Therefore, so soon as the ceremony was over, and the path giving access to the sarcophagus had been blocked up at its innermost end, the outside gate at the entrance to this path was let fall, and the mausoleum was effectually closed, so that not one of the workmen escaped.

Trees and grass were then planted around, that the spot might look like the rest of the mountain." The career of the Second Emperor finds an apt parallel in that of Richard Cromwell, except that the former was put to death, after a short and inglorious reign.

Then followed a dynasty which has left an indelible mark upon the civilization as well as on the recorded history of China.

A peasant, by mere force of character, succeeded after a three-years' struggle in establishing himself upon the throne, 206 B.C., and his posterity, known as the House of Han, ruled over China for four hundred years, accidentally divided into two nearly equal portions by the Christian era, about which date there occurred a temporary usurpation of the throne which for some time threatened the stability of the dynasty in the direct line of succession.

To this date, the more northern Chinese have no prouder title than that of a "son of Han." During the whole period of four hundred years the empire cannot be said to have enjoyed complete tranquillity either at home or abroad.