In this matter he was more
successful, for the Chief spoke at great length and with evilly-
inspired contempt of their inelegance, their undiscriminating and
excessive appetites, and the frequent use which they made of low words
and gestures. Desiring to become acquainted rather with their methods
of warfare than with their domestic details, Ling inquired of him what
formation they relied upon when receiving the foemen.
"It is a matter which has not engaged the attention of this one,"
replied the Chief, with an excessive absence of interest. "There are
so many affairs of intelligent dignity which cannot be put aside, and
which occupy one from beginning to end. As an example, this person may
describe how the accomplished Li-Lu, generally depicted as the Blue-
eyed Dove of Virtuous and Serpent-like Attitudes, has been scattering
glory upon the Si-chow Hall of Celestial Harmony for many days past.
It is an enlightened display which the high-souled Ling should
certainly endeavour to dignify with his presence, especially at the
portion where the amiable Li-Lu becomes revealed in the appearance of
a Peking sedan-chair bearer and describes the manner and likenesses of
certain persons--chiefly high-priests of Buddha, excessively round-
bodied merchants who feign to be detained within Peking on affairs of
commerce, maidens who attend at the tables of tea-houses, and those of
both sexes who are within the city for the first time to behold its
temples and open spaces--who are conveyed from place to place in the
chair.
Pages:
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64