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from those of their Emperors. Near the smaller mounds, which evidently represented gates and corner turrets on the wall, were large numbers of unglazed tile fragments. I found no glazed potsherds.
     From Hei Hsih Kwan I went down the Lo river to the village of Kung Ksien to see the cave chapels of whichChavannes (1) has reproduced eighteen photographs giving an inadequate idea of the importance of this little group of caves and their sculpture. In general they can be attributed to the North Wei period of which the work at Lungmen is the great example and, indeed, they might fairly be considered a part of Lungmen, since they are on the river barely twenty miles distant.
     As neither the local policeman nor the priest in charge at the temple, would give me permission to pull down the brick walls which closed the mouths of several of the caves, I called on the Magistrate of Kung Ksien who readily agreed to send workmen to the spot to open all but one which contained the coffin of a priest. As it was necessary to obtain permission from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for this, I resolved to go at once to Peking and see him personally, as this was the first favor asked of the Government by the School, and the matter of disturbing the dead is always a delicate one in China. The main reason however for going was that, not having calculated for a long visit to Kung Ksien I had run short of supplies and wished to obtain the services of an expert in ink rubbings and proper materials for the difficult

[[Footnote]](1) Chavannes: Plates CCLXV - CCLXXVI