Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-21
THE PORCELAIN TOWER OF NANKIN.

The PORCELAIN TOWER OF NANKIN.
We account of an excursion made by Mr. LIZ
RoY, in company with Lieut. HUNTER and Purser BARRY
to the Porcelain Tower and the interior of Nankin:
Finding II improbable that any permission would be
given by the authorities to enter the city started from
the ship at one o'clock the 30h of May with the de-
termination If possible to the city and the
Porcelain Tower. There board at the time
Der of Chinese officers two Of whom said to be generals
promised, through interpreter to act guides and
take to the officer who granted permission to pass
through the gates We went in the boat about half q
mile to the of canal which filed with unks
and landed in the outskirts Of small village some dis
lance from the walls. After leading short distance
through this village generals left and we saw no
of them. We then went to the northeast gate of
the city, about mile distant and disappointed at
seeing closed approach Neither persuasion
offers OF money were Of any use and as no al
lowed to enter while there that large crowd
had collected waiting go in concluded to keep
and try another gate, hoping that might with
more We then retraced steps for dis
lance and took path which we judged, from its we'll
trodden appearance led to another gate Following this
path for several miles, having moat filled with water
between and the walls came to second gate after
passing through very pretty country Almost all the
houses way were deserted and in ruins but when
met any Of the people treated politely,
they showing very friendly disposition towards
This second entrance to the city consisted Of three dis
tnct gates besides the outer gte which opened through
the main wan They were each covered by solid arch
forty or fifty feet in depth We walked through the
first and second without interruption but stopped
as we about going through the third We showed
the people at the gate rough sketch of the tower and
made them understand that wished to go through the
city it. They told that could not 60 into the
city, but that could reach the tower by following
outside the walls We therefore continued on path
lying the base Of the walls, between them and the
water The distance to the next entrance about four
miles. Before VIC reached this third entrance met
will Enactment of several hundred women of all ages
and s they nppearedto be employed in carrying rice
L~.. oJL~~
We again repused at this gate and still told to keep
outside Our path now changed to the opposite side
of the moat and after crossing wide and very substan
tal stone bridge we proceeded on until we came to
lookout station watchtower where at first thought
further progress would be stopped We were, how
ever, beckonsd to enter, and, preventing, went
to the top of the tower which seventy feet
high and thus enabled to get fine view of the city
and the surrounding country The Porcelain Tower ap
peared to be about five miles further This watch
tower situated the extreme end Of the nsurgen
lines in this quarter and defended by several
mounted behind stockade, through which passed by
means of gate which was for us by the soldiers
guard. Leaving this stockade walked through an
country for at least FIVE miles to another stockade
battery which surrounded the suburbs, by the fourth
gate in which the Porcelain Tower situated Wewere
escorted into this stockade by number Of soldiers whom
met and who led us to the house Of one Of their
Generals.
After remaining there short time the General acting
guide took through the fourth gate into the
CITY, passing by the tower.
This structure is still object Of very great interest
from its age and appearance though comparatively in
ruins for when the city taken by the rebels the in
terror of burnt and defaced and the lower
part was SO filed with rubbish that entrance is i'm
possible.
After entering the city guide led along north
west direction the house of still higher General,
where remained nearly two hours The distance from
the gate three miles at least The first part Of the
through what appeared to be the female quarter
of the CITY, for there several thousand women
and men but those who following after The
wider and better paved than in Chinese
Cities and the houses in much better condition than
at either ssChin- kiang-fu or Wu.hu" We passed. at
different distances gates which probably used to
parae the male from the female quarters At
several human heads hung up, with Chinese cha
raoters the faces the meaning Of which we could
not understand
Our detention at the Generals caused by his send
ing for permission for to leave the city, for without
the gates could not be opened at that hour it being
after o'clock r. NJ He tried to persuade to take
something to eat and to sleep at his house, but de-
clned, and, our guide being ready, we babe him adeu
and started way the ship passing through the
third gate, and then by the path had in
On way back were hailed by the sentry on
the walls every few minutes, and fortunate in hav
ing guide to explain who were; for otherwise they
would have fred upon We reached the ship about
half past IL p NJ exceedingly exhausted; for we had
walked at least twenty miles, but ut the time
well satisfied with the which had attended
excursion.