IN THE DAYS OF THE TAIPINGS before sunset to take me home.If the weather was bad,we started the next morning at daybreak,but if it was fine we left at once.My special two-pair slipper-boat was moored outside the Lowmen Gate,and we rowed rapidly south along CHAPTER II: the Imperial Canal,passing under the stone bridges span- ning it,first the noble single-arch bridge just at the south- MY CAREER IS DETERMINED. east corner of the city-wall,then six li further south the N the middle of the Lesser Cold (Middle of January)I Patakiao with its fifty-three arches,passing through Kiapu, received an invitation from Yaolien to visit him at thirty li south of Soochow,and so on to Wukiang,fifteen li Soochow.When I entered his presence I made before further south;there we left the Imperial Canal and turned to the east and south-east through side canals about fifteen li him,not the prostration which formerly I had made,as junior to senior,and as non-literate to literate,but the further to Tungli.The distance of sixty li (twenty English miles)from Soochow was nothing to Cockeye's strong legs, simple genuflexion as one Siutsai to another;and I could but I must admit that,after five days at home,I found the see that he was pleased at the rise in my social status. "The home father sends his salutations to his honoured return journey always easier than the journey down,when my muscles were all soft from a month's sedentary occu- cousin,"I said,"through the mouth of this younger brother, pation. and begs to inquire after his rest." In my nineteenth year-I entered the preliminary examina- "His.younger brother returns the compliment,and hopes tion for Siutsai at the district city,Wukiang,one of about that his elder is able to eat his rice with pleasure,"he a thousand candidates,and I was,to my great joy,one of the replied;and then he lapsed into the unceremonious talk of nineteen who were selected;the next year the nineteen joined family intimacy. the others who had been successful in that and many previous "I have invited you here to ask about your plans for the years in the other districts of the prefecture,and entered, future.” about three hundred in all,for the second test at the pre- "I have made no definite plans,"I replied,"but,bearing fectural chief city Soochow,and again I passed,one among in mind my good fortune in obtaining my Siutsai degree the fifty-five successful candidates.Later in that same without delay from any failure,I had thought to go on to jentze year (1852)I entered for the third test,when those the Kujen,and,on obtaining that,to enter official life, who had previously passed the second test came from all With the pecuniary means at my father's disposal,and the prefectures of Kiangnan to Soochow,the provincial backed by the interest of our cousin Wenkwang,and,if I capital,for the third test;again I was successful,gaining may say so,the influence at the command of your honoured the degree of Siutsai and thereby being of the ninth civil self,I think it probable that I could obtain my first office rank,with the honorific title of Shengyuen. without undue delay.If then,with my more.limited I paid to my cousin my first visit in my official robes, capabilities,I could copy the brilliant career of our common wearing on my hat the gilt button of the ninth rank,and on ancestor,Maochang,it seemed to me that the government the breast and the back of my coat the square pusa em- administration offered the prospect of greater rewards than broidered with a jay;and when I paid my respects,similarly any other career.” attired,to my honoured father and to Ting Shihtang,his "That is quite true,"replied my uncle,"and,under normal to-name Wenkwang,the head of our clan in my native conditions,the course you propose to follow would un- village,Tungli,it was the happiest day of my life. questionably bring you a brilliant future.But the condi- tions are not normal and I see very stormy times ahead.For (Y)