The Mirror of Kong Ho
LETTER VI
Concerning this person's well-sustained efforts to discover further demons. The behaviour of those invoked on two occasions.
VENERATED SIRE,--In an early letter I made some reference to a varietyof demon invoked by certain of the barbarians. As this matter arousedyour congenial interest, I have since privately bent my mind incessantlyto the discovery of others; but this has been by no means easy, for,touching the more intimate details of the subject, the barbariansfrequently maintain a narrow-minded suspicion. Many whom I haveapproached feign to become amused or have evaded a deliberate answerunder the subterfuge of a jest; yet, whenever I would have lurked bynight in their temples or among the enclosed spaces of their tombs tolearn more, at a given signal one in authority has approached me withanxiety and mistrust engraved upon his features, and, disregarding myunassuming protest that I would remain alone in a contemplative reverie,has signified that so devout an exercise is contrary to their writtenlaw.
On one occasion only did this person seem to hold himself poised on thevery edge of a fuller enlightenment. This was when, in the venerablecompany of several benevolent persons, he was being taken from place toplace to see the more important buildings, and to observe the societiesof artificers labouring at their crafts. The greater part of the day hadalready been spent in visiting temples, open spaces reserved to childrenand those whose speech, appearance, and general manner of behavingmake it desirable that they should be set apart from the contact of theimpressionable, halls containing relics and emblems of the past,places of no particular size or attraction but described as being ofunparalleled historic interest, and the stalls of the more reputablevenders of merchandise.
Doubtless, with observing so many details of a conflicting nature,this person's discriminating faculties had become obscured, but towardsevening he certainly understood that we sought the company of anassembly of those who had been selected from all the Empire to pronouncedefinitely upon matters of supreme import. The building before which ourchariot stopped had every appearance of being worthy of so exceptional agathering, and with a most affluent joy that I should at last be able toglean a decisive pronouncement, I evaded those who had accompaniedme, and, mingling self-reliantly with the throng inside, I quicklysurrounded myself with many of the wisest-looking, and begged that theywould open their heads freely and express their innermost opinions uponthe subject of demons of all kinds.
Although I had admittedly hoped that these persons would not concealthemselves behind the wings of epigram or intangible prevarication, Iwas far from being prepared for the candour with which they greeted me,and although by long usage I am reasonably unconcerned at the proximityof any of our own recognised genii, it is not to be denied that myorgans of ferocity grew small and unstable at the revelations.
From their words it appeared that the spot on which we stood hadlong been the recognised centre and meeting-place for every class ofabandoned and objectionable spirit of the universe. Not only this, butseveral of the persons who had gathered around were confidently pointedout as the earthly embodiment of various diabolical Forces, while otherscheerfully admitted that they themselves were the shadows of certainillustrious ones who had long Passed Above, and all united in declaringthat those who moved among them wearing the distinction of a dark blueuniform were Evil Beings of a most ghoulish and repulsive type. Indeed,as I looked more closely, I could see that not only those pointed out,but all standing around, had expressions immeasurably more inkeeping with a band of outcast spirits than suggestive of an assemblyrepresenting wisdom and dignified ease. At that moment, however, a mostinelegant movement was caused by one suddenly declaring that hehad recognised this one who is inscribing his experiences to be theapparition of a certain great reformer who during the period of hisordinary existence had received the name of Guy Fawkes, and amid atumult of overwhelming acclamation a proposal was raised that Ishould be carried around in triumph and afterwards initiated intothe observance of a time-honoured custom. Although it had now becomedoubtful to what end the adventure was really tending, this personwould have submitted himself agreeably to the participation had not theblue-apparelled band cleft their way into the throng just as I was aboutto be borne off in triumph, and forming themselves into a ringedbarrier around me they presently succeeded in rearranging the contendingelements and in restoring me to the society of my friends. To thesepersons they complained with somewhat unreasoning acrimony that Ihad been exciting the inmates into a state of rebellion with wildimaginings, and for the first time I then began to understand that animportant error had been perpetrated by some one, and that instead ofbeing a meeting-place for those upholding the wisdom and authorityof the country, the building was in reality an establishment for thementally defective and those of treacherous instincts.
For some time after this occurrence I failed to regard the subject ofdemons and allied Forces in any but a spirit of complete no enthusiasm,but more recently my interest and research have been enlarged by thezeal and supernatural conversation of a liberal-minded person whosought my prosaic society with indefatigable persistence. When we hadprogressed to such a length that the one might speak of affairs withoutthe other at once interposing that he himself had also unfortunatelycome out quite destitute of money, this stranger, who revealed to methat his name was Glidder, but that in the company of a certain chosenfew he was known intimately as the Keeper of the Salograma, approachedme confidentially, and inquired whether we of our Central Kingdom werein the habit of receiving manifestations from the spirits of those whohad Passed Beyond.
At the unassumed ingenuousness of this remark I suffered myimpassiveness to relax, as I replied with well-established pride thatalthough a country which neglected its ancestors might doubtless beable to produce more of the ordinary or graveyard spectres, we wereunapproachable for the diverse forms and malignant enmity of ourapparitions. Of invisible beings alone, I continued tolerantly, wehad the distinction of being harassed by upwards of seven hundredclearly-defined varieties, while the commoner inflictions of demons,shades, visions, warlocks, phantoms, sprites, imps, phenomena, ghosts,and reflections passed almost without comment; and touching our admittednational speciality of dragons, the honour of supremacy had never beenquestioned.
At this, the agreeable person said that the pleasure he derived frommeeting me was all-excelling, and that I must certainly accompany him toa meeting-place of this same chosen few the following evening, when,by the means of sacred expedients, they hoped to invoke the presenceof some departed spirits, and perchance successfully raise a tangiblevision or two. To so fair-minded a proposal I held myself acquiescently,and then inquired where the meeting-place in question was destinedto be--whether in a ruined and abandoned sanctuary, or upon someprecipitous spot of desolation.
The inquiry was gracefully intended, but a passing cloud of unworthyannoyance revealed itself upon the upper part of the other's expressionas he replied, "We, the true seekers, despise theatrical accessories,and, as a matter of act, I couldn't well get away from the office intime to go anywhere far. To-morrow we meet at my place in the CamdenRoad. It's only a three-half-penny tram stage from the Euston andTottenham Court corner, so it couldn't be much more convenient for you."He thereupon gave me an inscribed fragment of paper and mentioned theappointed hour.
"I'll tell you why I am particularly anxious for you to come to-morrow,"he said as we were each departing from one another. "Pash--he's theReader of the Veda among us--and his people have got hold of a Greekwoman (they SAY she is a princess, of course), who can do a lot ofthings with flowers and plate glass. They are bringing her for the firsttime to-morrow, and it struck me that if I have YOU there already whenthey arrive--you'll come in your national costume by the way?--it willbe a considerable set-off. Since his daughter was presented to theduchess at the opening of a bazaar, there has been no holding Pash; whyhe was ever elected Reader of the Books, I don't know. Er--we have hadscoffers sometimes, but I trust I may rely upon you not to laugh atanything you may not
happen to agree with?"
With conscientious dignity I replied that I had only really laughedseven times in my life, and therefore the entertainment was one whichI was not likely to embark upon hastily or with inadequate cause. Heimmediately expressed a seemly regret that the detail had been spoken,and again assuring him that at the stated hour I would present myselfat the house bearing the symbol engraved upon the card, we definitelyparted.
That, as a matter of fact, I did not so present myself at the exacthour, chiefly concerns the uncouth and arbitrary-minded charioteer whocontrolled the movements of the vehicle to which the one whom I wasseeking had explicitly referred; for at an angle in the road he sufferedthe horses to draw us aside into a path which did not correspond to theengraved signs upon the card, nor by any word of persuasion could he beprevailed upon to return.
Thus, without any possible reproach upon the manner in which I wasconducting the enterprise, it came about that by the time I reached thespot indicated, all those persons who had been spoken of as constitutinga chosen band were assembled, and with them the barbarian princess.Nevertheless, this person was irreproachably greeted, and the maidenindicated even spoke a few words to him in an outside tongue. Beingnecessarily unacquainted with the import of the remark I spread out myhands with a sign of harmonious sympathy and smiled agreeably, whereatshe appeared to receive an added esteem from the faces of those around(excluding those directly of the House of Glidder), and was therebyencouraged to speak similarly at intervals, this person each timereplying in a like fashion.
"Is he then a Guide of the Way, also, princess?" said the one Pash, whohad noted the occurrence; to which the maiden replied, "To a degree, yetlacking the Innermost Mysteries."
Presently it was announced that all things were fittingly prepared inanother chamber. Here, upon a table of polished wood, stood on the oneside a round stone with certain markings, a group of inscribed books,and various other emblems; and on the other side a bowl of water, asphere of crystal, pieces of unwritten parchment, and behind all, and ata distance away, a sheet of transparent glass, greater in height thanan ordinary person and as wide. When all were seated--the one who hadenticed me among them placing himself before the stone, the personPash guarding the books, the barbarian princess being surrounded by hersymbols and alone in a self-imposed solitude, and the others at variouspoints--the lights were subdued and the appearances awaited.
It would scarcely be respectful, O my enlightened father, to take upyour well-spent leisure by a too prolific account of the matters whichfollowed, they being in no way dissimilar from the manifestationsby which the uninitiated little ones of Yuen-ping are wont to amusethemselves and pass the winter evenings. From time to time harmonioussounds could be plainly detected, flowers and branches of wood werescattered sparsely here and there, persons claimed that passing objectshad touched their faces, and misshapen forms of smoke-like density(which some confidently recognised as the outlines of departed ones whomthey had known), revealed themselves against the glass. When this hadbeen accomplished, the lights were recalled, and the barbarian maiden,sinking into a condition of languor, announced and foretold events andhappenings upon which she was consulted, sometimes replying by spokenwords, at others suffering her hand to trace them lightly upon theparchment sheets. Thus, to an inquirer it was announced that one, AuntMary, in the Upper Air, was well and happy, though undeniably pained atthe action of Cousin William in the matter of the freehold houses, andmore than sceptical how his marriage would turn out. Another was advisedthat although the interest on Consols was admittedly lower than thatanticipated by those controlling the destines of a new venture entitled,The Great Rosy Dawn Gold Mine Development Syndicate, and the namecertainly less poetically inspiring, the advising spirits were of theopinion that the former enterprise would prove the more stable of thetwo, and, in any case, they recommended the person in question to beginby placing not more than half of her life's savings into the mine.The family of the House of Pash was assured that beneficent spiritssurrounded them at every turn, and that their good deeds were notsuffered to fall unfruitfully to the ground; while many bearing the nameof Glidder, on the other hand, were reproved by one who had known themin infancy for the offences of jealousy, ostentation, vain thoughts,shallowness of character, and the like.
At length, revered, as there seemed to be no reasonable indication ofany barbarian phantom of weight or authority appearing--nothing,indeed, beyond what a person in our country, of no admitted skill, wouldaccomplish in the penetrating light of day with two others holding hishands, and a third reposing upon his head, I formed the perhaps immaturejudgment that the one to whom I was indebted for the entertainment wouldbe suffering a grievous frustration of his hopes and a diminution of hisoutward authority. Therefore, without sufficient consideration of therestricted surroundings, as it afterwards appeared, I threw myselfinto a retrospective vision, and floating unencumbered through space,I sought for Kwan Kiang-ti, the Demon of the Waters, upon whom I mightfittingly call, as I was given into his keeping by the ceremony ofspirit-adoption at an early age. Meeting an influence which I recognisedto be an indication of his presence, in the vicinity of the EighthRegion, I obsequiously entreated that he would reveal himself withoutdelay, and then, convinced of his sympathetic intervention, I sufferedmy spirit to recall itself, and revived into the condition of anordinary existence.
"We have among us this evening, my friends," the one Pash was saying,"a very remarkable lady--if I may use so democratic a term in theconnection--to whom the limits of Time and Space are empty words, andbefore whose supreme Will the most portentous Forces of Occult Naturemutely confess themselves her attending slaves--" But at that momentthe rolling drums of Kiang-ti's thunder drowned his words, although hesubsequently raised his voice above it to entreat that any knives orother articles of a bright and attractive kind should at once be removedto a place of safety.
Heralded by these continuous sounds, and accompanied by innumerableflashes of lightning, the genius presently manifested himself, leisurelydeveloping out of the air around. He appeared in his favourite guise ofan upright dragon, his scales being arranged in rows of nine each way,a pearl showing within his throat, and upon his head the wooden bar. Thelights were extinguished incapably by the rain which fell continually inhis presence, but from his body there proceeded a luminous breath whichsufficiently revealed the various incidents.
"Kong Ho," said this opportune vision, speaking with a voice like thebeating of a brass gong, "the course you have adopted is an unusual one,but the weight and regularity of your offerings have merit in my eyes.Nevertheless, if your invocation is only the outcome of a shallow vanityor a profane love of display, nothing can save you from a painful death.Speak now, fully and without evasion, and fear nothing."
"Amiable Being," said this person, kow-towing profoundly, "the matterwas designed to the end only that your incomparable versatility mightbe fittingly displayed. These barbarians sought vainly to raise phantomscapable of any useful purpose, whereupon I, jealous of your superioromnipotence, judged it would be an unseemly neglect not to inform you ofthe opportunity."
"It is well," said the demon affably. "All doubt in the matter shallnow be set at rest. Could any more convincing act be found than thatI should breath upon these barbarians and reduce them instantly to ascattering of thin white ashes?"
"Assuredly it would be a conclusive testimony," I replied; "yet inthat case consider how inadequate a witness could be borne to yourenlightened condescension, when none would be left but one to whom thespoken language of this Island is more in the nature of a trap than acomfortable vehicle."
"Your reasoning is profound, Kong Ho," he replied, "yet abundantproof shall not be wanting." With these words he raised his hand, andimmediately the air became filled with an overwhelming shower ofthose productions with which Kwan Kiang-ti's name is chieflyassociated--shells and pebbles of all kinds, lotus and other roots fromthe river banks, weeds from seas of greater depths, fish of interminablevariety from both
fresh and bitter waters, all falling in reallyembarrassing abundance, and mingled with an incessant rain of sand andwater. In the midst of this the demon suddenly passed away, striking thetable as he went, so that it was scarred with the brand of a five-clawedhand, shattering all the objects upon it (excepting the stone andthe books, which he doubtless regarded as sacred to some extent), andleaving the room involved in a profound darkness.
"For the love av the saints--for the love av the saints, save us fromthe yellow devils!" exclaimed a voice from the spot where last thebarbarian princess had reclined, and upon this person going to herassistance with lights it was presently revealed that she alone hadremained seated, the others having all assembled themselves beneath thetable in spite of the incapability of the space at their disposal. Mostof the weightier evidences of Kwan Kiang-ti's majestic presence hadfaded away, though the table retained the print of his impressive hand,many objects remained irretrievably torn apart, and in a distant cornerof the room an insignificant heap of shells and seaweed still lingered.From the floor covering a sprinkling of the purest Fuh-chow sand roseat every step, the salt dew of the Tung-Hai still dropped fromthe surroundings, and, at a later period, a shore crab was foundendeavouring to make its escape undetected.
Convinced that the success of the manifestation would have enlargedthe one Glidder's esteem towards me to an inexpressible degree, I nowapproached him with words of self-deprecation ready on my tongue, butbefore he spoke I became aware, from the nature of his glance, thatthe provision had been unnecessary, for already his face had begun toassume, to a most distended amount, the expression which I had longrecognised as a synonym that some detail had been regarded at adifferent angle from that anticipated.
"May I ask," he began in a somewhat heavily-laden voice, after he hadassured himself that the person who was speaking was himself, and hisexternal attributes unchanged, "May I ask, sir" (and at this title,which is untranslatable in its many-sided significance when technicallyemployed, I recognised that all complimentary intercourse might beregarded as having closed), "whether you accept the responsibility ofthese proceedings?"
"Touching the appearance which has so essentially contributed to thesuccess of the occasion, it is undeniably due to this one's foresight,"I replied modestly.
"Then let me tell you, sir, that I consider it an outrage--a dastardlyoutrage."
"Yet," protested this person with retiring assertiveness, "the expressedobject of the ceremony, as it stood before my intelligence, was for theset purpose of invoking spirits and raising certain visions."
"Spirits!" exclaimed the one before me with an accent of concentratedaversion; "yes, spirits; impalpable, civilised, genuine spirits, whomanifest themselves through recognised media, and are conformable to theusages of the best drawing-room society--yes. But not demons, sir; notChinese devils in the Camden Road--no. Truth and Light at any cost, notpaganism. It's perfectly scandalous. Look at the mahogany table--ruined;look at the wall-paper--conventional mackerels with a fishing-netbackground, new this spring--soused; look at the Brussels carpet,seventeen six by twenty-five--saturated!"
"I quite agree with you, Mr. Glidder," here interposed the individualPash. "I was watching you, sir, closely the whole time, and I have mysuspicions about how it was done. I don't know whether Mr. Glidderhas any legal redress, but I should certainly advise him to see hissolicitors to-morrow, and in the meantime--"
"He is my guest," exclaimed the one whose hospitality I was enjoying,"and while he is beneath my roof he is sacred."
"But I do not think that it would be kind to detain him any longer inhis wet things," said another of the household, with pointed malignity,and accepting this as an omen of departure, I withdrew myself, bowingrepeatedly, but offering no closer cordiality.
"Through a torn sleeve one drops a purse of gold," it is well said; andas if to prove to a deeper end that misfortune is ever double-handed,this incapable being, involved in thoughts of funereal density, benthis footsteps to an inaccurate turning, and after much wandering wascompelled to pass the night upon a desolate heath--but that would be thematter of another narrative.
With an insidious doubt whether, after all, the far-seeing KwanKiang-ti's first impulse would not have been the most satisfactoryconclusion to the enterprise.
KONG HO.