182 Shells as evidence of the Migrations, 
great tortoise attained the size of two cubits and a half. 
Such a creature would be esteemed very valuable, where 
divination was much relied on”; and further, according 
to Gan-Kwo6, that “the tortoise was not a regular article 
of tribute, but was presented when required by express 
command.” 
In the “ Pwan-Kang” (“Shoo King,” iv., vii, 14), the 
characteristic symbol, fez (/‘zg. C, p. 180) occurs in a passage 
dealing with the hoarding propensities of government 
officials, and is here translated by Legge as “ cowries.”"* 
From the above remarks it will be seen that the pez 
symbol has been incorrectly interpreted in certain cases. 
Some interesting particulars concerning the use of 
cowries in connection with the dead are given by Dr. J. }. 
M. de Groot, in his work on “ The Religious System in 
China.”’” The ancient Chinese, he tells us, used several 
precious articles for preserving their dead, To this end 
they availed themselves of cowry-shells, which were so 
valuable in ancient times for currency. This fact, well 
known to Sinologists, is especially manifest in the ancient 
hieroglyph denoting the cowry (see /zg. C, p. 180), which 
enters into the composition of most characters signifying 
things of value.and acts connected with trade and batter 
(see Figs. E, F, G, H, I, p. 180). 
These shells were used in association with rice for 
stuffing the mouth of the dead. They were made to 
support the last molar tooth on the left and the right side, 
and the mouth was finally filled up with rice. 
According to the “Zz Az,” or “ Treatises on Cere- 
monial Usages” (an important source of our knowledge 
of China during pre-Christian times), the mouth of the 
Son of Heaven was stuffed with nine cowries, that of a 
178 Jbid., iii., pt. i, p. 240. 
17? Vol. i., bk. i., “* Disposal of the Dead.” Leyden, 1892, pp, 275-6. 
