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was a handcount of the small copper…pieces of this Island； which I had
caused to be burnished and gilt for the purpose of taking back to
amuse those of Yuen…ping。 On the other side were two or three pages
from a gravity…removing printed leaf entitled 'Bits of Tits；' with
which this person weekly instructs himself in the simpler rudiments of
the language。 For the rest the case was controlled by a hidden spring；
and inscribed about with a charm against loss； consumption by fire； or
being secretly acquired by the unworthy。〃
〃I don't think you stand in much need of that charm； Mr。 Quack；〃
remarked another of more than ordinary rank； who was also present。
〃Then they really got practically no money from you？〃
〃By no means；〃 I admitted。 〃It was never literally stipulated； and
whatever of wealth he possesses this person carries in a concealed
spot beneath his waistbelt。〃 （For even to these； virtuous sire； I did
not deem it expedient to reveal the fact that in reality it is hidden
within the sole of my left sandal。）
〃I congratulate you；〃 he said with lavish refinement。 〃Ben and the
Butterman can be very bland and persuasive。 Could you tell me； as a
matter of professional curiosity； what first put you on your guard？〃
〃In this person's country；〃 I replied； 〃there is an apt saying； 'The
sagacious bird does not build his nest twice in the empty
soup…toureen；' and by observing closely what has gone before one may
accurately conjecture much that will follow after。〃 It may be； that
out of my insufferable shortcomings of style and expression； this
answer did not convey to his mind the logical sequence of the warning；
yet it would have been more difficult to show him how everything arose
from the faultlessly…balanced system of the heroic Wei Chung； or the
exact parallel lying between the ill…clad outcast who demanded a
portion of tobacco and the cheerfully unassuming stranger who had in
his possession a larger accumulation of money than he could
conveniently disperse。
In such a manner I took leave of the station and those connected with
it； after directing that the share of the spoil which fell by the law
of this Island to my lot should be sold and the money of exchange
faithfully divided among the virtuous and necessitous of both sexes。
The higher officials each waved me pleasantly by the hand； according
to the striking and picturesque custom of the land； while the lesser
ones stood around and spoke flattering words as I departed； as
〃honourable；〃 〃a small piece of all…right；〃 〃astute ancient male
fowl；〃 〃ah！〃 and the like。
With repeated assurances that however ineptly the adventure may at the
time appear to be tending； as regards the essentials of true dignity
and an undeviating grasp upon articles of negotiable value； nothing of
a regrettable incident need be feared。
KONG HO。
LETTER IX
Concerning the proverb of the highly…accomplished horse。 The
various perils to be encountered in the Beneath Parts。 The
inexplicable journey performed by this one； and concerning the
obscurity of the witchcraft employed。
VENERATED SIRE；Among these islanders there is a proverb； 〃Do not
place the carte〃 （or card； the two words having an identical purport；
and both signifying the inscribed tablet of viands prepared for a
banquet；） before the horse。〃 Doubtless the saying first arose as a
timely rebuke to a certain barbarian emperor who announced his
contempt for the intelligence of his subjects by conferring high
mandarin rank upon a favourite steed and ceremoniously appointing it
to be his chancellor； but from the narrower moral that an unreasoning
animal is out of place； and even unseemly； in the entertaining hall or
council chamber； the expression has in the course of time taken a
wider application and is now freely used as an insidious thrust at one
who may be suspected of contrariness of character； of confusing
issues； or of acting in a vain or illogical manner。 I had already
preserved the saying among other instances of foreign thought and
expression which I am collecting for your dignified amusement； as it
is very characteristic of the wisdom and humour of these Outer Lands。
The imagination is essentially barbaric。 A horsedoubtless
well…groomed； richly…caparisoned； and as intellectual as the
circumstances will permit； but inevitably an animal of degraded
attributes and untraceable ancestrya horse reclining before a
lavishly set…out table and considering well of what dish it shall next
partake！ Could anything； it appears； be more diverting！ Truly to our
more refined outlook the analogy is lacking both in delicacy of wit
and in exactitude of balance； but to the grosser barbarian conception
of what is gravity…removing it is irresistible。
I am； however； reminded of the saying by perceiving that I was on the
point of recording certain details of recent occurrence without first
unrolling to your mind the incidents from which it has arisen that the
person who is now communicating with you is no longer reposing in the
Capital； but spending a period profitably in observing the habits of
those who dwell in the more secluded recesses on the outskirts of the
Island。 This reversal of the proper sequence of affairs would
doubtless strike those around as an instance of setting the banquet
before the horse。 Without delay； then； to pursue the allusion to its
appropriate end； I will return； as it may be said； to my nosebag。
At various points about the streets of the Capital there are certain
caverns artificially let into the bowels of the earth； to which any
person may betake himself upon purchasing a printed sign which he must
display to the guardian of the gate。 Once within the underneathmost
parts he is free to be carried from place to place by means of the
trains of carriages which I have already described to you； until he
would return to the outer surface； when he must again display his
talisman before he is permitted to pass forth。 Nor is this an empty
form； for upon an occasion this person himself witnessed a very bitter
contention between a keeper of the barrier and one whose token had
through some cause lost its potency。
In the company of the experienced I had previously gone through the
trial without mischance； so that recently when I expressed a wish to
visit a certain Palace； and was informed that the most convenient
manner would be to descend into the nearest cavern； I had no
reasonable device for avoiding the encounter。 Nevertheless；
enlightened sire； I will not attempt to conceal from your omniscience
that I was by no means impetuous towards the adventure。 Owing to the
pugnacious and unworthy suspicions of those who direct their
destinies； I have not yet been able to penetrate the exact connection
between the movements of these hot…smoke chariots and the Unseen
Forces。 To a person whose chief object in life is to avoid giving
offence to any of the innumerable demons which are ever on the watch
to revenge themselves upon our slightest indiscretion； this
uncertainty opens an unending vista of intolerable possibilities。 As
if to emphasise the perils of this overhanging doubt the surroundings
are ingeniously arranged so as to represent as nearly as practicable
the terrors of the Beneath World。 Both by day and night a funereal
gloom envelops the caverns； the pathways and resting…places are meagre
and so constructed as to be devoid of attraction or repose； and by a
skilful contrivance the natural atmosphere is secretly withdrawn and a
very acrimonious sulphurous haze driven in to replace it。 In sudden
and unforeseen places eyes of fire open and close with disconcerting
rapidity； and even change colour in vindictive significance； wooden
hands are outstretched as in unrelenting rigidity against
supplication； or； divining the unexpressed thoughts； inexorably point；
as one gazes； still deeper into the recesses of the earth； while the
air is never free from the sounds of groans； shrieks； the rattling of
chains； dull； hopeless noises beneath one's feet or overhead； and the
hoarse wordless cries of despair with which the attending slaves of
the caverns greet the distant clamour of every approaching
fire…chariot。 Admittedly the intention of the device is benevolently
conceived； and it is strenuously asserted that many persons of corrupt
habits and ill…