In the grand caves at Pikes Peak there is an "organ," which is really no organ at all. It is a natural formation or production from which charming melodies are fetched by skilled musicians. Now if we ourselves can gravely call a musical, highly-strung rock an "Organ," may not the Ancients be excused for calling a combination of musical streams a Lute? Contemplating the "Cliff of the Harp," we can readily understand how old-time visitors found down there the tuneful string of a "Lute" and how an imperial Child of the Sun was unable to lug along "his" notable musical toy. There it remains and melodious notes still come floating up.
Lutes and Lyres are there, say the Ancients.
"An Academy of Music!" say the Moderns.
The Chinese annotater remarks that the lieh tsze (a class of sages or teachers—the literati) are unacquainted (pu chi) with the sheu-hai or Gulf situated toward the east (chi tung.)
The Chinese scholars of the writer's time knew little or nothing of our Gulf of California (or Sheu-hai). However, it was known to some; and we are now informed that it is ki (a few; nearly about, approximately) yih (to guess, to bet; 100,000; an indeterminate number) wan (10,000) le.
A single wan le should measure about 3,000 miles, and a few (to "guess") separate China from the Ta-Hoh which connects with the Bottomless kuh or valley ("Ta-Hoh shih wei wu ti chi kuh.)
Evidently the Great Canyon lies more than one wan le (3,000 miles) to the east of China. We find indeed that the number may well be referred to as "a few" (ki.)
Nor can the Gulf be more than about 30,000 le to the east, seeing that this Gulf of California is in "the region beyond the Eastern Sea" along with the Fu-Tree which has a trunk of 300 le. The Gulf to the east is connected with the mountain system whose Branches exhibit the gorgeous spectacle of Ten Suns. In short, the Gulf and Canyon are along with Fu-Sang; and Fu-Sang is only 30,000 le to the east of China, and merely 10,000 wide. Accordingly, the Gulf is but "a few" wan le to the east of the Flowery Kingdom.
To look for the Canyon and Tree within the Philippine Islands, contiguous to China, is simply impossible. The islands have been pretty well thrashed over lately, and no one has met with the Tree! It has a "Trunk of 300 le," and collectors of curios or strange plants should keep wide awake and see that they don't pass it in the dark. And yet with its Ten Moons, how miss it? How fail to notice our glittering, gleaming, glorious candelabrum? It couldn't have fallen or drifted over to the Panama ditch? It can't possibly be now stuck in any South American Flower-pot? Catching the Tree seems to be as slippery as catching Tartars, and perhaps when the first is found, the others won't be very far off.
The Chinese commentator, of course, never saw either the Gulf or Canyon but he quotes from earlier writers who were well acquainted with our "region beyond the Eastern Sea;" and one of these named Chwangtsze, is quoted to the effect that in the Ta Hoh or Great Canyon high winds (yuen fung) occur (yu) or come unexpectedly upon one.