Papre Serras Notices of China. 137 
players, masked, to the seraglio. And the fact is not unworthy of remark, 
that his two younger sons bear not the slightest resemblance to each other 
in face or person: the one being tall and thin, the other short and fat. 
Such was the Emperor’s attachment to players that, when he went to offer 
sacrifice in the temples of heaven, earth, and the sun, which he did in the 
evening, he took them with him. This, and other circumstances, being 
noticed by the celebrated Syndic and Minister, Sunc-KEUN, in a memorial, 
his Majesty was highly incensed, and ordered the offender to be summoned 
before him. On being asked if he was the author of this admonition, he 
firmly acknowledged that he was. He was then asked what punishment he 
deserved? and he answered, “ Quartering.” They told him to choose 
some other; whereupon he said, ‘* Let me be beheaded ;” and on a third 
command, he chose to be strangled. After these three answers, he was 
told to retire; and on the following day they appointed him Governor 
of E-le (the country of the banished): thus acknowledging his rectitude, 
though unable to bear his censure. Having been recalled to Court, and 
given fresh offence by his reproofs, he was degraded to the ranks of 
the watch; but was afterwards restored to his dignity by the present 
Emperor. 
No. 7. 
Of the Emperor Yune Cure, and of the Lama Priests. 
Though the succession to the throne depends on the arbitrary nomi- 
nation of the reigning prince, that does not always prevent usurpations. 
An instance of this was seen in the succession of Yune Cuine to his father, 
the great Kanc-ue. The prince nominated by him was the fourth ; but this 
latter being in Tartary at the period of the Emperor’s somewhat sudden 
demise, Yunc Cuinc, who was a privileged Regulus, entered the palace 
and seized the billet of nomination. Before the figure which he there 
found, he set a sign of ¢en, and thus made it appear that he, the fourteenth 
prince, was the one nominated. He possessed himself of the sceptre, and 
ordered his brother to be arrested and imprisoned, in a place which is 
standing to this day, four leagues to the north of Peking, and in which it is 
said that he died. There are offices and posts held by this Emperor, when 
Regulus, which are said to descend to the three tribes and divisions within 
the district of the Court. His palace has been converted into a pagoda, 
which is now inhabited by three hundred priests of Budha, who, within the 
Vor. III. T 
