CHAPTER XII

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LEGENDS OF LOCALITY, HOUSEHOLD TALES, &c.

Numerous Legends current amongst the Chinese—The Yangtsze and Yellow River—The Entrance to Purgatory—The Demons of Teng-chow—Imprisoned Genii—The Golden Cup of Hercules and Pei-tu—The Valley of the White Deer—Spirits of the Gorges—Transformed Dogs—The Source of the Hwang Ho—Mountain of the Genii—The Legend of the Bell—Pro patriâ mori—A Chinese Ali Baba—The Loadstone—Magic Tombs—Good Deeds Rewarded—Words Engraved upon the Heart—Punch and Judy Shows and their Origin—Legendary Origin of Tea—Origin of the Cocoa-nut—Mercury and the Philosopher’s Stone—The Judgment of Solomon—Magic Bread—The Swan Maidens and a Lewchewan Legend—Use of Household Tales and Legends for Comparative Purposes—Chinese Story Radicals, pp. 129–145.

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