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The boy travellers in the Far East : adventures of two youths ... - Library

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ASCENDING THE I'EI-HO. 355<br />

TEMPLE OF THE SEA-GOD AT TAKU.<br />

<strong>The</strong> river from Takii to Tien-ts<strong>in</strong> was crowded witli junks and small<br />

hoats, and it was easy to see that <strong>the</strong> empire <strong>of</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a has a large com-<br />

merce on all its water-ways. <strong>The</strong> Grand Canal beg<strong>in</strong>s at Tien-ts<strong>in</strong>, and <strong>the</strong><br />

city stands on an angle formed by <strong>the</strong> canal and <strong>the</strong> Pei ho River. It is<br />

not far from a mile square, and has a wall<br />

surround<strong>in</strong>g it. Each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fonr walls has a<br />

gate <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> centre, and a wide street leads<br />

from this gate to <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> city, where<br />

<strong>the</strong>re is a pagoda. <strong>The</strong> streets are wider than<br />

<strong>in</strong> most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>ese cities, and <strong>the</strong>re is<br />

less danger <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g knocked down by <strong>the</strong><br />

pole <strong>of</strong> a sedan-chair, or <strong>of</strong> a coolie bear<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

load <strong>of</strong> merchandise. In spite <strong>of</strong> its great<br />

commercial activity, <strong>the</strong> city does not appear<br />

very prosperous. Beggars are numerous, and<br />

wherever our friends went <strong>the</strong>y were constantly<br />

importuned by men and women, who<br />

appeared to be <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> severest want.<br />

<strong>The</strong> usual way <strong>of</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g to Pek<strong>in</strong> is by <strong>the</strong><br />

road from Tieii-ts<strong>in</strong>, M'hile <strong>the</strong> return journey<br />

is by boat along <strong>the</strong> rivei'. <strong>The</strong> road is about a ch<strong>in</strong>e.se beggar.

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