Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24
A Chinese Review.

The princes large blue tent was pitched on a
slightly rising ground apart from the others, and
was constantly surrounded by gorgeous officers
in bright yellow raiment, with round, fat black
hats and long feathers, who were galloping to
and fro, directing grand charges Of cavalry 1t
did seem so funny to see whole army of
ponies; for there are no horses here, unless the
foreign residents chance to import any. These
eight banners are all Manchus or Mongol Tar
tars, or at any tate are descended from such
Chinese troops being ranged under the green
standard. These eight banners which, as [
have said, are multiplied, are plain white, red,
blue and yellow, and the same colors repeated
and distinguished by white edge and
white spot. These companies are supposed
TO defend different sides OF the CITY. the
colOrs having some mystic relation to the
points OF the compass; except that yellow is in
the middle. where it guards the imperial pal
ace. Red guards the south. blue the north, and
white the west, while the east is nominaly
given up to the green standard, which. however
being composed of Cinnamon. is not admitted to
the honor Of guarding the forbidden city. | am
told that the banner army numbers upward of a
hundred thousand men, who supply Tartar gar
risOns for the principal cities of the empire We
got out Of the cart and secured good position
on small hillOck whence we had capital view
A number of Tartar. soldiers who were off duty
gathered round and were quite captivated by
the loan OF my opera glasses. Then they showed
US tnelr Wretcleu firearms. lWnlcn certainly did
not look as If any European could have
superinterded the arsenal where they were
manufactured,) and also their peculiar belts.
containing charges of powder only; and yet we
are told that in addition to first-class firearms
which are being ceaslessly manufactured at the
government arsenals at Tien-Tsin, Shanghai.
Canton, Foo-ChoO. Nankin, and other less i'm
pOrtant places. the Chinese government spares
no expense in buying both ammunition and fire.
arms OF European manufacture. l suppose they
are kept in reserve for real war! A picturesque
company Of archers rode by on stout ponies
holding their bride in the right hand and in the
lett their bows, the arrows being cased in
leathern culver, slung across the shoulders.
AS to their swords. instead of hanging from
the waist they are stuck under the saddle
flap; each mans cap is adorned with the
tails OF two squirrels, which is the correct mill
tary decoration. Now, though we Scots are
quite ready to believe that blackcOcks were Gre
ated for the express purpose Of bequeathing
their tails to adOrn the caps Of the London Scot
fish (the said tails having very much the jovial.
Independent character Of the bird ITSELF, it
really Is impossible to see the fitness of things
in selecting poor little squgs as military en-
blems, unless to suggest the wisdom of he who
fights and runs away! Anyhow, it now seems
as ii we might find a profitable market for all
the thousands of squirrels tails which are annu-
ally wasted In our north country woods. 1
quite forgot to take note of the fan and the
pipe, which am told are invariable items In
the accouterments of the Chinese soldiers
BelQrQUid.