world. As in this life it is impossible to live without food, or to obtain comforts and luxuries without money, so in the life to come they hold that the same state of things prevails. Hence, those who wish to benefit their departed relatives, not only make meat-offerings to them, but supply them with a sham representation of money to pay their current expenses. In order to remit cash into the invisible world, they procure paper imitations of ingots, about four inches square, in the middle of which are affixed patches of tin-foil or gold-leaf, as representations of gold and silver money. These they set fire to and believe that they are thus transformed into real bullion, passing through the smoke into the invisible world. Meng-kee meets Cut-sing at the Cemetery.—He relates how his party fared after they parted.-Also how the Taiping movement progresses successfully.-Meng-kee agrees to proceed at once to Nanking.-He asks his daughter to remain at his ancestral home.-She implores him to allow her to accompany him. He at last agrees to it.—The party sails up the Yang-tsze River in a passage junk. B URING the burial ceremony at the tombs, tors. Their eyes met, and he gave the mandarin a significant glance, as if he would wish to speak with him. Thinking it best to do so, he nodded an assent, and after the service, stepping aside from the throng, whispered to him to meet him there on the following day at noon.* Punctually to the hour, Meng-kee and Cut-sing saluted each other in the retired Vale of the Tombs. Here they could converse without being heard by any eavesdropper, * With the Chinese the day is divided into twelve parts, so that one of their hours is equal to two of ours. They have no native machine for reckoning by minutes or seconds, but they have a sundial where the hour is divided into eight parts, corresponding to the subdivision of our quarters. From this division of time approximating to the European mode of reckoning, watches and clocks are greatly sought after by the wealthy people who can afford to purchase them. who might inform upon them. The mandarin was the first to open the conversation. "Well, Cut-sing," he asked, in a friendly manner, "how have you and your companions fared since you left the Customs station, where you might have got into trouble if I had not come up in time to your relief?" 66 Many thanks, honourable sir, to you for your help. I had, indeed, a narrow escape from being sent back to Peking, as our party heard afterwards that many had been punished for having articles from the plundered palace in their possession. It had the effect, however, of making us more careful in our movements, and we resolved to be practically what we had called ourselves, namely, traders; so when we arrived at Tien-tsin we sold all our merchandise, in case some spies might be watching us. We then left the city by twos and threes unobserved, and did not meet again until we reached Lin-tsing." "We stopped there also," Meng-kee remarked, assuming a grave expression of countenance; "and its desolate aspect gave a sad pang to my heart; for there, in my younger days, I had some dearly-beloved friends, and when I went to seek for them their houses were in ruins, while they have either fallen victims in the fight, or fled for their lives. It produced in me such a revulsion of feeling, that I wished I had not espoused a cause that brought such desolation on the land." "Say not so, noble sir," rejoined the Taiping emissary, in his blandest manner and tone of voice; "such are the chances of war. Lin-tsing was garrisoned by the Tartar forces, who threatened to destroy our first northern legion on their campaign through the province of Shan-tung, and the Chung-wang sent a strong force to their relief, which COLLOQUY BETWEEN MENG-KEE AND CUT-SING. 199 dispersed the enemy and destroyed their stronghold in that town. But this and other places will be restored when the Taiping rule is firmly established." "What you state certainly qualifies the conduct of your army, but it is plain that the peaceable and industrious inhabitants are the chief sufferers in this internecine strife, and the sooner it is brought to a close one way or the other, the better will it be for our distracted country." "There is every prospect of that consummation taking place within a short time. On my way this far along the canal I met with some of our friends who have lately come up the Yang-tsze Kiang, who report that nearly every city and town between Nanking and the seacoast are in possession of our brave troops. The only place of importance not yet captured is Shanghai, where the foreigners have a settlement and carry on a large trade. When that seaport is in our possession we will be able to have numerous warjunks to defend our posts from the attacks of the imperial gunboats. At present these are mostly in the southern harbours, refitting after the damage sustained in fighting the foreign ships, so that the Great River up to Nanking is free from their presence. Now is the safest time we have yet had to navigate that mighty stream." As the wily emissary dilated upon the successful progress of the gigantic rebel movement, our mandarin listened with great attention. He did not altogether trust to the accuracy of the intelligence, but the information picked up on his journey was in the main of similar purport, and favourable to the Taiping cause. From all this he concluded that the movement was reaching its crisis, and it was quite possible that it might succeed in overthrowing the Manchoo dynasty. With these impressions on his mind he spoke on the subject in a more confidential manner than he had yet done. "This news," he said, "corroborates what I have already heard, and the imperialist generals are in great consterna-tion at the victorious advance of your army on the wealthy seaport towns. Under these circumstances I will make no delay to reach Nanking, and place my services at the disposal of your chiefs. Now that I have performed my duty in consigning the remains of my lamented mother to the tomb, I am free to take action in the matter. Say, Cut-sing, how would you advise me to proceed, for in this part of my journey you must be my guide." "Honourable sir, you gladden my heart, and may depend upon my assistance in proceeding with safety to the southern capital. You need not make a day's delay, for I have a boat in readiness to convey us comfortably thither, with a retired cabin for the accommodation of your daughter and a female attendant." A slight frown stole over Meng-kee's features at this assumption of Cut-sing's that A-Lee would accompany him. "I have no intention," he replied, "of taking A-Lee into a besieged city, where dangers of many kinds may encompass a maiden." "You need have no fear in that respect, noble sir, for there are many fair women among the Taipings, who would welcome her and protect her from harm in their homes. This you may inform her, that the Chung-wang, our great commander of the forces, has a daughter of about her own age, who will receive her as a sister." "Before I decide on this I must consult her, and will mention what you have stated; meanwhile we must part, you to make preparations for our journey, while I make |