"Certainly, my son; it is always proper to offer food to a guest who
takes refuge under our roof."

Quickly the boy sought his mother in the women's apartments, and very
soon returned with a steaming bowl of rice, which he placed before the
visitor.

This gift of rice was especially pleasing to the traveller, as no dish
is held in higher honour in Korea. It is the chief cereal, and the
inhabitants say it originated in Ha-ram, China, nearly five thousand
years ago. Yung Pak called it Syang-nong-si, which means Marvellous
Agriculture. He had learned from Wang Ken that it was first brought to
Korea in 1122 B.C.

To the monk the warm food was very refreshing, and after he had eaten a
generous amount he entered into conversation with his hosts.

He told of the monastery where he made his home, and his account of the
various religious ceremonies and their origin was very interesting to
Yung Pak, who found that the visitor not only knew a great deal of the
history of the country, but was also familiar with its fables and
legends.

Like many who live in retirement and dwell in a world apart from their
fellows, this monk thought the people of former times were superior to
the men of his own day. Especially did he praise the kings of years long
gone by.

"Do you think," said Yung Pak, "that the old kings were any better than