Chap. IX. 



HIS LECTUKE. 



185 



the compass I employ to find the proper direc- 

 tion." As he said this, he took out of his pocket 

 a mariner's compass, and put it into my hand. 

 He then offered to give me a lesson on his art, 

 for which I expressed my gratitude, — and he be- 

 gan in the following way. This spot," said he, 

 "which you see formed out of the hill-side, and 

 on which some Indian corn has been growing 

 during the past summer, has been selected for a 

 grave." " And why has this particular spot been 

 selected," I asked ; " what are its peculiar merits ? " 

 " Look around you," said he ; " look at the beau- 

 tiful hills on your right hand and on your left ; 

 see the falls in the distance, and the little stream 

 winding quietly down the glen below ; change 

 the scene, and carry your eyes to the far-off hills 

 in front of you, where another stream is flowing 

 towards us and joining that which has left the 

 falls ; look at the green fields on its banks and the 

 richly-wooded, undulating hills behind ; look at 

 all these, and then you will answer your own 

 question." It was, indeed, a lovely spot, and one 

 which did not require the eloquence of Mr. 

 A-chang to make me feel that it was so. On our 

 way up the hill we came to another place, which 

 at first sight appeared equally beautiful ; I called 

 his attention to this, and asked him whether it 

 was not quite equal to the last. " Oh, no," he 

 said : " look behind you ; don't you see that furrow 

 in the hill which would bring the water down 

 upon the grave ? No, no ; this place is very 



