150 Through the Yang-tse Gorges 



I, P'eng, by imperial decree, bearing the insignia of the 

 second rank, acting salt transport commissioner, Intendant of 

 Circuit for the districts of Yung-chuen, Nanchuen, and Tung- 

 hiang in Szechuen ; Governor of the Prefectures of Chung-king, 

 Kwei-chow, Sui-ting, Chung-chow, Chui-chow, and Shihsien : 

 advanced in office five steps ; the possessor in person of three 

 orders of merit ; the recorded holder of ten honorific degrees : — 

 do hereby issue a prohibitory proclamation upon a case deposed 

 before me. 



Whereas Siao Ju-lan, an official of the second grade holding 

 brevet rank, Li Mao-lin, an official of the third degree ; Lo 

 Yuen-yi, decorated with the peacock's feather ; the bachelor 

 Wang Ting-chang ; the bachelor Chin teh-chiin ; the literary 

 graduate Lin Tao-wo ; the Tung-che and deputy magistrate in 

 Hu-peh, Chen Chi-chang ; the Tung-che Li Chiu, decorated 

 with the peacock feather ; Li Shen-hai and Yeh Wen-siang, 

 officials of the fourth rank ; the sub-prefects Hoang Pang-jung, 

 Lui Wen-yi, Liu Yung-sheng, and Yang Tao-chuen ; the deco- 

 rated officers, Yao Tsun, Wang Yin-ting, Tang Sheng-tze, Wang 

 Ching-san, Cho Shih-yung, Wang Ta-tze, Chu Ming-hoai, Cho 

 Tso-yi, Kuo Wei-hang, and Chang Shuo-shu respectively, have 

 petitioned, saying — 



We, the graduates detailed above, strongly urge the issue of 

 a prohibitory proclamation with a view to cherish and aid the 

 affairs of the locality, the circumstance being as follows : — 



Outside the South of Ue (Chung-king), outside the Kee 

 (history) gate, and below the citadel of Fu-tu koan (four miles 

 distant), is a place called Ngo hsiang-ching (goose's neck), 

 joining the hamlet of Shih ma tsao (stone horse manger). Now 

 having investigated the records, we find that this place is in 

 truth the spot whence exudes the pulse (i.e. in which are the 

 water-sources) of Fu-tu Koan, and verily forms the throat of 

 the district of Ue (Chung-king), by virtue of which scholars 

 abound, the people flourish, and merchants and traders are 

 attracted to the place, whereby all are mutually benefited 

 together. Now we have further investigated the ancient 

 records of the province and find it therein stated that — " A 

 certain Li yan once purposed to open this ground and so 

 penetrate the two waters (watershed) of Pei and Min, where- 



