Page:Ling-Nam; or, Interior views of southern China, including explorations in the hitherto untraversed island of Hainan (IA cu31924023225307).pdf/48

 44 Ling-Nam.

From this point we strike through less crowded por- tions of the city, and reach the Five-Storey Tower on the north wall, from which an unobstructed view of the city and surrounding country is obtained. This height was oecupied as early as the first century of our era by Chin- tioh, the first Prince of Uet. The present tower, con- structed some three hundred years ago, is called the “Sea-Guarding Tower,” and is supposed to control the geomantic influences in such a way as to bring peace and prosperity to the city. Tea and refreshments of the native sort may be had while the visitor studies in detail the variations of mountain, plain, city, and river presented in the wide scene before him, and enjoys the cool breezes that ever play around these heights. In close proximity, on an adjoining hill, cluster the courts and temples of the Goddess of Mercy. Up the steep flights of steps leading to this shrine devotees daily toil to receive the help of the many-handed goddess, whose attributes of “great in pity, great in compassion, saving from misery, saving from woe, ever regarding the cries that come up from the world,” find a deep response in the hearts of the multitudes of this people, sunk in misery and wretchedness such as few of us can know, IRgnorantly they worship a creature of the imagination, but in so doing show the groping of hearts conscious of their need of sympathy and help which the Redeemer of men only can give.

The wall of the city, along which we now travel, is built of sandstone, and has stood the ravages of war and time for more than a thousand years. In the interstices of the stone and brick, hanging like folds of graceful