Drawing, &c, &c, &c. As at 
 present taught in the Military Colleges. By Major W. H. Richards, 
 55th Regiment, Chief Grarrison Instructor in India, Late Instruc- 
 tor in Military Surveying, Royal Military College, Sandhurst. 
 Second Edition, Revised aud Corrected. 12s. 
 
 Treatise on Military Surveying; including Sketching in the 
 Field, Plan-Drawing, Levelling, Military Reconnaissance, &c. By 
 Lieut.- Col. Basil Jackson, late of the Royal Staff Corps. The 
 Fifth Edition. 8vo. Illustrated by Plans, &c. 14s. 
 
 Instruction in Military Engineering. Vol. 1., Part III. 4s. 
 
 Elementary Principles of Fortification. A Text- Book for 
 Military Examinations. By J. T. Hyde, M.A. Royal 8vo. With 
 numerous Plans and Illustrations. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Military Train Manual. Is. 
 
 The Sappers' Manual. Compiled for the use of Engineer 
 Volunteer Corps. By Col. W. A. Feankland, R.E. With 
 
 numerous Illustrations. 2s. 
 
 Ammunition. A descriptive treatise on the different Projectiles 
 Charges, Fuzes, Rockets, &c, at present in use for Land and Sea 
 Service, and on other war stores manufactured in the Royal 
 Laboratory. 6*. 
 
 Hand-book on the Manufacture and Proof of Gunpowder, as 
 carried on at the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey. 5s. 
 
 Regulations for the Training of Troops for service in the Field 
 and for the conduct of Peace Manoeuvres. 2s. 
 
 Hand-book Dictionary for the Militia and Volunteer Services, 
 Containing a variety of useful information, Alphabetically arranged. 
 Pocket size, 3s. 6d. ; by post, 3s. 8d. 
 
 Gymnastic Exercises, System of Fencing, and Exercises for 
 the Regulation Clubs. In one volume. Crown 8vo. 1877. 2s. 
 
20 Wm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 Army Equipment. Prepared at the Topographical and 
 Statistical Department, War Office. By Col. Sir Heney James, 
 R.E., F.E.S., &c, Director. 
 
 Paet, 1. — Cavalry. Compiled by Lieut. H. M, Hoziee, 2nd Life 
 
 Guards. Royal 8vo. 4s. 
 Paet 4. — Military Train. Compiled by Lieut. H. M. Hoziee, 
 
 2nd Life Guards. Royal 8vo. 2s. 6d. 
 Paet 5. — Infantry. Compiled by Capt. F. Martin Peteie. 
 
 Royal 8vo. With Plates. 5s. 
 Paet 6. — Commissariat. Compiled by Lieut. H. M. Hoziee, 2nd 
 
 Life Guards. Royal 8vo. Is. 6d. 
 Paet 7. — Hospital Service. Compiled by Capt. Martin Peteie. 
 
 Royal 8vo. With Plates. 5s. 
 
 Text-Book on the Theory and Motion of Projectiles ; the His- 
 tory, Manufacture, and Explosive Force of Gunpowder ; the History 
 of Small Arms. For Officers sent to School of Musketry. Is. 6d. 
 
 Notes on Ammunition. 4th Edition. 1877. 3s. 6d. 
 Regulations and Instructions for Encampments. 6d 
 
 Rules for the Conduct of the War Game. 2s. 
 
 Medical Regulations for the Army, Instructions for the Army, 
 Comprising duties of Officers, Attendants, and Nurses, &c. Is. 6d. 
 
 Purveyors' Regulations and Instructions, for Guidance of 
 Officers of Purveyors' Department of the Army, 3s. 
 
 Priced Vocabulary of Stores used in Her Majesty's Service. 4s. 
 
 Transport of Sick and Wounded Troops. By Dr. Lonomore. 5s. 
 
 Precedents in Military Law. By Lt-Col. W. Hough. 8vo. 25s. 
 
 The Practice of Courts-Martial, by Hough & Long. 8vo. 26s. 
 
 Manual of Military Law. For all ranks of the Army, Militia, 
 and Yolunteer Services. By Colonel J. K. Pipon, and J. F. Col- 
 liee, Esq. Third and Revised Edition. Pocket size. 5s. 
 
 Regulations applicable to the European Officer in India. Con- 
 taining Staff Corps Rules, Staff Salaries, Commands, Furlough and 
 Retirement Regulations, &c. By G-eoege E. Cochbane, late 
 Assistant Military Secretary, India Office. 1 vol., post 8vo. 7s. 6d. 
 
 Reserve Force; Guide to Examinations, for the use of Captains 
 and Subalterns of Infantry, Militia, and Rifle Volunteers, and for Ser- 
 jeants of Volunteers. By Capt. G. H. G-beaves. 2nd edit. 2s. 
 
 The Military Encyclopaedia ; referring exclusively to the 
 Military Sciences, Memoirs of distinguished Soldiers, and the Narra- 
 tives of Remarkable Battles. By J. H. Stocquelee. 8vo. 12s. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 21 
 
 The Operations of War Explained and Illustrated. By Col. 
 Hamlet. New Edition Revised, with Plates. Royal 8vo. 30s. 
 
 Lessons of War. As taught by the Great Masters ana Others ; 
 Selected and Arranged from the various operations in War. By 
 Eeance James Soady, Lieut.-Col., R A. Royal 8vo. 21s. 
 
 The Soldiers' Pocket Book for Field Service. By Col. Sir 
 G-aenet J. Wolselet. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. 4s. 6d. 
 
 The Surgeon's Pocket Book, an Essay on the best Treatment of 
 Wounded m War. By Surgeon Major J . H. Poetee. 7s. 6d. 
 
 A Prec of Modern Tactics. By Colonel Home. 8vo. 8s. 6d. 
 
 Armed Strength of Austria. By Capt. Cooke. 2 pts. £1 2s. 
 
 Armed Strength of Denmark. 3s. 
 
 Armed Strength of Russia. Translated from the German. 7s. 
 
 Armed Strength of Sweden and Norway. 3s. 6d. 
 
 Armed Strength of Italy. 5s. 6d. 
 
 Armed Strength of Germany. Part I. 8s. 6d. 
 
 The Franco-German War of 1870—71. By Capt. C. H. 
 Claeke. Yol. I. £1 6s. Sixth Section. 5s. Seventh Section 
 6s. Eighth Section. 3s. Ninth Section. 4s. 6d. Tenth Section. 6s. 
 
 The Campaign of 1866 in Germany. Royal 8vo. With Atlas, 21s 
 Celebrated Naval and Military Trials. By Pet^r Burke. 
 Post 8vo., cloth. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Military Sketches. By Sir Lascelles Wraxall. Post 8vo. 6s. 
 
 Military Life of the Duke of Wellington. By Jackson end 
 Scott. 2 Vols. 8vo. Maps, Plans, &c. 12s. 
 
 Single Stick Exercise of the Aldershot Gymnasium. 6d. 
 
 Treatise on Military Carriages, and other Manufactures of the 
 Royal Carriage Department. 5s. 
 
 Steppe Campaign Lectures. 2s. 
 
 Manual of Instructions for Army Surgeons. Is. 
 
 Regulations for Army Hospital Corps. 9d. 
 
 Manual of Instructions for Non- Commissioned Officers, Army 
 
 Hospital Corps. 2s. 
 Handbook or Military Artificers. 3s. 
 Instructions for the use of Auxiliary Cavalry. 2s. 6d. 
 Equipment Regulations for the Army. 5s. 6d. 
 Statute Law relating to the Army. Is. 3d. 
 Regulations for Commissariat and Ordnance Department 2s. 
 
22 Wm. H. Allen & Co. 
 
 Regulations for the Commissariat Department. Is. 6d. 
 Regulations for the Ordnance Department. Is. 6d. 
 
 Artillerist's Handbook of Reference for the use of the Royal 
 and Eeserve Artillery, by Will and Dalton. 5s. 
 
 An Essay on the Principles and Construction of Military 
 Bridges, by Sib Howaed Douglas. 1853. 15s. 
 
 Mill's History of British India, 
 
 With .Notes and Continuation. By H. H. Wilson. 9 vols. 
 
 cr. 8vo. £2 10s. 
 Milton's Poetical Works, with Notes. 
 
 By John Bradshaw, LL.D., Inspector of Schools, Madras. 
 
 2 vols, post 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 Mogul Empire. 
 
 From the death of Aurungzeb to the overthrow of the Mahratta 
 
 Power, by Henry George Keene, B.C.S. 8vo. Second 
 edition. With Map. 10s. 6d. 
 
 This Work Jills up a blank between the ending of Elphinstone' '$ 
 
 and the commencement of Thorntons Histories. 
 Mysteries of the Vatican ; 
 
 Or Crimes of the Papacy. "From the German of Dr. Theodore 
 
 Greisenger. 2 Vols, post 8 vo 21s. 
 Nationalities of Europe. 
 
 By Robert Gordon Latham, M.D. 2 Vols. 8vo. 12s. 
 Natural History, Sport and Travel. 
 
 By Edward Lockwood, Bengal Civil Service, late Magistrate 
 
 of Monghyr Crown 8vo. 10s. 6d. (In the press.) 
 Nirgis and Bismillah. 
 
 Nlrgis ; a Tale of the Indian Mutiny, from the Diary of a 
 Slave Girl : and Bismillah ; or, Happy Days in Cashmere. By 
 Hafiz Allard. Post 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
 Notes on China. 
 
 Desultory Notes on the Government and People of China and 
 
 on the Chinese Language. By T. T. Meadows, 8vo. 9s. 
 Notes on the North Western Provinces of India. 
 
 By a District Officer. 2nd Edition. Post bvo., cloth. 5s. 
 
 Contents. — Area and Population. — Soils. — Crops. — Irriga- 
 tion. — Rent. — Rates. — Land Tenures. 
 Owen (Sidney) India on the Eve of the British Conquest. 
 
 A Historical Sketch. By Sidney Owen, M.A. Reader in 
 
 Indian Law and History in the University of Oxford. 
 
 Formerly Professor of History in the Elphinstone College, 
 
 Bombay. Post 8vo. 8s. 
 
113, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 23 
 
 Oxenham's (Rev. H. N.) Catholic Doctrine of the Atonement. 
 
 8vo. 10s. 6d. (See page 5). 
 Ozanam's (A. F.) Civilisation in the Fifth Century. 
 
 From the French. By The Hon. A. C. Glyn. 2 Vols, post 
 8vo. Sis. 
 
 Fathologia Indica, 
 
 Based upon Morbid Specimens from, all parts of the Indian 
 Empire. By Allan Webb, B. M.S. Second Edit. 8vo. 14s. 
 
 Pharmacopoeia of India. 
 
 By Edward John Waring, M.D., &c. 8vo. 6s. (See page 2). 
 
 Physical Geography. 
 
 By Professor D. T. Ansted, M.A., F.R.S., &c. Fifth 
 Edition. Post 8vo., with Illustrative Maps. 7s. 
 Contents: — Part I. — Introduction. — The Earth as a Planet. 
 — Physical Forces. — The Succession of Rocks. Part II. — 
 Earth — Land. — Mountains. — Hills and Valleys.— Plateaux 
 and Low Plains. Part III. — Water. — The Ocean. — Rivers. 
 — Lakes and Waterfalls. — The Phenomena of Ice. — Springs. 
 Part IV. — Air. — The Atmosphere. Winds and Storms. — 
 Dew, Clouds, and Rain. — Climate and Weather. Part V. — 
 Fire. — Volcanoes and Volcanic Phenomena. — Earthquakes. 
 Part VI. — Life. — The Distribution of Plants in the different 
 Countries of the Earth. — The Distribution of Animals on the 
 Earth. — The Distribution of Plants and Animals in Time. — 
 Effects of Human Agency on Inanimate Nature. 
 
 "The Book is both valuable and comprehensive, and deserves a wide 
 
 circulation. " — Observer. 
 
 Pilgrimage to Mecca (A.) 
 
 By the Nawab Sikandar Begum of Bhopal. Translated from 
 the Original Urdu. By Mrs. Willoughby Osborne. Fol- 
 lowed by a Sketch of the History of Bhopal. By Col. Wil- 
 loughby-Osborne, C.B. With Photographs, and dedicated, 
 by permission, to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. Post 8vo. 
 £1. Is. 
 This is a highly important book, not only for its literary merit, and the 
 
 information it contains, but also from the fact of its being the first work 
 
 ■written by an Indian lady, and that lady a Queen. 
 
 Pebody (Charles) Authors at Work. 
 
 Francis Jeffrey — Sir Walter Scott — Robert Burns — Charles 
 Lamb — R. B. Sheridan — Sydney Smith — Macaulay — Byron 
 Wordsworth — Tom Moore — Sir James Mackintosh. Post 8vo. 
 10s. 6d. 
 
24 Wm. H. Allen & Co. 
 
 Pollock (Field Marshal Sir George) Life & Correspondence. 
 By C. R. Low. 8vo. With portrait. 18s. 
 
 Primitive and Universal Laws of the Formation and 
 
 Development of Language. 8vo. 12s. 6d. (See page 16.) 
 
 Prinsep's Political and Military Transactions in India. 
 
 2 Vols. 8vo. London, 1825. 18s. 
 
 Practice of Courts Martial. 
 
 By Hough & Long. 8vo. London. 1825. 26s. 
 
 Precedents in Military Law ; 
 
 By Lieut.-Col. W. Hough. One thick 8vo. Vol. 25s. 
 
 Prichard's Chronicles of Bndgepore, &c. 
 
 Or Sketches of Life in Upper India. 2 Vols., Foolscap 8vo. 12s. 
 
 Prinsep's (H. T.) Historical Results. 
 8vo. 1 5s. 
 
 Prinsep's (H. T.) Thibet. 
 
 Post 8vo. 5s. 
 
 Races and Tribes of Hindostan. 
 
 The People of India. A series of Photographic Illustrations 
 of the Races and Tribes of Hindustan. Prepared under the 
 Authority of the Government of India, by J. Forbes Watson, 
 and John William Kate. The Work contains about 450 
 Photographs on mounts, in Eight Volumes, super royal 4to. 
 £2. 5s. per volume. 
 
 Red Book for Sergeants. 
 
 By W. Bright, Colour-Sergeant, 37th Middlesex R.V. Fcap. 
 interleaved Is. 
 
 Regiments of the Army (The) 
 
 Chronologically arranged. Showing their History, Services, 
 Uniform, &c By Captain Trimen, late 35th Regiment. 
 
 Repnblic of Fools (The). 
 
 Being the History of the People of Abdera in Thrace, from 
 the German of C. M. Von Wieland. By Rev. Henry Christ- 
 mas, M.A. 2 Vols, crown 8vo. 12s. 
 
13, Waterloo Piace, Pall Mall. 25 
 
 Richards (Major W H.) Military Surveying, &c. 
 
 12s. (See page 19). 
 
 Royle's (Dr. J. F.) Botany of the Himalaya Mountains. 
 
 2 Vols, royal 4to. £5 5s. (See page 5). 
 
 Russians at Home. 
 
 Unpolitical Sketches, showing what Newspapers they read, what 
 Theatres they frequent; and how they eat, drink and enjoy 
 themselves ; with other matter relating chiefly to Literature, 
 Music, and Places of Historical and Religious Interest in and 
 ahout Moscow By H. Suthekland Edw t ards. Second Edition,' 
 post 8vo., with Illustrations. Os. 
 
 Sanderson's (Gr. P.) Thirteen Years among the Wild 
 
 Beasts of India. Small 4to. 25s. (See page 27). 
 
 Sepoy War in India. 
 
 A History of the Sepoy War in India, 1857 — 1858. By Sir 
 John William Kaye, Author of "The History of the War in 
 Afghanistan." Vol. I , 8vo. 18s. Vol. II. £1. Vol. III. £1 
 
 Contents of Vol. I : — Book I. — Introductory. — The Con- 
 quest of the Punjab and Pegu. — The " Right of Lapse." — The 
 Annexation of Oude. — Progress of Englishism. Book II. — The 
 Sepoy Army : its Rise, Progress, and Decline — Early His- 
 tory of the Native Army. — Deteriorating Influences. — The 
 Sindh Mutinies. — The Punjaub Mutinies. Discipline of the 
 Bengal Army. Book III. — The Outbreak of the Mutiny. — 
 Lord Canning and his Council. — The Oude Administration and 
 the Persian War. — The Rising of the Storm. — The First 
 Mutiny. — Progress of Mutiny. — Excitement in Upper India — 
 Bursting of the Storm. — Appkndix. 
 
 Contents of Vol II. : — Book IV. — The Rising in the 
 North-west. The Delhi History. — The Outbreak at Meerut. 
 — The Seizure of Delhi. — Calcutta in May. — Last Days of 
 General Anson. — The March upon Delhi Book V. — Pro- 
 gress of Rebellion in Upper India — Benares and Alla- 
 habad. — Cawnpore. — The March to Cawnpore. — Re-occupation 
 of Cawnpore. Book VI. — The Punjab and Delhi.-— First 
 Conflicts in the Punjab. — Peshawur and Rawul Pinder. — Pro- 
 gress of Events in the Punjab. — Delhi. — First Weeks of the 
 Siege. — Progress of the Siege. — The Last Succours from the 
 Punjab. 
 
2b* Wm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 Contents of -Vol III. : — Book VII. — Bengal, Behar, 
 and the North-west Provinces. — At the Seat of Govern- 
 ment. — The Insurrection in Behar. — The Siege of Arrah. — 
 Behar and Bengal. Book VIII. — Mutiny and Rebellion 
 in the North-west Provinces. — Agra in May. — Insurrec- 
 tion in the Districts. — Bearing of the Native Chiefs. — Agra in 
 June. July, August and September. Book IX. — Lucknow 
 and Delhi. — Rebellion in Oude. — Revolt in the Districts. — 
 Lucknow in June and July. — The siege and Capture of Delhi. 
 
 SewelTs (Robert) Analytical History of India. 
 
 Crown Svo. 8s. (See page 3). 
 
 Social Life in Munich. 
 
 By Edward Wilberforce, Second Edition. Post Svo. Cs. 
 " A very able volume. Mr. Wilberforce is a very pleasant and agree- 
 able writer whose opinion is worth hearing on the subject of modern art 
 which enters largely into the matter of his discourse." — Saturday Review. 
 
 Student's Chemistry. 
 
 Being the Seventh Edition of Household Chemistry, or the 
 Science of Home Life. By Albert J. Bernays, Ph. Dr. 
 F.C . S., Prof, of Chemistry and Practical Chemistry at St. Thomas' 
 Hospital, Medical, and Surgical College. Post Svo. 5s. 6d. 
 
 Sin : Its Causes and Consequences. 
 
 An attempt to Investigate the Origin, Nature, Extent and 
 Kesults of Moral Evil. A Series of Lent Lectures. By the 
 Rev. Hknry Christmas, M.A., F.R.S. Post Svo. 5s. 
 
 Starling (M. H.) Indian Criminal Law and Procedure. 
 
 Thud edition. Svo. £•-> 2s. 
 
 Strange' s (Sir T.) Hindu Law. 
 
 •2 Vols. Royal Svo. 1830. 24s. (See page 13). 
 
 Stuart's (Capt. H, B.) Armies of the Powers of Europe. 
 
 (In the press.) 
 
 " Their Majesties Servants" : 
 
 Annals of the English Stage. Actors, Authors, and Audiences. 
 From Thomas Betterton to Edmund Kean. By Dr. Dokan, 
 F.S.A., Author of " Tahle Traits," "Lives of the Queens of 
 England of the House of Hanover.'' &c. Post Svo. 6s. 
 
 "Every page of the work is barbed with wit, and will make its way 
 
 point foremost provides entertainment for the most diverse 
 
 tastes." — Daily News. 
 
13, Waterloo Plage, Pall Mall. 27 
 
 Textile Manufactures and Costumes of the People of India, 
 
 As originally prepared under the Authority of the Secretary of 
 
 State for India in Council. By J. Forbes Watson, M.A., 
 
 M.D., FRA.S., Reporter on the Products of India. Folio, 
 
 half-morocco. With numerous Coloured Photographs. £3. 5s. 
 
 This work — by affording a key to the Fashions of the People, and to 
 
 the Cotton, Silk, and Wool Textiles in actual use in India — is of special 
 
 interest to Manufacturers, Merchants, and Agents ; as also to the Student 
 
 and lover of ornamental art. 
 
 Theories of History. 
 
 An Inquiry into the Theories of History, — Chance, — Law, — 
 Will. With Special Reference to the Principle of Positive 
 Philosophy. By William Adam. 8vo. 15s. 
 
 Thirteen Years among the Wild Beasts of India- their 
 Haunts and Hahits, from Personal Observation ; with an 
 account of the Modes of Capturing and Taming Wild Elephants. 
 By G. P. Sandekson, Officer in Charge of the Government 
 Elephant Keddahs at Mysore. With 21 full page Illus- 
 trations and three Maps. Fcp. 4 to. £1 5s 
 
 Thomson's Lunar and Horary Tables. 
 
 For New and Concise Methods of Performing the Calculations 
 necessary for ascertaining the Longitude by Lunar Observa- 
 tions, or Chronometers ; with directions for acquiring a know- 
 ledge of the Principal Fixed Stars and finding the Latitude of 
 them. By David Thomson. Sixty-fifth edit. Royal 8vo. 10s. 
 
 Thornton's History of India. 
 
 The History of the British Empire in India, by Edward 
 Thornton, Esq. Containing a Copious Glossary of Indian 
 Terms, and a Complete Chronological Index of Events, to aid 
 the Aspirant for Public Examinations. Third edition. 1 vol. 
 8vo. With Map. 12s. 
 
 * # * The Library Edition of the above in 6 volumes, 8vo., may be 
 had, price £2. 8s. 
 
 Thornton's Gazetteer of India. 
 
 Compiled chiefly from the records at the India Office. By 
 Edward Thornton. 1 vol., 8vo., pp. 1015. With Map. 21s. 
 
 *** The chief objects in view in compiling this Gazetteer are : — 
 1st. To fix the relative position of the various cities, towns, and villages, 
 
 with as much precision as possible, and to exhibit with the greatest 
 
 practicable brevity all that is known respecting them ; and 
 2ndly. To note the various countries, provinces, or territorial divisions, and 
 
 to describe the physical characteristics of each, together with their 
 
 statistical, social, and political circumstances. 
 
 To these are added minute descriptions of the principal rivers 
 and chains of mountains ; thus presenting to the reader, ivithin a brief com- 
 pass, a mass of information which cannot otherwise be obtained, except from 
 a multiplicity of volumes and manuscript records. 
 
28 Wm. H. Allen & Co. 
 
 The Library Edition. 
 
 4 vols., 8vo. Notes, Marginal References, and Map. £2 16s. 
 Thugs and Dacoits of India. 
 
 A Popular Account of the Thugs and Dacoits, the Hereditary 
 
 Garotters and Gang Robbers of India. By James Hutton. 
 
 Post 8vo. 5s. 
 Tibet, Tartary, and Mongolia. 
 
 By Henry T. Pkinsep, Esq. Second edition. Post 8vo. 5s 
 Tilley's (H. A.) Japan, &c. 
 
 8vo. lbs. (See page 14). 
 
 Tod's (Col. Jas.) Travels in Western India. 
 
 Embracing a visit to the Sacred Mounts of the Jains, 
 and the most Celebrated Shrines of Hindu Faith between 
 Rajpootana and the Indus, with an account of the Ancient 
 City of Nehrwalla. By the late Lieut.-Col. James Tod, 
 Illustrations. Royal 4to. £3 3s. 
 
 * # * This is a companion volume to Colonel Tod's Rajasthan. 
 
 Trimen's (Capt. R., late 35th Regiment) Regiments of the 
 British Army chronologically arranged. 8vo. 10s. bd. 
 
 Trotter's History of India. 
 
 The History of the British Empire in India, from the 
 Appointment of Lord Hardinge to the Death of Lord Canning 
 (1844 to 1862). By Lionel James Trotter, late Bengal 
 Fusiliers. 2 vols. 8vo. 16s. each. 
 
 Turkish Cookery Book (The). 
 
 A Collection of Receipts from the best Turkish Authorities. 
 Done into English by Farabi Efendi. 12mo. Cloth. 3s. Od. 
 
 Vambery's Sketches of Central Asia. 
 
 Additional Chapters on My 'travels and Adventures, and of the 
 
 Ethnology of Central Asia. By Armenius Vambery. 8vo. 16s. 
 
 " A valuable guide on almost untrodden ground."- -Athenceum. 
 
 View of China, 
 
 For Philological Purposes. Containing a Sketch of Chinese 
 Chronology, Geography, Government, Religion, and Customs. 
 Designed for the use of Persons who study the Chinese 
 Language. By Rev. R. Morrison. 4to. Macao, 1817. us. 
 
 Waring' s Pharmacopoeia of India. 
 
 8vo. 6s. (See page 2). 
 
 Watson's (Dr. J. Forbes) Textile Manufactures of India. 
 Folio. £3. 5s. (See page 27). 
 
Wm. H. Allen & Co. 29 
 
 Watson's (Dr. J. F.) and J. W. Kaye, The People of India. 
 
 A Series of Photographs. Vols. 1 to 8, £18. 
 
 Webb's (Dr. A.) Pathologia Indica. 
 
 8vo. 14s. (See page 23). 
 
 Wellesley's Despatches. 
 
 The Despatches, Minutes, and Correspondence of the Marquis 
 Welleslev, K.G., during his Administration in India. 5 vols. 
 8vo. With Portrait, Map, &c. £6. 10s. 
 
 This work should be perused by all who proceed to India in the 
 Civil Services. 
 
 Wellington in India. 
 
 Military History of the Duke of Wellington in India. Is 
 
 Wilberforce's (Edward) Social Life in Munich. 
 
 Post 8vo. 6s. (See page 26) 
 
 Wilberforce's (E.) Life of Schubert. ' 
 
 Post 8vo. 6s. 
 
 Wilk's South of India. 
 3 vols. 4 to. £5. 5s. 
 
 Williams' (F.) Lives of the English Cardinals. 
 
 2 vols., 8vo. 14s. (See page 7). 
 
 Williams' (F.) Life, &c, of Bishop Atterbury. 
 
 2 vols., 8vo. 14s. (See page 4). 
 
 Williams' Indian Wisdom. 
 
 8vo. 15s. (See page 14). 
 
 Wollaston's (Arthur N.) Anwari Suhaili, or Lights of Canopus 
 
 Commonly known as Kalilah and Damnah, being an adaptation 
 of the Fables of Bidpai. Translated from the Persian. Royal 
 4to., with illuminated borders, designed specially for the work, 
 cloth, extra gilt. £3 13s. 6d. 
 
 Wollaston's (Arthur N.) Elementary Indian Reader. 
 
 Designed for the use of Students in the Anglo- Vernacular 
 Schools in India. Fcap. Is. 
 
 Woolrych's (Serjeant W. H.) 
 
 Lives of Eminent Serjeants at-Law of the English Bar. By 
 Humphry W. Woolrych, Serjeant-at-Law. 2 vols. 8vo. 30a. 
 
30 Wu. II. Allen & Co. 
 
 World we Live In. 
 
 Or First Lessons in Physical Geography. For the use of 
 Schools and Students. By D. T. Aksted, M.A., F.R.S., &c. 
 25th Thousand. Fcap. 8vo. 2s. 
 
 WraxalTs Caroline Matilda. 
 
 Queen of Denmark, Sister of George 3rd. From Family and 
 State Papers. By SirLascelles Wraxall, Bart. vols., 8vo. 18s. 
 
 Wraxall's Military Sketches. 
 
 By Sir Lascelles Wraxall, Bart. Post 8vo. 6s. 
 
 " The book is clever and entertaining from first to last." — Athenaum. 
 
 Wraxall's Scraps and Sketches, Gathered Together. 
 
 By Sir Lascelles Wraxall, Bart. 2 vols., Post 8vo. 12s 
 
 Yesterday and To-Day in India. 
 
 By Sidney Lam an Bianchakd. Post 8vo. Os. 
 
 Contents. — Outward Bound. — The Old Times and the New. — 
 Domestic Life. — Houses and Bungalows. — Indian Servants — ■ 
 The Great Shoe Question. — The Garrison Hack — The Long 
 Bow in India. — ]\Irs. Dulcimer's Shipwreck. — A Traveller's 
 Tale, told in a Dark Bungalow. — Punch in India. — Anglo- 
 Indian Literature. — Christmas in India. — The Seasons in 
 Calcutta. — Farmers in Muslin. — Homeward Bound. — India 
 as it Is. 
 
 Young's (J. R.) Conrse of Mathematics. 
 
 8vo. 12s. (See page 7). 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 31 
 
 A SELECTION FROM 
 
 MESSRS. ALLEN'S CATALOGUE 
 
 OF BOOKS IN THE EASTERN LANGUAGES, &c. 
 
 HINDUSTANI, HINDI, &c. 
 
 [ Dr. Forbes's Works are used as Class Boohs in the Colleges and Schools 
 
 in India.'] 
 
 Forbes's Hindustani-English Dictionary in the Persian Character, 
 with the Hindi words in Nagari also ; and an English Hindustani 
 Dictionary in the English Character ; both in one volume. By Dux- 
 can Fobbes, LL.D. Royal 8vo. 42s. 
 
 Forbes's Hindustani Grammar, with Specimens of Writing in the 
 Persian and Nagari Characters, Reading Lessons, and Vocabulary. 
 8fo. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Forbes's Hindustani Manual, containing a Compendious Gram- 
 mar, Exercises for Translation, Dialogues, and Vocabulary, in the 
 Roman Character. New Edition, entirely revised. By J. T. Platts. 
 18mo. 3s. 6d. 
 
 Forbes's Bagh o Bahar, in the Persian Character, with a complete 
 A r ocabulary. Royal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Forbes's Bagh o Bahar in English, with Explanatory Notes, 
 illustrative of Eastern Character. 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Eastwick (Edward B.) The Bagh-o-Bahar — literally translated 
 into English, with copious explanatory notes. 8vo. 30s. 6d. 
 
 Forbes's Tota Kahani ; or, " Tales of a Parrot," in the Persian 
 Character, with a complete Vocabulary. Royal 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Small's (Rev. G.) Tota Kahani; or, " Tales of a Parrot." Trans- 
 lated into English. 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Forbes's Baital Pachisi ; or, "Twenty-five Tales of a Demon," 
 in the Nagari Character, with a complete Vocabulary. Royal 8vo. 9s. 
 
 Platts' J. T., Baital Pachisi; translated into English. 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Forbes's Ikhwanu s Safa; or, "Brothers of Purity," in the 
 Persian Character. Royal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 [For the higher standard for military officers' examinations.'] 
 Platts' Ikhwanu S Safa; translated into English. 8vo. 10s. Cd. 
 
3-2 WM H. Allen A Co., 
 
 Plans' Grammar of the Urdu or Hindustani-Language. 8vo. 12s. 
 
 Forbes's Oriental Penmanship ; a Guide to Writing Hindustani 
 in the Persian Character. 4to. 8s. 
 
 Forbes's Hindustani-English and English Hindustani Dictionary, 
 in the English Character. Royal 8vo. 36s. 
 
 Forbes's Smaller Dictionary, Hindustani and English, in the 
 English Character. 12s. 
 
 Forbes's Bagh o Bahar, with Vocaby., English Character. 5s. 
 
 Singhasan Battisi. Translated into Hindi from the Sanscrit. 
 A New Edition. Revised, Corrected, and Accompanied with Copious 
 Notes. By Sted Abdoolah. Royal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Robertson's Hindustani Vocabulary. 3s. 6d. 
 Eastwick's Prem Sagur. 4to. 30s. 
 
 Akhlaki Hindi, translated into Urdu, with an Introduction and 
 Notes. By Syed Abdoolah. Royal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Sakuntala. Translated into Hindi from the Sanskrit, by 
 Feedebic Pikcott. 4to. 12s. 6d. 
 
 SANSCRIT. 
 
 Haughton's Sanscrit and Bengali Dictionary, in the Bengali 
 Character, with Index, serving as a reversed dictionary. 4to. 30s. 
 
 Williams's English-Sanscrit Dictionary. 4to., cloth. £'3. 3s. 
 
 Williams's Sauskrit-English Dictionary. 4to. £4 14s. 6d. 
 
 Wilkin's (Sir Charles) Sanscrit Grammar. 4to. 15s. 
 
 Williams's (Monier) Sanscrit Grammar. 8vo. 15s. 
 
 Williams's (Monier) Sanscrit Manual : to which is added, a 
 Vocabulary, by A. E. Gough. 18mo. 7s. 6d. 
 
 Gough's (A. E.) Key to the Exercises in Williams's Sanscrit 
 
 Manual. 18mo. 4s. 
 Williams's (Monier) Sakuntala, with Literal English Translation 
 
 of all the Metrical Passages, Schemes of the Metres, and copious 
 
 Critical and Explanatory Notes. Roval 8vo. 21s. 
 
 Williams's (Monier) Sakuntala. Translated into English Prose 
 and Verse. Eourth Edition. 8s. 
 
 Williams's (Monier) Vikramorvasi. The Text. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 Cowells (E B.) Translation of the Vikramorvasi. 8vo. 3s. 6d. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 33 
 
 Thompson's (J. C.) Bhagavat Gita. Sanscrit Text. 5s. 
 
 Haughton's Menu, with English Translation. '2 vols. 4to. 24s. 
 
 Johnson's Hitopadesa, with Vocabulary. 15s. 
 
 Hitopadesa, Sanscrit, with Bengali and English Trans. 10s. 6d. 
 
 Johnson's Hitopadesa, English Translation of the. 4to. 5s. 
 
 Wilson's Megha Duta, with Translation into English Verse, 
 Notes, Illustrations, and a Vocabulary. Eoyal 8vo. 6s. 
 
 PERSIAN. 
 
 Richardson's Persian, Arabic, and English Dictionary. Edition 
 of 1852. By E. Johnson. 4to. £4. 
 
 Forbes's Persian Grammar, Reading Lessons, and Vocabulary. 
 
 Eoyal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 Ibraheem's Persian Grammar, Dialogues, &c. Royal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Gulistan. Carefully collated with the original MS., with a full 
 Vocabulary. By John Platts, late Inspector of Schools, Central 
 Provinces, India. Royal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Gulistan. Translated from a revised Text, with Copious Notes. 
 By John Platts. 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Ouseley's Anwari Soheili. 4to. 42s. 
 
 Wollaston's (Arthur N.) Translation of the Anvari Soheili. 
 Royal 8vo. £2 2s. 
 
 Keene's (Rev. H. G.) First Book of The Anwari Soheili. Persian 
 
 Text. 8vo. 5s. 
 Ouseley's (Col.) Akhlaki Mushini. Persian Text. 8vo. 5s. 
 
 Keene's (Rev. H. G.) Akhlaki Mushini. Translated into English. 
 8vo. 3s. 6d. 
 
 Cjarke's (Captain H. Wilberforce, R.E ) The Persian Manual. 
 A Pocket Companion. 
 
 PART I. — A concise Grammar op the Language, with Exer- 
 cises on its more Prominent Peculiarities, together with a Selection of 
 Useful Phrases, Dialogues, and Subjects for Translation into Persian. 
 PART II.— A Vocabulary oe Useful Words, English and 
 Persian, showing at the same time the difference of idiom between 
 the two Languages. 18mo. Vs. 6d. 
 
 A Translation of Robinson Crusoe into the Persian Language. 
 Roman Character. Edited by T. W. H. Tolbort, Bengal Civil 
 Service. (In the press). 
 
34 "Wm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 BENGALI. 
 
 Haughton's Bengali, Sanscrit, and English Dictionary, adapted 
 for Students in either language ; to which is added an Index, serving 
 as a reversed dictionary. 4to. 30s. 
 
 Forbes's Bengali Grammar, with Phrasesand dialogues. Royal 
 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Forbes's Bengali Reader, with a Translation and Vocabulary 
 Royal 8vo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Nabo Nan. 12mo. 7s. 
 
 ARABIC. 
 
 Richardson's Arabic, Persian and English Dictionary. Edition 
 of 1852. By F. Johnson. 4to., cloth. £4. 
 
 Forbes's Arabic Grammar, intended more especially for the use of 
 young men preparing for the East India Civil Service, and also for the 
 use of self instructing students in general. Royal 8vo., cloth. 18s. 
 
 Palmer's Arabic Grammer. 8vo. 18s. 
 
 Forbes's Arabic Reading Lessons, consisting of Easy Extracts 
 from the best Authors, with Vocabulary. Royal 8vo., cloth. 15s. 
 
 Beresford Arabic Syntax. Royal 8vo 6s. 
 
 Matthew's Translation of the Mishkat-ul-Masabih. 2 vols in 1. 
 By the Rev. T. P. Hughes, Missionary to the Afghans at Peshawur. 
 (In the Press). 
 
 TELOOGOO. 
 
 Brown's Dictionary, reversed ; with a Dictionary of the Mixed 
 Dialects used in Teloogoo. 3 vols, in 2, royal 8vo. £5. 
 
 Campbell's Dictionary. Royal 8vo. 30s. 
 
 Bromn's Reader. 8vo. 2 vols. 14s. 
 
 Brown's Dialogues, Teloogoo and English. 8vo. 5s. 6d, 
 
 Pancha Tantra. 8s. 
 
 Percival's English-Teloogoo Dictionary. 10s. Get. 
 
 TAMIL. 
 
 Bottler's Dictionary, Tamil and English. 4to. 42s. 
 Babington's Grammar (High Dialect). 4to. 12s. 
 Percival's Tamil Dictionary. 2 vols. 10s. 6d. 
 
13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall. 35 
 
 GUZRATTEE. 
 
 Mavor's Spelling, Guzrattee and English. 7s, 6d. 
 Shapuaji Edalji's Dictionary, Guzrattee and English. 21s. 
 
 MAHRATTA. 
 
 Molesworth's Dictionary, Mahratta and English. 4to. 42s. 
 Molesworth's Dictionary, English and Mahratta. 4to. 42s. 
 Stevenson's Grammar. 8vo., cloth. 17s. 6d. 
 Esop's Fables. 12rno. 2s. 6d. 
 Fifth Reading Book. 7s. 
 
 MALAY. 
 Marsden's Dictionary. 4to. £3. 3s. 
 Marsden's Grammar. 4to. £\ Is. 
 
 CHINESE. 
 
 Morrisons Dictionary. 6 vols. 4to. £10. 
 
 Marshman's— Clavis Sinica, a Chinese Grammar. 4to. £2 2s. 
 
 Morrison's View of China, for Philological purposes ; containing a 
 Sketch of Chinese Chronology, Greography, Government, Eeligion and 
 Customs, designed for those who study the Chinese language. 4to. 6s. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Reeve's English-Carnatica and Carnatica- English Dictionary. 
 2 vols. (Very slightly damaged). £8. 
 
 Collett's Malayalam Reader. Rvo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 Esop's Fables in Carnatica. 8vo. bound. 12s. 6d. 
 
 David's Turkish Grammar. 15s. 
 
 Wilson's Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms, and of useful 
 Words occurring in Official Documents relating to the Administration 
 " of the Government of British India. From the Arabic, Persian, 
 Hindustani, Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Uriya, Marathi, Guzarathi, 
 Telugu, Karnata, Tamil, Malayalam, and other Languages. Compiled 
 and published under the authority of the Hon. the Court of Directors 
 of the E. I. Company. 4to., cloth. £1 10s. 
 Messrs. Wm. H. Allen Sf Co.'s Catalogues of Printed and Lithographed 
 Books in the Eastern Languages, to which is added a list of Oriental Manu- 
 scripts, may be had gratis on application. 
 
36 Wm. H. Allen & Co., 
 
 A CHRONOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL 
 
 CHART OF INDIA, 
 
 Price, fully tinted, mounted on roller or in case, 20s. 
 size, about 40 in. by 50 in. 
 
 Showing, at one view, all the principal nations, governments, and empires which 
 have existed in that country from the earliest times to the suppression of the Great 
 Mutiny, A.D. 1858, with the date of each historical event according to the various 
 eras used in India. 
 
 BY 
 
 ARTHUR ALLEN DURTNALL, 
 
 Of the Sigh Court of Justice in England. 
 
 By this Chart, any person, however ignorant of the subject, may, by an hour's 
 attention, obtain a clear view of the broad lines of Indian History, and of the 
 evolutions which have resulted in the dominion of Her Majesty as EMPRESS OF 
 INDIA. It will be found invaluable for Educational Purposes, especially in 
 Colleges and Schools, where an Indian career is in contemplation. It will also be 
 found of permanent ctilitt in all Libraries and Offices as a work of ready 
 reference for the connection of events and dates. Besides the History of India, it 
 includes the contemporaneous histories of Afghanistan, Central Asia, and 
 Europe. 
 
 A RELIEVO MAP OF INDIA. 
 
 BY 
 
 HENRY F. BRION. 
 
 In Frame, 'lis. 
 
 A map of this kind brings before us such a picture of the surface of a given 
 country as no ordinary map could ever do. To the mind's eye of the average 
 Englishman, India consists of ' the plains ' and 'the hills,' chiefly of the former, 
 the hills being limited to the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. The new map will at 
 least enable him to correct his notions of Indian geography. It combines the 
 usual features of a good plain map of the country on a scale of 150 miles to the 
 inch, with a faithful representation of all the uneven surfaces, modelled on a scale 
 thirty-two times the horizontal one; thus bringing out into clear relief the com- 
 parative heights and outlines of all the hill-ranges, and showing broad tracts cf 
 uneven ground, of intermingled hill and valley, which a common map of the 
 same size would hardly indicate, except to a very practised eye. The plains of 
 Upper India are reduced to their true proportions; the Central Provinces, 
 Malwa, and "Western Bengal reveal their actual ruggedness at a glance ; and 
 Southern India, from the Vindhyas to Cape Comorin, proclaims its real height 
 above the sea-level. To the historical as well as the geographical student such a 
 map is an obvious and important aid in tracing the course of past campaigns, in 
 lealising the conditions under which successive races carried their arms or settle- 
 ments through the Peninsula, and in comprehending the difference of race, climate, 
 and physical surroundings which make up our Indian Empire. Set in a neat 
 frame of maplewood, the map seems to attract the eye like a prettily-coloured 
 picture, and its price, a guinea, should place it within the reach of all who care to 
 combine the useful with the ornamental." — Home News. 
 
MAPS OF INDIA, etc. 
 
 Messrs. Allen Sf Co?s Maps of India were revised and much improved 
 during 1874, with especial reference to the existing Administrative 
 Divisions, Railways, <fyc. 
 
 District Map of India ; corrected to 1874; 
 
 Divided into Collectorates with the Telegraphs and Kailways from Go- 
 vernment surveys. On six sheets— size, 5ft. 6in. high ; 5ft. 8in. wide, 
 £2; in a case, £2 12s. 6d. ; or, rollers, varn., £3 3s. 
 
 A General Map of India ; corrected to 1874; 
 
 Compiled chiefly from surveys executed by order of the Government 
 of India. On six sheets — size, 5 ft. 3 in. wide ; 5 ft. 4 in. high, £2 ; 
 or, on cloth, in case, £2 12s. 6d. ; or, rollers, varn., £3 3s. 
 
 Map of India ; corrected to 1874 ; 
 
 From the most recent Authorities. On two sheets — size, 2 ft. lOin. 
 wide ; 3 ft. 3 in. high, 16s. ; or, on cloth, in a case, £1 Is. 
 
 Map of the Routes in India; corrected to 1874 ; 
 
 With Tables of Distances between the principal Towns and Military 
 Stations On one sheet — size, 2 ft. 3 in. wide ; 2 ft. 9 in. high, 9s. ; 
 or, on cloth, in a case, 12s. 
 
 Map of the Western Provinces of Hindoostan, 
 
 The Punjab, Cabool, Scinde, Bhawulpore, &c, including all the States 
 between Candahar and Allahabad. On four sheets — size, 4 ft. 4in. 
 wide j 4 ft. 2 in. high, 30s. ; or, in case, £2 ; rollers, varnished, £2 10s. 
 
 Map of India and China, Burmah, Siam, the Malay Penin- 
 sula, and the Empire of Anam. On two sheets — size, 4 ft. 3 in. wide ; 
 3 ft. 4 in. high, 16s. ; or, on cloth, in a case, £1 5s. 
 
 Map of the Steam Communication and Overland Ptoutes 
 between England, India, China, and Australia. In a case, 14s. ; on 
 
 rollers, and varnished, 18s. 
 
 Map of Afghanistan and the adjacent Countries. 
 
 On one sheet — size, 2 ft. 3 in. wide ; 2 ft. 9 in. high, 9s. ; in case, 12s. 
 
 Map of China, 
 
 From the most Authentic Sources of Information. One large sheet- 
 size, 2 ft. 7 in. wide j 2 ft. 2 in. high, 6s. ; or, on cloth, in case, 8s. 
 
 Map of the World ; 
 
 On Mercator's Projection, showing the Tracts of the Early Navigators, 
 the Currents of the Ocean, the Principal Lines of great Circle Sailing, 
 and the most recent discoveries. On four sheets— size, 6ft. 2 in. wide ; 
 1 ft. 3 in. high, £2 ; on cloth, in a case, £2 10s- ; or, with rollers, and 
 varnished, £3. 
 
 Handbook of Reference to the Maps of India. 
 
 Giving the Latitude and Longitude of places of note. 1 8mo. 3s. 6d. 
 
THE 
 
 ROYAL KALENDAR, 
 
 AND 
 
 COURT & CITY REGISTER 
 
 FOR 
 
 €n$8X&, frtlanb, jstotlanb, anb % Colonies 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 
 
 18 7 8. 
 
 Containing a Correct List of the Twenty-First Imperial 
 Parliament, summoned to meet for their Session — 
 March 5th, 1874. 
 
 House of Peers — House of Commons — Sovereigns and Rulers 
 of States of Europe — Orders of Knighthood — Science and Art 
 Department — Queen's Household — Government Offices — Mint 
 — Customs — Inland Revenue — Post Office — Foreign Ministers 
 and Consuls — Queen's Consuls Abroad — Naval Department — 
 Navy List — Army Department — Army List — Law Courts — 
 Police — Ecclesiastical Department — Clergy List — Foundation 
 Schools — Literary Institutions — City of London — Banks — Rail- 
 way Companies — Hospital and Institutions — Charities — Miscel- 
 laneous Institutions — Scotland, Ireland, India, and the Colonies ; 
 and other useful information. 
 
 Price with Index, 7s. ; without Index, ds. 
 
Published on the arrival of every Mail from India. Subscription 26s. per 
 annum, post free, specimen copy, 6d. 
 
 ALLEN'S INDIAN MAIL, 
 
 AND 
 
 (©Itral feetfe 
 
 FROM 
 
 INDIA, CHINA, AND ALL PARTS OF THE EAST. 
 
 Allen's Indian Mail contains the fullest and most authentic Reports 
 of all important Occurrences in the Countries to which it is devoted, com- 
 piled chiefly from private and exclusive sources. It has been pronounced 
 by the Fress in general to be indispensable to all who have Friends or Rela- 
 tives in the East, as affording the only correct information regarding the 
 Services, Movements of Troops, Shipping, and all events of Domestic and 
 individual interest. 
 
 The subjoined list of the usual Contents will show the importance and 
 variety of the information concentrated in Allen's Indian Mail. 
 
 Summary and Review of Eastern News. 
 
 Shipping— Arrival of Ships 
 
 ,. „ Passengers 
 
 „ Departure of Ships 
 
 „ „ Passengers 
 
 Commercial— State of the Markets 
 „ IndianSecurities 
 
 „ Freights 
 
 &c. &c, &c. 
 
 Precis of Public Intelligence 
 
 Selections from the Indian Press 
 
 Movements of Troops 
 
 The Government Gazette 
 
 Courts Martial 
 
 Domestic Intelligence -Births 
 
 „ „ Marriages 
 
 „ „ Deaths 
 
 Some Intelligence relating to India, Sfc. 
 
 Original Articles 
 
 Arrival reported in England 
 
 Miscellaneous Information 
 
 Departures „ „ 
 
 Appointments 
 
 , Extensions, of 
 
 Shipping 
 
 -Arrival of Ships 
 
 Furloughs 3 
 
 &c. 
 
 )t 
 
 „ Passengers 
 
 it 
 
 Civil 
 
 H 
 
 Departure of Ships 
 
 it 
 
 Military 
 
 it 
 
 „ Passengers 
 
 a 
 
 Ecclesiastical and 
 
 a 
 
 Vessel spoken with 
 
 a 
 
 Marine 
 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Review of "Works on the East.— And Notices of all affairs 
 connected with India and the Services. 
 
 Each year an Index is furnished, to enable Subscribers to bind up the Volume 
 which forms a complete 
 
 ASIATIC AN NUAL REGIS TER A ND LIBRA RY OF REFERENCE. 
 London :Wm. H. ALLEN & Co., 13, WATERLOO PLACE,S.W. 
 
 (PUBLISHERS TO THE INDIA OFFICE), 
 
 To whom Communications for the Editor, and Advertisements 
 are requested to be addressed. 
 
MESSRS. Wm. E ALLEN & Co/s 
 
 LIST OF FORTHCOMING WORKS. 
 
 CYPRUS, 
 
 ITS HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION. 
 
 Adapted from the German of Here Franz von Loher. Sup- 
 plemented with other information regarding the Island. By 
 Mrs. A. Batson Joyner. 
 
 *** This ivork comprises a History of the Island, its Geo- 
 graphy, Climate, Botany, Products, Social Economy and Com- 
 mercial Aspects, together with interesting Sketches of Scenes and 
 Inhabitants. Crown 8vo. 
 
 WATER AND WATER SUPPLY, 
 
 CHIEFLY IN REFERENCE TO BRITISH ISLANDS. 
 
 Part I — Surface Waters. By Professor D. T. Ansted. 
 Svo. 
 
 A TURKISH MANUAL. 
 
 By Captain C. F. Mackenzie, late of H..M's. Consular Service. 
 
 DOWN BY THE DRAWLE. 
 
 By Major A. F. P. Harcourt, Bengal Staff Corps, Deputy 
 Commissioner. Lahore. Author of " Kooloo, Lahool and 
 Spite," "The Shakespeare Argosy," &c.-, &c. '2 vols. (Jr. 8vo. 
 
 CANAL AND CULVERT TABLES. 
 
 By Lowis D'a. Jackson, author of the "Hydraulic Manual." 
 
 Stlje fHtscrllaucous (Kssaus of Sr, tfMtistucfcrr, 
 
 With a Memotr. 
 
 :ro busts oust CBTJSOE. 
 
 Translated into the Persian Language. Roman Character. 
 Editedf by T. W. H. Tolbort, Bengal Civil Service. 
 
v" 1 
 

 LD21 -ioo w . 8 ,, 34 
 
U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES 
 
 CODt. 137^00 
 
 54627? 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UBRARY