1894.] 
3 
H. B. Hyde —Note on a Chinese inscribed slab. 
Then turning back and speaking to Ch’ien (that is the writer of the 
inscription), he said, ‘You will take charge of this work.’ 
“ In two months the fortification was completed. The hill to the 
east is wavy in outline (the coiled dragon), and with eminences and 
depressions, while that to the west is gently sloping (the crouching 
tiger). On these two hills, then, was built the Tai fortification, which 
may be likened to a coiled dragon and crouching tiger. When the 
dragon is coiled and the tiger crouched, all is quiet, the whole universe 
is at peace. But their power to move aud act is latent, though concealed. 
Restrained potentiality and hidden might, such is the outward appear¬ 
ance of the fortification : to intimidate the enemy from afar is its func¬ 
tion. Soldiers may not be called into action for 100 years, but no day 
must pass without their being in readiness. Only have your troops ready 
and you may never have occasion to employ them. This is the idea 
(conveyed by the imagery) of the coiled dragon and the crouching tiger. 
Written by the Pacificator (Manchu title) of Chusan and Ningpo, Senior 
Brigadier (Manchu title) of the Banner troops (i. e., Manclius from 
Peking) Jui Ch’ien.” 
Mr. Taylor, writing from Darjeeling, remarks : “ I have no means 
here of giving the proper translations of the Manchu titles.” He says, 
“ The Chinese is good and classical, and evidently composed by a scholar.” 
In the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society for 1853, is a 
plan, and a detailed description by Sir J. F. Davis, Bart., of the Island 
of Chusan, but it contains no mention of the fort to which the Inscription 
relates. It is only to be conjectured that the fort, evidently an earth¬ 
work, was demolished by the British troops during our occupation of 
the island from 1840 to 1846; while w r e held the island as a guarantee 
for the fulfilment of the stipulations of the Treaty and that the battalion 
of native troops from Bengal, which formed j)art of our expedition, 
which attacked the island in 1840, brought back with them, on their 
return, this foundation stone. But if they did so, how it came to be 
buried in the Cathedral Churchyard, instead of being exhibited in some 
public place, or lodged in the Asiatic Society’s Museum, is a question 
not yet solved. 
