V I E W OF A B R I D G E ,
In the Environs o f the City o f Sou-tcheou.
T he Bridges o f C h in a are v a rio u s ly constructed. T h e r e are m an y o f
th ree arches, some o f w h ic h are v e ry lig h t, an d e le g a n t; o th ers are simp ly
p y ram id a l p iers, w ith timbe rs an d flo o rin g laid h o riz o n ta lly across them.
T h i s arch, w h ich resembles the o u tlin e o f a h orse shoe, occurred very
freq u en tly in the route o f a p a r t o f the Em b a ssy from H a n -f h e o u to C h u -
san. L ik e most o f the C h in e se b rid g e s, it is o f qu ick asc ent, m ak in g an
angle o f full twenty degrees w ith the h o riz o n , a n d is ascended b y steps.
T h e ca rriage o f merchandize b y lan d , is therefore in co n s id e rab le ; the
riv e rs and canals b ein g the h ig h roads o f C h in a .
T h e m ateria l o f w h ich these bridges are composed, is a species o f coarse
m a rb le . T h e projecting stones and u p rig h ts aga inst the surface, are su p posed
to strengthen o r b in d the fa b r ic ; an d the five c irc u la r badges over
the a rch , co n ta in Ch in e se cha rac ters, w h ich m a y p ro b a b ly shew the name
o f the architect, an d date o f its erection.
T h e tem p o ra ry o rn am e n t over the centre o f the a rch , c o n sistin g o f
u p rig h t poles, p a in te d an d a d o rn ed w ith silken streamers, an d suspended
lan te rn s, was erected in com p lim en t to the Embassador. T h e six soldiers
from an adjacent M ih ta ry P o s t, were likewise ordered to stan d on the bridge
b y way o f salute.