CUSTOMS 237 



not solid, but is permeated by a tunnel or 

 flue which begins at the side or end and 

 after passing back and forth in its interior 

 connects with a chimney on an opposite 

 end or side. A short time before the plat- 

 form is to be used for sleeping purposes, 

 provided the weather is cold, a small quan- 

 tity of dry fuel is set on fire in the accessible 

 parts of the outer extremities of the flue, 

 and the flame, hot smoke, and heated air 

 passing through the flues warms the kang. 

 The traveller then places his bedding on 

 this hard and slightly heated platform and 

 retires to rest at his convenience. The 

 keeper of an inn is not always thoughtful 

 as to who are made sleeping companions, 

 and if the westerner is not careful in his 

 preparations for a night's sleep he may 

 awake to find himself wedged in between the 

 most disagreeable characters for bedfellows. 

 And as a rule the homes of the peopl e 

 are as uncomfortable as their inns. There 

 are a few substantial brick houses, but the 

 houses of the Chinese are usually built of 

 wood, or bamboo slats which are covered 

 with mud, and are mostly one storey high, 

 covered with earthen tiles burned in kilns, 

 or with rice or wheat straw. The flooring 



