his very seriously and we asked each other in whispers
which bird we thought was the prettiest and would like to keep it for
ourselves. Among this lot there were a few parrots. Some were pink;
others were red and green; all were chained on stands, and when the
eunuchs broke the chains, the parrots would not move. Her Majesty said:
"How funny; each year a few parrots will not go away at all and I have
kept them until they died. Look at them now. They won't go away."
By this time the head eunuch arrived. Her Majesty told him what had
happened and he immediately knelt down and said: "Your Majesty's great
luck. These parrots understand Your Majesty's kindness and would rather
stay here and serve Your Majesty." This ceremony is called "Fang Sheng."
It is considered a very meritorious action and will not fail of reward
in Heaven.

One of the Court ladies asked me what I thought of the parrots that
would not fly away, and I told her that it was really very strange. She
said: "It is very simple and not strange at all. These eunuchs, ordered
by the head one, have bought these parrots long ago and trained them.
During Her Majesty's afternoon rest, these parrots were brought to the
top of the very same hill every day to accustom them to the place. The
object of this is just to please and otherwise fool Her Majesty, to make
her feel happy and believe that she is so merciful that even such dumb
things would rather stay with her." Continuing, she said: "The huge joke
is this: while Her Majesty is letting the birds free, there are a few
eunuchs waiting at the rear of the hill to capture them and sell them
again, and so, no matter how Her Majesty prays for their freedom, they
will be caught at once."

The celebrations were continued until the thirteenth day. Nobody did any
work and all was gaiety and enjoyment, the theatre being open every day.
Towards the close of the thirteenth day the visitors were informed that
the celebrations were at an end and they made arrangements to leave
early the next morning. They all bade Her Majesty good-bye that evening
and departed early the following day.

For the next few days we were all busy preparing for removing to the Sea
Palace. Her Majesty consulted her book and finally selected the 22d as
being the most favorable day for this removal. So at six o'clock on
the morning of the 22d the whole Court left the Summer Palace. It was
snowing very heavily and the journey was only accomplished with gre