"The Chinese statesman," says Wingrove Cooke, the famous _Times_ correspondent, "cuts off 10,000 heads, and cites a passage from Mencius about the sanctity of human life.

He pockets the money given him to repair an embankment and thus inundates a province, and he deplores the land lost to the cultivator of the soil." Du Halde tells us that "the first Chinese cannon were cast under the directions of Pere Verbiest in 1682, who blest the cannon, and gave to each the name of a saint." "A female saint!" says Huc.
Near the arsenal and drill ground there is a large intramural swamp or reedy lake, the reeds of which have an economic value as wicks for Chinese candles.

Dykes cross the swamp in various directions, and in the centre there is a well known Taoist Temple, a richly endowed edifice, with superior gods and censers of great beauty.

Where the swamp deepens into a pond at the margin of the temple, a pretty pavilion has been built, which is a favourite resort of the Yunnan gentry.

The most _chic_ dinner parties in the province are given here.