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0177 History of the Expedition in Asia, 1927-1935 : vol.2
History of the Expedition in Asia, 1927-1935 : vol.2 / Page 177 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000210
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EHOL

J

THE IMPERIAL SUMMER PALACE

To describe in detail the labyrinth of summer-houses, pavilions, pagodas, temples, parks, pools and beautiful places which both the Emperors K'ANG Hsi and CH'IEN LUNG had built at Jehol, where they spent so many summers, is beyond the scope of this publication. One of our first duties on arriving in Jehol was to pay a visit to the Governor of the Province, General TANG YÜ-LIN, which gave us an unsought opportunity of making a tour of the wonderful Summer Palace in Jehol, so rich in memories, and the scene of so many glittering entertainments, pompous audiences, court-intrigues, love-adventures, and the tyranny of eunuchs.

Here was the spot where the emperors inculcated in the minds of the Mongol princes the might and majesty of the Manchu dynasty; here they honoured the princes of the returned Torguts; here the third TASHI LAMA was overwhelmed with favours; and here Lord MACARTNEY, as head of the embassy in 1793, was shown that the King of England was nothing more than an insignificant vassal prince beyond the seas.

The whole of the `Forbidden City' in Jehol is surrounded by a wall ten kilometers long and five meters high, made of stone and baked bricks and provided in several places with gates. At the main entrance soldiers presented arms, and over the triple gateway flags were flying. A winding, stone-paved road led to a pavilion, where the Governor received his visitors. A large band was playing a European march. The General, simply dressed in uniform, was a strongly built man of fifty-five, with a serious expression.

In the reception-room stood four chairs, broad and massive as the thrones of emperors, and covered with priceless old brocades. These were relics from the days of CH'IEN LUNG. Perhaps the Son of Heaven himself had condescended to sit in them, and they had held the body that on ceremonial occasions occupied the Dragon Throne.

We talked about the reason for our journey to Jehol. The General assured us that we were at liberty to take measurements, sketch, and photograph as we

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