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[[underline]] Chapter IX. [[/underline]] 181. than such as those described in the preceding paragraphs. Our discovery of the Han bricks tended however to confirm what we had heard at the beginning, about the existence of grave-vaults at the Lei Ku T'ai; so we decided to continue our search a few yards farther to the southwest. [[underline]] The Brick Grave-Vaults. [[/underline]] One June 2nd, the day after we began work on our new location, we at last found what we were seeking. At a depth of 4 feet, 2 inches beneath the existing surface of the mound, we uncovered the top of a brick wall. In the course of the day, at similar depths we came on several others, among them one that looked like a remnant of a barrel-vault with most of its arched roof gone. Here also, as at the Wang Fên Wa, the bricks had been laid "dry", without mortar; or if a mud plaster had been used, it had leached away. The bricks were of Eastern Han type and varied slightly in size one from another; but generally speaking, their dimensions were closely similar to those of the ones at the Wang Fên Wa (see page 157). We found none bearing a date. Most of the bricks nearer the surface and forming the upper portions of the ruined vaults had turned either brick-red or yellowish-gray as a result of their exposure to fire; but in all such cases their cores retained their original gray color. It seemed unlikely that this discoloration had taken place before the vaults were covered with earth, at the time of the interment; rather, the burning probably occurred in fairly recent times, when according to our information the upper portions of the ruins had stood exposed to view. We found in all the remains of two tombs, constructed side by side and only a few feet apart. They had of course already been plundered; and as intimated above, they were partially destroyed, their roofs and