Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 466

41

Topography of Chili

Arg

ed along a broad street bordered with shops of hardware, and ware- houses of carts, when we reached the triumphal gate. We went through several large and small streets, which are broad and clean; but, considering its extent, the city is thinly peopled." Timkowski also visited the chief towns of the districts Páu-án and Hwáilái, and gives us a pleasing account of the country. He met many Mongols, chiefly Chákárs, returning from Peking: also numerous caravans of camels, loaded with brick tea, going northward.

This is perhaps the most suitable place to notice the four celebrat- ed Passes through the Great Wall, west of that near the coast: the Jatter, that of Shánhái is called a kwán, or barrier; the former are called kau, i. e. gates, or passes. Proceeding westward from the coast, the following are their names, in order.

Hifung ̧kau, lat. 40° 26′ N.

2 Kúpe kau, lat. 40° 43′ N.

3

[Tushi kau, lat. 41° 19′ 20′′ N,

+5 xn Chángkia hau, lat. 40° 51′ 15” N.

張

These names translated, literally, will read thus; 1. Joyful-peak gate; 2. Old-northern gate; 3. Solitary rock gate; and 4. the Long- family gate, so called, Klaproth says, because a family by the name of Cháng (or Long) first lived there. Macartney's embassy passed through the Old-northern gate; Timkowski's, through that of the Long-family; of which he thus speaks; "It is divided by a river into two parts, the upper and lower town: the forner is situated on the Mongolian side of the frontier, and its gates are built in the Great Wall, which passes over the mountains. To the west of these gates the old wall is distinguished only by a stone rampart, and a green hill, on which a tower formerly stood." The lower town is a fort, or fortified town, on the south of the Great Wall. Timkowski says, Chángkiá is the key of the commerce of China with Russia, and in part also with Mongolia; and hence there is usually assembled at that place a great concourse of merchants. The commander-in- chief, or the keeper-general of Cháhár resides here, with a large mi- litary force.

XII. The department of Tsunhwa lics between those of Shuntien and Yungping, on the west and east; and between the Great Wall and the sea, on the north and south; and is neither very extensive nor in any way worthy of particular notice.

XIII

The department of Yi is likewise in no ways remarkable it is bounded by the departments of Sienhwa, Shuntien, and Pau