Except for one or two old temples and fine bell and drum towers which Tntter" have remained unspoilt, except that they are now used as barracks, Sianfu does not possess any particularly striking ancient balling." Historically "interesting fs the famous Pei Lin (Forest, 0 Tablets) in the grounds of the Cor fucian Temple; as the name implies, Tage collection of stone tablets, ith Inscriptions. dating back the most ancient times. Tt was started originally in Tang times a8 kind of library, containing about hundred tablets' inscribed with the Thirteen Classies which are still to be seen there. To. a foreigner the most interesting object in the whole collection is. the famous Nestorian tablet, the earliest, evidence of the presence of Christians in. China, which has a place of honour all by itself. Tt is perhaps not so well Known that some foreigners attempted to steal this tablet in the first years of the century, when it then stood outside a small temple, a few miles from Sianfu. "They even went to the length of havin fan exact replica of it- made,, wit the intention of substituting this for the original. " But whilst. this was being done, the plot leaked out, and the authorities hastily removed the tablet tothe Pei. Lin, Although this unique collection of tablets is ofthe highest historical interest to the Chinese themselves, the Pei Lin find, as for as T could see, hes nol {sm a state of complete neglect, eve any caretakers to Took after Brmed't9 me that a vest this yea ginning to. banks and must be mentioned the Bey. Jumes matson, @ veteran of Shenet Ww Ife here, which In itser struck tre
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.