Mandalay to Momien: A narrative of the two expeditions to western China of 1868 and 1875, under Colonel Edward BSladen and Colonel Horace Browne . eavy ironcladwooden valves, which were carefully shut at night-fall. Yiewed from a distance, the walls and turrets,with a lofty pagoda and the roof of the watch-tower,seemed to indicate a populous and thriving town; butwithin the walls was almost emptiness. The broadrectangular streets were comparatively deserted, saveby a few Panthay soldiers, who with their familiesformed the sole intramural population. But fewhouses remained uninjured, the best o
Mandalay to Momien: A narrative of the two expeditions to western China of 1868 and 1875, under Colonel Edward BSladen and Colonel Horace Browne . eavy ironcladwooden valves, which were carefully shut at night-fall. Yiewed from a distance, the walls and turrets,with a lofty pagoda and the roof of the watch-tower,seemed to indicate a populous and thriving town; butwithin the walls was almost emptiness. The broadrectangular streets were comparatively deserted, saveby a few Panthay soldiers, who with their familiesformed the sole intramural population. But fewhouses remained uninjured, the best of these beingthe dwellings of the governor and his officers. Thenumerous temples had been gutted and half demo-lished. The images and huge stone incense vaseshad been overthrown and broken, while the ruinedwalls pitted with bullets showed the fierceness ofthe struggle which had taken place. The absence ofall the wonted bustle and noise of a crowded citywas made more striking by the evidence on all sidesof the former prosperity and population. Our stay at Momien extended over six weeks; butthe state of the country, combined with the AN OFFICIAL RECEPTION. 193 reduced us almost to inaction. The depressing mono-tony of life under these circumstances was, however,relieved by the unvarying kindness of the hospitablePanthays. Our first day was devoted to arrange-ment of ourselves and baggage, in which a crowdof curious visitors assisted by uttering astonished lyaws ! at everything possessed by the foreigners,whose persons and goods each was anxious toinspect. The following day having been appointed by thegovernor for our reception, w^e entered the town instate, preceded by twenty Mahommedan sepoys ofthe escort, carrying the presents. These consisted ofgreen and yellow broadcloths, muslins, gaudy rugsand table covers, double-barrelled guns and revolvers,with all appliances, powder and shot, penknives,scissors, a binocular glass, telescope, and musical-box, and a quantity of
Size: 1244px × 2010px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1876
