The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-03-29
a REMARKABLE CITY.


Forty Feet High.
The richest and most populous parts
OF Shansi are its upland plains. OF
which the most considerable-three
thousand feet above the level of the
seals that upon which the provincial
capital, Taiyuanfu, stands. The me.
tropolis OF Shansi is situated at the
northern extremity of the great plain,
where the mountains, closing In on
the east, west and north, form a rude
and broken crescent. The configura.
ton of the ground inclosed by Tai.
yuanfu city is that of ''three-times-
to-stretch recumbent cow" The site
was chosen and described by Ii Chun.
feng, celebrated professor of geo.
nancy in the days of the Tangs, who
lived during the reign of the emperor
Tai Tsung of that ilk. The city hav.
ing been then founded, its history
reaches back to that date. Since that
time the COW has stretched twice and
just opposite the premises of the En-
glish Baptist mission is shrine to the
memory of the renowned Gen. Kuan
Fu-tze, which is said to have been orig
inally built within the bastion of the
east gate, but because of this stretch
ing OF the COW now occupies a nearly
central position within the city itself.
This is firmly believed and not
mere story. The natives have what to
them is indisputable proof of the truth
OF 1T all. The outer wall of the bastion
about the southeast gate when struck
with stone gives back an answering
sound not unlike the call of a cow
Travellers leaving the city or returning
to it pick up stones and beat upon the
wall to establish themselves in their
faith, and with hope that this con-
slant disturbing of the COW may incline
her the more quickly to take her third
stretch. The inha bitants long for her
to fulfill her mission, for they antici-
pate that the city would then be not
only of magnificent proportions, but
more prosperous. aThe facing of the
wall at this place has been SO much
damaged by the practice that official
proclamations have been posted up for
bidding it.
These proclamations do not deny the
fact OF this being the point at which
the COW is pleased to rest her head, but
call upon the people to cease disturb
ing the creatures rest lest she be
moved to anger. The big man never
comes out to see that his commands are
obeyed, and consequentlyuthey go un-
needed. Taiyuanfu city is square and
is surrounded by wall of earth of
which the outer face is bricked. The
height of the wall varies from thirty
to fifty feet, and it is so broad that two
carriages could easily pass one another
upon 1t. The natives would tell you
that each of the sides is three miles
thirteen PAGES in length, but this, pos
'ibly, includes what it will be when
The COW shall have stretched for the
third and last time. Two miles is the
ength Of each side; eight miles to
ramp. if you wish to- go round the four
If them.
At the end of each mile you would
ind gate, two on each side. One of
he two which open to the north and
me of those which open toward the
'ast require to be kept rigidly closed
n the public interest. The luck of the
ity would be considerably decreased
we're this not SO, flor scorpions would
bound i the second gate on the east :
ide were opened, and to open both
he gates facing the north would
ause robberies to multiply, and they
re far too numerous already. The
Their six gates are opened every day
t sunlight and closed at shutdown, I'M f,
sss the public welfare should need
hat they be kept shut for awhile.
or instance, when the rainy season
ONES along, without the rain which
hould have come with it, which it
cry often does. the south gates are
Iosed, because, opening toward the t
re quarter, the air coming from that !
ERECTION will, it is feared, beat back
lie rain and keep it from falling
orth China News .