The talisman of long life was said to have been lost after Lao-tsze’s death. But Che Hwang-te determined to find it. He was persuaded into believing that in the ocean to the east of China there were “Golden Islands of the Blest,” where genii dwelt, whose business and delight it was to dispense to all visitors to their shores a draught of immortality, compounded of the fragrant herbs which grew in abundance round them; that here also was the talisman of long life kept. So sincere was Che Hwang-te’s faith that he fitted out a naval expedition to discover these much-to-be-desired regions, and placed a Taoist magician at the head of the undertaking. On the plea that it had been revealed to him that the expedition was likely to meet with a more favorable reception at the Golden Isles if a company of youths and maidens accompanied it, Sen She, the leader, persuaded the Emperor to send several thousands of girls and young men with him. On the return of the voyagers they reported that they had sailed within sight of the islands, but had been driven back by contrary winds. The Emperor determined to try again. This second expedition failed. But private individuals declared that they had succeeded in reaching the islands, in seeing the genii, in securing the draughts of the elixir of life, and that they had seen the Talisman. Che Hwang-te’s failures would not let him see the imposture that was being played upon him. Again and again he sent, and great sums were expended, and finally an emptied treasury forced him to relinquish his project. CHAPTER XXII. THE TAOIST SACRED BOOKS AND GODS. The Tao-te-king still remains the monument of Lao-tsze’s extraordinary power and penetration; and it gives ample reason for assigning him a place indefinitely higher than the mass of his contemporaries.--ARCHDEACON CHARLES HARDWICK. Lao-Tsze gave to Yin-He, when he left China on his last journey, the results of his long life of meditation in a little book of 5,000 characters. On this little book the immense volumes of the Taoist religion are built up. This is called the Tao-Te-King, or Book of the Way and of Virtue. This is a metaphysical treatise, and its meaning is very obscure. There is much of materialistic speculation, magic and divination in this book. The first chapter tells us that “that which is nameless is the beginning of Heaven and earth.” “_Taou_ produced one, the first great cause; one produced two, the male and female principles of nature; from the two came three, and the three produced all things that are in Heaven and earth.”