the mirror of kong ho-第23节
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same Palace on the following day； but thenceforth gracefully affecting
to discern certain agreeable virtues in my conversation and custom of
habit he frequently sought me out。 More recently； on the double plea
that they of his household had a desire to meet me； and that if I
spent all my time within the Capital my impressions of the Island
would necessarily be ill…balanced and deformed； he advanced a project
that I should accompany him to a spot where； as far as I was competent
to grasp the idiom； he was in the habit of sitting （doubtless in an
abstruse reverie）； in the country； and having assured myself by means
of discreet innuendo that the seat referred to would be adequate for
this person also； and that the occasion did not in any way involve a
payment of money； I at once expressed my willingness towards the
adventure。
With numerous expressions of unfeigned regret （from a filial point of
view） that the voice of one of the maidens of the household； lifted in
the nature of a defiance against this one to engage with her in a
two…handed conflict of hong pong； obliges him to bring this immature
composition to a hasty close。
KONG HO。
LETTER X
Concerning the authority of this high official； Sir Philip。
The side…slipperyness of barbarian etiquette。 The hurl…
headlong sportiveness and that achieving its end by means of
curved mallets。
VENERATED SIRE；If this person's memory is accurately poised on the
detail； he was compelled to abandon his former letter （when on the
point of describing the customs of these outer places）； in order to
take part in a philosophical discussion with some of the venerable
sages of the neighbourhood。
Resuming the narration where it had reached this remote province of
the Empire； it is a suitable opportunity to explain that this same Sir
Philip is here greeted on every side with marks of deferential
submission； and is undoubtedly an official of high button； for
whenever the inclination seizes him he causes prisoners to be sought
out； and then proceeds to administer justice impartially upon them。 In
the case of the wealthy and those who have face to lose； the matter is
generally arranged； to his profit and to the satisfaction of all； by
the payment of an adequate sum of money； after the invariable custom
of our own mandarincy。 When this incentive to leniency is absent it is
usual to condemn the captive to imprisonment in a cell （it is denied
officially； but there is no reason to doubt that a large earthenware
vessel is occasionally used for this purpose；） for varying periods；
though it is notorious that in the case of the very necessitous they
are sometimes set freely at liberty； and those who took them publicly
reprimanded for accusing persons from whose condition on possible
profit could arise。 This confinement is seldom inflicted for a longer
period than seven； fourteen； or twenty…one days （these being lucky
numbers；） except in the case of those who have been held guilty of
ensnaring certain birds and beasts which appear to be regarded as
sacred； for they have their duly appointed attendants who wear a garb
and are trained in the dexterous use of arms； lurking with loaded
weapons in secret places to catch the unwary； both by night and day。
Upheld by the high nature of their office these persons shrink from no
encounter and even suffer themselves to be killed with resolute
unconcern； but when successful they are not denied an efficient
triumph； for it is admitted that those whom they capture are marked
men from that time （doubtless being branded upon the body with the
name of their captor）； and no future defence is availing。 The third
punishment； that of torture； is reserved for a class of solitary
mendicants who travel from place to place； doubtless spreading the
germs of an inflammatory doctrine of rebellion； for； owing to my own
degraded obtuseness； the actual nature of their crimes could never be
made clear to me。 Of the tortures employed that known in their
language as the 〃bath〃 （for which we have no real equivalent；） is the
most dreaded； and this person has himself beheld men of gigantic
proportions； whose bodies bore the stain of a voluntary endurance to
every privation； abandon themselves to a most ignoble despair upon
hearing the ill…destined word。 Unquestionably the infliction is
closely connected with our own ordeal of boiling water； but from other
indications it is only reasonable to admit that there is an added
ingredient； of which we probably have no knowledge； whereby the effect
is enhanced in every degree； and the outer surface of the victim
rendered more vulnerable。 There is also another and milder form of
torture； known as the 〃task〃； consisting either of sharp…edged stones
being broken upon the body； or else the body broken upon sharp…edged
stones； but precisely which is the official etiquette of the case this
person's insatiable passion for accuracy and his short…sighted
limitations among the more technical outlines of the language； prevent
him from stating definitely。
Let it here be openly confessed that the intricately…arranged titles
used among these islanders； and the widely…varying dignities which
they convey； have never ceased to embarrass my greetings on all
occasions； and even yet； when a more crystal insight into their
strangely illogical manners enables me not only to understand them
clearly myself； but also to expound their significance to others； a
necessary reticence is blended with my most profuse cordiality； and my
salutations to one whom I am for the first time encountering are now
so irreproachably balanced； that I can imperceptibly develop them into
an engaging effusion； or； without actual offence； draw back into a
condition of unapproachable exclusiveness as the necessity may arise。
With us； O my immaculate sire； a yellow silk umbrella has for three
thousand years denoted a fixed and recognisable title。 A mandarin of
the sixth degree need not hesitate to mingle on terms of assured
equality with other mandarins of the sixth degree； and without any
guide beyond a seemly instinct he perceives the reasonableness of
assuming a deferential obsequiousness before a mandarin of the fifth
rank； and a counterbalancing arrogance when in the society of an
official who has only risen to the seventh degree； thus conforming to
that essential principle of harmonious intercourse； 〃Remember that
Chang Chow's ceiling is Tong Wi's floor〃； but who shall walk with even
footsteps in a land where the most degraded may legally bear the same
distinguished name as that of the enlightened sovereign himself； where
the admittedly difficult but even more purposeless achievement of
causing a gold mine to float is held to be more praiseworthy than to
pass a competitive examination or to compose a poem of inimitable
brilliance； and where one wearing gilt buttons and an emblem in his
hat proves upon ingratiating approach not to be a powerful official
but a covetous and illiterate slave of inferior rank？ Thus； through
their own narrow…minded inconsistencies； even the most
ceremoniously…proficient may at times present an ill…balanced
attitude。 This； without reproach to himself； concerns the inward cause
whereby the one who is placed to you in the relation of an
affectionate and ever…resourceful son found unexpectedly that he
had lost the benignant full face of a lady of exalted title。
At that time I had formed the acquaintance； in an obscure quarter of
the city； of one who wore a uniform； and was addressed on all sides as
the commander of a band； while the gold letters upon the neck part of
his outer garment inevitably suggested that he had borne an honourable
share in the recent campaign in a distant land。 As I had frequently
met many of similar rank drinking tea at the house of the engaging
countess to whom I have alluded； I did not hesitate to prevail upon
this Captain Miggs to accompany me there upon an occasion also；
assuring him of equality and a sympathetic reception； but from the
moment of our arrival the attitudes of those around pointed to the
existence of some unpropitious barrier invisible to me； and when the
one with whom I was associated took up an unassailable position upon
the central table； and began to speak authoritatively upon the subject
of The Virtues； the unenviable condition of the proud and affluent；
