This translation was suggested not by any pretensions^{1 to range myself among the ranks of the body of sinologues, but by the perplexities and difficulties experienced by me as a student in Peking, when, at the completion of the Tzu Erh Chi, I had to plunge2 in the maze3 of the Hung Lou Meng.}

Shortcomings are, I feel sure, to be discovered, both in the prose, as well as among the doggerel^{4 and uncouth5 rhymes, in which the text has been more adhered to than rhythm; but I shall feel satisfied with the result, if I succeed, even in the least degree, in affording a helping6 hand to present and future students of the Chinese language.}

H. BENCRAFT JOLY,
H.B.M. Vice-Consulate, Macao,
1st September, 1891.