AR1641.3.15 HARVARD COLLA. MAY 27 1889 The Author. Copyrighted 1889 OWEN A. GILL 217-126 19 MANKIND, wrote CONFUCIUS-in a Manuscript unearthed from the tomb of LEE FUNG LI, the first Emperor-for the first thousand years lived on the fruits of the earth. Such a thing as a stewpan was not invented. What was the use of such an invention, when everything was eaten raw? FIRE was first discovered in the volcano Tshinglo (now extinct), and it was then supposed to be the breath of a Genie of mighty size, who resided in the volcano. One winter, when it was so cold that the mercury froze in all the thermometers of the Empire, and many poor coolies perished, one CHANG FAT, a gardener, climbed the sides of the volcano to warm himself. He carried a staff, and walking on the crust of the lava, his staff went through, and was set on fire. CHANG FAT, finding it continued to burn, carried it like a torch to the village below, and thus was fire discovered. |