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[[underlined]] Chapter XIV. [[/underlined]] 289. mit. Also, at the hamlet of Hsi Ssŭ-erh Ts'un 西寺兒村, half way up the flank of the plateau, he had found quarters for our party at a temple known locally as the Hsi Ssŭ-erh Ssŭ 西寺兒寺---said to be a Ming foundation renovated in Ch'ing times---and had struck up a friendship with its resident priest. [[superscript]] (263) [[/superscript]] He had also met the village head- -------------------- [[superscript]] (263) [[/superscript]] In China, travelers quite commonly find accommodation at way-side temple-monasteries, just as they once did at the monasteries of medieval Europe. ---------------------- man and elders, and had learned more about the site from them. Among other things, they had told him that a couple of years previously, grave-robbers had broken through the outer door (of stone) of the great tomb. Before they could force its inner door, however, they had been frightened away by its supernatural guardians; so that as far as Mr. Tung's inform-ants knew, its contents were still intact. [[superscript]] (264) [[/superscript]] The villagers had likewise --------------------------- [[superscript]] (264) [[/superscript]] The late Dr. V. K. Ting subsequently told me that he doubted very much whether a single important tomb in China, with the exception of that of T'ang T'ai-tsung (already noted; see page 113 and note 91), had escaped being plundered at least once. ----------------------- told him that when we dug into the tumulus we must beware of automatic crossbows, set up to shoot tomb-robbers (among whom they of course classed us). It was interesting to find this belief still alive in a remote hill-village of northern Shansi, at the present day; I recalled that it had likewise been mentioned by the historian Ssŭ-ma Ch'ien in his account written over 2000 years ago, of the construction of the great burial-mound of the "First Emperor", Ch'in Shih Huang Ti. [[superscript]] (265) [[/superscript]] ---------------------- [[superscript]] (265) [[/superscript]] [[underlined]] Shih chi [[/underlined]], chapt. VI, fol. 25-a. --------------------------- In general, Mr. Tung reported that he had found the villagers very friendly and helpful, and that he foresaw no obstacles in the way of our doing as much digging as we liked.
