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conceived； and it is strenuously asserted that many persons of corrupt
habits and ill…balanced lives； upon waking unexpectedly while passing
through these Beneath Parts； have abandoned the remainder of their
journey； and； escaping hastily to the outer air； have from that time
onwards led a pure and consistent existence； but； on the other foot；
those who are compelled to use the caverns daily； freely confess that
the surroundings to not in any material degree purify their lives of
tranquillise the nature of their inner thoughts。
In this emergency I did not neglect to write out a diversity of charms
against every possible variety of evil influence； and concealing them
lavishly about my head and body； I presented myself with the outer
confidence of a person who is inured to the exploit。 Doubtless thereby
being mistaken for one of themselves in the obscurity； I received the
inscribed safeguard without opposition； and even an added sum in
copper pieces； which I discreetly returned to the one behind the
shutter； with the request that he would honourably burn a few joss
sticks or sacrifice to a trivial amount； to the success of my journey。
In such a manner I reached an awaiting train； and； taking up within it
a position of retiring modesty； I definitely committed myself to the
undertaking。
At the next tarrying place there entered a barbarian of high…class
appearance； and being by this time less assured of my competence in
the matter unaided； both on account of the multiplicity of evil omens
on every side； and the perverse impulses of the guiding demon； whereby
at sudden angles certain of my organs had the emotion of being left
irrevocably behind and others of being snatched relentlessly forward；
I approached him courteously。
〃Behold；〃 I said； 〃many thousand li of water； both fresh and bitter；
flow between the one who is addressing you and his native town of
Yuen…ping； where the tablets at the street corners are as familiar to
him as the lines of his own unshapely hands； for； as it is truly said；
'Does the starling know the lotus roots； or the pomfret read its way
by the signs among the upper branches of the pines？' Out of the
necessities of his ignorance and your own overwhelming condescension
enlighten him； therefore； whether the destination of this fire…chariot
by any chance corresponds with the inscribed name upon his talisman？〃
Thus adjured； the stranger benevolently turned himself to the detail；
and upon consulting a book of symbols he expressed himself to this
wise： that after a sufficient interval I should come into a certain
station； called in part after the title of the enlightened ruler of
this Island； and there abandoning the train which was carrying us； I
should enter another which would bring me out of the Beneath Parts and
presently into the midst of that Palace which I sought。 This advice
seemed good； for a reasonable connection might be supposed to exist
between a station so auspiciously called and a Palace bearing the
harmonious name of the gracious and universally…revered
sovereign…consort。 Accordingly I thanked him ceremoniously； not only
on my own part； but also on behalf of eleven generations of immediate
ancestors； and in the name of seven generations who should come after；
and he on his side agreeably replied that he was sure his grandmother
would have done as much for mine； and he sincerely hoped that none of
his great…great…grandchildren would prove less obliging。 In this
intellectual manner； varied with the entertainment of profuse bows；
the time passed cordially between us until the barbarian reached his
own alighting stage； when he again repeated the various details of the
strategy for my observance。
At this point let it be set forth deliberately that there existed no
treachery in the advice； still less that this person is incapable of
competently achieving the destined end of any hazard upon which he may
embark when once the guiding signs have been made clear to his
understanding。 Whatever entanglement arose was due merely to the
conflicting manners of expression used by two widely…varying races；
even as our own proverb says； 〃What is only sauce for the cod is
serious for the oyster。〃
At the station indicated as bearing the sign of the ruler of the
country （which even a person of little discernment could have
recognised by the highly…illuminated representation bearing the
elusively…worded inscription； 〃In packets only〃）； I left this
fire…chariot； and at once perceiving another in an attitude of
departure； I entered it； as the casual barbarian had definitely
instructed； and began to assure myself that I had already become
expertly proficient in the art of journeying among these Beneath
Regions and to foresee the time； not far distant； when others would
confidently address themselves to me in their extremities。 So
entrancing did this contemplation grow； that this outrageous person
began to compose the actual words with which he would instruct them as
the occasion arose； as thus； 〃Undoubtedly； O virtuous and not
unattractive maiden； this fire…engine will ultimately lead your
refined footsteps into the street called Those who Bake Food。 Do not
hesitate； therefore； to occupy the vacant place by this insignificant
one's side〃； or； 〃By no means； honourable sir； the Cross of Charing is
in the precisely opposite direction to that selected by this
self…opinionated machine for its inopportune destination。 Do not
rebuke this person for his immoderate loss of mental gravity； for your
mistake； though pardonable in a stranger； is really excessively
diverting。 Your most prudent course now will assuredly be to cast
yourself from the carriage without delay and rely upon the benevolent
intervention of a fire…chariot proceeding backwards。〃
Alas； it is truly said； 〃None but sword…swallowers should endeavour to
swallow swords；〃 thereby signifying the vast chasm that lies between
those who are really adroit in an undertaking and those who only think
that they may easily become so。 Presently it began to become deeply
impressed upon my discrimination that the journey was taking a more
lengthy duration than I had been given to understand would be the
case； while at the same time a permanent deliverance from the terrors
of the Beneath Parts seemed to be insidiously lengthening out into a
funereal unattainableness。 The point of this person's destination； he
had been assured on all hands； was a spot beyond which even the most
aggressively assertive engine could not proceed； so that he had no
fears of being incapably drawn into more remote places； yet when hour
after hour passed and the ill…destined machine never failed in its
malicious endeavours to leave each successive tarrying station； it is
not to be denied that my imagination dwelt regretfully upon the true
civilisation of our own enlightened country； where； by the considerate
intervention of an all…wise government； the possibilities of so
distressing an experience are sympathetically removed from one's path。
Thus the greater part of the day had faded； and I was conjecturing
that by this time we must inevitably be approaching the barren and
inhospitable country which forms the northern limit of the Island；
when the door suddenly opened and the barbarian stranger whom I had
left many hundred li behind entered the carriage。
At this manifestation all uncertainty departed； and I now understood
that to some obscure end witchcraft of a very powerful and high…caste
kind was being employed around me； for in no other way was it credible
to one's intelligence that a person could propel himself through the
air with a speed greater than that of one of these fire…chariots； and
overtake it。 Doubtless it was a part of this same scheme which made it
seem expedient to the stranger that he should feign a part； for he at
once greeted me as though the occasion were a matter of everyday
happening； exclaiming genially
〃Well； Mr。 Kong； returning？ And what do you think of the Palace？〃
〃It is fitly observed； 'To the earthworm the rice stalk is as high as
the pagoda；'〃 I replied with adroit evasion； clearly understanding
from his manner that for some reason； not yet revealed to me； a course
of dissimulation was expedient in order to mislead the surrounding
demons concerning my movements； and by a subtle indication of the face
conveying to the stranger an assurance th