cophagus had
been blocked up at its innermost end, the outside gate at the entrance
to this path was let fall, and the mausoleum was effectually closed, so
that not one of the workmen escaped. Trees and grass were then planted
around, that the spot might look like the rest of the mountain."

The career of the Second Emperor finds an apt parallel in that of
Richard Cromwell, except that the former was put to death, after a
short and inglorious reign. Then followed a dynasty which has left an
indelible mark upon the civilization as well as on the recorded history
of China. A peasant, by mere force of character, succeeded after a
three-years' struggle in establishing himself upon the throne, 206 B.C.,
and his posterity, known as the House of Han, ruled over China for four
hundred years, accidentally divided into two nearly equal portions
by the Christian era, about which date there occurred a temporary
usurpation of the throne which for some time threatened the stability
of the dynasty in the direct line of succession. To this date, the more
northern Chinese have no prouder title than that of a "son of Han."

During the whole period of four hundred years the empire cannot be said
to have enjoyed complete tranquillity either at home or abroad. There
were constant wars with the Tartar tribes on the north, against whom the
Great Wall proved to be a somewhat ineffectual barrier. Also with the
Huns, the forbears of the Turks, who once succeeded in shutting up the
founder of the dynasty in one of his own cities, from which he only
escaped by a stratagem to be related in another connexion. There were
in addition wars with Korea, the ultimate conquest of which led to the
discovery of Japan, then at a low level of civilization and unable to
enter into official relations with China until A.D. 57, when an embassy
was sent for the first time. Those who are accustomed to think of the
Chinese as an eminently unwarlike nation will perhaps be surprised to
hear that before the end of the second century B.C. they had carried
their victorious arms far away into Central Asia, annexing even the
Pamirs and Kokand to the empire. The wild tribes of modern Yunnan were
reduced to subjection, and their territory may further be considered as
added from about this period.

At home, the eunuchs gave an immense deal of trouble by their restless
spirit of intrigue; besides which, for nearly twenty years the Imperial
power was in the hands of a famous u