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PEKING
the entrance of a column of Allied forces, 20,000 strong, which had left Tientsin about the beginning of the month and had fought two pitched battles at Pei-tsang and Yang- tsung on August 4th and 6th, besides numerous small engagements and the capture of Tung-chow en passant. The flight of the Imperial family and the Court began on August 13th. The Court entered Shan-si by the northern passes, and then vid Tai-yuen-fu its progress continued to the ancient capital Si-an, where it now is.
During July, August and September troops were poured into North China by all the European Powers, America and Japan, and, with an eye to contingencies, large forces were deviated to the Yangtse, and landed in Shanghai. The Governors and Viceroys of the Central and Southern Provinces had unceasingly protested against the Manchu and Reactionary policy in Peking, and, it is suspected, refused to carry out the secret edicts directing attacks on foreigners. In any case they have succeeded thus far in holding, with the single exception of Liang Kwang Provinces, the turbulent elements in their satrapies well in check, and in keeping the peace. In Kwang-tung and Kwang-si, the Viceroy, Li-Hung-chang, was early in July summoned to the North to assist in the restoration of peace. The anti-dynastic secret societies have seized the chance of his withdrawal to raise revolt in some districts; but hitherto these risings have not asumed a strong anti-foreign bias. A large number of British troops were held in readiness at Hongkong prepared for emergencies.
At the date of going to press the situation in China is complex in the extreme. In the North war exists de facto if not formally. The Emperor is an unwilling prisoner in the hands of the Empress Dowager and Reactionary Party. Diplomatic representa- tion on both sides has continued, though in Peking it has been reduced to a farce by the flight of the Court. The only conditions of peace on which the Allied Powers will consent to treat involve the punishment of the Reactionaries responsible for the attack on the Legations and the murder of the German Minister; but as these men have the Emperor in their power and are at present beyond the reach of Count von Waldersee's arm, and are naturally unwilling to submit voluntarily, the result is an impasse of which no one can see the issue. In the meantime, the foreign troops in the North are tardily proceeding to deal with the Boxer sedition themselves, and punitory expeditions are being sent out in various directions. Paotingfu, the provincial capital, and Kalgan at the edge of the Great Desert, beyond the outer Great Wall, have already been visited and some sort of punishment dealt out to such criminal officals as have fallen into the Allies' hands. The forts at Pei-lang near Taku, and at Shanhai- kuan have been in the one case taken by bombardment and in the other by capitulation, so that Northern China is completely at the mercy of the maritime Powers.
PEKING FM Shun-tien
The present capital of China was formerly the Northern capital only, as its name denotes, but it has long been really the metropolis of the Central Kingdom. Peking is situated on a sandy plain 13 miles S. W. of the Pei-ho river, and about 110 miles from its mouth, in latitude 39 deg. 54 min. N. and longitude 116 deg. 27 min. E. or nearly on the parallel of Naples. A canal connects the city with the Pei-ho. Peking is ill adapted by situation to be the capital of a vast Empire, nor is it in a position to become a great manufacturing or industrial centre. The products of all parts of China naturally find their way to the seat of Government, but it gives little save bullion in
return.
From Dr. Dennys's description of Peking we quote the following brief historical sketch: "The city formerly existing on the site of the southern portion of Peking was the capital of the Kingdom of Yan. About 222 B.C., this kingdom was over. thrown by the Chin dynasty and the seat of Government was removed elsewhere- Taken from the Chins by the Khaitans about 936 A.D., it was some two years after- wards made the southern capital of that people. The Kin dynasty subduing the Khaitans, in their turn took possession of the capital, calling it the 'Western Residence,, About A.D. 1151, the fourth sovereign of the Kins transferred the court thither, and named it the Central Residence. In 1215, it was captured by Genghis Khan. In 1264 Kublai Khan fixed his residence there, giving it the title of Chung-tu or Central Residence, the people at large generally calling it Shun t'ien-fu. In 1267 A.D., the city