THE FORBIDDEN CITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 202, 19 October 1900, Page 1

THE FORBIDDEN CITY.

Doblho the resent Chinese crisis, frequent reference has been made in oar cables to the Forbidden Oity at Pels in, into which the allies did not force their way aftar the relief of the Legations, as its Boyal inhabitants having deserted it, no troable was to be expected from that quarter, and therefore it was doubtless thought ta be unwise to oflend the native prejudices by descrating its sacrsd character by allowing any of the troops to paß« through its gates. This is a point upon which the Chinese people are particularly jealous, and so closely have the secrets of the Forbiddep Oity been guarded that comparatively few of the native inhabit- . ants, much less the foreigners, know V anything of what is passing within, or what kind of a place the Forbidden City is. Pekin, the capital of the Chinese Empire, is a city surrounded by a wall tea miles in circumference, within which is another wall reduced in circumference to six miles. The spice between these two enclosures is filled by Bekin proper, and is inhabited by many foreigners and millions of Chinese. Tbis teeming, crowded population is in strange contrast to the wide spaces and peaceful atmosphere ineide the inner wall, which might not inappropriately be called the Chinese Holy of Holies. Only four gates, one at etch point of the compass, provide a means of ingress and egrees to and ftom the Sacred city, and these are each strongly fortified, both in European aad CHiinese fashion. The modern guns are mounted at the embrasures to hold the foreigners in check, while enormous scarlet dragons with most menacing inscriptions painted on their tails, are set up to terrify the inquisitive and venturesome Chinaman who might seek to satisfy his curiosity by ■tealing in unbidden. "Within this Sacred and Imperial City the Royal family live, and is is believed that with the exception of a select few who art necessary to wait upon the Boyal personages none other is permitted to reside there. That remarkable woman, the Dowager Empress, who is now the mainspring of the Chinese Government, who also has a palace within the Forbidden City, does not always reside therein, but varies her stay between her residence there and one of equal splendour on tha outf r side of the wall. Within the Imperial City are eight different palaces, a siore of temples, and a few strictly private Government buildings. Foremost among the great edifices in the Forbidden City are the Imperial Potcelsin Palace an the great Imperial Palac?, where the Emperor actually lives or lived. According to the accounts of some European travellers who profecs to be well it firmed, both these palaces are wonders of barbaric Mongolian architecture, filled with wondrous art treasures in lacquer, gold, silver, and cbiua, dated from the j- earlieet Imperial dynasties. So literally is it a "Forbidden" Oity that scarcely a dozen Europeans have as yet been permitted to pass its portals, and gaze upon its wonders. The first to enjoy this eepp'ial privilege was Lord Macartney, who, while British Envoy during the reign of the Em.peror K'EeN Hang in 1795, was permitted to casually glance over its street*, temples, and palace; but siece then it has only I ean when the Emta* sammoned ore of the European to hi* Palcce for an interview on urgent diplomatic business that any of the " Foreign Davi's " have entered its exclusive precints. So X long as thfra is the remo'est chance of a stahle Gcv rnimnt beirg restored in China it is n(t likely that the Powers will interfere vith tie national jrcjadices concerning tbis J ecaliar p'ac, njHß&re can be no doubb that its e ; s lends facilities to its Boyal inhabitants to plot and scheme with gater security, end if it be fond that they again abuse the frotection which th« For'iiddcn Oity sflorls them, it nay be necis a-y to insist ofoi an oprn door " to th's part of China as - fei Mto otheis,