NOTE 4.—✛In no part of China probably, says Richthofen, do the towns and villages consist of houses so substantial and costly as in this. Pianfu is undoubtedly, as Magaillans again notices, P’ING-YANG FU.[3] It is the _Bikan_ of Shah Rukh’s ambassadors. [Old P’ing yang, 5 _lis_ to the south] is said to have been the residence of the primitive and mythical Chinese Emperor Yao. A great college for the education of the Mongols was instituted at P’ing-yang, by Yeliu Chutsai, the enlightened minister of Okkodai Khan. [Its dialect differs from the T’aï-yuan dialect, and is more like Pekingese.] The city, lying in a broad valley covered with the yellow löss, was destroyed by the T’aï-P’ing rebels, but it is reviving. [It is known for its black pottery.] The vicinity is noted for large paper factories. [“From T’ai-yuan fu to P’ing-yang fu is a journey of 185 miles, down the valley of the Fuen-ho.” (Colonel Bell, _Proc. R. G. S._ XII. 1890, p. 61.) By the way, Mr. Rockhill remarks (_Land of the Lamas_, p. 10): “Richthofen has transcribed the name of this river _Fuen_. This spelling has been adopted on most of the recent maps, both German and English, but _Fuen_ is an impossible sound in Chinese.” (Read _Fen ho_.)—H. C.] (_Cathay_, ccxi.; _Ritter_, IV. 516; _D’Ohsson_, II. 70; _Williamson_, I. 336.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] And I see Ritter understood the passage as I do (IV. 515). [2] _Báligh_ is indeed properly Mongol. [3] It seems to be called _Piyingfu_ (miswritten Piying_ku_) in Mr. Shaw’s _Itinerary_ from Yarkand (_Pr. R. G. S._ XVI. 253.) We often find the Western modifications of Chinese names very persistent. CHAPTER XXXVIII. CONCERNING THE CASTLE OF CAICHU. On leaving Pianfu you ride two days westward, and come to the noble castle of CAICHU, which was built in time past by a king of that country, whom they used to call the GOLDEN KING, and who had there a great and beautiful palace. There is a great hall of this palace, in which are pourtrayed all the ancient kings of the country, done in gold and other beautiful colours, and a very fine sight they make. Each king in succession as he reigned added to those pictures.{1} [This Golden King was a great and potent Prince, and during his stay at this place there used to be in his service none but beautiful girls, of whom he had a great number in his Court. When he went to take the air about the fortress, these girls used to draw him about in a little carriage which they could easily move, and they would also be in attendance on the King for everything pertaining to his convenience or pleasure.{2}] Now I will tell you a pretty passage that befell between the Golden King and Prester John, as it was related by the people of the Castle.