Military matters are but little attended to in China. This sceptical and timorous nation is no believer in military glory and power. Our campaigns in China showed the value of a Chinese army. General Cousin Montauban, since Count de Palikao, cut numbers of them to pieces, after one or two skirmishes, in which the Chinese fled as hard as they could the very moment they perceived a uniform.
136.—CHINESE TROOPER.
A nation of four hundred million inhabitants was conquered by six thousand Frenchmen. The unworthy cowardice of the Chinese explain the fact that they have always been an easy prey to conquerors.
In Chinese military matters we will restrict ourselves to reproducing their uniforms. [Fig. 135] represents that of their infantry, and [fig. 136] that of their mounted troops.
137.—THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.