Travels in north and central China . PAVILION IN MING TOM1!. KALGAN TO PEKING BY THE MING TOMBS. 29 round. After the midday rest we sent the cartson to Chang-ping-chau direct, while with the donkeysunder a broiling afternoon sun, we crossed or skirtedthe foot-hills in an easterly direction. All theselow hills were beautifully cultivated, and when wedescended from them to the ravines and spurs onthe western side of the plain, at the head of whichthe Ming tombs lie, we were in a real farmingcountry with pleasant winding paths, substantialfarmhouses, tree-shaded villages, well-tilled fields,. FIG
Travels in north and central China . PAVILION IN MING TOM1!. KALGAN TO PEKING BY THE MING TOMBS. 29 round. After the midday rest we sent the cartson to Chang-ping-chau direct, while with the donkeysunder a broiling afternoon sun, we crossed or skirtedthe foot-hills in an easterly direction. All theselow hills were beautifully cultivated, and when wedescended from them to the ravines and spurs onthe western side of the plain, at the head of whichthe Ming tombs lie, we were in a real farmingcountry with pleasant winding paths, substantialfarmhouses, tree-shaded villages, well-tilled fields,. FIGURES IN AVENUE LEADING TO MING TOMBS. and carefully laid-out orchards. The barley wasalready coming into ear, the fruit had set on thetrees, and the vines were flowering. Soon we spiedthe first of the yellow-rayed and tree-clad Imperialtombs, shut in at the head of a ravine, while acrossthe plain, to the east, the greater tombs were visiblein the distance. We passed the near one, andskirting an outlying spur came on the next two,close together, one of which we inspected. Allare of the same character. The number of court-yards varies, as also does the size of the build- 30 TRAVELS IN NORTH AND CENTRAL CHINA. ings. The courtyards are overgrown with grassand shrubs and studded with oaks, firs, andquaintly-shaped cypress trees. The marble stairsof beautiful design, carved in low relief withmarvellously twisted dragons, are grass-grown, andshrubs push through the interstices. The tiledroofs, of a beautiful brown yellow, with elaboratefinials and ridging, are also overgrown with grassand
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectchinade, bookyear1902
