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[[underline]] Chapter IX. [[/underline]]            188.

   The southern division of the same eastern chamber was almost bare. In it was an earthenware jar, perhaps left there by plunderers; for it was the only specimen of pottery that we found in either tomb outside their central compartments. On the floor near it were several large and much rusted wrought iron nails averaging around 13 [[underline]] cm. [[/underline]] in length, square in cross-section and closely resembling forms in use in the Occident down to quite modern times. These, we thought, had probably been employed in the construction of a coffin, although no other traces of one were apparent.

[[underline]] Some Popular Beliefs. [[/underline]]
   Before we leave this discussion of the grave-vaults at the Lei Ku T'ai, we may note something of the beliefs about them held by the local peasantry. One was that they had formerly contained complete dinner services---dishes, chopsticks, and all---of so^[[l]]id gold. These, by employing the proper incantations, residents of Yu Ho Chen could summon for use at banquets; when no longer required, the objects would return of their own volition to their resting-places in the tombs. Unfortunately the secret was now lost. This appeared to me like a genuine folk-recollection that people of wealth had been buried here in the distant past. 
   A corollary to this idea, held by our workmen, was that the shards that we found were such in appearance only; that in reality they were "black gold", which we would later magically transmute into the precious metal, to our own notable profit. For the idea that anyone would be so foolish or irrational as to spend money and effort in digging for mere information, or even for ancient relics devoid of pecuniary value, was simply beyond their comprehension.

[[underline]] End of Our Work at Yu Ho Chên.
[[/underline]]
   Further exploratory digging to the west and south of the vaults