The Tschi-hln or City Prison. 427 



j:)Iece of common window-glass upon the pit of the patient's 

 stomach, and looking into it ! 



Adjoining this College of Health is the city prison, or 

 Tschi-hin, in which, when we saw it, were confined about 

 100 prisoners in the various wards. In that set apart for 

 the worst class of criminals, we saw about 40, heavily shackled 

 and manacled. Three of these were confined in low wooden 

 cages, about three feet in height and width, and four feet 

 in length, and fastened to each other by ii'on chains running 

 through. These men also wore iron rings on their feet. One 

 of these unfortunates was sentenced to 70, and each of the 

 other two to 60, days of such durance, without being suffered 

 for one moment to come out from the cage, which was placed 

 on the ground, and like a hen-roost, was provided with 

 perches running through it, so as to interfere still further with 

 freedom of movement. Their food consisted of rice and 

 vegetables. According to their own showing, these three 

 were sentenced to this terrible punishment in consequence of 

 some affray, but we had reason to believe that some more serious 

 matter was the real cause of their having this penalty inflicted 

 on them. We gave the unhappy wretches a few pieces of silver. 

 Each hastily secured the donation in a corner of his cage, 

 and seemed in his forlorn condition doubly sensible of the 

 value of a metal whose influence, especially in China, is so 

 powerful, so all -pervading, and so infallible. 



One very peculiar institution is the Wei-kwan, a sort of 

 Council Chamber, situated on the N.E. side of the city be- 



