Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/213

 than uneducated beasts of burden and they have been among the greatest poets in the world. They have been emperors and paupers. Some of the most magnificent banquets in history were given by the ancient rulers of Cathay. The court of Kublai Khan was fabulous. Marco Polo has given some idea of its magnificence. But also in China one may hear stories of poor families who live in caves in loess deposits along the course of rivers, without any conveniences, people to whom death is the only great adventure in which they ever participate. And at frequent intervals the river rises and floods the caves drowning the poor miserable inhabitants like rats. Welcome death, alleviating hunger and suffering.

For awhile Hung Long Tom mulled over the problem until at last his mind was made up. To Canton they must go. If in that garden Scobee found nothing, then indeed had China failed.