The city of Hsian stands on a plateau elevated several hundred feet above the low level of the valley of the ancient and famous Wei river. he road winds through steep and narrow cuts in the face of the bluff, which is honey-combed with cave-houses, the dwellings of those who cultivate the lowlands, that are subject to not infrequent inundations. The plateau is covered with grave mounds, many of them of the size of small hills. To the southward tower two pagodas, one of them the celebrated Wild Goose Pagoda, the origin of which is linked with a striking and superstitious tradition.
Here we catch the first glimpse of the renowned city which has been the capital of China for more years than Peking, or any other city. The approach to Hsian is far more impressive than that to Peking, since the former can be seen three miles away in all its magnitude, while the view of Peking is almost entirely obstructed, in summer by foliage, and at all times by inequalities in the ground. The walls of Hsian are nearly if not quite as high of those of Peking, and the lofty gate towers are pro-viced with eight and 40 windows each decorated with a painting of the muzzle of a cannon, exactly hike those of Peking.t
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.