A memorial from Ying-k'uei_ and his colleagues describing the damage done at the Western Mausolea by the five-days' fall of rain in July last, From the 18th to the 19th of that month there was " continuous and heavy downpour of rain, flooding all the level ground within the' enclosure Of the Mausolea to the depth of 5 or 6 fect, many of the bridges were swept away tuuich damaged by the force of the. surging torrent of waters, the stone roads forming the approaches to the different Mausolea. being also washed away in many places. Portions of the enclosure wall and nine of the culverts under it were destroyed by the rush of water seeking an exit.
The Mausolea which principally suffered in this way are those of the Emperors Tao Kwang, Chia Ching and Yung Cheng, and the Mausolea of the Empresses of the two former, The roofs of several of the main and side halls of the Mausolea are also in a leaky condition, No such heavy rains have occurred for many years, and the floods are worse than they were in 1883. As the Chung-yuan festival—on the 15th of the 7th moon—is now at hand memorialists propose to have certain of the demolished. bridges replaced by temporary board structures, and_ te have the damage to the roads repaired wherever necessary. The total cost will not exceed Tls. 400, which will be defrayed out of the treasury of the Western Mausolea.
Memorialist adds, ax some slight consolation to His Majesty, that the avenues of pines and cypress-trees have not suffered any damage. They find further that the present year is one during which for geomnantie reasons no repairs should be und taken to the buildings of the Mausolea.—Lescript separately issued.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.