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artifices by which terror may be struck into the ranks of an awaiting
foeman。 The result was that which the prudent must have foreseen。 The
more accomplished enemy； without exposing themselves to any
unnecessary inconvenience； gained many advantages by their intrepid
power of dissimulationarranging their garments and positions in such
a way that they had the appearance of attacking when in reality they
were effecting a prudent retreat； rapidly concealing themselves among
the earth on the approach of an overwhelming force； becoming openly
possessed with the prophetic vision of an assured final victory
whenever it could be no longer concealed that matters were becoming
very desperate indeed； and gaining an effective respite when all other
ways of extrication were barred against them by the stratagem of
feigning that they were other than those whom they had at first
appeared to be。
In the meantime the adventure was not progressing pleasantly for those
chiefly concerned at home。 With the earliest tidings of repulse it was
discovered that in the haste of embarkation the wrong persons had been
sent； all those who were really the fittest to command remaining
behind； and many of these did not hesitate to write to the printed
papers； resolutely admitting that they themselves were in every way
better qualified to bring the expedition to a successful end； at the
same time skilfully pointing out how the disasters which those in the
field had incurred could easily have been avoided by acting in a
precisely contrary manner。
In the emergency the most far…seeing recommended a more unbending
policy of extermination。 Among these； one in particular； a statesman
bearing an illustrious name of two…edged import； distinguished himself
by the liberal broad…mindedness of his opinions； and for the time he
even did not flinch from making himself excessively unpopular by the
wide and sweeping variety of his censure。 〃We are confessedly a
barbarian nation；〃 fearlessly declared this unprejudiced person （who；
although entitled by hereditary right to carry a banner on the field
of battle； with patriotic self…effacement preferred to remain at home
and encourage those who were fighting by pointing out their inadequacy
to the task and the extreme unlikelihood of their ever accomplishing
it）； 〃and in order to achieve our purpose speedily it is necessary to
resort to the methods of barbarism。〃 The most effective measure； as he
proceeded to explain with well…thought…out detail； would be to capture
all those least capable of resistance； concentrate them into a given
camp； and then at an agreed signal reduce the entire assembly to what
he termed； in a passage of high…minded eloquence； 〃a smoking hecatomb
of women and children。〃
His advice was pointed with a crafty insight； for not only would such
a course have brought the stubborn enemy to a realisation of the
weakness of their position and thus paved the way to a dignified
peace； but by the act itself few would have been left to hand down the
tradition of a relentless antagonism。 Yet with incredible obtuseness
his advice was ignored and he himself was referred to at the time by
those who regarded the matter from a different angle； with a
scarcely…veiled dislike； which towards many of his followers took the
form of building materials and other dissentient messages whenever
they attempted to raise their voices publicly。 As an inevitable result
the conquest of the country took years； where it would have been moons
had the more truly humane policy been adopted； commerce and the arts
languished； and in the end so little spoil was taken that it was more
common to meet six mendicants wearing the honourable embellishment of
the campaign than to see one captured slave maiden offered for sale in
the market placesindeed； even to this day the deficiency is clearly
admitted and openly referred to as The Great 〃Domestic〃 Problem。
*
At various times during my residence here I have been filled with a
most acute gratification when the words of those around have seemed to
indicate that they recognised the undoubted superiority of the laws
and institutions of our enlightened country。 Sometimes； it is true；
upon a more detailed investigation of the incident； it has presently
appeared that either I had misunderstood the exact nature of their
sentiments or they had slow…wittedly failed to grasp the precise
operation of the enactment I had described； but these exceptions are
clearly the outcome of their superficial training； and do not affect
the fact my feeble and frequently even eccentric arguments are at
length certainly moving the more intelligent into an admission of what
constitutes true justice and refinement。 It is not to be denied that
here and there exists a prejudice against our customs even in the
minds of the studious； but as this is invariably the shadow of
misconception； it has frequently been my sympathetic privilege to
promote harmony by means of the inexorable logic of fact and reason。
〃But are not your officials uncompromisingly opposed to the freedom of
the Press？〃 said one who conversed with me on the varying phases of
the two countries； and knowing that in his eyes this would constitute
an unendurable offence； I at once appeased his mind。 〃By no means；〃 I
replied； 〃if anything； the exact contrary is the case。 As a matter of
reality； of course； there is no Press now； the all…seeing Board of
Censors having wisely determined that it was not stimulating to the
public welfare； but if such an institution was permitted to exist you
may rest genially assured that nothing could exceed the lenient
toleration which all in office would extend towards it。〃 A similar
instance of malicious inaccuracy is widely spoken of regarding our
lesser ones。 〃Is it really a fact； Mr。 Kong；〃 exclaimed a maiden of
magnanimous condescension； to this person recently； 〃that we poor
women are despised in your country； and that among the working…classes
female children are even systematically abandoned as soon as they are
born？〃 Suffering my features to express amusement at this unending
calumny； I indicated my violent contempt towards the one who had first
uttered it。 〃So far from despising them；〃 I continued； with
ingratiating gallantry； 〃we recognise that they are quite necessary
for the purposes of preparing our food； carrying weighty burdens； and
the like； and how grotesque an action would it be for poor but
affectionate parents to abandon one who in a few years' time could be
sold at a really remunerative profit； this； indeed； being the
principal means of sustenance in many frugal families。〃
On another occasion I had seated myself upon a wooden couch in one of
the open spaces about the outskirts of the city； when an aged man
chanced to pass by。 Him I saluted with ceremonious politeness； on
account of his years and the venerable dignity of his beard。 Thereupon
he approached near； and remarking affably that the afternoon was good
（though； to use no subtle evasion； it was very evil）； he congenially
sat by my side and entered into familiar discourse。
〃They say that in your part of the world we old grandfathers are
worshipped；〃 he said； after recounting to my ears all the most
intimate details of his existence from his youth upwards； 〃now； might
that be right？〃
〃Truly；〃 I replied。 〃It is the unchanging foundation of our system of
morality。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 he admitted pleasantly。 〃We are a long way behind them
foreigners in everything。 At the rate we're going there won't be any
trade nor work nor religion left in this country in another twenty
years。 I often wish I had gone abroad when I was younger。 And if I had
chanced upon your parts I should be worshipped； eh？〃 and at the
agreeable thought the aged man laughed in his throat with simple
humour。
〃Assuredly；〃 I replied； 〃after you were dead。〃
〃Eh？〃 exclaimed the venerable person； checking the fountain of his
mirth abruptly at the word。 〃Dead！ not before？ Doesn'tdoesn't that
seem a bit of a waste？〃
〃Such has been the observance from the time of unrecorded antiquity；〃
I replied。 〃'Obey parents； respect the old； loyally uphold the
sovereign； and worship ancestors。'〃
〃Well； well；〃 remarked the one beside me； 〃obedience and
respectthat's something nowadays。 And you make them do it？〃
〃Our laws