Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 118

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Notices of the Pei Ho

Fes

On the 34 of September, 1793, Macartney and his suite set off from Peking to Jeho or the Hot stream, the embassador traveling in their European carriages. From the mouth of the Pei ho, the course to the capital is northwest; from thence to Jeho it is northeasterly, the last place being nearly due north from the first, say 170 miles. The road and adjoining scenery on the first part of the route, were quite similar to what had before been seen between Tungchau and Peking. Early in the first day's journey, a river was crossed, narrow, but deep enough to be navigated by small boats, of which a conside- rable number was seen upon it. Its course was to the south and east, uniting with the Pei ho not far from Tungchau. Most of the hills passed by in the second day's journey had something peculiar in their form and position, each standing on its own base and rising singly from the plain, in which they were scattered about in disorder. Tobacco was growing on the low grounds. In the third day's jour- ney, the population diminished a little, and the roads were so steep

in some places that it was necessary to haul the carriage empty over then. The scenery was romantic and pleasing, wild goats and wild horses were seen scampering along the hills. Lowest down in the beds of the rivers were seen, first sandstone, then coarse grained limestone, then indurated clay, and masses of granite on the highest mountain tops. Perpendicular veins of white spar, and sometimes blue and white, were seen. Over the narrow rivers, bridges had been thrown upon caissons of wattles, filled with stones. In the morning of the fourth day's journey, the Great wall was in view, and approached by a steep ascent, where the road passed over the summit of a range of hills, in most parts inaccessible. In many places the walls were de cayed and dilapidated. On the north of the wall, in Mantchouria, the travelers found themselves in the region of wild beasts, tigers, wolves, hares, &c. During the seventh or last day's journey, the cm- bassador and suite passed a perpendicular rock, more than two hun- dred feet high, and wider at the top than at the base.

"The ascent

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to Tartary is such, that some parts of it have been ascertained to be fifteen thousand feet above the surface of the Yellow sea.' Amidst these high grounds, and a little beyond the perpendicular rock the mountains receding somewhat from each other, is the valley of Jeho, the summer residence of his imperial majesty. Between this and Pe- king, and nearly at equal distances, are six palaces with gardens for the emperor's accommodation, when traveling from oue residence to

the other