Bulletin of Catholic University of Peking

_ CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF PEKING 57 :

“Crags on guard, encircle this region, More awe-inspiring than marshalled legion!”

The southern end of the canyon was fortified by Ch'in Shih Huang Ti, early in his wall-building career, about 220 B.c. These fortifications are well preserved, and by a glance at them we can imagine the great epoch-making Emperor saying to himself: ‘‘If my guards have a point of vantage, a platform from which to attack the invaders, no force can rush this barrier.’

The one who designed these fortifications disappeared over two thousand years ago, but his work is in as good a condition now as it was when he last looked uponit. Truly, this monument to engineering skill, which stretches across China, is at once the oldest and greatest in the history of mankind.

The reason for mentioning it in this paper is because the Manchus availed themselves of these ancient fortifications in the Great Dragon Gate to seal this exit from the ‘“‘Lost Tribe” valley.

The scenery throughout the region of exile is beautiful beyond description.

Fewer lofty mountains and more till-

able land, however, would have made life much easier for the poor inhabitants. A crystal-clear stream traverses the valley from east to west. At one point the stream makes almost a complete circle, and the walls of rock about the pool are nearly vertical. This the natives call ‘‘The Tea Kettle,” or the place where the Spirits of the Mountains brew their decoctions. During a freshet it becomes a seething caldron, so it is natural that the people should think

Ta Lung Men. The “Great Dragon Gate.”