590 



CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



painted and gilt on the upright! and transoms. 

 They arc erected to celebrate particular perrons, or some 

 important events. 



The first street ran in a regular line westerly, till it 

 fmmi to the eastern wall of the palace, which is termed 

 ike yellow wall, from the colour of the tiles with which 

 the top it covered. 



'everal public structure* were thus covered. These 

 roof* had no chimnies, and the sides and ridges were or- 

 numntrrl with various figures ; the whole shining like 

 Hold, gave the appearance of grandeur in that part of 

 Itouses where it was unusual. Near the gate were large 

 stones of rice. Looking hence to the left, along the 

 wall of the city, an elevated building was seen, said to 

 be an observatory erected by the Emperor Yong-loo, to 

 whom Pekin owes much of its improvement?. The shops 

 were highly decorated, and in a grand style. Some had 

 on the top broad terraces, filled with flowers and shrubs. 

 In the fronts were lanthorns of horn, muslin, silk, and 

 paper, in frames of different figures. Goods were expo- 

 sed to sale, as well on the outside of the shops as with- 

 in." P. 31 1, 312, and 313. 



" On arriving at the eastern side of the yellow wall, 

 the embassy diverged to the right, and then the bustle 

 decreased. There were no shops in this quarter ; each 

 house had in front a wall to screen the inner court from 

 being seen, which is called the wall of respect. Near 

 the middle of this side of the palace are treble gates, 

 where the party halted. The space of ground was Targe, 

 .iorae of the ground was raised into steep hills ; and the 

 pott from whence the earth was taken to form them 

 were filled with water. In these lakes were small islands, 

 <!ecorated with fanciful buildings, and interspersed with 

 trees. On the kills were the imperial palaces ; and on 

 the top of the highest were summer houses and cabinets, 

 unbounded with tall trees. 



41 On looking to the north from this spot, at the end 

 of a street running to the city wall, appeared the lofty 

 tincture, in which is an enormous bell, of a cylindrical 

 hape, the sound of which, when struck on the outside 

 with a wooden mallet, is heard in every part of the city. 

 A b'ttle further to the westward of it was one of the 

 northern gates, the watch tower on which was seen above 

 the intervening houses. Beyond the palace gates to the 

 westward, between the yellow wall and the northern part 

 - city, is a large lake, which, at this time, was 

 nearly covered with the leaf of the Lien-wha." Pp. 314, 

 315. 



" Many of the streets were narrow, having gates at 

 the entrance, near which guards were posted to preserve 

 peace. These gates are shut at night, and are not open- 

 ed but upon emergency. The party crossed one street 

 four miles long, from north to couth, being interrupted 

 only by everal Pai-loos." P. 316. 



The palace at Pekin " was built in the usual manner 

 of the house* of the great mandarins, and the whole 

 wa in the form of a long square, surrounded by a bnck 

 wall, the surface of which was a mere blank, except 

 near one of the angle*, where there was a gateway. This 

 wall supported the top ridge of roofs ; the lower edges 

 of which, resting on an inner will parallel to the first, 

 composed a tange of buildings divided into offices. In 

 the other part of the inclosure were quadrangular court* 

 of different sires. In each of which were buildings, on 

 platforms of granite, surrounded by a colonnade. Tlie 

 columns were of wood, about sixteen feet high, and 

 nbout an equal number of inches at the base, lessening 

 at the top about l-6th. These had none of the proper- 

 tie* of the Grecian architecture. At the lower ends, 



they were let into sockets cut in stones, forming a ring Tractive, 

 round each, somewhat resembling the Tuscan order. Be- ^ "V"*' 

 tween the columns, which were red, was wood-work, 

 carved and ornamented, of a different colour. This co- 

 lonnade supported the projecting part of the roof beyond 

 the wail plate, of a oirvilinr.il form, and turned up at 

 the angk'9 ; thus every part of these buildings might be 

 visited under cover. The number of pillars was at least 

 600. Next to the chief apartment allotted to the am- 

 bassador, was a high building, designed for a private 

 theatre and concert-room, having all round a gallery for 

 spectators, and retiring rooms behind. 



" All the buildings were of one story, except that 

 which was appropriated for the 'adies. This was in the 

 inner quadrangle. The front was a long and high wall, 

 the windows of which were of Corea paper. Behind 

 this hall was a gallery, at the height of near 10 feet, 

 leading to several small apartments, lighted only from 

 the hall. The windows within were of silk gauze, in 

 wooden frames, either ornamented with needle work, or 

 painted in water colours. This apartment, though smal- 

 ler, was neater than most of the rest. A f-mall black 

 court, with offices, was attached to this part of the 

 building. One of the outer quadrangles had a piece of 

 water, in the middle of which was a stone room, in the 

 shape of a covered barge. Others of the quadrangles 

 were adorned with trees, and in the largest was a heap of 

 rocks, firmly, but rudely piled on each other ; and at 

 one end was a small unfinished garden." P. 322-3. 



" This city also contains the Tien-tan, or eminence 

 of heaven. On this building is inscribed the character 

 tien, or heaven. It is circular, to represent the con- 

 cave of heaven, as the Tee-tan, or temple of the earth, 

 is square, agreeable to the notions of the ancient Chi- 

 nese." P. 327. 



Palace between Hai-tien and Yuen-min-yuen. " ft was ^ no ,|j Cr 

 settled that the chief articles should be placed on each p ? j act] , 

 side of the throne, in a hall of audience. This hall was 

 very magnificent on the outside. Its approach was through 

 three quadrangular courts, surrounded by separate build- 

 ings. It stood on a platform of granite, which was about 

 four feet above the court in front. The roof was sup- 

 ported by a double row of wooden pillars, painted red 

 and varnished, and the capitals decorated with different 

 figures, highly coloured, especially with dragons, the 

 feet of each having five claws. The figures of these 

 monsters, exhibited on the houses and furniture of the 

 princes of the court, have but four claws, the fifth being 

 reserved for the emperor only. The entablature of the 

 edifice is encompassed with a net of gilt wire, to keep 

 off the birds from settling on any of the projections. The 

 hall withinside is above 100 feet long, upwards of 40 

 broad, and above 20 in height. Opening pannels are 

 placed between the inmost row of pillars on the south 

 side." P. 317-8. 



Farm house at Lowang. " In the way they were in- p arm 

 vitcd into a farm house by the tenant, who, with his son, houtc. 

 regarded them with astonishment. The house was of 

 wood, the uprights of which were of the natural form 

 of the timber. The roof, which was without a ceiling, 

 was covered with the straw of rice. The floor was of 

 earth beat hard, and the rooms were divided by mats 

 hanging from the beams. Two cotton spinning wheels 

 were in the outermost ; but the females had retired. Clus- 

 ters of bamboo grew round the house, and also the sort 

 of palm whose leaf resembles a fan, and is used as such." 

 P. 173. 



" The houses near the river (Pei-hoo) appeared as if 

 they were built of mud, but on a nearer examination they 



