Page 126 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

stream loses much of its rapidity. Sometimes, in this wide
area of water, one sees as many as two or three rows of

ships ranged one behind the other. Such is the spectacle
presented when one emerges from one of the passes into the
port. Clouds of flame and smoke, rising in different places,
direct attention to the width, the depth, and the shape of

the city. At night, one might imagine oneself looking at a
vast city all on fire, or an immense furnace with numerous

outlets. Perhaps this environment of mountains forms a

situation suitable for the porcelain industry. It is astonish-

ing that a place so populous, where such wealth exists,
where an infinity of junks arrive daily, and where there are
no enclosing walls, should be governed by a solitary manda-
rin without the least failure of good order. In truth, Ching-
te-chen is only a league from the district of Fu-liang and
eighteen leagues from Ju-chou, but it must be confessed
that the police system is admirable there. Each street has
a head-man appointed. Each head-man has ten subalterns,

each of whom is responsible for ten houses. Their duty is

to preserve good order, repair at once to the scene of any
disturbance, quell it and give information of it to the man-
darin, under pain of the bastinado, which is liberally used.
Often the head-man himself vainly gives notice of a trouble
and declares that he has taken every step to calm it. There
is always a disposition to lay the blame on his shoulders
and he escapes a beating with difficulty. Each street has
barricades which are closed at night, and must not be
opened without certain signals. Moreover, the Mandarin
of the district goes his rounds frequently, and so do the
mandarins of Fu-liang, from time to time. Further, stran-

gers are not permitted to sleep at Ching-te-chen. They
must either pass the night in the ships, or lodge with some
acquaintance who is responsible for their good behaviour.
The police preserve perfect order and establish complete

security in a place rich enough to excite the cupidity of an
infinity of thieves.

As to the nature of the work done at this great

industrial centre during the first cycle of its existence,