Adjoining the Marble Junk is a fine marble bridge, with sculptured lions on the piers and a well-formed double roof over the centre arch. Near by are the boat houses, in which are kept the gorgeous state-barges and the modern motor-boats now used on the lake.
Away across, on the southern side of the lake, stands the grand casting in bronze of an ox. I call it a cast ing, but much work must have been given to this artistic masterpiece after it left the founder's hands. It stands massive and alone. What masters of bronze work the Chinese are ! Look at the great lions near the Grand Pailau, finer even than those at the Lama Temple ; think of the storks and deer at the Winter Palace ! I believe Italian priests were called in to help design this Summer Palace ; and, looking at the whole from across the lake, I could see evidence of their work. That central group, on its enormous stone foundation, shows it distinctly in the severity of the stonework ; even the temple on the top, in spite of the Chinese roofs, has a touch of Italian, and I could almost imagine I was on an Italian lake, looking at some fairy palace. Italian or Chinese—I care not which—it is extremely beautiful. Could one wish for a more ideal place in which to dream away the sweet summer ? The pavilions of the Empress Dowager, and of the Emperor and Empress, are close to the lake, nearer to the entrance of the palace grounds than the state buildings, which they differ from in being roofed with gray tiles ; they are not large, but very dainty, and the word pavilion describes them well, as nearly all are of one storey and unpretentious. They border on the lake, with only a narrow paved footway in front balustrated with white marble, and are approached by steps at which pas sengers can land from boats.
In front of the Empress Dowager's are two tall slender pillars of wood, arched over at the top, from which hangs a large electric arc-lamp these tall pillars are decorated with white dragons on a green ground. Under the eaves of the pavilion are rows of electric lights. The windows are glazed inside elaborate wood work, much of which is painted a brilliant red. To see all this lighted up at night and reflected in the clear waters of the lake must be very beautiful. I could imagine it to be somewhat like parts of Venice on a fete night, with the addition of the more picturesque Chinese figures.
The gardens of these pavilions are neither large nor particularly beautiful, but the whole place is a natural garden, and so lovely that one does not miss the arti ficial garden of Western style.
From these pavilions to the state buildings and temples there is a covered way raised slightly from the ground, paved and roofed with tiles, the roof being supported on timber posts and beams, all of which are most elaborately decorated and painted with many quaint designs.
The Empress Dowager has repaired all this southern part of the palace since i9oo, and in this work one can see the introduction of many Western ideas. This covered way extends all along the foot of the hill, and is a means of access to every part of the palace build ings ; a delightful walk it is, although hidden from sight among the trees ; and going along it, one can get delightful peeps out to tke lake.
I have said that the quarters set apart for my use were in a group of buildings abutting on the courtyard in front of the chief gates. These buildings are foreign in design and fairly comfortable, though not originally designed for sleeping-quarters, but rather for the foreigners who come to audience when the Court is in residence. My rooms were, however, made very fortable for me, foreign bed and furniture being vided. Almost on my arrival I was asked how many days I would require to stay to do my work. To this I gave an evasive reply. I had been told I could only stay a few days ; and, to do even a little of what I saw, I knew I must stretch out my time as much as possible. My reception on arrival at the palace was most formal ; and akr that, I thought I should be rid of ceremony and go about my work in my usual way ; but I soon found that my comings and goings between my room and my work were most carefully arranged. My own boy had become quite an important personage since his master became an Imperial guest ; he had two other boys under him, and as many coolies as he liked to have , and though I had repeatedly told him that he and no one else was to carry my drawing, I found that he was giving it to one of his underlings to carry.