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animal is out of place； and even unseemly； in the entertaining hall or
council chamber； the expression has in the course of time taken a
wider application and is now freely used as an insidious thrust at one
who may be suspected of contrariness of character； of confusing
issues； or of acting in a vain or illogical manner。 I had already
preserved the saying among other instances of foreign thought and
expression which I am collecting for your dignified amusement； as it
is very characteristic of the wisdom and humour of these Outer Lands。
The imagination is essentially barbaric。 A horsedoubtless
well…groomed； richly…caparisoned； and as intellectual as the
circumstances will permit； but inevitably an animal of degraded
attributes and untraceable ancestrya horse reclining before a
lavishly set…out table and considering well of what dish it shall next
partake！ Could anything； it appears； be more diverting！ Truly to our
more refined outlook the analogy is lacking both in delicacy of wit
and in exactitude of balance； but to the grosser barbarian conception
of what is gravity…removing it is irresistible。
I am； however； reminded of the saying by perceiving that I was on the
point of recording certain details of recent occurrence without first
unrolling to your mind the incidents from which it has arisen that the
person who is now communicating with you is no longer reposing in the
Capital； but spending a period profitably in observing the habits of
those who dwell in the more secluded recesses on the outskirts of the
Island。 This reversal of the proper sequence of affairs would
doubtless strike those around as an instance of setting the banquet
before the horse。 Without delay； then； to pursue the allusion to its
appropriate end； I will return； as it may be said； to my nosebag。
At various points about the streets of the Capital there are certain
caverns artificially let into the bowels of the earth； to which any
person may betake himself upon purchasing a printed sign which he must
display to the guardian of the gate。 Once within the underneathmost
parts he is free to be carried from place to place by means of the
trains of carriages which I have already described to you； until he
would return to the outer surface； when he must again display his
talisman before he is permitted to pass forth。 Nor is this an empty
form； for upon an occasion this person himself witnessed a very bitter
contention between a keeper of the barrier and one whose token had
through some cause lost its potency。
In the company of the experienced I had previously gone through the
trial without mischance； so that recently when I expressed a wish to
visit a certain Palace； and was informed that the most convenient
manner would be to descend into the nearest cavern； I had no
reasonable device for avoiding the encounter。 Nevertheless；
enlightened sire； I will not attempt to conceal from your omniscience
that I was by no means impetuous towards the adventure。 Owing to the
pugnacious and unworthy suspicions of those who direct their
destinies； I have not yet been able to penetrate the exact connection
between the movements of these hot…smoke chariots and the Unseen
Forces。 To a person whose chief object in life is to avoid giving
offence to any of the innumerable demons which are ever on the watch
to revenge themselves upon our slightest indiscretion； this
uncertainty opens an unending vista of intolerable possibilities。 As
if to emphasise the perils of this overhanging doubt the surroundings
are ingeniously arranged so as to represent as nearly as practicable
the terrors of the Beneath World。 Both by day and night a funereal
gloom envelops the caverns； the pathways and resting…places are meagre
and so constructed as to be devoid of attraction or repose； and by a
skilful contrivance the natural atmosphere is secretly withdrawn and a
very acrimonious sulphurous haze driven in to replace it。 In sudden
and unforeseen places eyes of fire open and close with disconcerting
rapidity； and even change colour in vindictive significance； wooden
hands are outstretched as in unrelenting rigidity against
supplication； or； divining the unexpressed thoughts； inexorably point；
as one gazes； still deeper into the recesses of the earth； while the
air is never free from the sounds of groans； shrieks； the rattling of
chains； dull； hopeless noises beneath one's feet or overhead； and the
hoarse wordless cries of despair with which the attending slaves of
the caverns greet the distant clamour of every approaching
fire…chariot。 Admittedly the intention of the device is benevolently
conceived； and it is strenuously asserted that many persons of corrupt
habits and ill…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 corn