The Drum and Bell Towers
OF THE many historic monuments spoken of by Marco Polo in his poetic description of the majestic city of Cambaluc, only a few remain to grace the modern capital of China. Perhaps the most noteworthy among these are the Bell and Drum Towers - two huge structures of Simposing proportions and design that still constitute the chief glory of the north city. Towering far above the surrounding homes of the people, and overshadowing even the most princely of the temples and palaces, for seven centuries these two veterans have played an important part in the lives of the dwellers within the walls. For many millions all down through the years, the very habits of life have been guided and circumscribed by the deep notes of that giant curfew and the thunder tones of the great drums in the tower. Here is what Marco Polo says: "In the middle of the city there is a great clock-that is to say a bell -- which is struck at night. And after it has struck three times, no one must go out in the city, unless it be for the needs of the sick; and those who go about on such errands are bound to carry lanterns with them." In the olden days, indeed, even until comparatively recent years, "when the curfew sounded from the Bell Tower, people went to bed." These two towers, facing each other, and not more than a stone's throw apart, are situated in a large open space almost midway between Coal Hill and the northern wall. In Mongol days they are said to have stood in the exact center of the city of the great Khan. The Drum Tower, as can readily be seen from the picture, is by far the larger of the two structures, being ninety-nine feet in height, and ninety-nine feet long. Its giant base, or terrace, is of brick plastered over with thick mortar and painted a deep red The upper portion is of wood, also painted a rich vermilion. The whole is surmounted by a double roof of glittering emerald tile, supported by giant pillars nearly forty feet high. Sixty-nine stone steps of rather uncomfortable proportions lead from the base of the tower to the immense upper hall, where the three great drums are kept—the largest one in the center, and a smaller one on either side. On this large central drun the watches of the night were struck. la former days this tower also contained a clepsydra, or water clock,"consisting of four vessels, one below the other; water trickling from the highest to the lowest moved an indicator which showed the hour," thus giving the time to the whole city. From the lofty porches, a superb view can be had of the city and its environs. The graceful Bell Tower contains one of the large bells cast in the days of Yung Lê, which weighs over 23,000 pounds. This distant view of the two towers, with the Pei Hai, or "North Sea," in the foreground, was taken from the base of the White Dagoba, another monument that carries us back to the days of Mongol grandeur. For a further description of the Bell Tower, see paqe 148.
