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51] to be durable. He could not find the soles. He at last found two piles of mud in the ditch; then he knew the soles were made of mud and covered only with a layer of paint, so that, as soon as they got wet, they at once dissolved. He was enraged, and called a few friends together and went back to the shop with the soleless shoes. He said to the shopkeeper: "You are selling mud sole shoes to cheat the unwary." The shoemaker replied: "Our rain shoes are made for people who ride in sedan chairs; it is plainly written on our sign board; who told you to wear them to carry chairs?" Ah Hsi became more enraged and wanted to use his fists. Neither party would give in. Finally the bystanders acted as peacemakers; the matter was settled by the shoemaker returning one-half of the price of the shoes.

Chapter XC. — The Mosquitoes. {J^ ^.)

HERE was man, after he had been abroad, returned to his home. He said to his wife: "I arrived at a place called Yen Tze Chi, where the mosquitoes are as large as chickens. Then I passed through Mu Shan Kai ; there the mosquitoes are as large as ducks." His wife answered: "I do not believe you; can it be possible that there are such big mosquitoes?" "One night," said the husband, "when I was asleep under a mosquito curtain, there came a mosquito. He put his head through the curtain. I held him by the neck and did not let him go. That mosquito was outside of the netting. His wings were flapping all the night. It was very cooling." His wife said: "Since you had hold of him, why did you not bring him back with you and give him to me to eat?" "It was fortunate enough," said the husband, "that he did not eat me; and you still wish to eat him."