 CHAPTER 13 IN WHICH IS HEARD THE CELEBRATED LAMENT CALLED THE FIVE PERIODS IN THE LIFE OF A CENTINARIAN. GENTLEMAN, SAID KENFU TO HIS TWO BODY GUARDS, WHEN THE WHEELBARROW STOPPED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SUBURB OF TONG CHAU, WE ARE NOW ONLY FOURTY LEAKS FROM HEKIN, AND IT IS MY INTENTION TO STOP HERE UNTIL THE TIME THAT THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WANG AND MYSELF SHALL HAVE ENDED IN THIS CITY OF FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND SOLES, IT WILL BE EASY FOR ME TO REMAIN UNKNOWN IF SOON DOES NOT FORGET THAT HE IS IN KINON SERVICE, A HUMBLE MERCHANT IN THE PROVENCE OF CHENSEE. NO, CERTAINLY NOT, SOON WOULD NOT FORGET IT AGAIN. HIS STUPIDITY HAD FORGED HIM TO FILL THE PLACE OF A HORSE THE PAST EIGHTY DAYS, AND HE HOPEED THAT MR. KENFU, KEY SID KREG, NON SID KRIE, WOULD NOT AGAIN TAKE HIM FROM HIS CUSTOMERY WORK. AND NOW, CONSIDERING HIS RETEAK, HE ASKED JUST ONE THING OF MR. KENFU, KEY SID KREG, NON REPEATED FRI, PERMISSION TO SLEEP FORTY-EIGHT HOURS AT LEAST AT A STRETCH, WITH BRIDAL SLACKENED A RATHER WITHOUT ANY HARDEST AT ALL, FOR A WEEK IF YOU WISH, ANSWERED KENFU, I SHALL BE SURE AT LEAST THAT IN SLEEPING YOU WILL NOT TALK. KENFU and his companions then busied themselves in looking for a good hotel, which was not wanting in Tongchiao. This vast city is in truth but an immense suburb of Peking. The paved road which unites it to the capital is bordered the whole length with villas, houses, agricultural hamlets, tombs, small pagodas, and grassy enclosures. And on this route the travel of carriages, cavaliers, and food-passengers is constant. KENFU was acquainted with the city and was escorted to the Taekwang Mao, the temple of the sovereign princes. It is simply a bond's temple transformed into a hotel where strangers can lodge quite comfortably. KENFU, KREG, AND FRI immediately located there, and the two agents took a room adjoining that of their precious charge. As for soon he disappeared to sleep in the corner assigned him, and was seen no more. An hour later KENFU and his followers left their rooms, breakfasted, with a good appetite and asked each other what was necessary to be done. It is necessary, answered KREG FRI, to read the official gazette in order to see if there is any article which concerns us. You are right, answered KENFU. Perhaps we shall learn what has become of Wang. All three men left the hotel. Through prudence the two acolytes walked by the side of their patron, looking into the faces of passers-by, without allowing themselves to be approached by anyone. They went thus through the narrow streets of the city, and reached the wharves. There a copy of the official gazette was bought and eagerly read. Nothing, nothing in it but the promise of two thousand dollars, or thirteen hundred towels, to whoever would make known to William J. Bedolp, the present residence of Mr. Wang of Shanghai. So said KENFU, he has not returned. Therefore he has not read the advertisement concerning him, answered KREG, and will still keep to the terms of the agreement, added Fry. But where can he be, cried KENFU? Sir, said Fry KREG, do you think you are in greater danger during the last days of the agreement? Most certainly I do, answered KENFU. Wang does not know the change in my circumstances, and it seems probable he will not be able to free himself from the necessity of keeping his promise. Therefore, in two or three days I shall be in greater danger than I am today, and in six greater still. But when the time has passed, I shall have nothing more to fear. Well, sir, answered KREG, Fry, there are only three ways of ridding yourself of all danger during these six days. What is the first, asked KENFU? It is to return to the hotel, said KREG, to shut yourself up in your room, and wait till the time has expired. And the second is to have yourself arrested as a criminal, answered Fry, in order to be placed in safety in the prison of Tengqiao. And the third is to pass yourself off for dead, answered Fry KREG, and only to come to life again when safety is yours once more. You do not know Wang, cried KENFU. Wang would find his way into my hotel, my prison, or my tomb. If he has not killed me so far, it is because he has not wished to do so. Or it was because it seemed to him preferable to leave me the pleasure or the anxiety of waiting. Who knows what can have been his motive? Under all circumstances I prefer to wait in liberty. We will wait then, yet, said KREG. It seems to me that, at a try, gentlemen, interrupted KENFU in a curt tone, I will do what pleases me, after all, if I die before the twenty-fifth of this month. What will your company lose? Two hundred thousand dollars, answered Fry KREG, two hundred thousand dollars, which we shall have to pay to your heirs. And I lose all my fortune, without counting my life. I am then more interested than you in the matter. To be sure, very true. Continue then to watch over me as long as you think proper, but I shall act after my own inclination. There was nothing to be said in reply. KREG Frye was then obliged to give him more liberty and to double their precautions, but they did not conceal from themselves that the gravity of the situation grew more decided every day. ZONG CHAU is one of the most ancient cities in the Celestial Empire. Situated on the canal arm of the Tai Hou at the junction of another canal which unites it with the king, it is the center of great business activity, while its suburbs are extremely lively from the going and coming of its inhabitants. KENFU and his companions were more strongly impressed by this stir when they reached the wharf where sandpans and the junks of commerce are anchored. Finally, KREG and Frye, after having weighed everything, came to the conclusion that they were safer in the midst of a crowd. The death of their patron would apparently be owing to suicide. The letter which would be found on him would leave no doubt on that score. Wang, therefore, would have no interest in striking him except under certain conditions, which did not present themselves in frequented streets or in the public place of a city. Consequently, KENFU's guardians did not fear an immediate attack. The only thing now was to ascertain if the typing through marvelous skill had not been following in their tracks since they left Shanghai. So they made good use of their eyes in scanning the faces of the passersby. Suddenly, a name was spoken which made them listen intently. KENFU! KENFU! cried several Chinese children from among the crowd, jumping up and down and clapping their hands. Had KENFU been recognized? And did his name produce the usual effect? The unwilling hero stopped. KREG Frye stood ready in case of need to make a rampart of their bodies around him. These cries were not addressed to KENFU, for no one seemed to suspect that he was there. Therefore he did not stir but waited to find out why his name had been spoken. A group of men, women, and children had formed around a strolling singer who seemed greatly in favor with the street public, who shouted, clapped their hands, and applauded him. When the singer found himself in the presence of a sufficiently large audience, he drew from his robe a package of placards with colored illustrations then shouted in a sonorous voice the five periods in the life of the centenarian. It was the famous lament heard everywhere in the Celestial Empire. KREG Frye wished to drag their charge away, but this time KENFU obstinately persisted in remaining. No one knew him. He had never heard the lament, which told his ways in doings, and he desired to hear it. This singer began thus. In the first period the moon shines on the pointed roof of the house at Shanghai. KENFU is young. He is twenty, and resembles the willow whose first leaves show their little green tongue. In the second period the moon shines on the east side of the KOSLI YAMEN. KENFU is forty. His ten thousand business affairs are successful. According to his wishes, the neighbors sing his praises. The singer's expression changed, and he seemed to grow old at every verse. They loaded him with applause, and he continued. In the third period the moon lights the open space. KENFU is sixty. After the green leaves of summer come the yellow chrysanthemums of autumn. In the fourth period the moon has declined to the west. KENFU is eighty. His body is drawn up like a crab in boiling water. His life is waning, waning with a star of night. In the fifth the cox hail the birth of Don KENFU is a hundred. He is dying. His strongest desire accomplished, but the disdainful prince YEN refuses to receive him. Once YEN does not like old people who would go into second childhood in his court, the old KENFU will wander through all eternity without ever being able to rest. And the crowd applauded, and the singer sold his laments by the hundred at three sepiquets a copy. And why should not KENFU buy one? He drew out some small change from his pocket, and extending his arm through the first rows of the crowd held out a handful. But all at once his hand open and the money fell to the ground. Opposite him stood a man whose gaze met his. Ah, KENFU, who would not restrain this exclamation, which was both interrogative and exclamatory. Fry Craig surrounded him, thinking him recognized, menaced. Shot it dead perhaps. Wang, he cried. Wang, repeated Craig Fry. Wang, repeated Craig Fry. It was Wang, in person. He had just perceived his former pupil, but instead of rushing at him, he pushed vigorously through the last rows of the crowd and ran off, as fast as his long legs would carry him. KENFU did not hesitate. He wished to understand this intolerable situation and set out in pursuit of Wang, escorted by Fry Craig, who wished neither to go ahead nor to remain behind. They too had recognized the lost philosopher, and understood by the surprise, the latter had just manifested that he no more expected to see KENFU than KENFU expected to see him. Now why was Wang running away? It was quite inexplicable. But yet he was running off as if all the police in the Celestial Empire were at his heels. It was a mad pursuit. I am not ruined. Wang! Not ruined! cried KENFU. Rich! Rich! repeated Fry Craig. But Wang kept at too great a distance to hear these words, which were intended to make him stop. He passed the wharf, the canal, and reached the entrance of the western suburb. The three pursuers flew after him, but did not catch up with him. On the contrary, the fugitive threatened to outdistance them. Half a dozen Chinaman, to say nothing of two or three couples, of Tobias, joined KENFU, concluding that a man who could make off so fast must be a malefactor. It was a curious spectacle. This breathless, shouting, screaming group, adding on the way numerous volunteers to its number. Those around the singer had plainly heard KENFU speak the name of Wang. Fortunately, the philosopher had not answered by that of his pupil, for all the city would have followed so celebrated a man. But Wang's name sufficed. Wang, that enigmatic person whose discovery was worth an enormous reward, this was well known, so that if KENFU ran after the $800,000 of his fortune, Greg Fry, after the $200,000 insurance, the others were running after the $2,000 reward, and it must be acknowledged it was enough to make them all take to their heels. Wang, I am richer than ever, KENFU kept saying, as well as his speed would permit. Not ruined, not ruined, repeated Greg Fry. Stop, stop, cried the majority of the pursuers, increasing in their number and running faster and faster and making the dust fly under their feet. Wang heard nothing, but with his elbows close to his chest, kept on unwilling to exhaust himself by answering, or to lose any of his speed for the pleasure of turning his head. They were now beyond the suburbs, and Wang hastened over the paved route along the canal on this route, which was then almost deserted, the field was free. He still increased his speed, but naturally his pursuers also doubled their efforts. And this wild chase was kept up nearly 20 minutes, and nothing could foretell the result. However, the fugitive appeared to lose strength somewhat. The distance which he had maintained between the pursuers and himself to this moment tended to diminish. So Wang, perceiving this, doubled on himself and disappeared behind the shrubbery in front of a small pagoda at the right hand of the road. Ten thousand tiles to whoever will stop him, cried KENFU. Ten thousand tails, repeated Greg Fry. Yah, yah, yah! Scream the group farther ahead, winding around the walls of the pagoda. Wang had come inside again, and was following a narrow cross-path along a canal, where in order to perplex his pursuers he made a new turn, which placed him again on the paved road. But when there it was apparent that he was becoming exhausted, for he turned his head around several times. KENFU, Craig, and Fry on their part were as fresh as ever. They walked on, or rather flew, and not one of the rapid runners after tails succeeded in gaining upon them. The Edeu-Mah was now approaching. It was only a question of time, and a comparatively short time, a few moments at most. Wang, KENFU, and his companions had all reached the place where the main road crossed the river over the celebrated bridge of Palais-Cal. Eighteen years before, on the 21st of September, 1860, they would not have had free passage over this point in the province of Pichili. The highway was then encumbered by fugitives of another kind. The Army of General Sankou Li Xen, an uncle of the Emperor, being repulsed by French battalions, halted at Palais-Cal on this bridge, a magnificent work of art, with a white marble balustrade and bordered by a double row of gigantic lions. It was there that the Manchurian Tartars, so incomparably brave in their fatalism, were cut down by the balls of the European cannon. But the bridge, which still bears the marks of battle in its defaced statues, became free. Wang, growing weaker, dashed across the road, and KENFU, and all the rest, by a great effort, approached him. Soon twenty, then fifteen, then ten steps only separated them. It was of no use now to try to stop Wang by useless words, which he could not or would not hear. They must catch up with him and seize him, and bind him if necessary. They could explain afterwards. Wang understood that he was about to be overtaken, and as if from some inexplicable notion seemed to dread finding himself face to face with his former pupil and was going to risk his life to escape him. And with one bound, Wang jumped upon the railing of the bridge and flung himself into the pay-hole. KENFU stopped a moment and called, Wang, Wang! Then, making a sudden bound, he shouted, I will have him alive, and he sprang into the river. Craig, said Fry, Fry, said Craig, two hundred thousand dollars in the water. And both, leaping over the railing, plunged into the sucker of the ruinous patron of the centenary. A few of the volunteers followed them. They looked like so many clowns, leaping bars. But so much zeal was useless, Craig Fry and the others, allured by the premium, searched the pay-hole in vain. Wang could not be found. Drawn on by the current, no doubt, the unfortunate philosopher had floated away. Had Wang only desired to escape pursuit by plunging into the river, or for some mysterious reason, had he resolved to end his days, no one could tell. Two hours later, Kin, Fu, Craig, and Fry, disappointed, but perfectly dry and refreshed, and soon waked up out of the depths of his sleep, and swearing as was to be expected, for on their way to begin. End of Chapter 13, Recording by Jeannie Whitfield, Mississippi, U.S.A. CHAPTER XIV of the Tribulations of a China Man in China. The Tribulations of a China Man in China by Jules Verne, translated by Virginia Champlain, Chapter 14, in which the visitors, without fatigue, can travel through four cities by visiting only one. The Pichili, the most western of the 18 provinces of China, is divided into nine departments, and one of them has, for its capital, Chun-Kin Fu, that is, the city of the first order submissive to heaven, which city is Peking. Let the reader imagine a Chinese tomahawk with a surface of 6,000 hectares, a circumference of eight leagues whose irregular parts would exactly fill a rectangle, and he will have an idea of this mysterious kambalu, which Marco Polo, toward the close of the 13th century, so curiously describes. For such is the capital of the celestial empire. In fact, Peking comprises two distinct cities, which are separated by a large boulevard and fortified wall. One of them, the Chinese city, is a rectangular parallelogram. The other, the Tartar city, an almost perfect square. The latter encloses two other cities, the Yellow City, Huang Qing, and Sen-Kin-Qing, the red or forbidden city. Formerly, these cities numbered more than 2 million inhabitants, but emigration, caused by extreme want, has reduced this number to a million in all, Tartars and Chinese, and added to these about 10,000 Musulmans, besides a certain number of Mongolians and inhabitants of Tibet, composed the floating population. The plan of these two cities, one above the other, presents almost the exact figure of an old-fashioned sideboard whose upper part would be formed by the Chinese city and the base by the Tartar city. Six leagues of a fortified enclosure, from 40 to 50 feet in height and width, with an outside wall of brick, defended for 200 meters on both sides by jutting towers, surround the Tartar city with a magnificent paved promenade and throw out at their angles four enormous bastions which have guard houses on their platforms. The emperor, the son of heaven, as one sees, is well guarded. In the center of the Tartar city, the yellow city, with a surface of 660 hectares, with an outlet of eight gates contains a coal mountain 300 feet high, the highest point of the capital, also a superb canal called the Central Sea, spanned by a marble bridge, two bronze convents, a pagoda of examinations, the Pei Tha Si, a bronze temple built on a peninsula which seems as if suspended over the clear waters of the canal, the Pei Tang, an establishment of Catholic missionaries, the imperial pagoda, superb with its roof of sonorous bells and lapis lazuli tiles, the great temple dedicated to the ancestors of the reigning dynasty, the temple of spirits, the temple of the spirit of winds, the temple of the god of thunder, of the inventor of silk, of the lord of the heaven, the five pavilions of dragons, and the monastery of eternal repose. In the center of this quadrilateral is hidden the forbidden city whose surface measures 80 hectares, and which is surrounded by the ditch of a canal spanned by seven marble bridges. It need not be explained that the reigning dynasty being from Manchuria, the first of these three cities is principally inhabited by the same race, as for the Chinese they are consigned to the lower part of the sideboard outside in an annexed city. One reaches the interior of this forbidden city, which is surrounded by red brick walls, crowned by a capital of golden yellow varnished tiles, through a gate at the south called the Gate of Great Purity, which is only open to emperors and empresses. There may be found the temple of the ancestors of the Tartar dynasty, sheltered under a double roof of variegated tiles, the temple's chi and sai consecrated to terrestrial and celestial spirits. The palace of sovereign concord reserved for state ceremonies and official banquets. The palace of medium concord, where are seen the pictures of the ancestors of the sons of heaven. The palace of the protecting concord, whose central hall is occupied by the imperial throne. The pavilion of Ni Kou, where the Great Council of the Empire is held, and presided over by Prince Kong. The minister of foreign affairs and paternal uncle of the last sovereign. The pavilion of literary flowers, where the emperor goes once a year to interpret the sacred books. The pavilion of Suqin Xin Tian, in which the sacrifices in honor of Confucius take place. The imperial library. The office of historians. The Vang Ying Tian, where the wood and copper plates used in printing books are kept. Shops in which court garments are prepared. The palace of celestial purity. A place for the deliberation of family affairs. The palace of the supreme terrestrial element, where the young emperors dwelt. The palace of meditation, into which the sovereign retires when he is ill. The three palaces where the emperor's children are brought up. The Temple of Deceased Relatives. The four palaces reserved for the widow and wives of Hien Fong, who died in 1861. The Chieu Xiong Kong. The Residence of Imperial Spouses. The palace of preferred goodness intended for the official reception of court ladies. The Palace of the General Tranquility. A singular name for a school for the children of superior officers. The Palace of Purification and Fasting. The Palace of the Purity of Jade, inhabited by the princes of the blood. The Temple of the Protecting God of the Town. A Temple of Tibetan Architecture. The Magazine of the Crown. The Offices of Court Officials. The Liao Kong Chieu. The Dwelling of the Yenox, in which there are no less than five thousand in the Red City. And to be brief, other palaces, amounting to forty-eight in all, can be counted within the Imperial Enclosure, without including the Stien Kong Kho. Pavilion of Purpleed Light, sitting on the borders of the lake of the Yellow City, where, on the nineteenth of June, 1873, the five ministers of the United States, Russia, Holland, England, and Russia, were admitted to the presence of the Emperor. What ancient forum ever presented such a mass of buildings so varied in form, and so rich in precious objects? What city or what capital of the European States could offer such a list of names? And to this enumeration must still be added, the Yuan Chiao Chain, the Summer Palace, situated two leagues from Peking. Having been destroyed in 1860, one can hardly find among its ruins, its gardens of perfect clearness and tranquil clearness, its hill, the source of jade, and its mountain, ten thousand longjevities. Surrounding the Yellow City is the Tarter City, where are located the French, English, and Russian legations. The Hospital of London Missions, the Catholic Missions of the East and North, the ancient stables of elephants, which contain but one blind in one eye, and a centenarian. There are found the Bell Tower, with a red roof and a framework of green tiles, the Temple of Confucius, the Convent of the Thousand Lamas, the Temple of Faqua, the Ancient Observatory with its big square tower, the Yamen of the Jesuits, and the Yamen of the literary people, where examinations are made. There also arise the triumphal arches of the West and the East. There, carpeted with nalombos and blue nymphias, flow the Northern Sea and the Sea of Russia, which come from the summer palace to feed the canal of the Yellow City. There one sees the palaces, where reside the Princes of the Blood, the Ministers of Finance, the ceremonies of war, of public works of foreign relations. There also are the Court of Accounts, the Astronomical Tribunal, and the Academy of Medicine. All are mingled together, pel-mel in narrow streets, which are dusty in summer and wet in winter, and are generally bordered by low wretched houses, among which looms up some great dignitaries hotel, shaded by beautiful trees. Then, through the crowded avenues, one meets stray dogs, Mongolian goats laden with charcoal, Palaquins with four or eight bearers, according to the rank of the dignitary, chairs, carriages with mules and chariots. Besides, there are poor people, who, according to M. Chautsi, form an independent, vagrant population of 70,000 beggars. It is not rare, says M. P. Arlene, for some mendicant to be drowned in these streets, which are engulfed in a black, offensive mud. Streets cut up by pools of water, where one sinks knee-deep. In many directions, the Chinese city of Peking, which is called Vaiteng, resembles the Tartar City. But it differs, however, from it in others. Two celebrated temples occupy the southern portion, the Temple of Heaven and that of agriculture, to which must be added the temples of the goddess of Koining, of the spirit of the earth, of purification, of the black dragon, and of the spirits of heaven and earth, the ponds of goldfish, the monastery of Feyao Si, the markets, the theaters, etc. This rectangular parallelogram is divided in the north and the south by an important artery named Grand Avenue, which runs from the gate Hongting at the south to the Tian gate at the north. In a transverse direction, it is crossed by another longer artery, which cuts the first at right angles and runs from the Chao Chao gate at the east to the Kuansu gate at the west. It is called the Chao Chao Avenue, and it was at a hundred steps from its point of intersection with the Grand Avenue, that the future Madame Kin Foe resided. It will be remembered that a few days after having received the letter which announced Kin Foe's ruin, the young widow received a second contradicting the first and telling her that the seventh mood would not end before her little younger brother would return to her. We have no need to ask whether Leo counted the days and hours after that date, the seventeenth of May. But Kin Foe had not given her any news of himself during this wild journey, whose singular manner of travel he would under no pretext disclose. Leo had written to Shang Tai, but her letters remained unanswered. One can therefore understand what her anxiety must have been when at this date, the nineteenth of June, no letter had reached her. So during these long days the young woman had not left her house in the Chao Chao Avenue, where with the great anxiety she was waiting for news. The disagreeable Nan was not very well calculated to cheer her solitude. This old mother was more whimsical than ever, and deserved to be turned out of doors a hundred times in the course of a moon. But what endless and anxious hours before Kin Foe would reach Peking? Leo counted them, and the number seemed to her very many. If the religion of Lao Tse is the most ancient in China, if the doctrine of Confucius promulgated about the same time, nearly five hundred years before Jesus Christ, is followed by the emperor, the literary people, and high mandarins, it is Buddhism, or the religion of Foe, which counts the greatest number of worshippers on the face of the globe, almost three hundred million. Buddhism comprises two distinct sects, one having for its ministers, bonzas dressed in gray with red headgear, and the other llamas with robes and headgear of yellow. Leo was a Buddhist of the first sect, and the bonzas often saw her coming to the temple of Kuan Ti Miao, which is consecrated to the goddess Konin, where she offered up prayers for her friend, burned perfume sticks, and prostrated herself in the porch of the temple. That day she thought she would go and implore the aid of goddess Konin, and offer up still more fervent prayers, for she felt a presentment that some grave danger menaced him whom she awaited with natural impatience. She then called the old mother, and bade her to go to the square in the Grand Avenue and order a chair and carriers. Nan shrugged her shoulders according to her hateful habit, and went out to execute the order. Meanwhile the young widow alone in her boudoir looked sadly at the silent machine which no longer enabled her to hear the sweet voice of the absent one. Ah, she said, he must at least know that I have not ceased to think of him, and I wish my voice to repeat this to him on his return. And pushing the spring which puts the phonograph wheel in motion, she spoke aloud the sweetest phrases her heart could inspire. Nan, entering suddenly, interrupted this tender monologue. The chair-bearers were awaiting madame, who might as well have remained at home. The owl did not listen, but leaving the old mother to grumble at her pleasure, immediately went out and got into her chair, having directed the carriers to take it to Quan Ti Miao. They had only to turn around the Cha Kao Avenue at the crossroads, and ascend Grand Avenue as far as the Gate of Tian. But the chair did not proceed without difficulties. Indeed, it was still the business hours, and there was, at times, considerable obstruction in this neighborhood, which is one of the most populous in the capital. The peddler's booths along the road gave the avenue the appearance of a fairground, with its thousand noisy sounds and bustle. Then open-air orators, public lecturers, fortune-tellers, photographers, and characterists, who had little respect for Mandarin authority, were shouting and adding their voices to the general hubbub. There was a funeral passing, with great pomp, and obstructed the travel. There is a wedding procession, less gay perhaps than the funeral, but blocking the way quite as much. In another place there was an assemblage before the yamen of a magistrate, where a complainer had just struck on the drum to ask for justice. On the Leo Ping Rock, a malifactor was kneeling, who had received a beating, and was guarded by police soldiers who wore the Mandarinish cap with red tassels, and who carried a short spear and two sabers in the same scabbard. Farther on, several reluctant Chinamen, tied together by their braids, were being led to the station. Farther still, a poor fellow, with the left hand and right foot through a separate hole and a piece of board, went limping along with the step of some queer animal. There was also a thief shut up in a wooden box, with his head protruding through the back, who was left to public charity. Others were seen wearing yolks, like oxen. These unfortunate men were evidently seeking the most frequented localities in the hope of earning more money, and to speculate on the kindness of passers-by to the disadvantage of beggars of every kind, such as one armed and lame men, paralytics, files of blind men led by a one-eyed man, and the thousands of varieties of real or pretended cripples who swarm in the cities of the empire of flowers. The O's chair progressed but slowly, and the obstruction was greater as it approached the outer boulevard. The O arrived there, however, and stopped inside of the bastion, which defends the gate near the temple of the goddess Konin. Here she alighted from the chair, entered the temple, and kneeled at first, then bowed before the statue of the goddess. Afterwards she proceeded to a religious machine, which bears the name Prayer Mill. It was a sort of real, with eight branches, on the ends of which were little streamers ornamented with sacred text. A bond, say, stood nearer the machine, gravely awaiting the worshippers, and more particularly the fee for their devotions. The O handed a few tiles to the servant of Buddha to fray her part of the expenses of religion. Then with her right hand she took hold of the handle of the real, and lightly turned it, after placing her left hand on her heart. No doubt the wheel did not turn rapidly enough for the prayer to be effectual, for the priest said, with gesture of encouragement, faster, faster. And the young woman began to spin faster. She kept it up nearly a quarter of an hour, at the end of which time the banze assured her that the prayers of the supplicant would be granted. Leo, again, prostrated herself before the goddess Konin, left the temple, and entered her chair to return home. But as she was turning unto Grand Avenue, the bearers moved aside quickly, for soldiers were roughly clearing the streets, shops were being closed by order, and the side streets were barred by strips of blue, guarded by tapaus. A lengthy cortege filled a part of the avenue, and was noisily approaching. The emperor, Guangxin, whose name means Continuation of Glory, was returning to his good Tardar city, whose central gate was about to open to him. Two of the advanced guard led the way, while the rest were followed by a company of outriders ranged in two rows, and having a baton slung across their shoulders. Next to them came a group of officers of high rank, who held a yellow parasol with ruffles, and ornamented with the dragon, which is the emblem of the emperor, as the phoenix is that of the empress. The palanquin, whose yellow silk hangings were drawn up, next appeared, and was borne by sixteen men, wearing red dresses covered with white rosettes, and closely fitting embroidered silk waistcoats. The princes of the blood, dignitaries on horses, harnessed in yellow silk as a sign of very high rank, escorted the imperial equipage. And the palanquin was reclining the Son of Heaven, cousin of the emperor Tongchie and nephew of Prince Kong. After the palanquin came grooms and a relay of carriers. Sooner this courtage vanished in the gates of Tian to the great satisfaction of pedestrians, merchants, and beggars who could now resume business. Leo's chair continued on its way, and she was set down at her house after an absence of two hours. What a surprise the good goddess Konin had prepared for the young woman. At the very moment the chair stopped. Carriage covered with dust and drawn by two mules drove up to the door, and Kin Foe, followed by Craig Fry and Xiong, alighted. "'Is it you?' cried Leo, who could not believe her eyes. "'Dear little younger sister,' answered Kin Foe. "'You surely did not doubt that I would return.' Leo did not answer, but took her friend's hand, drew him into the Boudoir to the little phonograph, the discreet confident of her troubles. "'I have not for a single moment, cease to expect you, dear heart, embroidered with silken flowers,' she said, and adjusting the wheel she pressed the spring, which set the machine in motion. Kin Foe then heard a sweet voice repeat what the loving Leo had been saying to him a few hours before his arrival. "'Return, little dear lovely brother, return to me. May our hearts be no longer separated as are the two stars of Orpheus and Lyra. I think only of your return.' The machine was silent for a second. Only a second. Then resumed in a harsh voice this time. It is not enough to have a mistress, but one must have a master in the house, it seems. May Princess Yen strangle them both. This second voice was only too easily recognized. It was Nan's, the disagreeable, old mother, continued to speak after Leo's departure. While the apparatus was in a condition to receive impression, but without her suspicion that it registered her imprudent words, Nan was dismissed that very day and sent off without even waiting until the last days of the seventh moon. Maid servants and valets, beware of phonographs. China Man in China, by Jules Verne. Translated by Virginia Champlin. Chapter 15. Which certainly contains a surprise for Kin Foe, and perhaps for the reader. There was now no obstacle in the way of the marriage of the wealthy Kin Foe of Shanghai with the amiable Liu of Peking. In six days the time would expire in which Wang was to fulfill his promise. But the unfortunate philosopher had paid for his mysterious flight with his life. There was nothing henceforth to fear. The wedding could take place, and the appointed time was the twenty-fifth of June, which Kin Foe had wished to make the last day of his life. The young woman now understood everything, and knew through what vicissitudes he had passed, who, although refusing once to make her wretched and again to make her a widow, had now returned free at last to make her happy. But Li Yu on hearing of the death of the philosopher could not restrain a few tears. She knew and liked him, for he was the first confidant of her feelings towards Kin Foe. "'Poor Wang,' she said, how we shall miss him at our wedding.' "'Yes, poor Wang,' replied Kin Foe, who also mourned the companion of his youth and friend of twenty years standing. "'Still,' he added, he would have killed me according to his oath. "'No, no,' said Li Yu, shaking her pretty head, perhaps he sought death beneath the wades of the pay-hole, only to avoid keeping that frightful promise. Alas, the supposition was only too credible that Wang had preferred to drown himself in order to escape the obligation for filling his agreement. On this point Kin Foe and the young woman agreed, and there were two hearts from which the philosopher's image would never fade. As a matter of course, after the catastrophe at the Palaeco Bridge, the Chinese newspapers stopped issuing the honourable William J. Bidolph's ridiculous advertisements, so Kin Foe's annoying renown died away as quickly as it had been created. And now, what was to become of Craig and Froy? They were commissioned to protect the centenary's interests till the thirtieth of June, that is to say, for ten days longer. But in truth Kin Foe did not now need their services. Was it to be feared that Wang would attack his person? No, since he was no longer in existence. Had they any reason to fear that their charge would lift a suicidal hand against himself? None whatever. Kin Foe asked only to live, to really live, and for the longest possible time. Therefore there was no longer a need of Froy Craig's unceasing watch. But after all, these two originals were worthy men, and if their devotion was paid only to the patron of the centenary, it was nonetheless every moment very earnest and faithful. Kin Foe begged them to be present at the wedding festivities, and they accepted his invitation. Besides, jokingly observed Froy to Craig, marriage is sometimes suicide. One gives away his life while preserving it, answered Craig with an amiable smile. The day after her departure Nan was replaced in the house of Chakua Avenue by a more suitable person. An aunt of Liu, Madame Le Toulou, had come to fill the part of mother to her till the wedding ceremony. Madame Le Toulou, the wife of Mandarin of the fourth rank of the second order of the Blue Button, who was the former imperial lecturer and member of the Academy of Han Xin, possessed all the moral and physical qualities necessary to worthily perform her important duties. As for Kin Foe, as he was not one of those celestials who are fond of the neighbourhood of courts, he expected to leave P. King after his marriage, and would only be truly happy when his young wife was settled in the elegant Yaman in Shanghai. He was obliged to choose a temporary apartment, and he found what he needed in the Tian'e Fu Tang, the Temple of Celestial Happiness, a very comfortable hotel and restaurant situated near the boulevard of Tian men between two Tata and Chinese cities. They're also bordered to Craig and Froy, who, through habit, could not make up their minds to leave their charge. Soon had resumed his duties, always grumbling, but taking good care not to remain near any indiscreet phonograph. Nan's adventure made him somewhat prudent. Kin Foe had the pleasure of meeting two Canton friends at P. King, the merchant Yin Pang and the literary man Huul. Besides these he knew a few dignitaries and merchants in the capital, all of whom considered it a duty to offer their assistance on this great occasion. This once indifferent man, this immovable pupil of the philosopher, was now really happy. Kin Foe spent the time not given to preparation for the wedding with Liu, who was happy when with her lover. What need was there of supplying her with the costliest presents from the most magnificent stores in the capital so long as he was her dearest treasure? She thought only of him and constantly repeated to herself the sage maxims of the celebrated Pan Hui Pan. If a woman has a husband after her own heart, she will have a lifelong blessing. A wife should have unlimited respect for him whose name she bears and keep a constant watch over herself. A wife should only be the shadow and the mere echo of her husband. The husband is the heaven of the wife. Meanwhile the preparations for the wedding which Kin Foe wished to have as brilliant as possible were progressing. In the house in Chikua Avenue the thirty pair of embroidered shoes which are a necessity to the true so of a Chinese bride were arranged along in a row. Sweetmeats of the house of Sinayani preserves dried fruits, burnt almonds, barley candy, with plum, orange, ginger and Indian orange syrups, superb silks, jewels of precious stones and a finely chiseled golden rings, bracelets, fingernail cases, pins for the hair, etc. and all the charming fancies of Kin Foe were profusely displayed in Liu's Boudoir. In this strange central empire when a young girl marries she brings no dower to her husband but is really sold to his parents or to him and in default of brothers can only inherit a part of her father's fortune and then only when he so declares by will. These conditions are usually arranged by persons who are called the Mei Jin and the marriage is not decided upon until there is a full agreement in regard to these matters. The young fiance is then presented to the parents of the husband who does not see her till locked up in her chair she reaches the marriage home. Then the key is handed to him and he opens the door. If his fiance pleases him he holds out his hand to her. If she does not he quickly closes the door and is released by forfeiting the earnest money to her parents. There could be nothing of this in Kin Foe's marriage for he knew the lady and was not obliged to purchase her. This simplified matters very much. The twenty-fifth of June came at last and all was ready. For three days according to custom Lee Oo's house was brilliantly lighted and for three nights Madame Lutilao who represented the family of the bride wholly deprived herself of sleep it being considered proper to do this in order to show a becoming sadness at the moment when the bride leaves her father's home. If Kin Foe's parents had been living his own house would also have been illuminated as a sign of mourning because the marriage of the son is considered to be the death of the father whom he is about to succeed says the Howe K. O. Chewin. But if these customs need not be followed in the union of couple who are absolutely free to dispose of themselves there were others which they must respect. Therefore the astrological formalities had not been neglected. The horoscopes having been drawn according to every rule indicated a perfect compatibility of disposition and similarity of destiny and the period of the year and the age of the moon were found to be propitious. Indeed never had a marriage been surrounded by more favorable auspices. The wedding reception was to take place at eight o'clock in the evening at the Hotel of Celestial Happiness her husband's house where the wife was to be conducted in great state. In China no appearance before a subtle magistrate, priest, bonzer, lama or anyone else is necessary. At seven o'clock Kin Foe's still attended by Craig and Fry who were as gay as if they had been present at a European wedding received his friends on the threshold of the apartment. What an excessive politeness these notable personages received an invitation in microscopic characters on red paper. Mr. Kin Foe of Shanghai humbly presents his respects to Mr. Blank and begs him more humbly still to be present at the humble ceremony etc. All the guests had come to pay their respects to the married couple. The gentlemen were to partake in a magnificent feast reserved for them alone while the ladies assembled at another table especially intended for them. The merchantian pang and the literary howl were there and then came several mantrins who wore on their official hats a red bag as large as a pigeon's egg which indicated that they belonged to the first three orders. Others of lower rank had only opaque blue or opaque white buttons. The majority were civil dignitaries of Chinese origin as of right were the friends of a citizen of Shanghai who was hostile to the Tata race. All were handsomely dressed in brilliant robes and with their gay headdresses formed a dazzling courtage. Kin Foe as politeness required awaited them at the entrance of the hotel and as soon as they arrived led them to the reception room after begging them twice at every door open to them by the servants in full livery to pass before him. He called them by their titles distinguished healths and wished to be informed in regard to that of their distinguished families. In short the closest observer of mannerisms as well as sincere politeness could not have found the slightest fault with his behaviour. Craig and Fry looked on admiringly at all these formalities but while admiring they did not lose sight of their irreproachable charge for one thought had come to them both. Suppose Wang had not perished in the river as they believed what if he were among these guests? The twenty-fourth hour of the twenty-fifth day of June, the final hour had not yet come the hand of the Tai Ping was not disarmed. What if at the last moment? No. That was not probable but yet it was possible. Therefore as a last act of prudence Craig and Fry looked carefully around among the company but saw no suspicious looking face. During this time the bride left her house in Chakua Avenue and took a seat in her palanquin. Although Kin Foe did not wish to assume the Mandarin costume which every fiancee had a right to wear through a feeling of honour for this institution of marriage which ancient legislators held in great esteem Liu conformed to the rules of the best society and was resplendent in a red dress of beautiful embroidered silk. Her face was almost hidden behind a veil studded with pearls which seemed to have been distilled like dew drops from the costly diadem whose golden band encircled her forehead. Precious stones and the choicest artificial flowers brightened her hair and long black braids and Kin Foe could not fail to think her more beautiful than ever when she would alight from the palanquin whose door his own hand would soon open. The wedding procession started turned around the square to enter Grand Avenue by the boulevard Tianmen. No doubt it would have been more magnificent if it had been a funeral instead of a wedding but, as it was, it was attractive enough to cause passersby to stop and look. The palanquin was followed by Liu's friends and companions who bore with great pomp the different articles of the trousseau. About twenty musicians marched in front making a great noise with copper instruments among which was heard the deep-sounding gong. A crowd of men, some bearing torches and some lanterns of a thousand colours surrounded the palanquin. The bride remained concealed from everyone for the first eyes to behold her must, according to Etiquette, be those of her husband. With all this state and surrounded by a noisy crowd the procession reached the hotel of celestial happiness about eight o'clock in the evening. Kin Foe stood at the elegantly decorated entrance awaiting the palanquin in order to open the door after which he would assist his bride and escort her to a private reception room where both would salute Heaven four times and then repair to the nuptial feast. The bride would kneel to her husband four times and he in his turn twice to her. They would sprinkle two or three drops of wine around as libation and offer food to the interceding spirits. Then two cups of wine would be brought them which they would part the empty and, mixing what would remain in one cup each would drink from it and then the union would be consecrated. The palanquin, having arrived, Kin Foe stepped forward to meet it. A master of ceremonies handed him the key and he unlocked the door and held out his hand to the pretty liu who was greatly agitated. The bride stepped out lightly and passed through the group of guests who bowed respectfully and raised their hands as high as their breasts. Just as the young woman was about to enter the hotel a signal was given and very large luminous kites rose into the sky from the open space and their many coloured figures of dragons, phoenixes and other marriage emblems could be seen fluttering in the breeze. Aeolian pigeons with musical attachment fastened to their tails flew around filling the place with celestial harmony. Rockets of a thousand colours were set off with a whiz and fell in a golden shower from their dazzling bouquets. All at once a noise was heard in the distance from the direction of the boulevard Tianmen. There was shouting mingled with the shrill trumpets and then there was a lull followed in a few moments by the same noise. It was coming nearer and would soon reach the place where Liu's procession had halted. Kinfo listened and his friends not knowing what to do waited for the bride to enter the hotel but almost in a moment the street was filled with a strange motion and the blast from the trumpet increased as they came nearer. What can it be? asked Kinfo the expression on Liu's face changed in a secret presentiment quickened with her heart. Immediately the crowd poured into the street surrounding a herald and imperial livery who was escorted by several Tapeos. The herald amid a general silence uttered only these words to which the bystanders responded with a low murmur. Death of the Dowager Empress! Prohibition! Prohibition! Kinfo understood. There was a blow that fell directly on him and he could not restrain an expression of anger. Imperial mourning had just been decreed for the death of the widow of the late Emperor. During the time appointed by law everyone was forbidden to shave his head, give public fates and theatrical performances and celebrate marriages and tribunals were not allowed to settle matters of justice. Liu, who was broken hearted but courageous, put on a cheerful face at this misfortune in order not to increase her fiance's trouble and taking her dear Kinfo's hand said in a voice which tried not to see promotion. Let us wait. The palanquin bore the young woman back to her house in Chakua Avenue. The festivities were postponed. The table cleared, the orchestra sent off and the friends of the despairing Kinfo took leave after having offered him their condolences. They must by no means venture to disobey the imperial decree of prohibition. Decidedly ill luck seemed to pursue Kinfo, but here was another opportunity granted him to profit by the lessons in philosophy which he had received from his former teacher. Kinfo remained alone with Craig and Frye in the deserted departments in the hotel of celestial happiness whose name now seemed him a bitter sarcasm. The time of prohibition could be prolonged according to the good pleasure of the Son of Heaven and he had expected to return immediately to Shanghai to settle his young wife in the sumptuous Yaman which had become hers and begin a new life in these new surroundings. An hour later a servant entered and handed him a letter which a messenger had just brought. As soon as Kinfo saw the writing on the envelope he recognized it and could not restrain a cry the letter was from Wang and this is what it said Dear friend, I am not dead but when you receive this letter I shall have ceased to live. I am dying because I have not the courage to keep my promise but do not feel disturbed I have provided for everything. Lao Shen a chief of the Tai Ping my former companion has your letter he will have a steadier hand and heart than I to execute the horrible charge you made me accept to him therefore will come the sum placed on your head for I have made it over to him and he will receive it when you are no more Farewell I proceed you in death we shall soon meet dear friend Farewell End of Chapter 15 Recording by John Fricker Chapter 16 of The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China. This is LibriVox Recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by John Thomas Kuz The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China by Jules Verne Translated by Virginia Champlain Chapter 16 in which Kin Foe who is still a battler begins to travel again in earnest Kin Foe situation was now a thousand times graver than before for Wang, in spite of having given his word, was powerless when it really came to the point of killing his former pupil he knew nothing of the change in Kin Foe's fortune as the latter did not mention it in his letter he had charged another with the fulfillment of his own promise a Taiping a very formidable man who would have no scruples about committing a mere murder for which he could not be held responsible for did not Kin Foe's letter assure him immunity and by filling Wang's position would he not receive fifty thousand dollars ah, but I feel as if I were already having enough of it cried Kin Foe who began to be angry Craig and Fry heard of Wang's misive and said to Kin Foe's then your letter does not give the 25th of June as the last date why no Wang cannot and ought not to date it till the day of my death now this Leo Shen can act when he pleases without being limited to time oh said Fry Craig it is for his interest to reform the deed without delay why? that the sum placed on your head is covered by the policy and not be lost to him this argument was unanswerable very well replied Kin Foe it is still important that I should not lose an hour in getting back my letter even if I pay the fifty thousand dollars guaranteed to this Leo Shen that is so, said Craig that is true, added Fry now I must leave for we must find this king chief who perhaps will be easier found than Wang while saying this Kin Foe walked up and down unable to keep still a moment the series of thunderbolts which were hurled at him put him in an unusual state of excitement I shall start on a journey he said for I am going to find Leo Shen as for you gentlemen do whatever pleases you best sir, answered Fry Craig the interests of the centenary are in greater danger than ever and to forsake you in the present circumstances would be failing in our duty we shall not leave you there was not an hour to lose but before all it was necessary to know positively who this Leo Shen was and the exact place in which he resided and his notoriety was such that this was not difficult this former companion of Wang in the insurrection of the Meng Chao had retreated to the northern part of China beyond the Great Wall in the neighborhood of the Gulf of Liu Tong which is an annex of the Gulf of Lei Che Li if the imperial government had not yet treated with him as with several other rebel chiefs whom it could not conquer it allowed him at least to work quietly in those territories beyond the Chinese frontiers where Leo Shen residing himself to a more modest role followed the profession of a highwomen ah, Wang selected a good man who had no scruples whatever and a dagger thrust more or less would not in the least disturb his conscience Qin Fou and the two agents succeeded in obtaining full information about Tai Ping and learning that he had been seen lately in the environs of Fu Ning a small port in the Gulf of Liu Tong resolved to go there without longer delay the first informed Liu of all that had happened which increased her anguish and her beautiful eyes were dimmed with tears she tried to dissuade Qin Fou from going urging that he would expose himself to inevitable danger and that it would be better for him go away and hide somewhere to even leave the celestial empire if necessary and take refuge in some part of the world where the ferocious Leo Shen could not reach him but Qin Fou told the young woman that he could not endure the prospect of living with death all the time threatening him and at the mercy of such a rascal to whom his death would bring a fortune no, he must end the matter once for all he and his fateful acolytes would leave that very day would go to the Taiping and pay for the deplorable letter in gold and be back in Peking before the decree of prohibition would be removed dear little sister, said Qin Fou there is less cause to mourn for me now that our marriage is postponed a while for, if it had taken place it would have been a very sad situation for you if it had taken place Leo replied I should have had the right and it would have been my duty to follow you as I certainly should have done no, said Qin Fou I would rather suffer a thousand deaths than expose you to a single peril farewell, Leo, farewell and with tearful eyes he gently unclasped the arms that would have retained him that very day Qin Fou, with Craig and Fry followed by Sun whose unlucky fate it was never to have a moment's rest left Peking and proceeded to Tongqiao the journey took only an hour after thinking the matter over they decided that the journey by land through a rather unsafe province presented very serious difficulties if the only object was to reach the Great Wall in the northern part of the capital whatever dangers there might be in a journey of 160 leagues it would have been worth their while to have faced the port of Fu Ning was not in the north but in the east and if they went there by sea they would gain time and be safe they would reach it in four or five days and when there could consider what was best to do next but would they find a ship about to sail for Fu Ning they must first ascertain this from the maritime agents of Tongqiao on this occasion chance favored Qin Fou to whom misfortune had unremittingly dealt her blows a boat freighted for Fu Ning waiting at the mouth of the Pi Ho there was no course but to take one of those fast steamboats which sailed the river descend as far as its estuary and embark on the ship in question Craig and Fry asked for only an hour for their preparations and they employed that hour in purchasing all the known life preservers from the primitive cork built to the waterproof floating suit of Captain Boynton for Qin Fou was still worth $200,000 he was going on the water without paying an extra premium because he insured against every risk now some catastrophe might happen it was necessary to provide for every emergency and rest assured this was done on the 26th of June therefore Qin Fou, Craig Fry and Sound took passage on the Pi Tang and descended the Pi Ho the curves of this river are so sharp that a passage over it takes exactly twice as long as if it extended in a straight line from its mouth to Tongzhou but it has canals and is therefore navigable for ships heavy tonnage its business is also considerable and much more important than that of the main route which runs almost parallel to it the Pi Tang descended swiftly between the buoys of the channel beating the yellowish waters of the river with its paddles and stirring up the numerous canals on both shores the high tower of Pagoda beyond Tongzhou was soon passed when it disappeared at the angle of a sharp turn at this distance the Pi Ho was not very broad and flowed along between sandy banks then by agricultural hamlets with orchards and blooming hedges several important villages scattered here and there in the midst of a wooded country then appeared Mateo, Hai Si Vu Nain Se and Geng Zong which the tide reaches Tianxing soon came in sight time was lost here for it was necessary to have the eastern bridge opened which unites the two shores of the river and to wind about not without some difficulty among the hundreds of ships with which the port is crowded this is done with considerable difficulty and costs more than one boat the cables which keep her in the current these were cut without regard to the damage which caused confusion and a blockade of the boats such as might have kept a port officer busy had there been one at Tianxing if we were to state that Craig and Fry who kept a stricter watch than ever on this voyage never more than a footstep away from their charge we really should not exaggerate their chief anxiety was no longer concerning the philosopher Wang with whom an arrangement might easily be made if he could be reached but concerning Leo Shen the Tai Ping whom they did not know on account of which he was all the more formidable they ought to feel safe since they were going to him but who could say that he had not already started in pursuit of his victim how could they keep out of his way or get word to him thus pondered the anxious Craig and Fry who saw an assassin in every passenger on the Pai Tang they no longer ate or slept or lived if Kin Foe Craig and Fry were very seriously troubled sound on his part did not fail to be very anxious the mere thought of going on the water made him seasick and he grew paler and paler as the Pai Tang approached the gulf of Pai Che Li his nose grew sharp and his mouth contracted and yet the water was so quiet that there was not the slightest motion what would it be when he had to endure the choppy waves of a narrow sea which causes a boat to roll so much more you have never been to sea Craig asked, never and you don't like it said Fry, no I command you to hold up your head added Craig, my head and not to open your mouth added Fry, my mouth thereupon sound gave and he walked off to the middle of the boat and as he went cast over the already widening river that melancholy look of persons predestined to the rather ridiculous trial of seasickness the landscape in which the valley borders the river was of a different character the right shore which was steep contrasted with the left on whose long beach extended a line of foam left by the light surf beyond lay vast fields of sorghum, maize, wheat and millet throughout China a mother of a family who has so many millions of children to feed there is not a patch of ground capable of cultivation that is neglected and everywhere there are canals to water the ground and a kind of rude water machine which draws and gives out great quantities of water here and there in the villages of yellowish mud rose clusters of trees among which were some old apple trees fit to adorn a plain of Normandy numerous fishermen were going to and fro along the shore making use of sea ravens instead of hunting dogs or rather fishing dogs at a sign from their master these birds dive into the water and bring up the fish which they cannot swallow owing to a ring placed round their throat half way up which nearly strangles them there were ducks, crows ravens, magpies and sparrow hawks which the screeching of the steamboat sent flying from the tall grass though the main route along the river appeared to be deserted the travel on the pie hoe did not lessen and there were crowds of boats of every description sailing up and down there were junks of war with mountain cannon whose roofing formed a con cave from four to aft and which were managed by a double row of oars or by paddles worked by men custom a house junks with two masts like those of a shallop at an angle and ornamented at stern and prow with heads or sails of fantastic figures junks of commerce of considerable tonnage huge shells which though loaded with the most precious products of the celestial empire are able to brave the typhoon in the surrounding seas traveling junks being rowed or towed along to the tide and which are made for people who have time to lose junks of the mandarins small pleasure yachts towed by canoes sampans of every kind with sails of braided rushes and the smallest of which guided by young women with an oar in their hands and a child on their back deserve their name which signifies three planks and finally rafts which are really floating villages with cabins and orchards and gardens and formed of immense pieces of floating timber from some manchurian forest the hole of which the woodman must have fell but as one went on the villages became more scattered along the shore and there were not more than twenty between Tianxing and Taikou at the mouth of the river dense clouds of smoke rose from the factories on its banks and mingling with those from the steamboat obscured the atmosphere evening came preceded by the June twilight which is varied long in that latitude and soon a succession of white sand banks in symmetrical order and of uniform design were dimly outlined in the vague light they were salt moulos taken from the neighboring salt works there rose the estuary of the Pai Ho among arid plains in a dreary landscape which Manchur de Beauvoir says is nothing but sand salt dust and ashes the next day the 27th of June before sunrise the Pai Tang came into port at Taikou near the mouth of the river at this place on both shores stand the forts of the north and south which are now in ruins having been taken by the Anglo-French army in 1860 it was the scene of the glorious attack of General Culleno on the 24th of August of the same year the gunboats having forced an entrance into the river there stretches a narrow band of territory but partly settled which bears the name of the French concession and beyond one sees the funeral monument under which lie the officers and soldiers who died in those memorable combats the Pai Tang was not to pass the bar and the passengers were obliged to land at Taikou which is already of considerable importance and will be a thriving town if the mandarins ever allow a rail road to be constructed to unite it with Tien Shing the ship bound for Fu Ning was to sail that very day and Kin Foe and his companions had not an hour to lose they therefore hailed a Sam Pan and a quarter of an hour later were on the Sam Yip End of Chapter 16 Recording by John Thomas Cous John Thomas Cous Kismarski www.validateyourlife.com Chapter 17 of the Tribulations of a Chinaman in China This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org According by John Thomas Cous John Thomas Cous Kismarski The Tribulations of a Chinaman in China by Jules Verne translated by Virginia Champlain Chapter 17 in which Kin Foe's market was uncertain A week previous an American ship had come to anchor in the port at Taku Chartered by the 6th China and California Company it had been charged to the account of the agency Fu Ting Teng which is located in the Cemetery of Laurel Hill San Francisco It is there that the Celestials who die in America and their religion which bids them rest in native Earth awaits the day of their return This boat whose destination was Canton had on the written authority of the agency taken on board a cargo of 250 coffins 75 of which were to be landed at Taku to be returned to the northern provinces This part of the cargo was taken from the American to the Chinese ship and that very morning the 27th of June the latter was to set sail for the port of Fu Ning It was on this boat that Kin Foe and his companions had taken passage They probably would not have selected it but as there were no other ships leaving for the Gulf of Leo Tong then it was only a matter of three or four days passage at most and one very easy to make at that time of year The Sam Yap was a sea junk of about 300 tons Some junks are of a thousand tons and over drawing six feet only which enables them to cross the bars of the river of the Celestial Empire but for their length with the beam quarter the length of the keel they are poor sailors for long distances but turn round like a top which gives them an average over ships of finer build their enormous yellow rudders are pierced with holes a practice which is thought highly of in China but the effect of which is rather questionable however this may be cut through the waters of rivers it is said that one of these junks freighted by a house in Canton carried a cargo of tea and china to San Francisco under the command of an American captain that they ride the sea well has therefore been proved and competent judges agree that the Chinese make excellent sailors The Sam Yap was of modern build reminded one of European ships in the model of her hull being neither nailed nor pegged but made of bamboo sewed together and caulked with okum and resin of kambaj she was so staunch that she did not even possess a ship's pump and her lightness made her float on the water like a piece of cork anchor of very hard wood a rigging made of the fibers of the palm tree which was remarkably flexible with pliant sails managed from the deck opening and shutting like a fan and with two masts disposed like the main mist and mizzen mist of a lager without a bow sprit or jib she was well equipped for a short coasting voyage certainly no one seeing the Sam Yap would have imagined that its consignors and converted it this time into an enormous hearse indeed instead of chests of tea and bails of silk goods and a stock of Chinese perfumery the cargo we have spoken of had been substituted but the junk had lost none of its lively colors at its fore and aft cabins were suspended banners of many huge hues and at its prow there was a big glaring eye which gave it the look of some gigantic marine animal and at its masts heads the breeze unfurled the brilliant bunting of the Chinese flag two cannon stretched open their shining mouths above the railing and reflected the sun's rays like a mirror and useful engines were in the seas and were still infested by pirates the whole appearance of the ship was gay, smart and agreeable to the eye and after all was it not the returning of exiles to their native land that the Sam Yap was engaged in the returning of corpses it is true but of satisfied corpses neither kinfo nor sound felt the slightest dislike at sailing under such circumstances for they were Chinaman but Craig and Fry like their American compatriots who do not care about carrying this sort of a cargo would no doubt have preferred some other ship of commerce but the choice was not theirs to admit a captain and six men composed the crew of the junk and were sufficient to manage all sails the compass, it is said was invented in China it is possible, but the coasters never use it and navigate by their judgment this is what captain Yin the commander of the Sam Yap was going to do and he did not expect indeed to lose sight of the shores of the gulf this captain Yin, a small man with a smiling face was the living demonstration of the insolvable problem of perpetual motion he would not stay still in one place and he was profuse in gestures, his arms hands and eyes spoke more than his tongue which, however, was never at rest behind his white teeth he drove his men about was exacting of them and swore of them was well acquainted with these coasts and managed his junk as if he held it between his fingers the high price, which Khenpo paid for himself and companions, was not likely to diminish his jovial humor what a gods and were passengers who paid a hundred and fifty tales for a trip of sixty hours especially if they were no more particular about their comfort and food and their travelling companions who were boxed up in the hold Khenpo, Craig and Fry were quartered after a fashion in the rear cabin Saun was in the one in the four part of the junk the two agents, still mistrustful devoted themselves to a minute examination of the captain and crew but found nothing suspicious in the manner of these worthy men they could not be in league with Laotian, for it was not within the limits of probability since Chance alone had placed this junk at the disposition of their charge and how could Chance be the accomplice of the two famous typing, therefore the passage with the exception of the dangers of the sea, would give them a few days rest from their daily anxiety and they left Khenpo more to himself, the latter however was not sorry, he excluded himself in his cabin and gave himself up to philosophizing as much as he pleased for a man he had never known how to appreciate his happiness or to value his former life in the Yemen at Shanghai, a life free from care and one that labor might have changed let him once get back his letter and you would see if he had not by the lesson, and if the fool had not become a sage but would this letter ever be restored to him yes, no doubt, since he would pay a price for his return it could only be a question of money to this Laotian now, it was necessary to capture him and not be caught by him this was the difficulty Laotian could keep informed of all that Khenpo did, and Khenpo knew nothing of his movements hence, there was great danger for Craig Fry's charge when he should land in the province explored by the Taiping everything depended then on warning Laotian for evidently, he would prefer to receive $50,000 from Khenpo living then $50,000 from Khenpo dead that would save him a journey to Shanghai and they visit to the offices of the sentinary, which perhaps would not have been without his dangers whatever might be the magnanimity of the government towards him, thus thought the thoroughly transformed Khenpo and as one may believe the amiable young widow in Peking filled the chief place in his plans for the future but what was Sao thinking of all this time Sao was thinking of nothing at all Sao was attached out to the cabin, paying his tribute to the malevolent divinities in the Gulf of Pei-che-li he could only collect a few ideas with which to curse his master the philosopher Wang and the bandit Laotian he felt benumbed by his stomach ay-ay-ya benumbed in his ideas and benumbed in his feelings he did not even think of tea or rice ay-ay-ya what ill-fated wind had driven him here oh, what a mistake he had made he would a thousand times yes, ten thousand times rather not have entered the service of a man who was going to see he would willingly have given what was left of his pigtail to be away from there he would even rather have his head shaved and be made a bonds it was the yellow dog the yellow dog who was devouring his liver and bowels, ay-ay-ya however under the impetus of a fine south wind the Samyep passed within three or four miles of the low shores of the coast which ran east and west she passed Pei-Teng at the mouth of the river at that name, not far from the place where the European fleet landed then Shang-Tung, Chiang-Ho at the mouth of the Tao and Hai-Ve-Ce this part of the gulf was becoming deserted the maritime travel which was quite important at the estuary of the Pai-Ho did not extend 20 miles beyond in this part of the sea around the blank horizon only a few junks of commerce doing a small business in coasting a dozen fishing boats examining the fishing grounds along the coast and the nets on the shore were to be seen Craig and Fry observed that the fishing boats even those whose capacity did not exceed five or six tons within one or two little cannon to the remark which they made to Captain Yin the latter answered rubbing his hands we have to frighten the pirates pirates in this part of the gulf of Pei-Chi-Li cried Craig in surprise why not here as well as anywhere else answered Yin those worthies are not wanting in the seas of China and the excellent captain laughed showing both rows of his dazzling teeth you do not seem to dread them very much observed Fry have I not my two cannon and jolly fellows they are who speak pretty loud when anyone comes to near them are they loaded asked Craig usually now no why not because I have no powder on board answered Captain Yin quietly then of what use are the cannon said Craig Fry with this answer of what use cried the captain why to protect a cargo when it is worth the trouble when my junk is filled to the hatchway with tea or opium but with this cargo I have on board today it is different but said Craig how do the pirates know whether your junk is worth attacking then you fear a visit from those worthies answered the captain turning round on a seal and shrugging your shoulders you have no goods on board that's so said Craig but we have particular reasons for not desiring their visit well have no anxiety answered the captain the pirates if we meet any will not give chase to our junk why not because they will know what kind of cargo she has as soon as they come in sight of her and Captain Yin pointed to a white flag at half mast which was being unfurled in the breeze a white flag in distress the flag of mourning these worthy men would not put themselves out to steal a cargo of coffins perhaps they will think you sail under the mourning flag through prudence observed Craig and will come on board to ascertain if they come we will receive them well answered Captain Yin and when they have made their visit they will go as they came Craig Fry did not pursue the subject but they shared the captain's unconcern in only a moderate degree capture of a junk of 300 tons even without a cargo offered profit enough to the worthy men Captain Yin spoke of for them to desire to make an attack upon her but whatever might come they might resign themselves to their fate and would only hope that the passage would be a safe one the captain indeed neglected nothing to bring himself good luck at the moment he set sail the cock was sacrificed in honor of the divinities of the sea and on the mizzenmist still hung the feathers of the unhappy member of the gallinacious tribe a few drops of his blood sprinkled over the deck and a small cup of wine thrown overboard completed this propitiatory sacrifice thus consecrated what had the junk to fear under the command of the excellent captain Yin it is to be supposed however that the capricious divinities were not satisfied either the cock was too thin or the wine was not made from the best Shaoxing vineyard for a terrible squall struck the junk nothing had predicted it for the day had been clear and bright and the sky was swept of all clouds by a fine breeze the clearest sighted sailor could not have found indications that the dog was about to strike them towards 8 o'clock in the evening the Samyap still riding the water safely was preparing to double the cape formed by the coast where it turns back to the northeast beyond it she could put on full sail which was a very favorable manner of progressing for her build without presuming too much on his speed expected to reach the coast of Fu Ning in 24 hours Kinfo saw the hour for anchoring approach with the feeling of impatience that in sound became fierce as for Fry Craig they made this remark that if in three days their shards should be able to get out of Laotian's hands the letter which compromised his existence it would be at the very time when the centenary would no longer have to trouble themselves about him indeed his policy only covered him up to midnight of the 30th of June since he had only paid a two month installment into the hands of the Honourable Mr. Baidolf all said Fry right, added Craig towards evening at the time the junk reached the entrance of the Gulf of Leotong the wind veered suddenly to the northeast then passing north two hours later it blew from the northwest if Captain Yin had kept a barometer on board it would have shown that the column of mercury had just lost almost instantly four or five millimeters now this quick rarefaction of the air announced approached the typhoon whose movements were already indicated by the atmosphere also if Captain Yin had been acquainted with the observations of the Englishmen Paddington and the American Maori he would have tried to change his course and steer to the northeast in the hope of reaching a less dangerous area outside of the center of attraction of the whirling tempest but Captain Yin never made use of the barometer and was ignorant of the laws of cyclones besides had he not sacrificed a cock and would it not protect him from every danger nevertheless this superstitious Chinaman was a good seaman and proved it on this occasion instinctively he managed as a European captain would have this typhoon was only a small cyclone possessing great rapidity of rotation and an onward movement which exceeded 100 kilometers an hour it drove the Samyap towards the east fortunately because it carried the junk away from a coast which offered no shelter and where it would inevitably have been wrecked in a very short time at 11 in the evening the tempest reached its maximum force but Captain Yin well aided by his crew managed the junk like a true seaman he no longer laughed but preserved his sang Freud and holding the helm firmly in his hand safely guided the light ship which skimmed over the waves like a bird Kinfo had left the cabin meaning on the railing was watching the storm driven clouds which descending floated over the waters in shreds of mist then he gazed at the sea which was white and luminous against the darkness of night and whose waters the typhoon with gigantic force had raised above their natural level danger neither surprised nor frightened him it was one of the series of emotions which a malevolent fate had let fall to his share a passage of 60 hours without a tempest in mid-summer was for the happy unfortunate but he was no longer one of the happy Greg and Fry felt much more anxious because of the market value of their charge certainly their lives were as valuable as that of Kinfo if they died with him they would no longer have to watch over the interests of the sensory but these conscientious agents forgot themselves and thought only of doing their duty to perish was very well but it must be with Kinfo be it understood and after the 30th of June at midnight to save that million was what Craig Fry wished and that was all Fry Craig thought of as for sound he had not a doubt that the junk was going to perdition or rather in his opinion a man was on his way to perdition the moment he ventured on the profidious element even in the most beautiful weather ah the passengers in the hold were not to be pitied the unfortunate sound wondered if in their place he would not still be seasick or 3 hours the junk was in extreme danger one wrong move of the helm and she would have been lost for the sea would have swept her deck and if she could no more capsize than a pale she might at least fill and sink maintaining her steadily good fortune through waves lashed by the whirling of the cyclone was not to be thought of and the captain did not pretend to keep a reckoning of the distance traversed or the route he had followed however good fortune brought the Samyap without serious damage into the center of the atmospheric disk which covers an area of 100 kilometers in it a space of 2 or 3 miles with a calm sea and a scarcely perceptible breeze was found it was like a peaceful lake in the middle of a storm-tossed ocean by being driven there by the hurricane under bare poles the junk was saved towards 3 o'clock in the morning the fury of the cyclone abated as if by magic and the angry waters around the little central lake gradually grew still but when day came the crew of the Samyap searched the horizon in vain for land not a sign of shore was in sight the waters of the Gulf which had retreated to the line where sea and sky met surrounded it on every side End of Chapter 17 Recording by John Thomas Kuz John Thomas Kuz Kuzmarski www.thenerdcoach.com