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"It's nice in here, it's nice in here," exclaimed Pao-yue with a chuckle. "This room of mine," observed Mrs. Ch'in smilingly, "is I think, good enough for even spirits to live in!" and, as she uttered these words, she with her own hands, opened a gauze coverlet, which had been washed by Hsi Shih, and removed a bridal pillow, which had been held in the arms of Hung Niang.
The interpreter wagged his head doubtfully when I suggested my plan, but his opinion did not matter, for, like all of his class in China, he was disinclined to active exertion. And when I called the fu t'ou into council I found he had once gone this way, and was not inclined to go again. Fu t'ou: "It is impossible." Ku Niang: "I intend to go all the same, and I expect you to go with me."
"Not e'en Hung Niang to the gauze window comes, any message to bring." Tai-yue responded. "There now remains a two and six, eight in all," Yuean Yang resumed. "Twice see the jady throne when led in to perform the court ritual," Tai-yue replied. "Together they form 'a basket suitable for putting plucked flowers in," Yuean Yang continued. "The fairy wand smells nice as on it hangs a peony."
"What you, sir, suggested a while back," replied Pao-yue, "will do very well; but if we were now to sift the matter thoroughly, the use of the single word 'drip' by Ou Yang, in his composition about the Niang spring, would appear quite apposite; while the application, also on this occasion, to this spring, of the character 'drip' would be found not quite suitable.
Fu t'ou: "Very well. I will guide the Ku Niang by the Lesser Trail, but the pony cannot go, nor the chairs, nor the men, for it is impassable for shoulder loads, and these are Ning-yüan men who know no other way of carrying." Apparently the fu t'ou and the cook, Jack and I were the only ones equal to the trip, as I had already told the interpreter he might go by the main road.
He changed his first name for that of Niang "the little girl," though for a few days he was so embarrassed that he did not dare to speak. But his master seemed no longer wishful to look for fresh victims. Every evening he insisted upon his niece sharing his bed; and up to a very late hour would proceed with his instruction and that even to the furthest detail.
She is called Ma-t'ou Niang, 'the Lady with the Horse's Head, and is prayed to for the prosperity of mulberry-trees and silkworms. The worship continues even in modern times.
In the Khasi Hills the god of small-pox is known under the name of u Siem ñiang thylliew. He is not, however, appeased in any way, the people calling on two other spirits, Thynrei and Sapa, to whom a fowl or a goat is offered. This section cannot be closed without some reference to the household gods of the Syntengs. The name of the woman was Ka Taben, and she was accompanied by her children.
We had left behind the great heat of the plain, but within the walls of the forest the air was warm and heavy. But nothing could damp the ardour of the pilgrim horde. A few were in chairs; I had long since jumped out of mine, although as Liu complained, "Why does the Ku Niang hire one if she will not use it?"
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