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[[underline]] Chapter VII. [[/underline]]  139.

[[underline]] Tumulus of Ch'in Shih Huang Ti, "First Emperor". [[/underline]]
  Much delayed in our progress by encounters with long strings of frightened camels not yet accustomed to motor-vehicles, we at length covered the score of miles between the provincial capital and the enormous tumulus of Ch'in Shih Huang Ti,  "First Emperor" of China (for its location see our route-map, [[strikethrough]] pl. L, [[/strikethrough]] ^[[fig. 19,]] no. 1). This grave-mound, the oldest in that country to be identified with certainty, is likewise the largest, perhaps anywhere in the world.  It forms a worthy monument to the founder of the Chinese Empire.
  Out of the plain south of the Wei River, a couple of miles east of the town and famed hot spring of Lin-t'ung [[2 Chinese characters]], rises the vast grass grown mound in several successive stages. [[superscript]] (134) [[/superscript]]  A short distance to the south
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[[superscript]] (134) [[/superscript]] See the frontispiece, and fig. [[strikethrough]] 19 [[/strikethrough]] ^[[30]] (the latter drawn from a photograph); also see plan and elevation, [[image - arrow pointing to correction]] [[strikethrough]] pl. LXX [[/strikethrough]] ^[[fig. 31,]]  and hypothetical reconstruction, fig. [[strikethrough]] 20 [[/strikethrough]] ^[[32.]]
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of it lies a range of low, rocky, precipitous hills, running in a general east-and-west direction; outliers of the Ch'in Lings, they are known as the Li [[Chinese character]] (also written [[Chinese character]]) Shan.  These withdraw slightly to form a sort of bay or recess directly opposite the tumulus.  The latter thus stands symmetrically in the center of a natural proscenium, with the hills for a background (fig. [[strikethrough]] 19). [[/strikethrough]] ^[[30).]]  The site was evidently chosen with no little care.
  As we approached the vast pile of earth, almost certainly of [[underline]] terre pisée, [[/underline]] [[superscript]] (135) [[/superscript]]  it seemed to rise higher and higher above the surrounding fields.  
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[[superscript]] (135) [[/superscript]] While we had no time to ascertain this by actual digging, it seems highly improbable that mere loose earth, heaped up without tamping, would retain its shape so well after 2000 years.
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I have never seen a photograph which gave anything like a true impression of its vast size and bulk.  Its once no doubt sharp outlines now softened by time and weather, it loomed up until, as we neared its foot, it seemed

Transcription Notes:
please add Chinese characters, thank you