78 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 



ness of his people. He charged her to examine the silk 

 worms, and to test the practicability of using the thread. 

 Si-ling-chi had a large quantity of these insects collected, 

 which she fed herself, in a place prepared solely for that 

 purpose, and discovered not only the means of raising them, 

 but also the manner of reeling the silk, and of employing it 

 to make garments." 



It is through gratitude for so great a benefit, says the his- 

 tory, entitled Wai-Id, that posterity has deified Si-ling-chi, 

 and rendered her particular honors, under the name of the 

 Goddess of Silk Worms. (Memoirs upon the Chinese. 

 Vol. 13, page 240.) 



It is written in the chapter lu-hong, of Chou-king, one 

 of the five canonical books of China : 



" The mulberry trees may be planted, and the silk worms 

 raised." 



OBSERVATION. 



According to the annals of China, this chapter was com- 

 posed about the year 2205 before Christ, (4041 years ago.) 

 See the Chou-king, translated by P. Gaubil, page 45. [St. 

 Julien.] 



It is written in the Book on Worms, one of the five 

 canonical books, chapter Pin-fong, ode 1 : 



" In the month, when the silk worms are fed, (in the 

 fourth month,) the leaves of the mulberry trees must be 

 gathered." 



