The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-07-16
THE PORCELAIN TOWER OF CHINA.

One Of the rccollectious of school days is a
picture Of a tall odd-lookiug building, divi-
d-d into sections by curved and pointed stone
IT I'll $, aad described as glittcring in colored
cuamslod tiles, and eusLrouded in iiolatrous
legend l. Vac the porcelain tower of Nan
king. This evening we are but a few miles
from the .itC Of that once wonderful creation.
To-day we visited tko spot, but the marvel
Gus C, lImu that stood complete in is gro
tesquc ftiress a generation b, fore Colum-
bus sailed in search Of a neY world, is gone,
an only great piles Of shlttere and broken
porcelain remain. TIE substantial mouu-
nsut had VANISHED, and IN its stead | saw
ouly the picture # 90 many years ago.
THIS unique creation was built upon the
site of an ancient monastery. by Yungloh.
the third Emperor of the Ming dynasty and
was called the "Recomp peusing Favor Mon
astory," in honor Of the Empress 1t rest
ell upon wide brick basis. was octagonaI in
form, and its copper sheathod roof was fifty
feet higher above the earth than the top of
Bunker Hill monument. It's nine stories
were divided by huge styne rufies, whose
uPturned points were hung with bells or
lanterns. It's ex eriCr was cOYercd with en-
an-cl tiles Of porcelain. Of various colors and
designs. Winding steps led up its gaudy
and guided interiCr t. the summit, from
= '.
so rich, powerful and important, must have
been obtained.
When Making was taken by tie Taepins
rebels, few years ago. the Porcelain Tower
was entirely destroyed for fear it might be
used by the Imperialists as battery against
them.
We chartered a roomy Chinese boat and
four boatmen and started mp the creek which
forms the moat on the western side Of the
city wall. At the mouth of the creek and
for a mile above, was an accumulation uf
Chinese boats.
To-day is the first day of the Chinese New
Year, and all classes even thosa who labor
for each days subsist' nee, consider it a point
Of honor TO make this holilay-for the
Chinese know no Sabbath and with an i'm.
mense majority to- Jay is the only day of re- t
they obtain in all the year.
Among the crowded boats we're large
number of small war junks, vessels mount
ing OILY one small gun. From each these
many flags were fyiug-green and scarlet
and yellow, pointed and rufflel, and with
great Chinese characters painted upon them.
After much pulling and pushing ana many
CALCULATIONS from the Chinese boatmcn, we
passed the lires Of crowded boats and came
to clear sailing. The muddy sloping bar ks
were six or eight feet above our heads. On
our left the city wall, gray. old and crumb-
ling stretched along, here recedinc from the
stream and there approaching it, crossing
bitches, running over the rough land, skirt
ing the bases@of hills, always time-staiued
and scared, and telling of ages past and
buried. On we rowed, twining aud twist
ing up this narrow stream occasionally
meeting a loaded hJat. from the tip of whose
slender mast line pa sed to women on the
bank, who slowly tugged and pulled the
boat along. a few mi es farther, and we
came to another gathering of boats, gay with
bright flags. partially hidden by thin veil
of smoke from the bursting and popping fire
crackers. The broad bank was covered with
cone shaped piles of the feathery-topped
reeds which the natives use for fuel, and the
heaps Of which were now followed and used
as abode and shelter. Beyond the huts of
reeds, the wall receded, ard on its top, i'm
mediately above the high arched gateway
that admitted through it, was a building of
odd shape, and occupied by soldiers who
guarded the gate. Here we passed between
the stout rough piers of bridge the rebels
destroyed, and, short distance beyond we
passed under the arches of another bridge.
which though but few yards wide, had a
street over it, and rows of houses on each
side Beyond this stream was unobStructed
and we passed up mile or more, when tired
of the slow locomotion, we guided the boat
to the bank, jumped ashore, and walked
along under the shadow of the wall. We
soon turned sharp angle of TIE wall. and
then could see beyond the principal southern
gate with bright flags futtering above its
guard house-an arched bridge which span
ned the stream-hi2h muddy banks, be-
tween which the creek was filled with boats
"a small city Of the cone-like reed huts and
crowds of people. After walk we reached
the place and crossed the filthy and sticky
flag pavement of the bridge. then passing a
small village Of tile and stone huts, we en-
tered an open country Of rough and rising
land, the only product Of which seemed to
be broken tile and stone and refuse 1t
cannot be common matter that visits are
made here by foreigners. for before wereach-
ed the bridge, men and boys followed us,
some evincing fear, and all Of them great