357
Great Wall.
Crops.
Tartar troops.
Country to south-ward.
Cattle, &c.
Survey continued.
Lew-Sia-Kwang.
People civil.
Information as to great road.
10
to be about 4 to 6 miles wide, at which distance hills of about 2000 feet rise, and run about N.E. and S.W. There are several ranges, one inland of the other. The inner one the highest.
The wall, which close to the sea embraces a fort, runs back about in a N.W. direction, and surrounds Ning-hae, after which it runs much in the same direction, and straight up the chain of hills. It is seen again on the top of a hill a little to the N.E., and then disappears over the top.
The plain is dotted over with clumps of trees and small villages, and is beautifully luxuriant.
were.
Quantities of Indian corn were growing. The cottages had flat roofs, and looked like the Tartar cottages in the Crimea. The Tartars here look much like Cossacks. They wear a leathern jacket, loose trousers, and boots. The sword is carried naked under the saddle-flap, and the matchlock slung behind.
They carry a whip, generally with a Malacca cane handle.
July 30th. Surveyed down to the S.W.; landed on a point of land 100 feet high, composed of rock and sand.
There was a joss-house on it. It is connected with the mainland by a narrow sandy isthmus on the W., and only separated from the mainland on the N. by a creek or river, which at this point is about 50 yards wide, and has about 8 feet water at high tide. There would be perhaps 2 feet at low tide. This river is inconsiderable, as the greater part of the rain that falls appears to be absorbed in the loose sandy soil.
Near the sea, there are springs of water trickling through in many places.
Saw a number of cattle, horses, mules, &c. Country still the same.
31st. The "Forester" having lost in time yesterday, had to do easy work to-day (Sunday). Stood across the bay in "Forester"; fixed her position, and sailed round the point in the cutter; landed and sketched. We were met on the beach by a blue-buttoned Mandarin, with 5 or 6 mounted Tartars. They asked what we wanted, but did not in any way interfere with us. Sounded across the bay in two directions, and returned to "Cruiser."
This bay has shallow beach and rocky headlands, and is altogether almost impracticable for landing.
August 1st. Having weighed in "Cruiser," and stood down to the point we were at yesterday, and fixed her position.
We placed out the "Forester" and "Starling," and then went on shore and sketched the bay, and walked through the village of "Lew-Sia-Kwang," which is rather a poor one. We found the people very civil and communicative. Met the blue-buttoned Mandarin again. Extracted the following information:-
The high road from this part of the country to Pekin is that which passes through "Ning-hae." (The commencement of the Great Wall.)
There is much traffic along it. The road passes within 30 le of "Lew-Sia-Kwang."
The road crosses 6 rivers, and at the following distances:-
From "Lew-Sia-Kwang to R. "Yang-ho" 30 le
"Yang-ho" to "Ching-lung-ho" 80 le
"Ching-lung-ho" to "Lan-ho" 50 le
"Lan-ho" to "Sa-ho" 180 le
"Sa-ho" to "Yin-lew-ho" 60 le
"Yin-lew-ho" to "San-ho" 80 le
"San-ho" to "Tung-chaon" 70 le
"Tung-chaon" to "Pekin" 35 le
Total 590 le or about 180 miles.
"Tung-chaon" is on the "Pei-ho," and is the place where travellers leave their boats, in order to go overland to Pekin-the water shoaling there too much to admit of boats going higher.
These rivers are not spanned by bridges, but in ordinary seasons are all fordable, and after heavy rains are crossed in boats.
2nd. Went down to the R. "Yang-ho." It is very shallow, having barely a foot of water at low tide half-a-mile from the mouth; rise of tide is about 5 to 6 feet.
Water is fresh even at mouth during the ebb.
The bottom is sandy, with mud mixed. Junks unload in the mouth within the bar. There were 6 there laden with millet and a very small seed which is an article of food. About 20 or 30 carts were there to carry it off, each drawn by 6 mules and ponies. They were going to a place called "Poo-ning-hsien," 30 le distant; which is, they say, not a large place, but containing some thousands of inhabitants. This town is situated on the great road, probably at the place where the "Yang-ho" crosses it. Some people say the road crosses the Yang-ho 15 le from its mouth.
They say there are no large towns along the road, and that if we had merchandise to take in the country by the road we should meet with no market short of "Tien-tsin" or "Tung-chaon."
Their carts are about 4' 6" between the wheels. They say that for a journey to Pekin they would use a lighter description of cart, as the road is bad-apparently from mud and ruts. It crosses small hills, but no considerable ones, and in general skirts the foot of a mountain range. They call the distance to Pekin about 560 le, and perform the journey in a light cart in 6 days.
Another river exists to the E. of the "Yang-ho," called the "Tac-cho-ho." Its mouth is only about 1 mile from it, but this is a much shorter one. It receives the water from the plain to the south of the great road, running from E. to W. and then turning to the south to empty itself into the "Yang-ho" Bay.
They say that 60 le to the southward of this is a small river called the "Poo-ho," and there is a garrison of 600 or 700 Tartars there.
This river was not mentioned before as crossing the road, and is perhaps a short one.
In the afternoon we sent a boat up the river to buy vegetables, but they were met by a party of 100 armed Tartars, commanded by a blue-buttoned Mandarin, who said he had been sent by another with a red button, from a town 30 le distant (probably "Poo-ning-hsien")-to prevent our landing or going on shore at all.
357
Great Wall.
Crops.
Tartar troops.
Country to south- ward.
Cattle, &c.
Survey continued.
Lew-Sia-Kwang.
People civil.
Information as to
great road.
10
to be about 4 to 6 miles wide, at which distance hills of about 2000 feet rise, and run about N.E. and S. W. There are several ranges, one inland of the other. The inner one the highest.
The wall, which close to the sea embraces a fort, runs back about in a N.W. direction, and surrounds Ning-hae, after which it runs much in the same direction, and straight up the chain of hills. It is seen again on the top of a hill a little to the N.E., and then disappears over the top.
The plain is dotted over with clumps of trees and small villages, and is beautifully luxuriant.
were.
Quantities of Indian corn was growing. The cottages had flat roofs, and looked like the Tartar cottages in the Crimea. The Tartars here look much like Cossacks, They wear a leathern jacket, loose trousers, and boots. The sword is carried naked under the saddle-flap, and the matchlock slung behind,
They carry a whip, generally with a Malacca cane handle.
July 30th. Surveyed down to the S.W.; landed on a point of land 100 feet high, composed of rock and sand.
There was a joss-house on it. It is connected with the mainland by a narrow sandy isthmus on the W., and only separated from the mainland on the N. by a creek or river, which at this point is about 50 yards wide, and has about 8 feet water at high tide. There would be perhaps 2 feet at low tide. This river is inconsiderable, as the greater part of the rain that falls appears to be absorbed in the loose sandy soil.
Near the sea, there are springs of this water trickling through in many places.
Saw a number of cattle, horses, mules, &c. Country still the same.
31st. The Forester" having lost in time yesterday, had to do easy work to-day (Sunday). Stood across the bay in "Forester "; fixed her position, and sailed round the point in the cutter; landed and sketched. We were met on the beach by a blue-buttoned Mandarin, with 5 or 6 mounted Tartars, They asked what we wanted, but did not in any way interfere with us. Sounded across the bay in two directions, and returned to "Cruiser."
This bay has shallow beach and rocky headlands, and is altogether almost impracticable for landing.
August 1st. Having weighed in " Cruiser," and stood down to the point we were at yesterday, and fixed her position.
We placed out the "Forester" and "Starling," and then went on shore and sketched the bay, and walked through the village of "Lew-Sia-Kwang," which is rather a poor one. We found the people very civil and communicative. Met the blue-buttoned Mandarin again. Extracted the following informina-
tion:-
The high road from this part of the country to Pekin is that which passes through "Ning-hae." (The commencement of the Great Wall.)
There is much traffic along it. The road passes within 30 le of "Lew-Sia- Kwang,
The road crosses 6 rivers, and at the following distances:-
11
From "Lew-Sia-Kwang to R. "Yang-ho"
Lo
30
CC
""
CE
Yang-ho" to "Ching-lung-ho Ching-lung-ho" to "Lan-ho
80
""
50
>
ኃ
"Lan-ho " Sa-ho
to " "Sa-ho" to "Yin-lew-ho
Yin-lew-ho" to "San-ho
"
180
"}
60
"
80
46
""
San-ho" to "Tung-chaon
70
35
“ Tung-chaon ” to “ Pekin”
40
590
or about 180 miles.
Tung-chaon is on the "Pei-ho," and is the place where travellers leave "Tung-chaon." their boats, in order to go overland to Pekin-the water shoaling there too much to admit of boats going higher.
These rivers are not spanned by bridges, but in ordinary seasons are all No bridges. fordable, and after heavy rains are crossed in boats.
2nd. Went down to the "Yang-ho." It is very shallow, having barely a R. “Yang-ho. foot of water at low tide half-a-mile from the mouth; rise of tide is about
5 to 6 feet.
Water is fresh even at mouth during the ebb.
The bottom is saudy, with mud mixed. Junks unload in the mouth within the bar. There were 6 there laden with millet and a very small seed which is
an article of food. About 20 or 30 carts were there to carry it off, each drawn Carts and mules.
by 6 mules and ponies. They were going to a place called "Poo-ning-hsian" "Poo-ning-hsien.” 30 distant; which is, they say, not a large place, but containing some thousands of inhabitants. This town is situated on the great road, probably at the place where the "Yang-ho" crosses it. Some people say the road crosses the Yang-ho 15 from its mouth. They say there are no large towns along the road, and that if we had merchandise to take in the country by the road we should meet with no market short of "Tien-tsin" or "Tung-chaon."
Their carts are about 4' 6" between the wheels. They say that for a Carts for travel-
ling. journey to Pekin they would use a lighter description of cart, as the road is bad -apparently from mud and ruts. It crosses small hills, but no considerable Nature of roads. ones, and in general skirts the foot of a mountain range. They call the distance
to Pekin about 560 le, and perform the journey in a light cart in 6 days.
Another river exists to the E. of the "Yang-ho," called the "Tac-cho-ho." R. "Tac-cho-ho." Its mouth is only about 1 mile from it, but this is a much shorter one. It receives
the water from the plain to the south of the great road, running from E. to W. and then turning to the south to empty itself into the "Yang-ho" Bay.
They say that 60 le to the southward of this is a small river called the "Poo-ho," and there is a garrison of 600 or 700 Tartars there.
This river was not mentioned before as crossing the road, and is perhaps a short one.
In the afternoon we sent a boat up the river to buy vegetables, but they "Yang-ho." were met by a party of 100 armed Tartars, commanded by a blue-buttoned Mandarin, who said he had been sent by another with a red button, from a town Not allowed to 30 le distant (probably "Poo-ning-hsian ")-to prevent our landing or going on shore at all.
land,
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