THE GREAT PARK OF THE EASTERN TOMBS 269 



a tiny clearing, occupied by a single log hut, we saw two 

 Chinese sitting on their heels, placidly watching the 

 roaring furnace across the valley. 



With a good deal of excitement we asked them how 

 the fire possibly could have originated. 



"Oh," said one, "we started it ourselves." In the 

 name of the five gods why did you do it?" Smith asked. 

 "Well, you see," returned the Chinese, "there was quite 

 a lot of brush here in our clearing and we had to get rid 

 of it. To-day the wind was right, so we set it on fire." 



"But don't you see that you have burned up that 

 whole mountain's side, destroyed thousands of trees, 

 and absolutely ruined this end of the valley?" 



"Oh, yes, but never mind; it can't be helped," the 

 native answered. Then I exploded. I frankly confess 

 that I cursed that Chinese and all his ancestors; which 

 is the only proper way to curse in China. I assured him 

 that he was an "old rabbit" and that his father and his 

 grandfather and his great-grandfather were rabbits. 

 To tell a man that he is even remotely connected with 

 a rabbit is decidedly uncomplimentary in China. 



But when it was all said I had accomplished nothing. 

 The man looked at me in blank amazement as though I 

 had suddenly lost my mind. He had not the faintest 

 idea that burning up that beautiful forest was reprehen- 

 sible in the slightest degree. To him and all his kind, 

 the only thing worth while was to clear that bit of land 

 in the valley. If every tree on the mountain was de- 

 stroyed in the process, what difference did it make? It 

 would be done eventually, anyway. Land, whether it 



