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Topography of & nhwui.
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Before describing the several departments in detail, it is proper to remark here, that the Great river, as the Yángtsz' kiáng is called, runs through the province diagonally due northeast from Kiángsí to Kiángsú, having about one third of the province on the south and east, and the remainder on the north and west of the river. This river enters Kiángsú about twenty-five or thirty miles to the southwest of the ancient Nánking.
1. The department of Ấnking, the chief city of which is the pro- vincial capital, lies on the northwestern bank of the Great river, and is bounded, on the south by the province of Kiảngsí, on the west by Húpi, and on the north by the departments of Luán and Lúchau. The magistrate of the district Hwaining has his residence at the city of A'nking. Southwest from this city is the chief town of the district Wángkiáng, on the northern bank of the Great river. Due west from this last named town is the district of Susung with its chief town. Again, going a little to the northwest from A'nking, a distance of about thirty miles, you arrive at Tsienshán; and thence moving on to the southwest you find the town Táihú, the capital of the district of the same name. The town is built on an island in the T'sing-shi hồ, or the river of Transparent-stones. North from the capital of the department is the town of Tungching, standing near the fountain head of a streainlet, which flows southward into the Great river. A moun- tainous ridge runs nearly parallel with the Great river, distant perhaps forty miles, and seems to form the western boundary of the depart- ment. From this ridge numerous little rills descend, and after being united in two streams enter the Great river, one to the north and the other to the south of Auking. In the southern part of this depart- ment are some small lakes.
Du Halde speaks of this department as being very beautiful and fertile. Its chief city was visited by the members of Amherst's em- bassy, and the following particulars arc gleaned from the Sketches of Mr. Davis. It is a large and important town, and the residence of a lieut.-governor. Mr. Davis says,
Mr. Davis says, “On entering the eastern suburb of the city, we perceived a very long single rank of soldiers, in their petticoat armor, drawn out to the number of nearly five hundred. With their helmets, flags, and other appurtenances, they made, as usual, a good theatrical show; and against Chinese rebels and rob- bers were probably invincible. Having admired these gentry, we made our boatmen approach the shore, and sallied forth to explore the city, which we entered at the eastern gate, nearest the water. and proceeded directly through the town, in a westerly direction, to
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