Page:Peking the Beautiful.pdf/98

 Peking Life-A Camel Study

y the traveled tourist, Peking is regarded as first among the interesting cities of the world. This is due not only to its historic monuments which rival in age and beauty those of any other city--but also to its unique and fascinating life. High walls and spirit screens hide $ from view the homes of Peking's most interesting people, yet the Se street affords an endless study of their life, their habits, their work, and their play. The unceasing parade of old and new in ever-shifting combination, never ceases to thrill us when we leave our quiet compound gate. Electric cars in long lines, standing dead on their tracks, waiting for a funeral procession to pass, or for a service in honor of the dead to be performed, causes us to wonder at the patience of a thousand passengers. The high-powered limousines, rushing and shrieking through a narrow street, driving to the wall all manner of ancient wheelbarrows and springless carts, scattering groups of gambling ricksha pullers, or happy children who make the street their play ground, never cease to make us wonder how they miss so many and kill so few. It is with a curious feeling that we watch the little sun-browned children, their mouths filled with sweets from the ancient candy wagon, turn their shining faces toward the roaring sky to watch two army planes in their flight; and we wonder how much they comprehend of the new and marvelous age in which they live. The vendors of Peking, with their curious methods of transporting their merchandise, their queer calls, and novel contraptions all lend enchantment to the dweller within the walls of the Capital Among the most interesting of the common street sights are the camel caravans. One can hardly go anywhere in the city without passing one or more of these trains, either loaded with coal, lime, charcoal, or country produce--their goal some depot for coal or lime or other merchandise in the city-or with empty packs making their way back to their mountain or desert homes. If out early enough you may find a "hulung" or street half-choked by scores of reclizing monsters just awakening from their night's rest; and if you wait a little while you may see their sturdy masters emerge from a common inn and put into motion their long trains of patient animals. The camel is a noble-appearing beast, so large in form, so slow and deliberate in motion; and he must be very proud from the way he holds his head-so high and steady. The plate on the opposite page gives us a fine close-up view of the two-humped Bactrian type. Year in and year out they perform their ceaseless march to and from the capital. At the junction of roads east of Pa Ta Chu in the Western Hills, the writer has seen a thousand camels at one time, one half burdened and headed for Peking, and the other half with empty sacks and with drivers astride, returning for another load. And so the endless march goes on. (See page 66.]