TALI CITY - 1939-40

 

16. Four of the boys standing on top of

the west wall. I took this from the

high bank on the opposite side of the

creek that formed a natural moat.

 

Tali Christian Church.

 27. Just a shot at random to give you an idea of what the main street and shopping centre looks like. Every shopkeeper piles the day’s bargains out on the street.

 29. This is the north gate market. These markets are held twice a month and people from near and far come to sell their goods. Each man sells his own – no agents. See Harry in helmet about centre of snap. He was trying to buy some walnuts.

 

30. This was the Tibetan’s camp but they would not let us take them – turned their backs, hid, and did all sorts of funny things when a camera was pointed at them. I think they were afraid it would go off and shoot them. I just took a hurried snap when we had walked away.

36. The airmail arrives in Tali. All mail comes from the capital to Hsia Kuan (Xiaguan) by bus and the last 10 miles by donkey. The city gate is in the background.

35. A caravan, almost an every day sight, passing through the streets of the city. This is the main street of the 2^nd largest city of a province of 10,000,000 people. How would you like to ride a pushbike in China?

37. The local service car (night-soil) passing out of the city gate.

The posters are patriotic and are most vividly coloured. They may not get past the censor if I describe them.

40. Old and new in China. Discarded bus tyres for wheels on a donkey cart. The aristocratic way of travelling between here and Hsia Kuan. Mr Bryars, independent missionary, leaves for America.

43. This is taken outside the city wall and one of the best I have seen so far. Can you imagine the thrill it was for us when we came here to walk along the top (of the city wall) and try to visualize the conflicts of ancient days?

41. Some time ago I sent you a snap of the main street taken from on top of this gateway (possibly #27 or 35). I was with Arthur when he took this looking in the same direction but from outside in the street.

45. This is a most magnificent place. Note the carved marble railing just ahead of the boys. The whole place is a school donated by a wealthy Chinese Gentleman for the uplift of his people. There are three other buildings bigger than this for schoolrooms. This is only the library and temple etc, but of course by far the most elaborate in construction.

84. The university invited us to play tennis during their spring vacation. This is Harry and Geoff with their two best players.

92. This pagoda is about one mile west of the south gate of Tali known as I-t’ah-si Pagoda. It is remarkable for its unusual form – about 120 feet high, capped with a gilded ball, supposed to have been built in the F’ang Dynasty – 923 A.D. to 936 A.D. Mr Clarke found brick with Sanskrit Chinese characters. May have been built by Nestorians. This Pagoda was used as a fort by Mohammedans in the rebellion of 1867.

107. This should have given you an idea of the local meat market. It hangs out in the sun and dirt.

Some of the more enterprising butchers have umbrellas, as seen.

The light in the camera has spoilt this snap.

108. This is the entrance to the parade ground at the State School. It was a very poor day.

110. This is a snap of the Pagoda here. It is said/supposed to be the biggest in the province. Yesterday was the 5^th of the 5^th month festival, known as the Dragon Boat Festival, and people visit this place to worship, etc. There is a huge image of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower at the basement, and little groups of idols on each story almost until one reaches the top. In the fore-

ground is a man carrying two baskets with a pole, then a stretch of rape field, then the pagoda buildings.