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.. The province of Honán on account of its fine climate and fertile soil, has been called by the Chinese Chung Hưa, the Central Flower. It has been also denominated the Garden of China.
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Provinces of Kiáng sú and Ngánhwui. The provinces of Kiángsú and 'Ngánhwui were formerly united under the name af Kiángnán; the territory thus formed is bounded north by Shintung and Honán; south by Kingsí and Chehkiảng; on the east by the Yellow Sea; on the west by Húpeh and Húuán. The country extends from lat. 29° to 35° 8′ N. and from 5° 10′ east of Peking to 1° 30′ west. The rivers are mostly tributary to the Yángtsz' Kiáng, or to the river Hwái. Those that flow into the last come from Honín, and run to the southeast. Mountains are seen in the southern part of the province; and the ranges form the highlands on each side of the Great River, where many of the streams havé their sources. The coast is low and flat. The country for ten miles întand is alluvial soil. The only island along the seacoast of any height is Táishín, to the north of the Yellow River, in lat. 34° 40′; and this is intersected by a double ridge of hills. The province is about half as large as Spain.
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The city of Nánking, or Kiángning fú the former capital of the empire, lies in lát. 32° 04′ 40′′ N. and long. 148° 47 E., at the dis- tance of 2445 li from Peking. It contains the celebrated porcelain tower, called by the Chinese the Requiring Favor Monastery, built A. D. 1430; and is the most remarkable edifice of the kind in China. It is also noted as the place of signing the Treaty between the Chinese and English at the termination of the late war in 1842. Like Peking it is divided into two portions, one inhabited by the Chinese, and the other by Manchus. Its population has been estimated at 400,000. Though it has lost much of its ancient grandeur, it is still one of the most important cities of the empire, and is distin- guished for the extent and variety of its manufactures, for its scholars 'and learning.
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In the same province is the city of Sachau in lat. 31° 23' 25" N., 'and long. 120' 25' E., 2720 li from Peking, and a famous city in China for luxury and the arts. The population is reckoned to be not far from two millious. The city is situated on islands lying in Great Lake, 'and is surrounded by a wall about ten miles in length. The Chinese regard it as one of their richest and most beautiful cities, and con- cerning this city and Hingehau få in Chebkiảng have a saying that
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