This elegant and commodious building, a very correct idea of which may
be formed from the cut on the preceding page, may be regarded as a fine
specimen of the oriental pagodas. The tower is about two hundred feet in
hight, and derives its name from its having a porcelain coating. The
Portuguese were the first to bestow on these superb edifices the title
of pagodas, and to attribute them to devotional purposes. There can be
little doubt, however, that in many instances they have been rather
erected as public memorials or ornaments, like the columns of the Greeks
and Romans. Mr. Ellis, in his “Journal of the Embassy to China,” relates
that, in company with three gentlemen of the embassy, he succeeded in
passing completely through the uninhabited part of the city of Nankin,
and in reaching the gateway visible from the Lion hill. The object of
the party was to have penetrated through the streets to the porcelain
tower, apparently distant two miles. To this, however, the soldiers who
accompanied them, and who from their willingness in allowing them to
proceed thus far, were entitled to consideration, made so many
objections, that they were forced to desist, and to content themselves
with proceeding to a temple on a neighboring hill, from which they had a
complete view of the city. From this station the porcelain tower
presented itself as a most magnificent object.