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CHAPTER VIII.
CH'ÊNGTU.
Ch'êngtu is undoubtedly a fine city. Sir Alexander Hosie declares that it is the finest city that he has seen in China, and thinks that neither Peking nor Canton will bear comparison with it. That it has always been a city of great wealth and prosperity may be gathered from a remark let drop by Marco Polo: "Also there stands upon the bridge the Great Kaan's comercque, that is to say, his custom-house, where his toll and tax are levied. And I can tell you that the dues taken on this bridge bring to the lord a thousand pieces of fine gold every day and more." It is not, like Ch'ung-k'ing, a great distributing centre for foreign goods; but there are large and well-
