Page:China historical and descriptive.djvu/51

Rh the right cause, ascribed to the lightness of the ordinary punishments, and to the easy death to which criminals were subjected. She, therefore, introduced a punishment called Wei-tow, which was an iron vessel, like the Chinese measure called Tow, and which, when heated red-hot, the criminal was obliged to hold in his hands until they were roasted. She also invented a brass pillar, called Paou-lo, which, being greased, or daubed with unctuous matter, and so made slippery, was laid over a fire of coals. Across this fire, the criminal was forced to walk upon the slippery, burning, rounded brass. The consequence was that he fell into the fire. It is said that the ineffectual efforts of the criminals to walk across the burning roller afforded this cruel lady much amusement and delight.

"Chow, in a passion, murdered a nobleman's daughter, because she disliked the debaucheries of the palace. ... On seeing some persons fording a brook in a cold winter's morning, he said they endured the cold in a remarkable manner, and forthwith ordered their legs to be cut off, that he might view the marrow. His relation, Ke-teze, having reproved him, escaped death by affecting madness. Pe-kan acquired immortal fame by being one of the first martyrs in the generally hopeless cause of reproving bad kings.

"Woo-wang, the martial king, thought it right to rid the world of Chow. He made a solemn appeal to heaven, imposed an oath on his nobles, and proceeded to what he conceived was fighting Heaven's battles. Chow sent 700,000 men to oppose him. But they had no will to fight. They were routed. Chow fled to the stage he had