288
and so I would prefer to say no more on this subject.
In the village of Tungfo, "Eastern Peace" [Tung Wo means Eastern Peace], there are no family houses because this place is a market. All the buildings are used as shops and workshops. Amongst them are six pharmacies. In total there are fifty such shops, large and small, which are all built closely together, and form two east-west streets running parallel to each other. The whole place would look like a square if the second street were as completely built up as is the first.
Such a shop is narrow and dark. During the day it is aired through the open door, which is as wide and high as the shop itself. In front of the door is a row of round posts which are fixed into the beams of the roof, and, at the bottom, into the stone. During the day, the middle ones are removed in order to make an entrance to the shop. Just behind the row of posts is the door, which consists of movable wooden planks, which fit into a slot. At dusk the posts are put back, the movable planks moved forward into place, and barred from the inside with a cross-bar.
Inside the shop the goods are piled up on one or both sides on shelves, just as in European shops. Across the middle stands a long counter [with drawers] used as a cash-box on which the goods are weighed and measured. From the roof of the house some paper lanterns hang down which light up the shop during the night. Most of the shops are groceries and general goods shops. Most do retail business. Only a few of them have significant trade.
The owners of these shops and stalls do not live in the town, but in neighbouring villages, and only come here for business and trade, or have it conducted by a substitute/manager. All who take part in this market have united into an association, which is called the "Market Association". This consists of eleven small associations to which belong 45 smaller and larger villages. The owners
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288
and so I would prefer to say no more on this subject.
In the village of Tungfo, "Eastern Peace" [Tung Wo means **Eastern Peace'], there are no family houses because this place is a market. All the buildings are used as shops and workshops. Amongst them are six pharmacies. In total there are fifty such shops, large and small, which are all built closely together, and form two east-west streets running parallel to each other. The whole place would look like a square if the second street were as completely built up as is the first.
Such a shop is narrow and dark. During the day it is aired through the open door, which is as wide and high as the shop itself. In front of the door is a row of round posts which are fixed into the beams of the roof, and, at the bottom, into the stone. During the day, the middle ones are removed in order to make an entrance to the shop. Just behind the row of posts is the door, which consists of movable wooden planks, which fit into a slot. At dusk the posts are put back, the movable planks moved forward into place, and barred from the inside with a cross-bar.
Inside the shop the goods are piled up on one or both sides on shelves, just as in European shops. Across the middle stands a long counter [with drawers] used as a cash-box on which the goods are weighed and measured. From the roof of the house some paper lanterns hang down which light up the shop during the night. Most of the shops are groceries and general goods shops. Most do retail business. Only a few of them have significant trade.
The owners of these shops and stalls do not live in the town, but in neighbouring villages, and only come here for business and trade, or have it conducted by a substitute/manager. All who take part in this market have united into an association, which is called the "Market Association". This consists of eleven small associations to which belong 45 smaller and larger villages. The owners
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