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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



A STEAM ROr^LER IN THE) AMERICAN SETTl^EMENT AT SHANGHAI 



way from distant boundaries of Mongo- 

 lia, scores of them daily exchanging 

 their valuable cargoes of the products of 

 those lands for teas and other supplies. 



The tired, dust-begrimed beasts in 

 these trains seen entering the great city 

 gates are not the gaily caparisoned, well- 

 fed camels of the circus street-parade 

 common to America. Owing to the ex- 

 hausting heat of the sun, many of these 

 caravans travel by night, the animals 

 being relieved of their burdens in the 

 morning for a few hours' rest, until the 

 line of march is resumed at nightfall. 



The occupation of mendicant street 

 musician appears to be monopolized by 

 the blind. From the sounds they pro- 

 duced on their strange, discordant instru- 

 ments, we thought it would be much to 

 their own advantage to be deaf also. 

 The poor creatures were very numerous ; 

 while occasionally seen singly, they were 

 more frequently met in twos or threes. 



The method of street sprinkling in 

 Peking is quite novel. A tub containing 

 about one-half a barrel of water is car- 

 ried by means of a pole run through the 

 handle on either side. Two men carry 

 this from the street-pump to the part of 



the road to be sprinkled. The pole is 

 removed and one of the men, with the 

 aid of a long-handled dipper, throws the 

 water broadcast. This is an instance 

 where "Chinese cheap labor" works in 

 very advantageously. 



Nothing in China will bear compari- 

 son, however, with what is known as the 

 Great Wall. The very ancient city and 

 provincial walls were connected more 

 than 2,100 years ago. As an example 

 of engineering skill, where is its equal ? 

 Its course, beginning in the sea, reaches 

 an altitude of 10,000 feet, skirting the 

 highest mountains and crossing the most 

 inaccessible gorges. Considering it as a 

 war measure, it is the most gigantic de- 

 fensive work in the world. In extent it 

 covers a length, according to recent in- 

 vestigations, of 2,550 miles. These facts 

 alone would establish its claim to being 

 classed near the top of the list of world 

 wonders, without mentioning the wall as 

 being the longest cemetery on earth, ow- 

 ing to the great mortality attending its 

 construction, when the practice prevailed 

 of burying the dead in the filled space 

 between its outside retaining walls. 

 Then we must not lose sight of the 



