the traditions of our ancestors. In other
words, he simply advised the adoption of western civilization where
it was an improvement on our own, and nothing more. Her Majesty was
delighted with the interview, for Chang Chih Tung's opinions coincided
exactly with her own.

During the whole of these audiences the Emperor, although present each
time, never opened his lips to say a word, but sat listening all the
time. As a rule, Her Majesty would ask his opinion, just as a matter of
form, but he invariably replied that he was quite in accord with what
Her Majesty had said or decided upon.

Of the many religious ceremonies in connection with the Buddhist
religion the "La-pachow" was the most important. This was held on the
8th day of the twelfth moon each year. According to the common belief,
on this eighth day of the twelfth moon, many centuries ago, a certain
Buddhist priest Ju Lai set out to beg for food, and after receiving a
good supply of rice and beans from the people, he returned and divided
it with his brother priests, giving each an equal share, and he became
celebrated for his great charity. This day was therefore set apart as
an anniversary to commemorate the event. The idea was that by practising
self-denial on this day, one would gain favor in the sight of this
Buddha Ju Lai, therefore the only food eaten was rice, grain and beans,
all mixed together in a sort of porridge, but without any salt or
other flavoring. It was not at all pleasant to eat, being absolutely
tasteless.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN--THE NEW YEAR FESTIVALS

WE now reached the time set apart for cleaning the Palace in preparation
for the New Year festivals. Everything had to be taken down and
thoroughly overhauled, and all the images, pictures, furniture and
everything else were subjected to a thorough scrubbing. Her Majesty
again consulted her book in order to choose a lucky day on which to
commence these operations, finally choosing the twelfth day as being
most favorable. As we had all received our orders previously, we
commenced early on the morning of the twelfth. Several of the Court
ladies were told off to take down and clean the images of Buddha and
prepare new curtains for them. The rest of the cleaning was done by the
eunuchs. I asked Her Majesty whether I was to clean her jewelry, but
she answered that as nobody but herself ever wore it, it didn't need
cleaning.

After everything had been cleaned to Her Majesty's satisfaction,
sh