310 
SUBURBS OF TIEN-TSIN. 
Chap. XIX. 
and the warm autumnal air which was blowing, I 
might easily have fancied myself in the midst of 
dreary winter. 
A dense suburb lines both banks of the Pei-ho. 
This suburb is fully five miles in length, and in a 
mercantile point of view forms the most import- 
ant part of Tien-tsin. The portion on the right 
bank of the river contains all the best shops and 
the principal mercantile establishments. About 
half-way up the suburb a river falls into the Pei-ho, 
which is said to be the upper end of the Grand 
Canal, which was formerly navigable for boats all 
the way from Tien-tsin to Hangchow-foo in the 
province of Chekiang. This is here crossed by a 
bridge of boats, made to open and shut in order to 
allow boats to pass up and down, as well as foot 
passengers to cross to either side. There are two 
or three bridges of the same kind on the Pei-ho 
near Tien-tsin. 
The stranger on visiting Tien-tsin is struck with 
the apparent meanness of its buildings, and cer- 
tainly, if fine buildings are necessary to give it 
importance, it has no claim to our attention. Poor- 
looking houses, with mud walls, oftentimes in a 
ruinous condition, are continually seen. But on a 
nearer and closer inspection of the place, one finds 
large warehouses stored with goods from all parts 
of the world, and numerous indications of mercan- 
tile wealth which are not visible at first sight. 
Coolies, loaded with merchandise, crowd the nar- 
row streets, and everything presents the appear- 
