M. Kovanko’s General View of the Environs of Pekin, 2438 
rection of these mountains passes over alluvial clays contain- 
ing much lime. In very dry weather, this clay becomes so 
hard that it can scarcely be broken with a pickaxe, while in 
wet weather it becomes entirely liquid, and forms mud that is 
nearly impassable. In summer this road is very picturesque ; 
vast fields extend beyond the view on both sides. Notwith- 
standing the labour and expense which are required at that 
season for the cultivation of this land, the farmer is amply 
repaid by the abundance of the harvest, which supplies at 
the same time bread for himself, food for his cattle, and 
even fuel, for the grain of the yellow millet (Syao-mi-tsra), 
furnishes meal, the only food of the peasants, and chopped 
straw for the cattle in place of hay, which is never cut, and 
of the use of which even they have no idea in China. 
It is with the straw of a kind of millet called Gao-lianes, 
which grows to the height of fifteen feet, that the peasants 
make fences for their gardens; they employ it also for fuel in 
their houses, and to burn bricks. The grain is used instead 
of oats to feed the mules, and brandy is obtained from it by 
distillation. 
About 15 li (8 versts) before arriving at the Northern 
Mouutains, is seen the little hill Syao-Tan-Chan, composed 
of compact grey limestone, traversed by veins of quartz, which 
give it great hardness. This mountain, though of little ele- 
vation, deserves particular notice from the existence in its 
neighbourhood of two hot springs, which burst forth nearly 
vertically from an unknown depth. These springs, at the 
distance of a few sagénes from each other, have different tem- 
peratures, one of 40°, the other of 45° Reaumur (122° to 133° 
F.) The water from these springs flows into basins lined 
with a masonry of compact limestone, from whence it is con- 
ducted by leaden pipes into baths cut in the limestone, and 
lined with sheets of lead. 
A palace, surrounded by a garden, has been erected near 
the baths, destined for the imperial family. The stone-wall 
by which it is enclosed is in a complete state of dilapidation, no 
repairs having been made there for fifteen years, although the 
buildings of the Chinese are frequently in need of them. The 
