298 THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA. 



told tliat the Egyptians possess historical records in 

 stone of an epoch some 2,000 years earlier than any of 

 their own, that is setting aside or treating as legendary 

 the Chinese idea designating a period of 129,600 years 

 since the bet>-inninof of their rule on earth. 



Veryfruitful subjects of conversation with the Chinese 

 are also the " Great Wall," which every English school- 

 boy has heard about, built, according to native authority, 

 2,100 years ago, and running for 1,250 miles along the 

 northern boundary of China ; and the " Grand Canal," 

 650 miles long, between Tsin-tsin, north, and Hang-chow, 

 south, finished in the latter part of the 13th century of 

 our era. These were, no doubt, wonderful works ; but as 

 to the former, late explorations have brought to light 

 the fact that in reality nothing remains of the original 

 wall. The ruins now existing, in many places little 

 more than a heap of rubbish, are quite unconnected 

 with it, they belong, according to Dr. Von MoUendorf s 

 monograph on the subject, printed in 1881, to a wall, 

 or rather parallel walls, erected by the Ming Dynasty 

 between the 14th and 17th, probably during the 15th 

 and 16th century. They consist of four diflPerent styles 

 from east to west ; the former of the most recent, and 

 the latter of the most primitive form. Beginning at 

 their eastern extremity, the first section is built of 



