Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/169

 of Roy Chapman Andrews, huge monsters once lived in this region with such enormous appetites that they denuded the country of all vegetation. It is the cradle of life for if man were created from dust and must return to dust when life is finished, then how much of finished life must be in that swirling desert dust."

He recounted all sorts of odd things about China, that land of four thousand years of culture. How the Chinaman loves birds. How he makes pets of almost every conceivable type of bird although the most well-bred are fondest of canaries. Doves, too, are raised in abundance. The magpie is liked because it is such a rogue. But the owl is not popular. It is a wicked bird, known for its treachery. It brings illness, often death.

Hung Long Tom told Scobee the story of embroidery which was invented in the early ages of China by the Empress Hsi Ling-shih. She it was who first raised silkworms commercially and invented the loom. It is said that some of her embroideries were so