d to decipher. The
dress of the Chinese, their strange customs, their difficult language,
and their apparently impenetrable mask-like faces appeal to the fancy
and throw a veil of mystery around even the commonplace.

The origin of this game is lost in the mist of centuries past. There is,
though, an oral tradition to the effect that it was originated in the
Court of the King of Wu, now known as Ning-Po, during the year of 472
B.C. to entertain his consort and her court ladies and to help them
while away the time which lay heavily on their hands. This was about the
time of Confucius. It is, however, known to have been the Royal game,
restricted to the use of Emperors and their friends of the Mandarin
class for two thousand years. To them it was known as Pe-Ling
(pronounced Bah-Ling) taking its name from the "bird of a hundred
intelligences," the lark-like creature sacred in the Chinese faith which
now may be seen reproduced on most Chinese tapestries and embroideries.
The penalty paid by one of any other class for playing Pe-Ling at that
time, was the loss of his head. Later--no one knows just when--the
privilege of playing this wonder game was extended to the merchant or
middle classes--and when, some 70 years ago--a social uprising
threatened, one of the concessions granted to calm the unrest was the
universal privilege of playing this game. In this way was caused the
confusion of names for the game which exists even to-day in China; for,
with the abolishing of Pe-Ling, each province applied their own name and
pronunciation to the game, with the result that now we have from twelve
to eighteen different names, by which the game is known. A few of these
are Ma-Cheuk, Mah-Jong, Mah-Juck, Mah-Diao and Mah-Jongg.

Pung Chow is made to withstand the climatic conditions which soon
destroy the article imported under the name of Mah-Jongg and the other
corruptions of Mah-Diao, and it is the true and original Chinese game
translated by the addition of numerals just enough to be readily
understood and not enough to spoil the artistry of the tiles. The
addition of numerals has been overdone in the marking of many of the
cheaper imported sets, and give the appearance of having had numerals
sprinkled on them regardless of where they may land and permitted to
stay.

The fundamentals of this game are simple and require only practice to
master. The science of Pung Chow must in the greater part be studied out
by the individual playe