103 ON CHINESE GARDENS, 



walks, both with regard to the trees which border them, and the 

 ground of which they are composed. The usual width given to 

 the walk, is from eight to twenty, or even thirty feet, according 

 to the extent of the plantation ; but the trees, on each side, are, 

 in many places, more distant ; large spaces being left open, which 

 are covered with grass and wild flowers, or with fern, broom, 

 briars, and underwood. 



The ground of the walk is either of turf or gravel ; neither of 

 them finishing exactly at its edges, but running some way into the 

 thickets, groves or shrubberies, on each side, in order to imitate 

 nature more closely ; and to take off that disagreeable formality 

 and stiffness, which a contrary practice occasions in our Euro- 

 pean plantations. 



In their straight roads or walks, when the extent is vast, the 

 Chinese artists observe an exact order and symmetry ; saying that 

 in stupendous 'works, the appearance of art is by no means dis- 

 gusting, that it conveys to posterity instances of the grandeur of 

 their ancestors ; and gives birth to many sublime and pleasing 

 reflections. The imperial roads are astonishing works of this nature, 

 they are composed of triple avenues, adorned with four rows of 

 enormous trees ; generally Indian chesnuts, spruce firs, mountain 

 cedars, and others of the largest growth, planted at proper dis- 

 tances ; and extending in straight lines, and almost on a level, two 

 three, even four hundred miles. The centre avenues are from 

 one hundred and fifty, to two hundred feet wide ; and the lateral 

 ones, are generally from forty to fifty feet; the spreading branches 

 of the trees forming over them a natural umbrella, under wh'ch 

 the travellers pass, at all times of the day, unmolested by the sun. 



In some places these roads are carried by lofty vaulted pas- 

 sages, through the rocks and mountains ; in others, upon cause- 

 ways and bridges, over lakes, torrents, and arms of the sea ; and 

 in others, they are supported, between the precipices, upon chains 

 of iron, or upon pillars, and many tire of arcades, over vil- 

 lages, pagodas, and cities : in short, no difficulty has been attend- 

 ed to in their construction ; but every obstacle has been con- 

 quered with amazing industry, and at an almost incredible ex- 

 pence. 



("To be continued.) 



