They were of a peculiar black color, doubtless painted over,
and were so slippery that it was most difficult to keep on one's feet.
The furnishing was similar to that in the Audience Halls in the Summer
Palace and in the Sea Palace, with the exception that the throne was
made of dark brown wood inlaid with jade of different colors.

The Hall was only used for audience on very rare occasions, such as the
birthday of the Empress Dowager and New Year's Day, and no foreigner
has ever entered this building. All the usual audiences were held in a
smaller building in the Forbidden City.

After spending some little time in the Audience Hall, we next visited
the Emperor's quarters. These were much smaller than those occupied by
Her Majesty, but were very elaborately furnished. There were thirty-two
rooms, many of which were never used, but all were furnished in the
same expensive style. In the rear of this building was the Palace of the
Young Empress, which was smaller still, having about twenty-four rooms
in all, and in the same building three rooms were set apart for the
use of the Secondary wife of the Emperor. Although close together, the
Palaces of the Emperor and his wife were not connected by any entrance,
but both buildings were surrounded by verandas connecting with Her
Majesty's apartments, which were quite a distance away. There were
several other buildings, which were used as waiting rooms for visitors.
In addition to the above, there were several buildings which were not
used at all; these were sealed and nobody seemed to know what they
contained, or whether they contained anything at all. Even Her Majesty
said she had never been inside these buildings, as they had been sealed
for many years. Even the entrance to the enclosure containing these
buildings was always closed, and this was the only occasion that any
of us ever even passed through. They were quite different in appearance
from any other buildings in the Palace, being very dirty and evidently
of great age. We were commanded not to talk about the place at all.

The apartments of the Court ladies were connected with those of Her
Majesty, but the rooms were so small one could hardly turn round in
them; also they were very cold in winter. The servants' quarters were at
the end of our apartments, but there was no entrance and they could
only be reached by passing along our veranda, while the only entrance we
ourselves had to our rooms was by passing along Her