LOOT OF THE IMPERIAL SUMMER PALACE AT PEKIN. 623 



A little farther on rises a tower, an exact reproduction of the famous 

 porcelain tower of Nankin, its numerous roofs niarkin<.- as nianv 

 stories. To reach it one has to pass in front of a pagoda huUt in honor 

 of Buddha; and the statue of the god seated on a low pedestal, his 

 legs crossed in Turkish or Chinese style, is not less than 05 feet high, 

 while a staircase which runs along the interior wall of the pagoda 

 permits climbing to the level of his head of frizzled hair, his k'lees 

 being reached at the first story, his navel at the second, and so on. 

 This very ancient statue is of gilded bronze, but time has impaired 

 the gilding; the half -closed eyes of the god are of silver, their pupils 

 of iron; from one knee to the other at the base the statue measures 

 45 feet. Two gigantic incense burners and one altar ai-e in this 

 pagoda, which has been constructed solely as a shelter to the statue. 



Our presentation to this enormous gentleman terminated our visit 

 to the summer palace. It had lasted several hours. Wo returned 

 worn-out, exhausted, our eyes burning from the sight of all this gold 

 and this splendor, with aching heads. 



The general in chief placed sentinels at all the entrances to pre- 

 vent anyone from penetrating the palace before the arrival of our 

 allies, and he assigned two captains of artillerv, MM. Schelcher and 

 de B rives, to see that the order was strictly carried out. 



To add to the effect of our signal guns. Brigadier Battle had sent 

 numerous troops of cavalr^^ in every direction, who linalh'^ met (ren- 

 eral Grant with his army and brought them in at noon. On his 

 arrival General Grant went into the palace and saw with his own eyes 

 that everything was intact. 



PILLA(4E OF THE SUMMER PALACE. 



1 reach here a delicate point in the history of the campaign in China, 

 an episode of which the whole truth has never been told. I will relate 

 this episode with absolute frankness; at least. I will trv to do so. 



The summer palace was pillaged and partially t)urned. Who is 

 responsible for this pillage and burning? Could they have been 

 avoided? Was this pillage contrary to the laws of war^ Wlio prof- 

 ited by it? Did either one of the allies take advantage of the others 

 Here are plenty of questions, I simply state the facts and briefly dis- 

 cuss them, and after having read this chapter the reader may answer 

 them himself. 



The generals had decided in concert that a committee of six, three 

 from each nation, should be named and appointed to select the most 

 precious objects, considered in their intrinsic and artistic value, st> as 

 to have an equal division. The commission immediately commenced 

 its labors, and the removal of the most valuable articles, at least those 

 apparently so, was systematically begun, and the first examination of 

 the palace led to the discovery of treasure valued at al)out 800,000 



