The National tribune., 1901-06-20
THE RETURN TO PEKIN
The "Son of Heaven Journey
ing TO the Dragon Throne.
THE IMPERIAL CARAVAN.
Changes Wrought in the Ancient Capital
by Foreign Troops Since the Emperor's
Departure Last August.
BY ]. MARTIN MILLER.

The allied campaign in China is ended
Now that the great powers have an
nounced that the troops. except the Lega-
tion guards, will Immediately withdraw
from Pekin, and the great naval fleets
have left Taku, the Emperor Kwang Su
and the Dowager Empress will return To
the most ancient Capital city of the world.
And what a journey they will have,
viewed from our way of looking at the
means of travel in China, where there are
no railways across the country. In the
United States 2400 Ii, or 800 miles, would
not be far to travel: it would be matter
of but a day; it will require four or five
weeks of constant travel for this Imperial
caravan to reach Pekin from Shansi.
No edict was issued when the Court
left Pekin so hurriedly last August. But
II requires an Imperial edict to announce
this return from the temporary Capital,
Singan Flu, to the permanent Capital.
The long Imperial caravan will consist,
first, of an advanced guard on camels
some distance ahead to scent danger, feel
the way, and make preparations at the
Chinese inns en- route.
CHINESE BILL OF FARE.
The inn-keepers who are so highly hon
ored as to entertain the Emperor and the
arations. These inns have facilities for
the care of animals, and the great army
of people making up this Imperial caravan
are apt to see signs like the following,
which is an actual translation from bill
of fare posted on the wall of a Chinese
inn
Ordinary cats flesh; black cats flesh;
black dogs grease; black cats eyes,
sharks fins with egg sauce; lump of pork
fat fried in rice flour; pigeons eggs Stewed
with mushrooms; sliced sea slugs (beche
de-mere); stewed lily roots; fried slices of
pheasants; stewed bamboo root; birds
nests (The lining of certain tropical
birds nests is made from the birds saliva,
which it spreads over the grass and moss
nests, forming a beautiful crystalized In
terror. This is considered most delicious
as confection by Chinese epicures9"
The above bill of fare gives good idea
of the meals that will be served to the
Emperor and the Dowager Empress dur
Ing their long and tedious journey. The
followers and servants of the caravan,
however, will have only rice and a few
vegetables to eat, for the most part. At
times these coolies may be seen eating
fried locusts, grasshOppers, grub-wOrms,
silk worms, and water-snakeSN as they are
able to get them along the way.
In the immense encyclopedia compiled
under the direction of the Emperor
K'angHe there is recipe for hashed dog
which, by the number of condiments, the
quality of wine, and the prOfuson of ad
tuncts which are prescribed indicate that
1t was made by some one who liked a good
dish, and dislilled the taste of dog. Prob
ably the Emperor's cook will have this
cookbook with him.
THE IMPERIAL CARAVAN.
At the head of the main caravan will
be the sedan chairs of the Emperor and
his first wife, and the Dowager En-
press With them will be the court
eunuchs who act as servants. Other sedan
chairs follow these containing the En-
peror's several wives or concubines of
lower caste. With them are the numerous
eunuchs as servants, dancing attendance
on their every want.
Only one person rides in a sedan chair,
and each one is carried by two coolies at
each end. On these long journeys, II
coolies usually accompany each chair, and
work in relays half an hour apart.
Eight coolies are always trotting along
side of the chair by the four carrying it,
awaiting their turn.
Other chairs containing minor members
of the Imperial party may be carried by
two small mules, such as they have in
China, by putting one at each end between