. The science of railways . to fifteenfeet in width. All are rough; all poorly main-tained. None of them are uniform. In no greatcountry of the world, perhaps, is the use of draftanimals and land vehicles so meager as in different specimens of the latter may becounted on ones fingers. Men and women arethe great factors, the great carriers of the coun-try. In the exchange of products between theheart of the kingdom and the distant provincesof the west and Mongolia and Manchooria on thenorth, the camel is a factor. Vast numbers ofthese animals are used, and the caravans thattraverse th
. The science of railways . to fifteenfeet in width. All are rough; all poorly main-tained. None of them are uniform. In no greatcountry of the world, perhaps, is the use of draftanimals and land vehicles so meager as in different specimens of the latter may becounted on ones fingers. Men and women arethe great factors, the great carriers of the coun-try. In the exchange of products between theheart of the kingdom and the distant provincesof the west and Mongolia and Manchooria on thenorth, the camel is a factor. Vast numbers ofthese animals are used, and the caravans thattraverse the intervening country present a never-ending picture of eastern habits and impassive-ness. In some instances these caravans numbera thousand animals. Marshalled by the Tartarinhabitants of the border country, they bring theproducts of the outlying districts, taking backneeded things in exchange. The camels ofnorthern and western China differ from those ofthe Mediterranean country in this, that instead VARRIAGE IN CHINA. 257. This craft, with its immense sails, requires, like many vessels of the south-eastern seas, a counterpoise. This counterpoise Is furnished by an outriggerthat skims the surface of the water, or, as in the above case, by a more simplecontrivance. 17 Vol. 11 258 CARRIAGE IX CHINA. of soft, light hair they have heavy coats of woolto protect them from the extreme cold. Tliiswool is utilized very much as we utilize the woolof sheep. The few means of land carriage China possessesare illustrated in the accompanying pages. Butwhat China lacks in variety of land vehicles shemakes up in the number and picturesqueness ofher water craft. These latter are noted for theirquaintness; one and all savor of a past age, ofrude appliances, of primitive conditions, of a peo-ple with few wants—easily satisfied. The house boats, so common in China, occupya relation to men and w^omen not known in anyother country. Children are ))()rn upon theseboats, live upon them and are buiied
Size: 1570px × 1591px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectrailroa, bookyear1900
