id - ne . RENO . < 
D. J. Macgowan on the Eagre of the Tsien-Tang. 
Pie 
d him to accomplish the undertaking. Nevertheless disasters, ate 
m the washing away of embankments when a violent storm ~ 
urred simultaneously with the Eagre, are recorded during ~ 
every reign. It was found necessary to have soldiers stationed 
on its entire length to mark the first point of loosening. 
In 1026 a. p., an officer named T'siang constructed a stone dyke 
several miles in length, of such excellence and strength, that 
about seventeen years after the grateful people of Hang-chau 
erected a temple to him on the embankment. 
he emperor Kau-tsung, in 1131, ordered ten iron plates, each 
weighing above one hundred and thirty pounds, to be employed.as 
charms against the mischievous spirits, in hopes that they would 
thereby be induced to respect the dykes, which were kept up at 
so much cost. They were sunk at convenient distanees, in front 
_ Of the embankments; but on the following year, iron charms 
_ and stone walls were all carried off, and the loss of life and prop- 
‘erty was unusually great in consequence. _On the following year, 
the experiment was again tried, the monarch himself writing the 
charms, according to the forms of the Tauist sect. These iron 
plates were deposited in chests of choice wood workmanship, and 
sunk by Tauist priests with great ceremony. ‘The result is not 
mentioned, but the record goes on detailing numerous repairs fol- 
oWing successive disasters. 
During the period of the Mongolian reign in China, the de- 
structive action of the tides was remarkable. Kublai, the first 
emperor of that, the Yuen dynasty, caused repairs to be made ; 
but they could not have been effective, as soon after it is recorded 
that more than twenty thousand men endeavored in vain to re- 
Store the breaches of a few miles. Disasters occurred every year, 
and repairs were going on incessantly; at length a Mongolian 
officer (judging from his name) informed the emperor Tai-ting of 
e experiment made with Tauist charms; and as his majesty 
approved of the propsition for repeating them, they were doubt- 
less tried. os Ei 
Just as the Yuen dynasty was drawing to its close, the reigning 
emperor called upon the head of the Tauist sect to perform his 
arts to stay the flood ; and on the failure of these, he had two 
hundred and sixty Budhist priests engaged in trying the virtue of 
their ceremonies for the same purpose, and with the same result. 
At length after a general consultation among imperial officers, 
/ 
A 
Sh ae eR ee ee era ae ee 
the whole pulation was either called out to labor, or required 
to subscribe funds. Budhists and Tauist priests, 1t 1s stated, were 
hot exempted. Embankments, were accordingly constructed, 
superior to any which had preceded them ; and to commemorate 
the event of their completion, the name of the city In-kwan, at 
the upper part of the estuary, was changed to Ning-hai, or the 
_ “sea tranquillized.” , 
