expedition of discovery, it cannot be traced with historical certainty beyond the beginning of the fourth century B.C.
It is necessary here to say a word of geographical explanation. China of the period we are discussing covered a much smaller area than it does to-day. Its extreme north-eastern frontiers were those of the feudal State of Yen, which roughly corresponded in extent with the modern province of Chihli, and had its capital close to where Peking now stands. The State of Ch‘i adjoined Yen on the south, and like it had a seaboard opening on to what was afterwards called the Gulf of Chihli.
Another name frequently mentioned in recording the peregrinations of Taoistically-minded emperors is Lang-yeh. This was certainly a coastal region, though whether in the north or south of the present Shantung is doubtful. Thus Yen, Ch‘i, and Lang-yeh adjoined and formed the north-eastern corner of China bordering on the sea.
The passages I am quoting indicate that, if this part was not the actual birthplace of the conception, it was, at any rate, here that it first grew and flourished. It is a noteworthy fact, that to the present day it retains its reputation as a stronghold of Taoism.
Returning to the narrative told in the pages of the Historical Record, we next come upon the famous emperor who, not without reason, has been styled the Napoleon of China. It will be seen how fervently his thoughts and longings were centred in the Isles of the Blest, and how his aspirations to immortality were exploited by Taoist adventurers. It continues thus:—
