656
Topography of Fukien.
DEC
IL. The department of Tsiuenchau is bounded on the south and east by the sea, on the north by Hinghwá; on the northwest, by Yungchun; and on the west, by Chángchau. It is a narrow tract of land, exceedingly well watered by numerous rivers, and many bays and harbors-among which latter is that of Hiámun, or Amoy. Du Halde says
the situation of the chief city is most agreeable, and renders it a place of great trade: it is built on a cape, and al- most encompassed with water; and the greater Chinese vessels enter within its walls." He speaks of several other cities as being most advantageously situated for foreign commerce. Particularly is this the case with Amoy. The magistrate of Tsinkiáng resides at Tsiuenchau, which stands on the northern bank of the Tsin kiáng, or river Tsin. A'nki (Ankoy), known for its teas, lies due west from the chief town of the department. This district was visited by Mr. Gordon, under the direction of the Bengal government, in November 1334. His memoranda of the visit are to be found in our fourth volume. In that excursion he passed one of those stone bridges, of which there are several along the coast, and some of them ranked among "the wonders of China." See Medhurst's Fukien Dictio-
nary,
Introduction, p. xxiii.
xxiii. The district of Hwui-án is situated to the northeast from Tsiuenchau, and Nán-án to the northwestward from it. Tung-án and Makiáng lie to the southwest, forming the southern portion of the department. The islands of Kinmun, Hiá- mun, and Kúláng, fall within the jurisdiction of the magistrate of Tung-án.
III. The department of Kienning is situated on the northern side of the province, and is bounded, on the east by Funing and Chúchau in Chekiáng; on the north, by Küchau in Chekiáng and Kwangsin in Kiángsi; on the west, by Shánwú; and on the south, by Fuchau and Yenping. It is a very mountainous region, giving rise to several small streams, which flowing southward form the Tung-kí, one of the principal branches of the river Min. The ma- gistrates of Kien-án and Ngauning reside at the capital of the de- partment, Kienning, near its extreme south. The districts of Ching- ho and Sungki form the western portion of the department. On the north is Púching; and on the west are the districts of Tsung-án and Kienyáng. The Bohea (Wúi) teas are produced in this de- partment. For a short account of these teas, and their particular localities, &c., the reader is referred to vol. VIII., page 132 and the sequel