DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0347
[ 309 ]
Description of the Stupendous Wall which separates the
Chinese Territories from Tartary.
One of the greatest artificial curiosities that China
affords, and which may, indeed, be reckoned one of the
most astonishing remains of antiquity in the world, is
the prodigious wall which was built by the Chinese, to
prevent the frequent incursions of the Tartars. This
wall is in general about twenty feet in height, and broad
enough for six horsemen to ride abreast on it, and
throughout the whole length it is-fortified at intervals
with strong square towers, to the number of three thou-
sand, which before the Tartars subdued the country,
used to be guarded by a million of soldiers. Its whole
length, with all its windings, is computed at 1500 miles,
running along the three northern provinces of the empire,
over mountains, valleys, and rivers, heights that appear
inaccessible, and marshes and sandy hollows, which seem
incapable of admitting a foundation for such a weighty
structure. It is chiefly built of bricks, and so strongly
cemented with a peculiar kind of mortar, that though
it has stood above two thousand years, it is very little
decayed, and the terrace on the top still seems as hard as
ever.
It is not known with accuracy, when this amazing barrier
was first erected, but the time of its completion was
about three centuries before the birth of Christ; the
Chinese tradition asserts that it was begun and finished
in the space of five years. Le Comte observes, that it
was one of the greatest and maddest enterprises ever un-
dertaken by man ; for though it was certainly prudent to
guard the avenues, nothing could be more ridiculous
than to carry a wall over the tops of precipices which it
was impossible the Tartar cavalry should ever ascend.
“ For my part,” be continues, “ I am astonished how the
materials
Description of the Stupendous Wall which separates the
Chinese Territories from Tartary.
One of the greatest artificial curiosities that China
affords, and which may, indeed, be reckoned one of the
most astonishing remains of antiquity in the world, is
the prodigious wall which was built by the Chinese, to
prevent the frequent incursions of the Tartars. This
wall is in general about twenty feet in height, and broad
enough for six horsemen to ride abreast on it, and
throughout the whole length it is-fortified at intervals
with strong square towers, to the number of three thou-
sand, which before the Tartars subdued the country,
used to be guarded by a million of soldiers. Its whole
length, with all its windings, is computed at 1500 miles,
running along the three northern provinces of the empire,
over mountains, valleys, and rivers, heights that appear
inaccessible, and marshes and sandy hollows, which seem
incapable of admitting a foundation for such a weighty
structure. It is chiefly built of bricks, and so strongly
cemented with a peculiar kind of mortar, that though
it has stood above two thousand years, it is very little
decayed, and the terrace on the top still seems as hard as
ever.
It is not known with accuracy, when this amazing barrier
was first erected, but the time of its completion was
about three centuries before the birth of Christ; the
Chinese tradition asserts that it was begun and finished
in the space of five years. Le Comte observes, that it
was one of the greatest and maddest enterprises ever un-
dertaken by man ; for though it was certainly prudent to
guard the avenues, nothing could be more ridiculous
than to carry a wall over the tops of precipices which it
was impossible the Tartar cavalry should ever ascend.
“ For my part,” be continues, “ I am astonished how the
materials