■ I l
216 EMBASSY TO CHINA.
Ito the ©I from the disposition to insullj-fo^eâgners, which is not
Visit
Emperor IMMMniW
uncommon in the rabble any wherèii iThié rigorous maxims
of the Chinese government render the mandarines
responsible for whatever evil it is supposed possible for
therii to have prevented ; On this account, precautions
were taken to shut out the common people from entering
within the inclosiire inhabited" by the Embassy,! as well
as the servants and-inferior persons belonginlgtô .it, from
passing the gates without leave. The Chinese, espëeiatty
men of business, such as are most of the mandarinesi
havefittle ideitiof the use or pleasure n f walkirigabroad^
merely for the sake of exercise*-.ô'rforseeing prospepts,
orf lire situation of countries, unless with military, arid,
consequently, suspicious views. Under the-general instruction'however
which they had?-received ©faattendl .
ing to the accommodation and wishes of the Embassy*,
therf'iupplied homs^and guides upon the; occasion i^f
this excursion.
The gentlemen who were of the party .(soon ascènded
heights, from whence they had an opportunity of lover--
looking the valley of Zhe-hol winding between the hills;
and- fertile indeed, but not-cultivated with) thé^M.W art
displayed within the propercboundawe® of -China. Td|p
valley was watered with à stream ghdihg^ht - that dry
season, gently through it, and wafting in its sands-many
particies of gold. The adjoining hills were neither steep
nor lofty. They consisted, at least near the surface, of
EMBASSY' »TO^ CHINA. 217
clay and gravelv They preSented'-ho Salient and retiring
angl’e#,9s:nchras-'are proonqed-by ,p6werful torrehts mak-
ingwel^way ttero'ugh mountains; nor diduhey3forto’,any
re^fer-frMlgdpbitt/tdken Collectively ,|f^sembledia» eohj
fffsdcNsea; in ^hiefe^ehMltdfroken billowsliepin different
di¥ebti&fi’M«s3 ttJgRedl by^ opppsk^^g'ale^psuf^editng. suds
denly to^feadh other. Thebfigure ind^dV®f|^i^jie hills{
paid the matters of wfesh th ^ y ^ cre composed, intj[f^aire,d
nothing like thfe bidgiftal 'aNttiprP'of firefttpbft t^ rfjfh q t
left sufficient traces ©1 'the-.operation o£)water covering
fo ra lorig-time' and* mouldering this'pprtibn.\d£Th/e/sur-
fafce 0#¥lf©'gfebe^ It'‘had th^Sppeirance^ of hayingikpeh
dnlefrclothed with wood. In tteiup^e^4'd;ibins^|xpbs.ed
pa'rts nothing now re'ttiainddEthat was i^ S tu p tp ||j| Timv
be'kwas kcare'e in all this neighbourhood^, The improves
'd'eldde-of former- geheTalfehsVi® -ndt plaritin^^^ntil'
in proportion as th e rm it ’ down the old «i^fwas^innw
^eVerSFy^felt bythdir p©ster%yJ.;'-
Thh'hills, 'thus'baffe oiFtrees’- vMfe-not s u f f ic ie n ts ^
tiact much moisture/The garde®s-'of theipOpire^people
wer&mot su fferedS depend on thelj^atoce(of rain ;, but
haeNach a well dug-ifi itifb p ^ e Jp h |p d s|^ 'f iptig4<4o%
The bucket'ior drawingi'np the’-waler, inst&^Tof bei*g
mad el oh stavds;' was^Om'pbsed of ozi'er t^vigs-pWattled or
platted Together with s^iriuch care ancf to
be perfeetlyT'ap&bldbf holding any liquids.'Th'o'se-gardenS
^DOundii^ih garliek and othei acrid and'af'binatic Vegll-
Visit to the E, mléopùHertîo-iri ^.”