Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-17
From Taku to Pekfn.

battalions Of 400 men each.
From Taku to Pekin.
The country from Taku to Pekin which
has just been traversed by the allied relief
column is described by Major Simpson as
follows:
THE country from Taku up to Matow is
a very fiat plain. broken. however, by
entertainments and bitches. Beyond Chang
chia-wan the country becomes more undu
latng the hills are approached. The
valley of the Pei-Ho river is similar in
character to the fiat portion of the river
valleys along the Carolinas and Georgia
coast
The Pe-Ho river is not navigable for
large boats above Tien Tsin and the water
Is foul. In the dry season the river is low;
in the rainy season it overflows its banks.
and, as the channel Is not marked in any
way, 1t is difficult to find it. Light-draft
junks and barges can go as far Tung
chou. They are towed from the banks by
man power. 1t is reported. however, that
the Chinese have INSTRUCTED the river with
junks loaded with stone. and are prepared
to cut the entertainments and flood the
country.
THE road from Tien Tsin to Pekin varies
from half mile to five miles from the
river. The road has been worn from CEN
turtles Of travel until its level is below that
OF the surrounding country. There is no
road covering, and, consequently. in rainy
weather 1t becomes almost impossible. In
tAc rainy sedSOu SUCH a venice as the
army wagon, with a heavy load. could
hardly be hauled from Tien Tsin to Pekin
Chinese carts or pack trains would b.
much better as means Of transport.
Excellent for Marching.
1.-THE country would be excellent for
marching in any direction in dry weather.
Bull carts and mule teams, hitched tan
dem, are the principal means Of transport
taton. The road is so narrow that two
carts can pass only with difficulty.
THE rainy season is in the summer. The
heaviest rains are in July and August At
this time the valley of the Pei-Ho is fro
quently flooded for miles on both sides of
the river. About the first Of October the
weather changes perceptibly. tho nights be-
coming very cold. The frosts set in about
the end Of October. when also strong north
erly winds prevail. For three or four
months in the winter North China is prac-
tically cut off from the outside world Nayi-
cation ends on the Pe-Ho about the end of
November or the beginning Of December
the river being frozen over down to the
bar at Taku. There is an anchorage not
frozen over. however, at Tsin Hwang Tao
not far from Shanhsikwan. Supplies could
be taken thence and transported by rail to
Tien Tsn, provided this line should re-
main in the possession Of the international
troops. This Is the route by which mails
and freight have been carried to Tien Tsin
in winter time since the railway was con-
structed.
Shallow Water at Taku.
Even at the best of times the landing of
troops and supplies is very difficult, as.shal-
low water compels ocean-going steamers to
anchor miles out from Taku. and thence
everything must be lightered ashore This
difficulty might be obviated by transship-
ment at Nagasaki into smaller, coastwise
steamers. whose draft would allow them to
cross the bar
The water is very bad. Most OF 1t comes
from the Pei-Ho river, which Is polluted
with sewage. Water should be boiled be-
fore being used. Water can be obtained
almost anywhere by digging a few feet
THE natives burn millet stalks for fuel.
No wood or fuel of any kind is to be found
in that region. If the whole line of the
railroad were in the possession of the in
ternational troops native coal could prob
ably be obtained. but under present condi-
tons all fuel, well as forage for ami
mails and supplies Of all kinds, must be
taken.
mo fresh beef is to be had. Hams do not
keep very well. Bacon keeps very well.
Fartnaceous food Of any kind keeps very
we'll with ordinary packing. Dried fruits
should be timed"