Peking to Lhasa : vol.1 / Page 35 (Color Image)

0035	Peking to Lhasa : vol.1

THE START FROM PEKING 13

In the face of the old official opposition, he had

established law courts on the modern system. In

the higher court at least five trained judges sit,

whilst in two minor courts for lesser offences there

are three judges. Altogether there are in the

Province nine judges trained on modern lines, and

they form a court of appeal.

The court-houses are on modern lines, with

raised benches for the judges, tables on either side

for the opposing advocates, and railed-in seats on

either side for the spectators. And instead of

having to kneel, as in old times, the defendant is

allowed to stand.

There are law courts in other Provinces, but few

have such an enlightened Chief Justice as Mr.

Hsü to direct them. If only all courts in China

were directed like this, one of the greatest scandals

in the country would be removed.

Another innovation at Taiyuan is a small

modern garden with a lake and a building like a

church, in which moral lectures were given weekly

on Sundays. Officials from the governor down-

wards used to come to these lectures, but the

practice has been gradually falling off.

Leaving this progressive city on March 7

with one four-mule open cart and two two-mule

Peking carts, Pereira was delayed one and a half

hours at the start because carts were not allowed

to go over the modern roads of the city. Eventu-

ally leave from the Police Commissioner was

obtained and he proceeded on his way. On the

following day he was able to do 35 4 miles. The

mules did not look much and were uncared for

and dirty. But even on the wretched Chinese

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books