2. Wai-tehing, or the southern city, the second great division of Pekin, contains most of the mercantile population of the capital, but does not present many features of interest to the traveler. Teen-tan, or the temple to heaven, and Tee-tan, or the temple to earth, with their grounds, occupy a considerable space. The latter is considered A sort of temple of agriculture, and its grounds are the scene of the well-known ceremony Ill which the emperor, assisted by members of the board of rites, opens the plowing reason in China at tire vernal equinox. The theaters and places of public amusement :ire likewise situated in the southern or Chinese city; also the golden tish-ponds, and the execution-ground.
Outside the city there are unwalled suburbs, as about every walled town in China. These are of considerable extent, but straggling, and consist principally of an agrimil. tural population, the land being everywhere in a state of cultivation, producing chiefly maize and millet, as it is not so suitable for the staple products of rice and wheat. The Lend is badly watered but well timbered, which gives a pleasing aspect to the landscape; and when viewed toward the range of mountains extending from the w. of Pekin to the me.. presents a picturesque panorama. About 8 m. n.w. of Pekin the famous RiCit (lit. "round and splendid gardens") palaces arc situated, which were sacked and destroyed by the allies in Oct., 1860. These were 30 in number, surrounded by every variety of hill and dale, woodland and lawn, interspersed wit canals, pools, rivu lets, and lakes, with numerous temples and pagodas containing statues of men and gods in gold, silver, and bronze. Here had been heaped up for centuries all the movable riches and presents of the emperors of China, amongst which were found many sent by the English embassies. At the approach of the allies, Hien-fung fled in haste; and when lord Elgin learned that it was in those grounds that the British and French prisoners, captured by treachery,. had been tortured, he gave the order to sack and destroy this
favorite residence of the emperor's, "as it could not fail to be a blow to his pride as well as his feelings; and it became a solemn act of retribution." The palaces were cleared of every valuable, and their walls destroyed by fire and sword.
Pekin has thus been rendered memorable by this march of the British and French forces (1860) to the walls of the city, on which the British and French flags were raised. The provisions of the treaty of Tientsin 1858 (Sec CifirtA) were subsequently- ratified and supplemented by the convention of Pekin, which was signed in the English and French languages at Pekin, Oct. 24, 1860. The most important article of this conven tion is that which allows the residence of a British envoy at Pekin, a privilege formerly enjoyed by Russia alone. The greatest benefits have resulted to both governments by this step. The same privilege has been granted to the French and American govern ments. Foreigners of all nations are allowed to visit, but not to trade within the pre cincts of the city.
Pekin is a very ancient city. Centuries before the Christian era, it was the capifid of the kingdom of Yea, but when this kingdom was overthrown by the Tsin dynasty in 222 B.C., the seat of government was removed elsewhere. About 938 A.D. it again became the capital of the Kitan dynasty. In 1215 it was captured by Genghis Khan, and in 1261 Kublai Khan (whom readers of Coleridge will remember) fixed his residence here. The native emperors, however, who succeeded the Mongol dynasty, removed the court to Nankin, which was reckoned the chief city of the empire till Yung Lo, the third emperor of the Ming dynasty in 1421, once more made it the imperial residence, which it lies ever since remained.—See Yedo and Pekin, by Robert Fortune (Loud. 1833), Chinese Repository (Mar., 1834), Macoullan's Magazine (Jan. 1861), Lord Bgin's Dispatches (Oct., 1860), MS. Notes (1863), The Treaty Ports of China and Japan (1867).