The War of the Civilisations, the Record of a 'Foreign Devil's' Experiences with the Allies in China (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1901. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. IN TUNG-CHOW--AN ORGIE OF PILLAGE AND RAPINE--REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH--A DISAGREEABLE NIGHT VISITOR--WITH THE JAPS TO PEKIN-SKIRMISH BETWEEN THE ALLIES--AN ENGLISH OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN-- PEKIN REACHED--ATTEMPT TO STORM THE GATEHOUSE. We slept soundly with our saddles for pillows, and woke in the morning with our clothes drenched with dew, also a soreness in my right hip reminded me that when one has to make one's bed on the ground, it is always worth while, no matter how tired one may be, to scoop out a hole for the hip joint. The British camp was already astir, and I pushed on after the Japs, who were in advance. No opposition was offered to their entering the city of TungChow, although the walls were just as strongly and formidably built as those of Pekin. The Japs and Russians had already entered. They were going through the shops, stores and rich houses of this wealthy city. Tung-Chow is probably richer commercially than Pekin. All the river trade down to Tientsin passes through it, and it contains even richer pawnshops than Pekin itself. These pawnshops are very important institutions in China, not only because they contain rich securities on which money is advanced, but because they are used as storing places for valuables by the general public--jewellery, costly furs, precious jade, and works of art of all sorts and descriptions are to be found within them. And for those who were intent on looting, no greater find could be discovered than a prosperous pawnshop. Apparently about three-fourths of the inhabitants had fled the city. Nearly all the houses and shops were deserted, all the well-to-do inhabitants had left, and their houses were in most cases left in charge of one or two trusty servants. Going along the streets, we passed groups of...