even in the interior of Eastern Siberia, where the original wall thrown up by the Chinese serves as the rampart of a Russian military town. In early times, no doubt, such walls were built by feudal chieftains or princes; but later, and at the present day, they are for the defense of cities under government control. The great cities Peking, Tientsin, Shanghai, Nanking, Canton, and a host of others familiar to our ears, are thus protected.

The examination and identification of such ruins will reveal many interesting facts concerning the march of conquest and civilization in eastern Asia. Already they have yielded some facts to the historian. One of the latest discoveries in this connection is the site of the famed city of Karakorum, south of Urga, which was the capital of the great Genghis Khan when the Mongol power was at its zenith, having under its rule the largest empire the world has ever known.

than any of these, the very existence of which, however, has recently been denied. It is strange that the only work of man of sufficient magnitude to arrest attention in a hasty survey of the earth's surface should be represented as a creation of fancy.

The Great Wall dates from the reign of Chi Hwangti, the first emperor of the Tsin family. It was begun B. C. 214, and finished in ten years, under the first Han emperor. Some portions, built by the northern feudal chieftains, already existed, and the idea of connecting them occurred to the emperor, who, during his brief occupancy of the throne, made himself odious to the scholars by burning the books and records, in order that the written history of China might begin with his ambitious reign.

The Great Wall is approximately 1500 miles in length. Its dimensions vary in different parts, but at the part usually visited it is from 15 to 30 feet in height, 25 feet wide at the base, and 15

The walled cities in China close their gates at evening now as they have for centuries. Nothing changes in China save through neglect and decay. So, at Peking, every evening from half-past five until six o'clock, there is an endless stream of carts and mules and donkeys pouring through the principal gates to get within or without the gates before they close. It is not of the city walls that I am now to write; for, although they are high and strong and massive, there is a far greater structure

feet at the top, exclusive of the square-towered bastions, which project on the Mongolian side. It is much inferior in size to the wall of Peking.

In some remote parts the wall is a mere earth or stone embankment, but elsewhere it is faced on both sides with solid stone and brick masonry, the middle filled in with earth and stone, on top of which a pavement of large square bricks is laid. Wherever the wall makes steep ascents these bricks are laid in steps. The lower part is built of huge granite blocks well

fitted together with mortar, the parapet of large burnt bricks of a grayish-blue color, about fifteen inches in length by eight in width and four in thickness. No structure of brick and mortar could endure the severe frosts and changing seasons of that region for two thousand years. The ancient wall is in ruins. The parts that are well preserved are not more than four or five hundred years old. These have been twice rebuilt. In the seventh century 1,800,000 men were ordered to rebuild the portion extending from the Nankow Pass, northwest of Peking, to Tatung-foo in Shansi. About the same time 200,000 men renewed another portion between Yülin and Shan Hai Kuan. That portion most frequently visited by travelers, which crosses the Nankow Pass, is an offshoot from the old wall, known as the inner wall, and was first built about twelve hundred years ago; but the wall now existing there dates from the time of the Mings, hence it is only four hundred years old. This is the wall represented in the illustrations, which are from photographs taken at the Pataling or Chatow gate. This important gate is two thousand feet above the sealevel, at the head of the Nankow Pass, forty miles from Peking. The line of demarcation between the granite masonry and the brick is clearly shown in the view of the outer gateway. Access to the top of the wall is by means of broad, inclined planes running up from the ground on the Chinese side; also by wide VOL. XLV.-44.

stairways within the wall itself leading up from openings in the side. In the view of the gate one of these inclined planes is shown, and in the general view of the wall the opening to one of the stairways is to be seen just beyond the second tower. Through the arch of the gate we have the first glimpse of the barren wastes of Mongolia. The gate dates from the fifteenth century.

Formerly the Nankow Pass was the great commercial highway to and from Mongolia. It was then an excellent stone road, laid with great blocks of granite, or cut into the rocky hills, over which carts could travel. It is now a rough and almost dangerous path, where carts do not attempt to pass; the merchandise is still transported on pack-animals,ponies, mules, donkeys, and camels, and of these there is an endless succession of caravans from dawn till sunset. The hardy Mongols, men and women, with darkened and weather-wrinkled visage, sway easily to the long strides of their camels, and look upon foreigners with not unfriendly curiosity. They bring furs, and camel's hair, and wool, and droves of ponies, sheep, and mules. At Peking they go to the Mongol camp near the British Legation, where they dispose of their goods, carrying home in return, besides other products, fine silks, rich in color and gorgeous gold or silver brocades, such as are specially made in China for this northern trade. Through this gate.