The Guardian of the Pass
W STRONOMERS have declared that the "only work of man's hands which would be visible to the human eye from the moon is the Great Wall of China." Some idea of the vastness of this gigantic structure can be gained from the fact that if the materials which were used in its cort T struction were made to encircle the earth at the equator, they would forma a solid barrier eight feet high and three feet thick 1 Of the eight world wonders of antiquity, the Great Wall of China and the pyramids of Egypt alone have survived the conquest of time. Yet, in comparison, the largest pyramid built by the Pharoahs is but a pigmy when compared with the giant "Ten Thousand-Li Rampart." It has been estimated that the materials used in the construction of China's Great Wall would build seventy such pyramids. The Wall varies in size in different parts of the country. In the eastern section, where under the Mings its defenses were most fully developed, the ramparts are about turenty-five feet thick at the base and fifteen feet at the top. In height the Wall varies from fifteen to thirty feet. At points where there was little danger of attack the Vall was built of inferior materials and is comparatively low, but at all strategic points the great barrier was constructed of the most solid masonry and is of more than ordinary height and breadth. As shown in the picture, the top of the Wall is protected by bricks, and on the outside by a low parapet. Against the horizon will be seer six of the numerous watch towers which were placed, in this strategic section, one third of a mile apart The Mings alone erected over twenty thousand of these block towers, which constituted a veritable chain of small for tresses. In olden times, according to one authority, all these towers "were manned by small garrisons who had an excellent signal system of beacons by means of which messages could be transmitted from tower to tower for thousands of miles in a remarkably short time, and all the resources of large armies summoned to keep pace with the movements of the barbarians reconnoitering along the outside of the barrier in search of a weak spot" The portion of the Dall here shown in its picturesque setting was taken from an archway of one of the watch towers directly above the famous Nankow Pass — from the most ancient times a much-used caravan route from China into distant Mongolia. "As this was one of the important passes, capable of admitting carts and horsemen, big guard posts of a hundred men or more used to be stationed in these towers, which were equipped, according to the records, with food, fuel, medicines, and weapons to withstand a siege of several months." From the broken appearance of the Dall at this point, one can well picture in imagination the fierce struggles that is former ages took place at this strategic point above the Pass, which at one time was guarded by five additional walls and gates. For a further description of the Great Wall, see paqes 26 and 70.
