The Nevada journal., 1854-09-15

third entrance we met with detachment
of several hundred women, of all ages and
sizes; they appeared to be employed in
carrying rice, and were accompanied by
only few grey haired old men. We were
again repulsed at this gate, and still told
to keep on outside. Our path now chang
ed to the opposite side of the moat and
after crossing wide and very substantial
stone bridge, we proceeded on until we
came GA lookout station or watch>tower,
where we at first thought our further
progress would be stopped. We were
however beckoned to enter, and no one
preventing, we went to the top of the tow
er, which was some seventy feet high, and
were then enabled to get fine view OF
the city and. .thel surrounding country
The porcelain Tower appeared to be about
five miles further on. This watch-tower
was situated ON the extreme end of the
Insurgent lines in this quarter, and was
defended by several cannon mounted be-
hind stockade, through which we passed
by means of gate which was opened for
us by the soldiers on guard.
Leaving this stockade we walked thro'
an open country for at least five; miles, to
another stockade battery, which surroupd-
ded the suburbs, by5 the fourth gate, in
which the Porcelain Tower was situated.
We were escorted ntosthis stockade by a
number of soldiers, whom we met and who
led us to the house Of one of their gener-
ais.
After remaining there short time the
general acting as our guide, took us through
the fourth gate into the city, passing by
the Tower
This structure is still an object of very
great interest, from it's and appearance
though comparatively in ruins, for when
the city was taken by the Rebels the in
terror of the Tower was burned and de-
faced, and the lower part was so filed
with rubbish that an entrance IS impos-
sible.
After entering the city our guide led us
along in N W., direction to the house
of a still higher general, where we remained
neary y two hours. The distance from the
gate was three miles at least the first part
of the way was through what appeared to
be the female quarter of the city, for we
saw there several thousand women, and
no men but those who were following after
us. The streets were. wider, and better
paved than in most Chinese cities, and the
houses were in much better condition, than
at either Chinkiang fu or Wu-hu. We
passed at different distances, gates which
were probably used to separate the male
from the female quarters. At one corner
we saw several human heads, hung up
with Chinese characters cut on the faces,
the meaning of which we could not under
stand.
Our detention at the generals, was
caused by his sending for permission for
US to leave the city, for without tha: the
gates could not be opened at that hour
it being after eight o'clock P. M. He
tried to persuade us to take something to
eat and also to sleep at his house, but we
declined, and our guide being ready, we
babe him adieu and started on our way to
the ship passing the third gate, and then
by the path which we had come in the
afternoon. On our way back we
were hailed by the sentry on the walls
every few minutes, and were fortunate in
having guide to explain who we were,
for otherwise they would have fred upon
US. We reached the ship about IL l2
P. NJ, exceedingly exhausted, for we had
walked at least twenty miles, but were at
the same time we'll satisfied with the sue
cess which had attended our excursion.
U. S. Steamship Susquehanna, June 3, 1854.