view of the theToad, where it passed oYêr the summit of
■.......... - hills, m most parts inaccessible?/; It was built Tor the
defence-of the pass in a very strong situation, the ridgè
ofthe hills was narrow, and its descent steep. The road
ran along it through a defile, at the extremity of which
• was aunilitary posi.: u
• Captain Parish observes, “ that military posts are
“ usually square towers of various dimensions, at which
Mi a few men arfe constantly g a r te r e d . It is probable,
“ that in the event of war* they would become the ren*
“ dezvous of the troops in the neighbourhood. They
“ are situated at the entrance of passes, or on eminences
‘ ‘ difficult of access, or on the narrow passageshf rivers!
“ They vary from about forty feet square and as many
“ in height, to; so low as four feet square and six-feet
H “ highs4ï There are few indeed so very small as the last
‘ ‘ dimensions. One, however, of thi^deseriptioik,? Wp
“ met on the road from Pekin to this placé/- The larger
“ tôwers are entered by a flight of steps, usually com-
“ pleted by loose stones, which lead to a smaU aMh'
‘ ‘ about half the height of the tower from the base. The
“ platform only appears to be intended for defence, as
“ there are very rarely ports to be discovered in the
“ sides. In the parapets of the platforms, battlements
“ are constructed. The towers are most frequently solid,
“ except when of the largest dimensions. On the top
‘-‘:°fi the towef.à 'M ld in g is di-seo^ràble fromsbelow, vfe»30<we
that -appears sufficient tobsontain its little garrison. At =Sbssbse
“ H e n d llth is is a-flag-staff, oh which a yelkV stand-
“ ardT$ hbistled. Its waïlsWf 'somltim'es paintedyfnd
^fbFnamented wTtH a party*fcôïoured‘ dragon. Near the
“■sthweT-is^herally a hut, and im|fr3nr;aTed^fân’cUSri
“ which a few'spears ahd musquetsia^esdkpldyed. This
‘iVhut'is bc'G'upiéd 'aWa guardhouse, or barrack. Near
‘^tlafch post U I fli-looj or triumphaf^ateway, slightly
‘■téôntructëd of wobdr; -stained black, whi'tb-. and red.
, ^ Cîose'to' it We three, Tour, five-or six elevations nf-ma--
, w ith ; the.' figures of dragons fafr<r traced upon
m H H T h é e formerly .üêptaihed. à3 .composition of .
dor&bustibleatoattef, and wer©’us;ed -to. cohVey ihtellh
I gence by signals ; but it’isf sâid'thtt they are h o k be^
“ foms merely^ ornamental;’ .They differ in their fc&ip, *
“ some of them being, (dlipjdcal;poiuehemisphericahiand :
“ others'conical 'on cubib bases; . ;
“ From six to- fifteen men turned" out' at thèse posts as
“ the Embassy parsed by »them. They-were usually
“ Without arms: A man frôrti the top of the tower beat
“ upon a l o o ; whilst another filed a1) saihüé-f'%q«| thfee
“ small chambers bffroh^l^efriVertically in tlm ground,
“ ■ Those posts are’at* various distant"frbmheach other.
“ Along the river Peiho, from itsientrahisl^Tong:È.hôo-
“ foo, there wefe âb^?|ffëen>'exclusive? of those^f ,