Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-16
A CHINESE MUSTER.


lator to work Of the Russian Consul, on
China, contains description of great Re-
view of the Chinese army, which took place
in the plain of Yam chen-va, league and a
half southeast Of the city.
This account is given by NJ. Leontief, who
resided for a long time al Pekin.
i We set out, says he, at two hours past
midnight, and were drawn over the frozen
mud in the streets without meeting living
soul. The wa,chmen only, seated in their
boxes, lighted by small lamps, struck their
stats on hearing the sound of our carriage.
! The soldiers going in single file and the Of
fcers in tche, (cabriolcts) were proceeding
to the place of the review. Some soldiers
carried on their shoulders very small guns,
and others who went, probably only to in
crease the number, had no arms at all. AT
the gate flhe city, which was only half open,
the guard examined, by the aid of paper Lam
terms, those who presented themselves to 20
out. In this way we passed through the mar
row streets which led to the plain of Yam
chen. In this open plain was long file ex-
tending from east to west of great lanterns,
on which were hung leaves of red paper bear
ing the inscriptions which indicated the names
of the divisions there assembled. Theselan
terms were suspended on poles before each d.
vision, beginning from the east at the divis-
ion of the red flag. The soldiers, who we're
pressing about the lanterns, appeared occu-
pied in assembling and arranging themselves
according to their rank. Our carriage stop
ped at the west Of mound on which was
great blue tent, turned towards the SOUTH
At the east and west Of this tent were great
lanterns hung on long poles serving to give
light to the tent at the southeast and west,
smaller tents had been arranged for the mill
tary chiefs.
After having examined what was passing
on the hill, we went towards the troops, and
we had not gone more than hundred PAGES
when we approached the cannon. | was Gu
rious to examine these pieces, as at present
there is no one in the Chinese empire capa-
bic of casting them, and the Chinese artillery,
| (if it deserve this pompous name,) employs
pieces taken from the Dutch in Little Bucha-
ria, or rather those which were made under
the direction Of The missionaries more than a
century ago. | examined them and saw that
they were mounted on wooden four wheeled
carriages, aud fastened by cords full of knots.
l passed to other pieces and my surprise was
increased on seeing that the carriages were
only kept together by ropes tied about them.
The iron and bronze cannon were not more
than ten decimetres long; they were placed
on the high ground before mentioned. Three
of these pieces were prepared for firing, and
the others placed beside them were hidden
by old mating. Was this to conceal their
miserable condition, or only to protect them
from the dampness! leave others to Judge.
| did no, dare TO prolong my examination
for fear of awakening suspicion. There were
also large kettle drums, each carried by four
men on sticks disposed like cross. The
soldiers then began to place themselves in
rows before the blue cloth tents destined for
the officers.
returned to my carriage and awaited the
ems began TO grow pale-thc moon became
dim, and inclining toward the west, finally
disappeared. The lanterns before the lines
we're all taken down and exlnguished. Al
last the person appointed by the Emperor ia
inspect the troops, arrivedin paanquins, and
entered the tent which was on the hill. The
troops were then arranged in three very long
lines, extending from east to west. The
three cannon mentioned above, were eacl
discharged in succession. The recital an
about u make, will, think, create surprise
-, To load a cannon they put in certain
, quantity of da-ydo, ia coarse powder COM
posed principally Of charcoal mixed will
small portions of nitre and sulphur.) The,
fill up the touch-hole with finer powder, il
: which nitre predominates-,hey sci fire to i
with match of twisted paper. The fir,
having reached the charge, the da-yao begins
, TO crackle; the cannon moves back and for
r ward, and minute elapses before it goes of
was not an eye witness of what have re-
y lated, but | was told so by the cannonier
I themselves. The cannon exercise was sue
f ceeded by gun-iiring.-About IA twentieth
part of the men only fired, beginning in tin
| middle of the ranks, and finishing at the ex
| tremes. Every row fitted in turn, first max
r ing movement forward to the dsorderl
= sound of the drums before mentioned. Thi
: sort of iuslllade was repeated six times
r After this, each rank effected a retrograd
9 movement, accompanied by fuisillade lik
the preceding, and regained its former posi-
!, ton. Then began general firing, in whic
+. the soldiers of the back ranks discharge
. their pieces in the air, that they might ne
d wound their comrades, and for fear too tia
. the charges should fall TO the ground, for III
= Chinese do not ram down their charges, nc
n making use of ramrods. In this way tn
v infantry to the number of 10000 men ter
4 minated its evolulions.
i During the exercise, the cavalry, officer
10 and men were assembled at the rieht and le
g of the hill near the principle flags ranged lik
l. small arcs of circle. This cavalry, at
= signal given by the music, went over to til
y opposite sides in the most complete disorde
l. Those who had good horses went first, thos
Ir who were badly mounted followed as the
Dr. could. This movement terminated the re
view, after which the commanders, Officer
and simple soldiers. dispersed without oil
serving any order. Those soldiers who ha
guns, wore blue nankin coats, bordered vii
whlte.-This costume distinguished the
from the others, who being without arm