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[[underline]] Chapter IX. [[/underline]] 182. facades having disappeared (see plan, fig. 46). Their orientation was unusual---indeed in my experience unique; for the major axes of both vaults extended N. 86° E. by S. 86° W., so that they faced very nearly due east. [[superscript]] (173) [[/superscript]] ----------------------- [[superscript]] (173) [[/superscript]] From at least as far back as the Shang period (2nd millennium B.C.), Chinese tombs have ordinarily faced south; in a very few instances, like those of Ch'in Shih Huang Ti and T'ang and T'ai-tsung, already discussed, they have fronted north. Except for the two here at the Lei Ku T'ai, I have neither seen nor heard of any that faced east. ------------------------ As far as the surviving portions allowed us to judge, they had been barrel-vaults in the most literal sense ([[underline]] cf. [[/underline]] Pl. 32, fig. 2, and plan, Fig. 46). their roofs arching transversely and their side-walls bulging slightly outward longitudinally---a shape well designed to resist the pressure of the earth about as well as above them. According to Mr. Ch'iu, this arrangement had not hitherto been known to exist during Han times. We found no trace whatever of stone or other doorways. The brick floor of Tomb I (which we discovered first and which lay a little farther south than its mate) we encountered at a depth of 7 feet, 5 inches, and that of Tomb II (the larger of the two) at 7 feet, 6 inches, below the existing surface of the mound. The latter must therefore when in process of construction, nearly 2000 years ago, have first been raised about 12 feet above the surrounding level (perhaps as a precaution against floods or the seepage of surface water), so as to form an earthen platform. Upon this had then been erected the two vaults; and upon these in turn---whether before or after the obsequies---earth had been piled, to complete the mound. The original height of the latter it was of course impossible to determine; but it can hardly have been less than 25 feet, and perhaps somewhat more than that. The two vaults had evidently been constructed along closely similar lines (see plan, Fig. 46). In each, there still remained three