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Missi^a"OUR HEADS FOR OUR ANCESTORS ;"A PICTURE OF CHINESE HEATH­ENDOM.For about a thousand years the race of Nghad buried their dead in the neighborhood ofHinnen. The ancestor ofthis race had a numerousand reputable posterity. Many in ihe provincesof Canton and Kwangsi trace their originto him, and among these descendants are manymandarins and even an examiner.The race continued to increase in number, reputationand wealth. This was ascribed io ihehappily situated grave in which their ancient ancestorlies. I'his grave and the surroundingground has been called for more than two hundredyears by the beautiful name of, "The-hill-ofhope-rivei'-liou." 'I he grave Ues from north tosouth, as those graves which bring happinessgenerally do. A * grave should lie in the middleof a lion or dragon.Near by, the race of Tschhin has also thegrave of their ancestor. The descendants of thisrace were however, only rich, but had no erudition,and so failed in tbat which lends especialsuperiority in Cbina. For this reason they consultedthe Geomanten (diviners who are supposedto know the location of the happiness-bringinggraves), 'ihese worthies informed the Tschhindthat if they would move their grave nearer to.that of the Ng, inside of the neck of the dragon,their descendants would become so learned, thatthey would at' ain the highest literary degree andtheir property woulci be boundless.Two years ago the Tschhin followed this advice.A high shed was erected over their grave, so thatno one could see wbat was being done inside theenclosure They appeared to be repairing thegrave, but were in reality moving it nearer tbegrave of the Ng. When the latter became awareof this, they immediately made an announcementthrough a district mandarin. He however had•Protably tbetuvylng-giound was shaped in tlie formof a lloii or a dragon.Mmmm^wm^Mm^been already bribed by the Tschhin with threethousand dollars, and when he had surveyed thegrave, declared the statement of the Ng to be alie, put ten graduates of that race, learned men,in prison and threatened to take away their literarydegree and depose them.In consequence of this, the Ng appealed to thehighest judgment courts in Kayintschu and Canton.So an ofiicer came expressly from Cantonto investigate the matter. This person was alsobribed before his arrival with from three to fourthousand dollars, and like the other mandarinmade a false report, respecting the matter. Theresult was, that the ten graduates were transportedto Canton in much the same way that wewould carry fowls. Such ignominy as that wasseldom permitted. A cry of complaint arosefrom the province, as well as from the Ng. Oncemore an ambassador came, but he was also bribedby the Tschhin and returned home withont doinganything. A third officer came from Cantonand by means of threats and blows obUged theNg to keep the peace,'ihis seemed to end the matter, but in Marchof last year the Ng, who had certainly been unjustlytreated, dared to open the 'i'schbin graveand steal the bones. From a Chinese point ofview, this is an exceedingly atrocious act. Themandarin now came to observe the condition ofthings and take possession of the place. Hefonnd that the Ng were armed, and when theysaw that injustice was again to be meted out tothem, they attacked the soldiers of the mandarin,killing one of them and wounding another. Tbemandarin and the rest of the soldiers escaped byflight.Again the whole story was reported to CantonMeantime the Ng made preparations for war.They entrenched themselves, walled in their fortressand purchased guns and powder. A governorfrom Kwangsi, who had a lot in the grave,promised them a thousand soldiers. AU theseproceedings were duly reported to Canton by themandarins, l'he dano-er of civil war was immi"