_j._ Temple of Eternal Peace of the lamas. _k._ Kwoh Tsz’ Kien, a Manchu College. _l._ Temple of the God of the North Star. _m._ High Watch-tower and Police Office. _n._ Board of Punishments. _o._ Censorate. _p._ Mohammedan Mosque. _q._ Portuguese Church. _r._ Elephant’s Inclosure. _s._ Principal Ching-hwang miau. _t._ Temple of Deceased Emperors of all ages. _u._ Obelisk covering a scab of Buddha. _v._ Altar to Heaven.--Altar to Earth is on the north of the city. _w._ Altar to Agriculture. _x._ Black Dragon Pool, and Temple of God of Rain. _y._ Altar to the Moon. _z._ Altar to the Sun.] The plan of the city here given is reduced from a large Chinese map, but is not very exact. The northern portion occupies for the most part the same area as the Cambaluc of Marco Polo, which, however, extended about two miles north, where the remains of the old north wall of the Mongols still exist. On their expulsion Hungwu erected the present northern wall, and his son Yungloh rebuilt the other three sides in 1419 on a rather larger scale; but the arrangement of the streets and gates is due to the Great Khan. When taken possession of by the Manchus in 1644, they found a magnificent city ready for them, uninjured and strong, which they apportioned among their officers and bannermen; but necessity soon obliged these men, less frugal and thrifty than the natives, to sell them, and content themselves with humbler abodes; consequently, the greater part of the northern city is now tenanted by Chinese. The innermost inclosure in the _Nui Ching_ contains the palace and its surrounding buildings; the second is occupied by barracks and public offices, and by many private residences; the outer one, for the most part, consists of dwelling-houses, with shops in the large avenues. The inner inclosure measures 6.3 _li_, or 2.23 miles, in circuit, and is called _Tsz’ Kin Ching_, or ‘Carnation Prohibited City;’ the wall is less solid and high than the city wall; it is covered with bright yellow tiles, guarded by numerous stations of bannermen and gendarmerie, and surrounded by a deep, wide moat. Two gates, the _Tung-hwa_ and _Sí-hwa_, on the east and west, afford access to the interior of this habitation of the Emperor, as well as the space and rooms appertaining, which furnish lodgment to the guard defending the approach to the Dragon’s Throne; a tower at each corner, and one over each gateway, also give accommodation to other troops. The interior of this inclosure is divided into three parts by two walls running from south to north, and the whole is occupied by a suite of court-yards and halls, which, in their arrangement and architecture, far exceed any other specimens of the kind in China. According to the notions of a common Chinese, all here is gold and silver; “he will tell you of gold and silver pillars, gold and silver roofs, and gold and silver vases, in which swim gold and silver fishes.”