A few centuries before Christ at Yeh, there was a Prefect whose name was Pao Shi-men. When he arrived at his post he found the place desolate and almost deserted. He called the Elders and asked what was the cause of this. The cause is the marriage of the Earl of the River, The Prefect said: This is a strange thin indeed. How does the Earl get married You may tell all freely tome." They then said; "The River Chang comes from Ku Yen and passes ShaCh'eng towards the east. Where it passes our place it is called river Chang... 'The Earl of the River is the God of the river. The God is fond of beautiful women, and requires a new wife every yarr. If one is chosen for him then he' will Protect and grant them an abundant har-from all quarters far and wide. There vere altogether many thousands of spectators. The superintendent, of police and the leaders led the chief witch before the Prefect. Her manner were extremely arrogant, She was attended by over twenty young witches richly dressed with silks and ornanients all perfumed. The Prefect said "May I trouble you the chief witch to let mie see the bride of the Earl of the River." The old witch ordered one of hor maids to fetch her. The Prefect saw her new clothes and stockings, but observed that she was not beautiful but quite ordinary. Then he said to the chief witch and to the superintendent of police The Earl of the River is a noble God. "If the bride is not beautiful she won't do for him, This bride is common; we will select better one for him. May I trouble the chief witch to go and report this from me to the Earl of the River." With this he ordered his soldiers to throw the chief witch into the river. At this nil changed their countenances and were very much alarmed. The Prefect sat silent for a long time and then said: "The old witch la incapable of managing this business. She has gone to the river this long time and has not returned with any reply. Let one of her young witches go after her and tall her to return quickly," and with this the soldiers threw one of them also into the river. But as she too was long returning he sent one by one three of them after the old witch, with the same result. Then the Prefect said: These are women and cannot speak properly. May I trouble the superintendent of police to go into the river and explain matters clearly to the Earl," When this officer was about to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.